Chairman of the Bored
If there is such a thing as "the good life", then I guess I have it. I am blessed with a wonderful wife of 22 years. I have three awesome sons, one in college and twins in high school. I own my own business in trucking and logistics, and business is pretty good. I have a few really good friends, guys I have known for nearly 40 years. I love football and basketball, music, and reading. While I have struggled with some health issues, I feel okay and am getting better.
All in all, not too fucking bad. And yet, with all of this good stuff going on, I was bored to tears. I am not really a "hobby" kind of guy. I am not really artistic or crafty. I don't collect stuff. Although I have lived in the desert for over 20 years, I can't quite get my head around chasing a golf ball in 116 degree heat. I am trying in a very half assed manner to learn to play a musical instrument, most recently the mandolin. Still bored. Being bored is really my Kryptonite. It drives me nuts trying to figure out something to do over a long weekend. Hanging with my family is great, and during football season I will watch 8 or 9 games a weekend between college and pro teams. But boredom was still kicking my ass. Also, I was now in my Fifties, which is a whole other nut to crack.
One thing about me that I haven't mentioned is that I really love Great Britain. I have been an Anglophile for as long as I can remember. Sherlock Holmes, The Who, James Bond, Scotch Whisky, Monty Python, Charles Dickens, I really love it all. I was even a closeted Downton Abbey fan until my wife busted me watching it. Love the British Isles, looking forward to going there one day. And yes, my love of Merry Old England does actually play a part in my eventual cure for boredom.
So, about 18 months ago I was BORED and scrolling through Netflix for something to binge watch. I was checking around the several hundred British crime dramas when I saw a show called "The Great British Bake Off". I am not a huge fan of cooking shows, although my wife and I do watch Top Chef. I don't really know what attracted me to the show, other than my fondness for all things English, but I added it to my Queue and fired up Episode #1. All I can say was I loved it. Paul Hollywood was cool and Mary Berry was sweet and Mel and Sue cracked me up. The contestants on the show were really engaging. There is no big prize money for the Champion, just an etched cake stand. They compete for the sheer love of baking. And, unlike so many American shows, the contestants are really kind to each other. No drama or sniping. The judges, Paul and Mary, are pleasant and always find something positive to say about everyone's bake, even if it is a disaster.
So the show became my new obsession. I binge watched 3 seasons in a month or so, and watched the Holiday specials and the Masterclasses. Then I found out there were 3 seasons not available on Netflix or PBS, but I found them on Dailymotion. After 4 or 5 months of watching, I decided to get busy and try baking for myself. On my next post, I will highlight my foray into baking and how I became the Desert Dough Dad.
All in all, not too fucking bad. And yet, with all of this good stuff going on, I was bored to tears. I am not really a "hobby" kind of guy. I am not really artistic or crafty. I don't collect stuff. Although I have lived in the desert for over 20 years, I can't quite get my head around chasing a golf ball in 116 degree heat. I am trying in a very half assed manner to learn to play a musical instrument, most recently the mandolin. Still bored. Being bored is really my Kryptonite. It drives me nuts trying to figure out something to do over a long weekend. Hanging with my family is great, and during football season I will watch 8 or 9 games a weekend between college and pro teams. But boredom was still kicking my ass. Also, I was now in my Fifties, which is a whole other nut to crack.
One thing about me that I haven't mentioned is that I really love Great Britain. I have been an Anglophile for as long as I can remember. Sherlock Holmes, The Who, James Bond, Scotch Whisky, Monty Python, Charles Dickens, I really love it all. I was even a closeted Downton Abbey fan until my wife busted me watching it. Love the British Isles, looking forward to going there one day. And yes, my love of Merry Old England does actually play a part in my eventual cure for boredom.
So, about 18 months ago I was BORED and scrolling through Netflix for something to binge watch. I was checking around the several hundred British crime dramas when I saw a show called "The Great British Bake Off". I am not a huge fan of cooking shows, although my wife and I do watch Top Chef. I don't really know what attracted me to the show, other than my fondness for all things English, but I added it to my Queue and fired up Episode #1. All I can say was I loved it. Paul Hollywood was cool and Mary Berry was sweet and Mel and Sue cracked me up. The contestants on the show were really engaging. There is no big prize money for the Champion, just an etched cake stand. They compete for the sheer love of baking. And, unlike so many American shows, the contestants are really kind to each other. No drama or sniping. The judges, Paul and Mary, are pleasant and always find something positive to say about everyone's bake, even if it is a disaster.
So the show became my new obsession. I binge watched 3 seasons in a month or so, and watched the Holiday specials and the Masterclasses. Then I found out there were 3 seasons not available on Netflix or PBS, but I found them on Dailymotion. After 4 or 5 months of watching, I decided to get busy and try baking for myself. On my next post, I will highlight my foray into baking and how I became the Desert Dough Dad.
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