Blogging Ladies

Last night I went to the JCC for an interview event with Julie Powell and Gretchen Rubin called From Blogs to Blockbusters. For those of you who don't already know, Julie Powell is the author of Julie and Julia (and Cleaving) and Gretchin Rubin is the author of The Happiness Project. I signed up really just to hear Julie Powell speak. I fell in love with the movie, that is based on her blog project about cooking her way through Julia child's cookbook. I knew nothing about Gretchin Rubin and didn't pay much attention to her name when I received the email invitation. The interview was focused on how their careers took off through blog writing. As a newbie blogger I was very much interested in what these successful women had to say. I hoped for tips and inspiration. I received an account of their passions in truly dissimilar manners. One left brain, one right. I thought of me and my sister: one doctor to be, one art teacher. Left brain, right brain.

I am interested in happiness. Like all other living beings. While Gretchen Rubin spoke I began to think about how complicated it is to be happy. What fascinates me is that as children it's one of the first emotions we learn. It seems basic, fundamental, easy. But as adults this almost boring emotion becomes a never-ending complicated a journey that eats away all of our energy.

I'll be happy when I am fed. I am warm. I am comfortable. I am thin. I am loved. In a relationship. In control. Own property. Earn a living. Why is it we are always one step away? It's a basic, fundamental, easy, emotion. Truth?

What I love about Julie Powell is although she is awkward, blatantly honest, and definitely not as cute as Amy Adams, she is this totally lovable woman who is completely obsessed by writing and also by food. I can kind of relate (even though no adorable hollywood actress will ever play me.)

Of course people blog for all sorts of reasons. But Julie and Gretchen write about obsession. As an ode to them I will gladly write and offer my thoughts on what obsesses me. Today it is my travel trip to Japan. More detail to follow.

My feet were prunish and soggy when I arrived home tonight. Not enough to dampen today's obsession :)