Heard of TED? It's my new personal trainer. As many of you know by now, I have given up being buff ever again for something of a bit more imaginative nature. Never let it be said that I have anything against good health habits; I still enjoy a refreshing round of yoga, a walk, or whatever wii game bids me to try it out. But when it comes to "working out" on a regular basis, I'm leaning more in favor of ideas over action.
And so here's where my favorite personal trainer comes into play: TED. As some of you caught in the first paragraph, TED is not a he--TED is an it. TED actually stands for Technology, Education, and Design. It started off as a conference, grew into a huge conference, and now, thankfully, the rest of us have the chance of being a part of this remarkable meeting of the minds through the Internets--hallelujah!
Google the letters TED, and you will be bombarded by a plethora of free and highly engaging 18 minute talks by some of the smartest and most insightful people you'll ever hear or see. These people come from every conceivable corner of the world and every conceivable background. Their talks are sensible, humorous, and most of the time, sublime. I can learn more from the "classroom" of TED in an hour on various topics than I could by reading 4 or 5 newspapers. And, even though 18 minutes certainly isn't going to cover any topic of value in such a short time, it will give you a catalyst to learn more and to start the search for more detail on a topic of interest.
There is an excellent article in the magazine Fast Company (http://fastcompany.com) entitled "How TED Became the New Harvard". It's definitely worth the read to get a good introduction to TED. If that doesn't seem pleasing to you, then just go to You Tube and, in the search, type in TED talks. You will be pleased with your results from which to choose.
How does this fit in with 50 Adventures at 50? Every time I tune in to a TED talk, I am transformed by the imaginative way that fellow humans can deliver information. I literally have an adventure with every TED talk I hear; it makes me want to be a more effective person in the world.
If that's not an adventure, I don't know what is...
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Total Lack of Aspiration... 50 on the Job
In the middle of the afternoon today, I found myself with my eyeballs beginning to itch...it seemed like in the back of my eyes...yikes! I was experiencing eye strain from looking back and forth at two different screens and dropping in tedious details. Fortunately, this doesn't happen often. In fact, after thinking that this wasn't how I wanted to spend too many more hours, I remembered why I was doing this work. I picked up the phone, called the client who this effort affected, and we had a nice chat. She trusts me; I want to be an anchor for her. That's the way it works. Then the job is no longer just a job--it's an opportunity to help someone--to put them more at ease.
When I started this new phase of my professional life, I decided that it was going to be on terms that I enjoyed what I did; that no matter what the vocation, it needed to be one that, at the end of the day as well as the start of the day, put a smile on my face. And so this is what I do. I wake up, I smile, and I start the day. And, even if it's been a tiring day, I smile. Life is indeed too short...it simply can't be wasted on jobs that have little meaning, do one no earthly good, or make us feel generally rotten.
Being 50 can be a scary age in the workplace with job cuts, etc. The good news, though, is that we can shamelessly have no aspirations of climbing any corporate ladders--yet the young dogs do that and Godspeed to them. We 50s will just keep the ship sailing smoothly along...and keep smiling.
When I started this new phase of my professional life, I decided that it was going to be on terms that I enjoyed what I did; that no matter what the vocation, it needed to be one that, at the end of the day as well as the start of the day, put a smile on my face. And so this is what I do. I wake up, I smile, and I start the day. And, even if it's been a tiring day, I smile. Life is indeed too short...it simply can't be wasted on jobs that have little meaning, do one no earthly good, or make us feel generally rotten.
Being 50 can be a scary age in the workplace with job cuts, etc. The good news, though, is that we can shamelessly have no aspirations of climbing any corporate ladders--yet the young dogs do that and Godspeed to them. We 50s will just keep the ship sailing smoothly along...and keep smiling.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Great Anticipations: The Delight of an International Guide
As those who have been following the blog well know by now, one of the 50 Adventures is to learn and become a respectable cook of Irish food. In order to do this, I figured it made sense to start reading material from Ireland. I started reading the Irish Times on my Google reader, and came across their food editor that has some wonderful recipes. Domini Kemp, the food editor, writes with a very friendly style that invites one into the recipe; after reading just a couple of said recipes, I was sure that these could happen on Indiana soil. Then I came up a roadblock...temperature conversions on the oven. Mark? Yikes! I decided to go straight to the source.
