I've recently bought cans of unsalted peas. I saw them at the grocery store the other day and it occurred to me that yes, I should buy those. Who needs all that extra salt that's normally added to canned goods? Yes, well... I'm sure it's just a matter of getting used to the taste, but for now the peas really seem to need ... salt. So I've taken to salting my chicken generously, and then taking a bite of peas, with a quick chaser of salted chicken. Cheater.

Today I had nothing much to do at work, so I decided to attend one of the "communication" meetings that the larger group that I'm a part of has on occasion. This is mostly a presentation by the overall manager/VP regarding how Xerox is doing, and how our group is doing, what our group is doing. I work in the research division within Xerox, so it's not your normal corporate work. There are serious people, very intelligent people, holders of PhDs, doing real research in some cases, but in most all cases, they are not jerf-offs, slackers, or 'ner-do wells. But I digress. I was listening to the VP, who is new to the company--arrived just a handful of months ago. And it suddenly occurred to me that he's actually trying to do good work, taking it seriously, giving himself to his work, etc. He's thinking about the larger issues of the group, vision, direction. It's good to see, and I wondered about the types of people and their levels of devotion to their work. There are those, like him, who really immerse themselves in their work, spend much of their mental lives on work, think about problems when at work and at home and are always thinking of how to improve, thinking beyond their immediate tasks and their jobs to the larger context. Problem solvers and visionary types. These people are successful at their jobs, they're good at their jobs, they're happy at their jobs. Their jobs are perhaps the most important part of their lives. They probably don't have a lot of other, private pursuits. They don't have hobbies, other interests, other passions. And then there are those who are good at their jobs, competent, and happy enough, but also have outside hobbies and interests. They are serious joggers, they sing in local choral groups and bands, they travel extensively, they volunteer, they garden. Their professional and private lives are more evenly divided or balanced. I can't decide which I like better, which is better, which I want to be. I know that I'm clearing in the latter group now, but I used to be in the former. Both have virtues. The career-driven types have passion, and that's huge. They're invested; they're committed. The others know there's more to life than work. Who can deny it. Lately I find myself favoring the first group. Passion and committment are more important than anything else, I think. For the same reason I also like a third group--those who work merely as a means to support their true passion. Maybe he's an insurance salesman or taxi driver by day, and a composer by night. He makes not pretenses about caring for his job--he doesn't. He cares about composing. But enough on that. I dismiss you, topic. You bore me suddenly. hahah

Frank told me today of a friend of his who's moving to Paris. How is that done?

I was looking at my pictures from Paris today, and it dawns on me, really I'm just reminded of what I already knew--pictures of vacations are boring and should not be taken except as they include people. Pictures of a church... boring. Your memories are far more important and alive. But pictures of a friend in front of the same church... that's the picture that should be taken. When I'm experiencing something wonderful, like a beautiful church, I'm totally absorbed by it, it's a solitary, private thing for me. That can't be captured on film. What can be captured are the people in your life. I'm thirsty. I'll go get some water.