(no subject)

I got 99 problems, but you ain't one.

Can I borrow a minute of your tomorrow?

Nearly every train ride during prime time commute has me located next to someone reading a book by Dan Brown. Usually it's someone standing in the aisle or by the door, but this morning it was the guy sitting right next to me with The Da Vinci Code in his lap. I occasionally looked over and read along. He happened to be about 2/3 of the way through the book, on the chapter where they reveal who the Holy Grail is. Yeah, I said 'who'. Oh, am I ruining it? I guess I'll stop with the plot revelations, especially since I've only read two pages and there could be other twists and conflicts that contradict what I read. But I will never know. Except wait, I might see the movie.

I did glance at an article that talked about the cultural meaning of the popularity of this book, about how a story on a deep cover up appealing to the masses reveals how uncomfortable and scared we are as a society, and that part intrigues me. I'm okay with a good storyteller. Good storytellers can be paired with good screenwriters and/or directors and great movies can be made. But Dan Brown is a craptastic writer. I was cringing this morning on the train during the little bit I read.

Of course my over-reacting probably originates from a deep-seated fear that I am at best, a good storyteller but bad writer, and at worst, I suck at both. But I won't know until I actually start writing something, which hasn't happened in awhile. And won't happen if I keep placating myself with movies. But that won't stop me from the free premiere of Spike Lee's new movie tonight. I can keep brainstorming that novel tomorrow.

You don't know me.

Last weekend I was listening to one of my favorite albums that I only have on vinyl, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music by Ray Charles, and unfortunately there were huge skips and scratches on a couple favorite songs and I wanted to remember to replace my copy.

Then today I was reminded again because he died.