Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The Flotsam and Jetsam that is Wendy this week PLUS: ENGAGE THE FOX!



So much to discuss with you all, so little time before I have to pan fry some duck breasts a la Gordon Ramsay....

1) Paying it Forward

I got a chance last Friday to have coffee with someone considering a significant career change,  It was a privilege to provide them with support and encouragement, sprinkled with a small dose of what I like to call Wendy dust.  What is Wendy dust you say?  So glad you asked!  When I decided to finally pursue my dream career, I knew I would start at the bottom.  Well, I have seen the bottom and I have survived it.  I learn more about writing, the writing business, and the mechanics of well, everything, every single day.  I am still besotted.  And while I didn't think I'd be an overnight success, I sort of thought I would be if you know what I mean.

We're all like that, aren't we?  We know that success takes hard work and dedication.  I love writing.  I even like editing and revising.  I love learning.  But I kind of wish I knew more than I do.  I kind of wish I would get better in snap.  I have to sprinkle a little Wendy dust on myself now and then and remind myself that anything worth doing is worth doing right.  My agent is out there waiting to fall madly in love with me and me with them.  But I gotta work for it!  So on Friday, I shared that with my friend.  There will be knocks.  Don't worry.  Don't be discouraged.  The help always seems to show up when you need it.  I wanted to be that help for my friend.  And boy, that felt pretty darn good!

Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.Anne Herbert
And speaking of beauty...

2) The Mindy Project

I am always late to every "thing", so when I tell you about something, you ought to know that it was probably big about two years ago.  My latest obsession is The Mindy Project.  I love this show!  I am currently making my way through the episodes on Netflix, watching one or two a night.


The Mindy Project


The show is very witty.  The funny thing is, I don't see myself in Mindy at all.  I see myself in the character of her potential love interest Danny.  There have been two episodes where he's said things like "Wow, that Panama Canal" or "That Ken Burns is a genius" and everyone in my family has turned to me because, well, I say the exact same things at the dinner table on a regular basis, little history geek that I am.

The other person I seem to be the personality twin of if Harvey Levin from TMZ.  TMZ haters off to the side - I completely agree with you that it is complete and utter trash, but my daughter love it and so it is our complete and utter trash.  But sometimes it is hugely funny and very clever.

For those who don't watch, Harvey, who owns TMZ, moderates the discussions amongst his often clueless and almost always classless staff.  And he says things that sound like they are coming from my mouth.  I mean, seriously, they sound like things I say.  How is it that the characters I most resemble on TV (aside from Amal Almuddin, but I suspect she won't be on TV so often soon) are a slightly stuffy male doctor and a gossip company tycoon?  Well there are likely theories about that, and if they are nasty, well tell Fred and she will ease me into it over drinks when I meet her next year in NYC....

3) Michael Pollen's Cooked.



I finally got around to reading this.  I am a huge Michael Pollan fan and this book did not disappoint, and as is the case of all his books, I learned much while he entertained me with stories.

Of course, reading Michael Pollan must be at your own risk because truly, you always go away thinking "I should do more".  I went away thinking "I can make bread without yeast using the power of bacteria and wholesome food".  To whit, I am "cooking" my own sourdough starter, with the firm belief that breads made using homemade starter are less glutteny and other "thingy" (don't ask me for details, I only know enough to be dangerous) and they are more natural than the yeasts we currently use which are all, well, manufactured.  Again - don't ask.  Or ask Michael.  He seems to know.

Well my starter is bubbling away and tonight I leaven the bread.  I am feeling very puritanical about all this, even if I can't explain (without the book in front of me) what leavening actually is.  No matter.  More detail to follow.  

4) and speaking of books...

Our own Jen Lawrence has a book being released in the next week: Engage the Fox!  I am so excited and have pre-ordered mine from Chapters.

Obviously, I am no longer in the corporate world, but from the blurb in Chapters and the review in the Chronicle-Herald, I see this as a wonderful tool for everyone and I am so looking forward to reading it!

I love that she's written a business fable.  Hmmm I wonder if she can explain my uncanny personality resemblance to Harvey Levin????

Good luck Jen!  I hope you sell a million!

Engage The Fox: A Business Fable About Thinking Critically And Motivating Your Team

The book has already gotten a good review!  I know it will get many more!