I wrote an email to Ms. Kemp in hopes that someone could lead me to making these conversions. I received a reply that she was out of the office until August 31.
Yesterday, I checked my email as usual and lo and behold, a very friendly reply from Ms. Kemp along with a link for conversions! What a delight. And, added to that delight, her request for me to send her my blog entries that tell of my adventures in Irish cooking.
I'm anticipating a good season of good eating...and thanks to Domini Kemp, the eating won't be too hot or too cold, but just right.
I wrote an email to Ms. Kemp in hopes that someone could lead me to making these conversions. I received a reply that she was out of the office until August 31.
Yesterday, I checked my email as usual and lo and behold, a very friendly reply from Ms. Kemp along with a link for conversions! What a delight. And, added to that delight, her request for me to send her my blog entries that tell of my adventures in Irish cooking.
I'm anticipating a good season of good eating...and thanks to Domini Kemp, the eating won't be too hot or too cold, but just right.
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Love of the Irish
Tom and I traveled to West Lafayette this evening; I have a meeting in town tomorrow and Tom is planning, among other things, a trip to the H-D dealership.
When I found out that we would be headed to this end of the state, I immediately started looking for a great restaurant to visit and blog about...and wow did we find it.
9 Irish Brothers is a wonderful little spot at the base of the hill leading up to the Purdue campus. It's a busy place, yet the pub itself feels very intimate and removed from the hustle and bustle of the nearby street. It was a beautiful August evening, so we chose to sit outside on the patio...a wise choice!
Being a true lover of Irish food and seeking out ideas and recipes for our fall/winter dinner guests, we looked at the menu and were more than pleased with the selections offered. Tom finally settled upon fish and chips and I decided upon a 1/2 order of corned beef and cabbage and 1/2 order of Irish-Guinness stew. When the food arrived, we immediately realized that we could invite Caroline, our waitress, and all those dining around us to join us in this feast.
The food was an absolute delight. The rich flavors of the stew, the soda bread, the corned beef and cabbage, the fish and chips (the "chips" being oval potato slices that were quick fried into potato puffs that we hadn't enjoyed since experiencing them in New Orleans at Antoinne's--fantastic). Every bite brought a smile.
The star of the show at 9 Irish Brothers is the Guinness from the tap. There is a special process used there that has earned the pub the title of Best Guinness from the Tap in the US...quite an honor. Now we know why it won that accolade; smoother and silkier Guinness we've never experienced. Smiles abounded once again.
After a wonderful and relaxing meal with Caroline taking good care of us, we then asked if we might have a flight of single malt whiskeys. This brought our bartender Josh into the picture where, after a bit of thought and planning, we pronounced us the official guinea pigs for the inaugural whiskey flight. Josh did some excellent choosing and we ended up with an aromatic and rich selection of Bushmill 10 year, Knappouge, Michael Collins, and Tyrconnell Port Finish. We found a new favorite in Michael Collins which, with time, blossomed into a beautiful glass of whiskey. Here's to Josh and many many more successful whiskey flights for years to come--that young man knows his craft!
We also raise a glass to our kind waitress, Caroline, a hard working young lady who is currently studying nursing in addition to working two different jobs. Always smiling, always attentive--a waitress that made our evening a delight.
A third round of "cheers" to the instigator of our finding this fine pub--Mike Hosford, Tom's boss. Thanks, Mike!
Whenever you are in the West Lafayette area, don't hesitate to drop in to the 9 Irish Brothers; you'll come out smiling, satisfied, and perhaps even with a lift in your step keeping in tune with the spirit of all that is good and Irish.
