Sepia Desert

True Detective

BRILLIANT

For Nic Pizzolatto, the creator of “True Detective,” “it’s no more complicated than this: that you’re going to use the investigation of a crime as the sort of melted cheese in which you smuggle an investigation of the human character.”

Mindset

Maria Popover's review of Carol Dweck's book

MINDSET: THE NEW PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS

is riveting.

Putting the book at the top of my pile. 

The Interestings

A coming of age novel exploring the lives of a group of friends who meet as teenagers at a summer camp.  Spanning 40 years, it is an epic exploration of friendship and dreams, both realized and deferred.  In an interview, the Meg Wolitzer spoke about her desire to explore a prevalent human emotion:

"I was really interested in the subject of envy. But not that kind of big, overt envy, but instead the kind of quiet envy that you might feel for people you really love.

This was one of my favorite aspects of the book for it was executed with a dramatic truth that never became melodramatic.  

Disappointment

Riding a wave of disappointment.  Another broadcast development season without a green lit pilot. 

An inauspicious way to start the year.

Rumi

PS

Friday

Long, extremely busy week, which made waiting for network pick ups slightly easier.

At some point, I surrender.

The work has been done, the dye has been cast, the unknown will soon be known.

Can only make immediate plans, and ponder back up plans, as we anticipate the fate of our development.

Two have risen to the top.  One above the other, but until we get a yes, it's all speculation.
Dreaming.  Hoping, Wishing.

Haven't wanted to start preparing for for plan B, but I'm wanting to  protect my heart.

Passion.  Energy.  Time.  Payoff?

Realistic expectations, but a certain phone call will undoubtedly result in disappointment. 

Friday evening hike helped ease the tension.

The Goldfinch

Wow.

  My second read of the year was a hefty one; Donna Tartt's critically acclaimed 775 page tome,

 The Goldfinch.

  Was concerned I wouldn't have the time to dedicate to this novel given my hectic schedule,
but once I started I couldn't put this book down.

  All day, I looked forward to unwinding with Theo and Boris,
 and I'd awake with the sun to sneak in a few more hours before starting my day.

  Some books transport me, and with each page I feel like I was living someone's else.

 A vivid dream that haunted me during waking hours.

Grief, the heart in captivity, abandondonment, and self destructive behavior.

Palpable loneliness, and secrets that spiral out of control.

The book's title comes from a famous Dutch painting of a little bird chained to his feed box.

In Theo's words:

“There’s only a tiny heartbeat and solitude, bright sunny wall, and a sense of no escape.  Time that doesn’t move, time that couldn’t be called time. And trapped in the heart of light: the little prisoner, unflinching.”

Red Carpet

On a red carpet with lots of misses at tonight's Golden Globes, this was by far my favorite.
Cate's performance in Blue Jasmine is also at the top of my list.

The Lowland

First book of the year, Jhumpa Lahiri's THE LOWLAND.  

I've read all of her previous books, and was immediately captivated by this tale of two brothers. 

A more epic story than her others, but still had intimate character details that caused me to weep.

Pot of Gold

A new year bears so much promise, particularly when broadcast nets begin to green light pilots this month.  Feeling very good about several of our projects, and optimistic about our cable slate.  I'm aware hopefulness can lead to disappointment, but for now I'm going to remain positive.  Reposting this photo from Moby's blog.  My house is somewhere under that rainbow, anchored by two pots of gold.

Murray Peak

Took a challenging hike this morning to Murray Peak.  Several years ago I hiked this mountain with a friend, and instead of going on a nine mile loop we got lost in the bottom of the canyon, crossed paths with a rattlesnake, ran out of water, and got chased off private property.  Several weeks ago I stumbled upon a different trail head to the peak, and this morning I set out for an adventure.  I hiked 8.57 miles in 3 hours and 11 minutes, burning 1259 calories while climbing over 3000 feet.  The temperature was perfect, weather conditions exceptional.  I'm dusty, and my feet are a little achy, but overall happy to have squeezed the last few hours out of this holiday before diving back into work and the unknown.

Sunnylands Garden

I knew one day during the holiday break I'd find myself in nature with time on my side, and camera in hand.  Today was that day.  I've been wanting to visit Sunnylands Garden since it opened this past spring as part of a 65 million dollar renovation to the Annenberg estate and newly erected visitor center.  TV Guide publishing magnate Walter  Annenberg and his wife Lenore wintered on this 200 acre property in Rancho Mirage.  Nine acres were transformed into a desert garden inspired by their art collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings which were donated to the Met in 2001.  I read this fact after I walked the stunning grounds, every angle photo-worthy, and felt oddly transported to France.  Perhaps one of the most beautiful formal desert landscapes I've ever encountered.  The detail to texture, color and dimension is breath taking.  According to James Burnett, the landscape architect, "Everything in concept was designed to use massing in hundreds of plants instead of small combinations, so we could sweep color on a very large scale."  I eagerly await another visit this spring, as various trees and cacti are blooming.

Richard Diebenkorn: The Berkeley Years, 1953-1966

Currently on exhibit in Palm Springs, a retrospective of Diebenkorn's work from 1953 to 1966 while he lived in Berkeley.  Considered one of California's finest 20th century artists, this particular period is marked by vivid abstract landscapes characterizing the rich, natural conditions of the Bay Area, followed by a sudden shift to a representational style that played a leading role in the Bay Area Figurative Movement, which finally gave way again to abstraction after the artist’s move to southern California in 1966.  These transformations represent one of the most interesting chapters in post-war American art.  Diebenkorn was able to enact these changes with no disruptions to the unity of his art or the basic principles of his artistic personality.  His saturated canvases are arresting and emotional, and worthy of another visit.

Celebrating 2014

There's nothing better than bidding adieu to the past, and welcoming in the new with dear friends.

We laughed, danced, ate pizza and pork shoulder.  

We reminisced.  We made new memories.

We summed up the past year with a letter grade.

At midnight, we hooted and hollered into the canyon

dreaming about all the possibilities a new year promises.