So, THIS is What Adults Talk About...

Sometimes I get to do fun things through my job. My company has a table for a series of Global Leader luncheons with varioius speakers. Some are great; some are boring. Yesterday, was a great one with Chris Matthews as the guest speaker. At first, I was a little bummed, because Tom Brokaw was supposed to speak and had to cancel, but I think I enjoyed Matthews' speech and subsequent Q&A much more than I would have Brokaw's (and we got a free, signed copy of his book Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked.)

The book is about the relationshop between Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill and how even though they were complete ideological opposites, they managed to work together and get things accomplished. Now, I was just a wee girl during that administration and haven't particularly studied it in-depth, so I'm taking Matthews at his word that things indeed got accomplished (outside of little stuff like ending the Cold War). Matthews' critiqued our current political leadership and their inabaility to do anything other than name call (and he was completely hilarious, doing so). If you know anything about Chris Matthews, you know he's liberal, but he was just as harsh on Obama as he was Boehner. He just ended his diatribe on Obama's inability to assemble a cohesive leadership structure in his administration by saying "and I like the guy." Boehner didn't get that hedge.

I won't go into a recap of recent Capital Hill showdowns or an editorial on why our governement is broken, because I think, left, right or moderate, most people agree we've got a pretty big problem on our hands and are sick of watching our elected officials not do their jobs. What I really want to write about is how much I enjoy going to these events--whether it's someone as recognizable as Matthews or the CEO of Archer Daniels Midland, whom I'd never heard of, but gave an incredibly thought-provoking talk on global food production and demand.  These talks give me a chance to think and feel like an educated adult. I rarely get to watch the news anymore and only occasionally find the time to scan a newspaper, so I often find myself feeling really dumb and unaware in group conversations these days. One could argue that I could be reading up on current events right now instead of writing this post, and it would be a valid point. But, this blog gives me a little creative outlet and I really enjoy keeping it. I'd rather be clueless on the latest in Syria, but have cute Halloween pictures of Nick and Lainey posted for my family and friends. So, my co-workers may not get dazzled with my insights on chemical weapon disarmament, but my loved ones get to see Nick as Eeyore. It's all about choices, friends.

So, I'll take my slivers of intellectual stimulation when they are conveniently offered to me and get the rest of my news from the Daily Show playing in the background as I fall asleep at night. Perfectly acceptable.

I am looking forward to reading the book,though. Just as soon as I get to Night Film by Marisha Pessl and NW by Zadie Smith...and finish Anna Karenina. I am embarrassed to say I started AK about a week before Nick was born. He will be eight months old next Friday. Again, choices my friends, choices.