It's Tuesday: Once more, with gratitude
The year's not over until it's over...Issue #115
Editor’s note: I’m working on some new projects after the Thanksgiving break so the newsletter will go quiet next week. There will be no delivery on Tuesday, 11/28. I will be back in full force the week of December 5.
And just like that, we arrive at the “Holiday Season.” Thanksgiving is all teed up and it is followed by Christmas. Then we start a whole new year. Not to sound like an old man but, what the heck? Wasn’t it April last week?
So…how’s 2023 been treating you? If you’re working in magazine media was it another difficult year? Did some private equity folk buy your company and change all your reporting and procedures? Are you doing two jobs now? Learning to do some things you never did before? Is all the playing around with AI making you a little nervous? I get it. This business has been in significant transition for a very long time. Change is not going to stop anytime soon. Unless you started in magazine media last year, everything we’re going through feels a bit upside down.
This is the time of year to change your outlook. Let’s stop for a minute and take a deep breath. It’s time to feel some gratitude that we get to witness all of this. Let’s declare the glass half full. A refill of your favorite drink is on its way over from the bar. You know what? You’ll find a new printer. You’ll get some new subscribers. The open rate will go up. You’ll sell something through e-commerce. A crowd will show up for your new event. You’ll get OTT viewers. Your newsstand sales will…well, hmmm. Scratch that. Tell the higher ups that there will be some newsstand sales (But let’s not talk about that right now).
Think for a moment: What are you thankful for this year? Here are five things that I am thankful for.
One__Books to take you somewhere else
Leigh Bardugo, “Hell Bent”
What can I say? I’m kind of a sucker for fish out of water, alternate reality stories. Author Leigh Bardugo created an original alternate reality for Yale University’s secret societies (Skull and Bones uses haruspicy to tell the future) and a challenging but sympathetic character in Galaxy “Alex” Stern. The story will keep you up all night. Not because it’s scary (although it is thrilling), but simply because you’ll want to know how it all turns out. When it’s over, you’re going to miss Alex and her crew.
Anthony Doerr, “All the Light We Cannot See”
No, not the Netflix series, the original book (Although the four episode limited series is very good!). This World War 2 story is brilliant, poignant and doesn’t quite end on a happy note. But you will be satisfied. If you’ve already watched the series, go and get the book, it will explain a lot. If you are not familiar with either, read the book first. It will help explain the Netflix series.
two__Music to make your ears happy
Warren Zevon, “The Wind”
This is not a new album and Zevon died back in 2003.
I can’t exactly recall how I came across this, but sometime this summer I heard his version of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” in the background on a TV show. I Shazamed the song, and there you have it. The music is thoughtful, real, there’s real musicianship on the album. When you consider that Zevon recorded this after announcing that he had terminal cancer, “Heaven’s Door” and the closing song, “Keep me in your heart” takes on a deeper meaning.
three__Streaming to engage you
The Morning Show, Apple TV+: This show has multiple Emmy nominations and at least one win. It deserves it. The show touches on so many topical issues in today’s work place from diversity and equity to sexual harassment to the consolidation of media under the thumb of billionaires. One of the most engaging aspects of the show was to see stars Jennifer Anniston and Reese Witherspoon stray out of their traditional lanes and play complicated, ethically challenged characters.
Tip of the hat to Nicole Beharie for playing the complicated former Olympian Chris Hunter.
Formula 1: The Drive to Survive, Netflix: While I was aware of Formula 1, I never paid any attention to it. This show is engrossing. There are endless teaching moments in it: Grace under pressure, how to work with team mates and still compete. The gross inequities between the leading and trailing teams. The stunning lack of diversity in the talent pool. This show is very much worth the watch.
four__Food for the soul: Egg in a nest (AKA: Bullseye Toast, and some other dated and problematic names)
This very simple meal has so many variations and so many names. The one I grew up with is remarkably problematic. This week, our house is filling up with family and I’m planning on making it one morning for the crew. We’ll be calling it “Egg in a Nest.”
Here’s our recipe. It’s evolved over time and you can adjust and suit to your personal taste. Below is how I’d make five servings. Here goes:
5 pieces of whole wheat bread (Challah bread is also quite good)
5 tabs of butter
5 large eggs
dash of salt to taste
dash of ground pepper to taste
dash of parsley
1 and 1/2 cup of shredded cheese divided into fifths (We’ve used Cheddar, Parmesan and even Swiss)
Heat a large frying pan
Melt butter to coat the bottom of the pan
Cut a hole at least 2-3 inches in the center of each piece of bread and do not dispose of the holes
When the butter is hot, place the bread in the pan
Crack an egg into the hole in the bread
Sprinkle some salt, pepper and parsley onto the egg
Let the bottom of the egg cook and the bread begin to brown
Place the cut out hole over the top of the egg
Flip the bread over to crisp up the other side of the bread (Try not to break the yoke)
Cook until the egg white is done but the yoke is still a bit runny (Unless the person you’re cooking it for likes eggs well done)
Serve with bacon or sausage, turkey bacon or veggie sausage. Don’t forget a giant side of berries and bananas. Sit down and eat with your family.
five__Service for your community, your family and your sanity
You’ve heard all the complaints. The “Bowling Alone” warnings. The articles that imply that no one wants to work anymore, no one volunteers, votes, cares about their community. All of those dire, finger pointing we’re just so terrible articles. I had a lot of fun when I found Paul Fairie’s thread on the old Twitter showing all of these modern complaints aren’t new, have been with us for literally hundreds of years.
I get why we are reluctant to engage sometimes. Volunteering can be unrewarding. One of my worst experiences was serving on a very dysfunctional soccer rec league board. And yet, I do think that we ask too little of ourselves when it comes to public and civic engagement. If you can, find some way to be out in the world, give something back.
What’s kept me grounded the past few years is my work with a local animal shelter, Orphans of the Storm where I volunteer as a dog walker, play group runner and dog walker trainer. I like the work because it brings me out into another world, something beyond the family and friend circle. Working there refreshes me so I can go back to family and friends and be a better person.
Obviously, I like the dogs. But I also like the other volunteers and the paid staff. It’s an opportunity to share in something that’s important to others. Their dedication to a demanding job that can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue is impressive. Plus, they’re all just really nice people.
If you are finding this world a difficult space, a world that does not feel like home, I hope that you think about spending some time as a volunteer. It can help.
Your moment of magazine zen…
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It’s a Tuesday morning, just a short 48 hours until Thanksgiving. Are you in the office? Are you busy? Hopefully you’re not about to go into a meeting. Well guess what? Our favorite stressed out magazine media marketing team was just in a meeting and was it a potboiler! The CMO and CTO left conference room B after introducing them to a brand new suite of CRM and CMS SaaS systems. The CTO told Veronica’s team “You’re going to love this stuff! It’s very intuitive!” And the CMO told them, “You need to have it up and running by December 1st. I want the Christmas market push to use it. Have a nice Thanksgiving.” Then they were out the door.
I hope you have a short, easy week and a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and break. If you are actually in the office, head on down to the break room. I hear there’s a potluck this morning.