When I found out that we would be headed to this end of the state, I immediately started looking for a great restaurant to visit and blog about...and wow did we find it.
9 Irish Brothers is a wonderful little spot at the base of the hill leading up to the Purdue campus. It's a busy place, yet the pub itself feels very intimate and removed from the hustle and bustle of the nearby street. It was a beautiful August evening, so we chose to sit outside on the patio...a wise choice!
Being a true lover of Irish food and seeking out ideas and recipes for our fall/winter dinner guests, we looked at the menu and were more than pleased with the selections offered. Tom finally settled upon fish and chips and I decided upon a 1/2 order of corned beef and cabbage and 1/2 order of Irish-Guinness stew. When the food arrived, we immediately realized that we could invite Caroline, our waitress, and all those dining around us to join us in this feast.
The food was an absolute delight. The rich flavors of the stew, the soda bread, the corned beef and cabbage, the fish and chips (the "chips" being oval potato slices that were quick fried into potato puffs that we hadn't enjoyed since experiencing them in New Orleans at Antoinne's--fantastic). Every bite brought a smile.
The star of the show at 9 Irish Brothers is the Guinness from the tap. There is a special process used there that has earned the pub the title of Best Guinness from the Tap in the US...quite an honor. Now we know why it won that accolade; smoother and silkier Guinness we've never experienced. Smiles abounded once again.
After a wonderful and relaxing meal with Caroline taking good care of us, we then asked if we might have a flight of single malt whiskeys. This brought our bartender Josh into the picture where, after a bit of thought and planning, we pronounced us the official guinea pigs for the inaugural whiskey flight. Josh did some excellent choosing and we ended up with an aromatic and rich selection of Bushmill 10 year, Knappouge, Michael Collins, and Tyrconnell Port Finish. We found a new favorite in Michael Collins which, with time, blossomed into a beautiful glass of whiskey. Here's to Josh and many many more successful whiskey flights for years to come--that young man knows his craft!
We also raise a glass to our kind waitress, Caroline, a hard working young lady who is currently studying nursing in addition to working two different jobs. Always smiling, always attentive--a waitress that made our evening a delight.
A third round of "cheers" to the instigator of our finding this fine pub--Mike Hosford, Tom's boss. Thanks, Mike!
Whenever you are in the West Lafayette area, don't hesitate to drop in to the 9 Irish Brothers; you'll come out smiling, satisfied, and perhaps even with a lift in your step keeping in tune with the spirit of all that is good and Irish.
 |
| the inaugural whiskey flight |
 |
| the star of the show |
 |
| Caroline & Josh |
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The Joys of an Unplanned Day
Today was very purposely unplanned. I adore those occasional days when I wake up with a blank slate. With that simple luxury, I took time for extra quiet meditation outside on the deck with the butterflies, the hummingbirds, and the cats. The sound of the cicadas was louder this morning and complimented the scene along with the rustling of the field corn stalks.
During this time of unplanned pleasure, I brewed a very proper cup of tea. After watching a few videos and reading some background awhile back, I purchased some Irish Breakfast tea. I heated the water in the electric kettle, poured the hot water into a cup (not a soup bowl-sized mug that seems to be all the rage anymore, but a true cup), let the cup heat, poured it out, and then poured in fresh hot water and put the bag into steep for three minutes. Once the time was up, I added just a touch of cream and a bit of sugar (no sweetener). Glorious!! Who would've thought that something this simple would be this good...no wonder the Brits are so passionate about the properly done cup of tea.
While enjoying that most proper cup of tea in the company of all that is the backyard, I felt very compelled to write a new blog. One of the items on my list of 50 adventures is to write a sermon. I'm fortunate that my pastor is also a good friend that understands my odd whims, and so, with the help of Gretchen, I'm going to get to have that experience. In the meantime, there will be periodic postings on the site http://tina-bestillandknowthatiam.blogspot.com. I find it humorous that the only blog addresses I can fine that wasn't already in use ended up personalizing it with my name. So, appropriately, I ended up with tina--be still and know that I am. Guess that tells me plenty :).
