I’ve been thinking a lot about things. Tangible things. Things you eat. And drink. And wear. And sit on. In my business..for almost my entire career..I’ve dealt in things that aren’t really real. Digital. On screen. Advertising. Marketing. Web based. Film based even isn’t really real. You watch it, you listen to it..but you can’t really hold it. Now, keep in mind..I love the cerebral, the psychology of advertising. I love marketing. I love websites. BUT I think there is something really necessary about needing something hard in your hands. Something primal about making a jam and eating it, or sewing a skirt to wear. It was this void in my life, that led me to develop RedCamper years ago. My whole world was unreal up to that point. Websites. As cool as they can be, as much entertainment and education as you can get, as sophisticated as you can imagine, it’s still not real. You can’t run your hands across it and feel the sensation of a perfectly sanded tagline. You can’t smell the bouquet of a website.You can’t put your things in a integrated marketing campaign.
So, while I balance the tangible nature of the struggling little RedCamper with the intangible nature of part+parcel’s services, which pay my bills in a way that RedCamper never has been able to, I find my mind wandering. I took a career test in a moment of uncertainty. I have those occasionally. What should I REALLY be doing? And according to this test, I’m supposed to be in agriculture. Agriculture? Agriculture. Turns out though, I already thought of this, and dismissed it as another one of my many many dreams. But picture it..an organic apple farm, that sells gourmet apple butter and beautifully bottled apple cider and vinegar. Sowing from the land. Dirt under the nails, and sunshine on the face. Hard work, but making something to eat. That nourishes. That is so damn appealing. Sure, it needs marketing and advertising to sell and believe me, that’s part of the appeal for me..but the foundation of it is a real thing. An apple. Not an idea, or a picture.
Today I came across this article in the New York Times.
Seltzer Man Is Out of Action, and Brooklyn Thirsts
It’s about a man selling seltzer out of an old school wood slated truck, he hurt himself, and his customers miss him. I love this. I love the old school product, the way it’s delivered, the return to old world values, I love it all. It’s refreshing.
So, what’s it all mean for me? I don’t know. I’ll just keep moving forward the best I can. Maybe Dirty Dog Jam (my last pseudo business) might just make a comeback, delivered in an old school camper. Red probably.
On the topic of advertising affecting the way we live, the example above, the new Captain D’s logo that I saw in Tennessee, is living proof. I love this logo. This logo makes me want to go eat at Captain D’s..maybe buy a t-shirt, a mug. It’s so lovely and retro and the colors are so nice and it’s a bit campy, but promises delicious seafood from a KITCHEN! I feel all of this…EVEN THOUGH I KNOW it is just another Long John Silvers where there is absolutely nothing on the menu that is going to make me feel nourished after eating it. I’ll feel sick. I’ll regret it. I’ll feel disenchanted and lied to. But I still want to go. THAT’S the power of advertising. God I love the manipulation of it all. It’s so wrong.
SNG Andrew Novick and his wife Janene (who runs Gimme Gimme Pillow Toast) outside of the Fu Collective & Gallery at the opening of his BBQ show.
1st Fridays are always a bit crazy around here..so many places to go..but my favorite stop last Friday was Andrew Novick’s BBQ show. Not only did I get to peruse photos of things I don’t eat any more, but I got rewarded with a S’more. Sweet.
I had the pineapple cake in celebration. You would have loved it.
Well done Pato. Well done.
Last night I some how made it onto the short list of invitees for the practice run of my friend Patricia’s planned dinner for 8 for a cooking contest she is participating in this Friday. (Maybe she heard I lived on trailmix for a month straight..) So..my friend Pato..is simply the best cook I know. If I were married to Pato..I would be 300 pounds.
Dinner consisted of Coconut scallop burgers with fennel dusted prosciutto on a focaccia bread with saffron mayo, accompanied by a fennel slaw and coconut grapefruit something. Yes. It was amazing.
I feel so fortunate to have such amazing friends with such amazing talents. Thank you for the super delicious dinner and I can’t wait to see you win on Friday, Pato.
(Note the Rose as my chosen beverage. I’m done with red wine. I am. )
Maybe I should get a toaster.
So..my friend Eric credited me today with what he says is his new favorite headline. (look to the right) That’s a pretty sweet compliment as he’s the copy writer, not me. But I got to thinking..you know. Bacon really is pretty spectacular. And those that know and love me most..know how important bacon is to me. I LOVE the stuff. But I’m also really..really picky about my bacon. It has to be perfect. And 9 out of 10 places do NOT cook it perfectly. So..I decided that everyone needs to know the correct way to cook bacon. So..compliments of Blogchef.net we have what looks to me like a pretty good explanation. What he doesn’t cover is the amount of pieces in the pan at one time. You usually can’t exceed 8 pieces without screwing everything up.
So there you have it.
Some gifts I’ve received. Neither cooked to perfection.
