I don’t know if I should say that my friend Kristen is to blame for part of this post because blame makes it sound as if she did something wrong and she did not. All she did is tip me off to Walter Cronkite in the Kitchen of 2001.
Have some fun and take a moment to go back 46 years and see what the ancients thought a modern kitchen would be like.
On a side note if you are of a certain age you might appreciate watching this clip of Cronkite talking about JFK‘s assassination. I remember watching that clip in college, but what strikes me now is how Cronkite reported the news, there is one point where you can see him struggle to keep it together, butย he managed. The consummate professional.
Back To Our Normally Scheduled Programming
Someone recently asked me why I hadn’t spent as much time producing professional content. They wanted me to return to providing more specific information about how to leverage social media for professional purposes and for tips on how to create a professional blog.
The answer is simple.
The most effective use of social media comes when you build a relationship between readers/users and you. These posts about my relocation and the challenges that come with it are something people relate to and the readership here is growing exponentially.
And if you recall a while back I blogged about the echo chamber and suggested it is important not to allow yourself to get caught up in that. There are a million posts containing social media tips and advice so instead of adding to the clutter and chaos I am going a different direction.
I prefer to continue to build the relationship between you and I and sprinkle the advice/tips in between it all.
My Kitchen
It is a bit of a misnomer to write about my kitchen because I don’t really have one. At the moment I am in an extended stay hotel that resembles a studio apartment, except I don’t have a full kitchen.
There is a microwave, fridge and a cook top that doesn’t work as well as I would like it to.
The net result is that I can’t cook the way I want to so I have spent more time eating out than I would like to.ย I would like to be able to cook more often and not just because of the higher cost of eating out.
Some days I want to enjoy a quiet moment at home with a hot, home cooked meal that is made exactly the way I like it.
I Can Cook
Some of you who know me in real life might be surprised to hear that I can cook, but it is not an exaggeration. I can cook anything and sometimes I really enjoy it. What I don’t enjoy is cleaning up.
I hate doing dishes. Let me repeat that, I hate doing dishes. Sorry mom and dad, but I can blame you for this one– the scars of childhood live on.
The kitchen is the heart of the home and part of the reason I want one is because where I live now has no heart. It is clearly temporary housing and while I like it here it is never been anything but a place for transient life and I am ready to transition out of it.
First World Problems
Yeah, not having a full kitchen is a first world problem and yes I understand things could be worse but as many of you know that doesn’t mean my problems don’t bother me.
Don’t tell me things can be worse and expect that it will magically remove all of the irritation because it won’t. I recognize that things could be worse but I still have to deal with these things.
I still eat most of my meals by myself and live out a suitcase. While I am perfectly content with my own company it doesn’t mean there aren’t moments where it would be nice to have some company.
I already know all of my stories and the punchlines to all of my jokes.
This Weekend
Anyhoo, if things go the way I want them to by the end of the weekend I’ll have secured a new place to live and will be able to focus on the important task of building my mancave.
And that is all I have to say about that.
Kristen Daukas
See… Glad someone else appreciated the wow factor of Walter :). There’s another one where he talks about the living room in 2001 that is surprisingly close as well. Look forward to hearing about your new digs!
Josh
Well, look who is checking in from their beachfront property. ๐ I have to look up the living room video, that sounds cool.
Mary Stephenson
Hi Josh
You crack me up, blaming your parents for not liking to cleaning up the kitchen. It brought back an old memory. There was this older gentleman we would meet from time to time (I am sure he is gone to the big kitchen in the sky by now) any ways he was telling us about he had sisters and felt that doing the dishes was girls work. He told his mother that he was a boy and shouldn’t be doing the dishes. His mother’s reply to him was, “Bobby, I know you are a boy, I gave birth to you, do the dishes!”
And wow, how times have changed and we never would have believed all the things that we would now get to enjoy, when it was way back then.
Could luck on kitchen hunting!
Mary
Josh
Hi Mary,
I figure since my parents read the blog they ought to know what they have done. ๐ Life is nothing but interesting at times, I love seeing the future unfold.
Kaarina Dillabough
Typewriter. Punched computer cards. Memories. Cheers! Kaarina
Josh
I can say I remember all of those things too, I still have a typewriter.
Mark
Hearing the comment, “Things could always be worse. . .” has always seemed like a piece of misplaced perspective. Comparing my experience with the experience of someone in a completely different setting doesn’t automatically build a viable connection between the two and provide inspiration or comfort.
Thanks for the Cronkite flashback. I’m in the process of moving too and can always use a good source for kitchen ideas. ๐
Josh
Hi Mark,
It is misplaced perspective. but some people never seem to accept or understand that. Oh well.
I am glad I was able to help provide some ideas for your new kitchen. ๐
Julie Barrett
We should do a Hangout and call it Dinner With Josh.
Even when you’re settled you might want some company.
I always wanted to learn to make pasta from scratch from an Italian lady. Put me on my own and you’d likely get breakfast for dinner or maybe a great roast beef sandwich on a paper plate (I hate clean up, too).
Mark
Julie,
I thought this is where Spaghetti came from:
Julie Barrett
Mark I am shocked and amazed that all of these years I really had NO idea where spaghetti really came from – it grows on trees! Now why all these little old Italian ladies did not learn this from the Swiss, we’ll never know…
Mark
Unfortunately, I live in the southern part of the US and it’s a little too warm in my region for these trees to survive. Maybe one day I’ll move to Napa Valley and start a Spaghetti Farm. ๐
Josh
A great sandwich is often worth a lot. A good hangout sounds nice, been a while.