Is this thing on?

by Jon Sullivan - 2024-03-21 - Status

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I haven't made a blog post in a looooong time. Let's talk about that.

By now the crazy has long since faded into memory. And while the things I learned while insane will always stay with me, I feel a bit like I've regressed from the best version of Jon to the worst. No... Not worst. That would be the 80s. But maybe worst-ish. Worst adjacent. Noticeable lingering smell of worst.

It's the hermit behaviors. I hate them. And in a small harmless way I hate myself for allowing it. I could go out and adventure. Or I could stay home and play video games. And I keep making the wrong choice. I threw away most of my stuff and moved here to Oregon to be Adventure Jon. I'm not. I'm "need to touch grass" Jon. To be sure.... I'm not the moss covered stone I was in San Diego..... But I could really get out more.

Contrast all that with the things that have been massive changes since San Diego - Revelations about kindness and it's power for change. Going from a rejection of community/tribe to a need for it. Shifting from a shallow embrace of socialism to a more nuanced view of morality and economics combined with and driven by compassion. Forgiving myself for the grand canyon of guilt I'd built up. Accepting the many ideas I'd been wrong about, but couldn't let go of due to arrogance. And more than anything, finally seeing the beauty in everyone around me.

And cooking. For what seems like no reason at all cooking has taken over much of my life. In a very good way. The last few days have been spent fretting over my recipe for beet soup. After that I'll start working on my technique for making smoked olive oil. Then there is the camping event next month. So I need to come up with something fancy I can cook out of the back of my car. Can I make a shrimp bisque and garnish with bacon wrapped grilled cheese bites? Eggnog pancakes with smoked maple whip cream? Jambalaya stuffed peppers with creole sauce?

So I haven't changed. Still a hermit. But I have changed. More bohemian, and kind. Sort of a hybrid? An adventure hermit? And outgoing shut-in? A languid hippie?

Let's just agree my enlightenment is a work in progress.

Today's photo : Cooking good looking food and photography go well together. So as soon as I thought of bringing a purple and green soup to the throwdown, it was an obvious lock. So.... Beet soup with pea puree sour cream. I'll be honest 1) I like it, but folks are either going to love it or hate it, and 2) the soup is better than the photo. I think I have the taste dialed in, but I'm tempted to keep working on the presentation. Daddy needs a better photo.

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