By this time, of course, I was hungry, so off to the kitchen I went to concoct a sandwich that will make an appearance in a later food blog--always playing with my food. I think I'm just about ready to move the portable studio up to the kitchen for the needed photo shoots...I believe I know just the place.
Next I treated myself to an old movie on Netflix entitled Holiday with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, circa 1938...as Katherine would say, "It was great fun!"
Food--of course--was on the "blank slate" agenda, so after a little research, a sage rub on a pork loin was put together and has set in the fridge for a few hours before visiting the grill along with some sweet potatoes (food blog to come).
And...cataloging. It was a great day to create the EXCEL file and catalog the books to give away (another item on the 50 list)....ended up with 57 this round...literacy, anyone? :)
And...the hammock...the guest topic for tonight's Meanderings from Highbanks.
Finally, back to where I started this morning--on the deck with the laptop, and this time a glass of wine instead of Irish tea. In a bit the pork loin and sweet potatoes will go on the grill. The supper hour will be official.
Looking back, I guess my blank slate day wasn't all that blank; it was, however, incredibly relaxing. No rush, no hurry, no worry...just passing from one idea to the next.
I hope your day went well, and I wish you all the opportunity to truly enjoy (and soon experience) an unplanned day.
During this time of unplanned pleasure, I brewed a very proper cup of tea. After watching a few videos and reading some background awhile back, I purchased some Irish Breakfast tea. I heated the water in the electric kettle, poured the hot water into a cup (not a soup bowl-sized mug that seems to be all the rage anymore, but a true cup), let the cup heat, poured it out, and then poured in fresh hot water and put the bag into steep for three minutes. Once the time was up, I added just a touch of cream and a bit of sugar (no sweetener). Glorious!! Who would've thought that something this simple would be this good...no wonder the Brits are so passionate about the properly done cup of tea.
While enjoying that most proper cup of tea in the company of all that is the backyard, I felt very compelled to write a new blog. One of the items on my list of 50 adventures is to write a sermon. I'm fortunate that my pastor is also a good friend that understands my odd whims, and so, with the help of Gretchen, I'm going to get to have that experience. In the meantime, there will be periodic postings on the site http://tina-bestillandknowthatiam.blogspot.com. I find it humorous that the only blog addresses I can fine that wasn't already in use ended up personalizing it with my name. So, appropriately, I ended up with tina--be still and know that I am. Guess that tells me plenty :).
By this time, of course, I was hungry, so off to the kitchen I went to concoct a sandwich that will make an appearance in a later food blog--always playing with my food. I think I'm just about ready to move the portable studio up to the kitchen for the needed photo shoots...I believe I know just the place.
Next I treated myself to an old movie on Netflix entitled Holiday with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, circa 1938...as Katherine would say, "It was great fun!"
Food--of course--was on the "blank slate" agenda, so after a little research, a sage rub on a pork loin was put together and has set in the fridge for a few hours before visiting the grill along with some sweet potatoes (food blog to come).
And...cataloging. It was a great day to create the EXCEL file and catalog the books to give away (another item on the 50 list)....ended up with 57 this round...literacy, anyone? :)
And...the hammock...the guest topic for tonight's Meanderings from Highbanks.
Finally, back to where I started this morning--on the deck with the laptop, and this time a glass of wine instead of Irish tea. In a bit the pork loin and sweet potatoes will go on the grill. The supper hour will be official.
Looking back, I guess my blank slate day wasn't all that blank; it was, however, incredibly relaxing. No rush, no hurry, no worry...just passing from one idea to the next.
I hope your day went well, and I wish you all the opportunity to truly enjoy (and soon experience) an unplanned day.
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