Well that's the stuff jangling in my brain. Now it's in yours!

Have a great day and stay safe out there!

xoxo wendy

22 comments:

  1. You do have a lot rattling around in there..me too. I did make bread with spelt flour, whatever the hell that is and no I am not looking for a definition. It was actually pretty good and sank like a rock in the old tummy. Never seen The Mindy Project, just counting the days until Walking Dead. Jen's book will be very well received...very excited for her too.

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    1. Spelt flour! I am intrigued!!!! I missed all last season of Walking Dead. I really must go back there....

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    2. Wendy, waiting for the cocktail mates so forgive random phone comments. Mike demands you much catch up on TWD immediately. Terminus!

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    3. we've gone to the rising phase and hmmm... But ever hopeful....

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  2. I know the Wendy Dust and happy is the person you sprinkle it on. I read Jen's review and I'm so excited for her, it's in my Amazon cart right now. She's so talented AND funny and also she has the best sidekick EVER (Serena of course).
    I can't read Michael Pollan just now as my To-Do List is 8 miles long. Let us know how your bread without yeast turns out!

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    1. You get a pass, considering that your very lovely Dani life has taken a decidedly Wendy-like chaotic turn! I will keep you posted!

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  3. I think I need some Wendy dust!
    I've not heard of the show, or either of the writers or their books, so will go off for a google after trying this.
    I eat Spelt quite often, as it's better for my gut than most grains. It's a bit boring, though, compared to rye.
    Are you using a sourdough starter?

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    1. I am Ruth and I am very excited to see that little bacteria bubbling away!

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  4. On a major business revamp - Wendy Dust if you please :-)
    Must read the review the business fable...Do tell about bread. My boys and DH are bread fiends - we are going broke at the bakery!

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    1. Oh good luck Julie and let me know about the dresses!!!

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  5. Wendy, loved number 1 mentoring and the magic of Wendy dust! Catching up, but, no need for you and GC to be on a break, you are soulmates, at least when it comes to Italian villas, history and activist politics. And I think biker cum beatnik really suits you. Rock/ poetry slam on my friend. And I hope a little sprinkle of your happy juju comes back to you this week as well.

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    1. GF- how true - he need only treat me like a girlfriend, call when he needs me...

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  6. One of my daughters is a great fan of The Mindy Project so I have watched a few with her. It is refreshing!

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  7. Thank you for the delicious shout out, Wendy darling! I will have to do a Myers-Briggs on you and Harvey to see the overlaps. Very intriguing… The next book has a touch of magic in it so perhaps I'd best do some research on this Wendy Dust. Perhaps I should rendezvous with y'all in NYC (or Switzerland - is a Large Hadron Collider required to study it's properties?) In any case, your coffee date was lucky to hear your thoughts on the subject. Your turn for publishing neurosis will be just around the corner. I'll have the Bach Flower remedy at the ready!

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    1. And clearly I can't spell its. Curse you, publishing neurosis!! :)

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    2. When last I did it I was ENFP. No surprise to you I bet!!!

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  8. I am also in need of some Wendy-dust...actually a lot of it, if you don't mind! I make my own bread, but have not yet used a sourdough starter. I'd love to know how yours turned out. Thank you for sharing the info about the books. I'll for certain be checking out both of them.

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    1. Melissa - it is winging your way right now. The bread is trying to rise. It is a little well, flat...

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  9. I think the whole world could use some Wendy dust about now.

    We will need to know how your fermentation project worked. I have carried sour dough 'mothers' for various periods with interesting results, a depth of flavor. Mostly I do no knead bread now as our bread intake has fallen. Spelt is considered an "ancient" grain, meaning it was not improved to be softer and lighter for modern tastes. The gluten does not have the toxic amino acid chain that modern wheats seem to have that incites allergy in those genetically predisposed.

    Gosh, Amal wears swell clothes, no?

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    1. Amal wears clothes VERY well. I cannot hate her. I think she is quite divine!

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  10. We used to make our own sourdough bread from a starter we kept in the refridge but then someone stole it right out from under our noses and that ended that. Maybe some Wendy dust sprinkled will get that person to confess and to return it to us.

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    1. Inpsector Mary on the case! Who the hell would steal sourdough starter????

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Kindness is a virtue...