Things I Should Have Given Up #4: the Name Game

This one really isn’t about me but rather my family. For the past five generations, the first born in my family has been named Theodore Stanford Heggen. As my brother grows older, the question still remains: will he do the same?

Enter the announcement of a sixth generation on its way and my mom’s excitement.

Last month they found out the sex of the baby. Of course, it’s going to be a boy. So my brother, Theodore Stanford Heggen V, and his wife now have to make up their mind. To follow suit or not – and end the run.

Kindly, my dad, the fourth, said, “no pressure.” That is what his dad said, too.  Blame it on my great-great grandfather, I guess. It really shouldn’t have gotten this far in the first place.

But that’s not for me to decide, which is awesome.

(The idea with this series of posts is to reflect on things I'm not doing with the intention of taking time to, hopefully, start doing them again.)

Things I Should Have Given Up #3: Eating Meat

Katy, my fiancée, is a vegetarian. Over the course of our relationship, I have greatly reduced the amount of meat I eat. Not so willingly at first. But, shockingly, I have managed to survive without it everyday.

I have found protein replacements. And the amount of hummus I consume could be measured in gallons. There are even meat substitutes that I find myself gravitating to each time we grocery shop.

Now, I enjoy films. And I enjoy learning new things. Over the past couple years, a number of documentaries have been released citing the horrible things that happen to animals on corporate farms, covering the not-so-great benefits of eating meat that has been injected with hormones, and reiterating the incredible amounts of waste that goes into consuming meat in our economy. 

After taking in this information, I can say it alters my eating habits for a few weeks to a month. I drink more water, try to take vitamins, and, although it sounds crazy, swear off meat like I swear off drinking when I wake up hung over. Yet, it never sustains.

I walk through the market, spy bacon and hamburger and steak. Finding myself staring, I make mental notes of meals to make when Katy is gone and I can eat alone.

Last week, on my day off, I made this:

It was worth every bite.

At my most recent checkup, I was perfectly healthy. Though I can say I have put a few extra pounds in the past couple years…which probably will lead to something else I should have given up.

(The idea with this series of posts is to reflect on things I'm not doing with the intention of taking time to, hopefully, start doing those things again.)

Things I should have given up #2

Things I should have given up #2: Meeting my favorite Musicians

I never mean to come off as a crazy, obsessed fan when I meet my favorite musicians. The fact of the matter hits me, though, when I mention how cool I felt during the interaction and Katy, my fiancée, reminds me that I just stalked them down in the crowd and shared how much their music means to me.

I’m not sure what comes over me. They’re just normal people – who do incredible stuff.

Before these encounters, Katy will remind me of this fact. She’ll say, “Repeat after me: They are just normal people like us.” I generally follow this statement with, “Yes. Normal people…who do really awesome stuff when they’re being like you and me.”

I’m not going to say I know why I will talk on and on to them about when I listened to their music the most, about how they were with me through many experiences.

As it is, I now try to give myself a 20 second limit for initial interactions with musicians. If I can get out, “Great show. My name is Danny. I loved the recent album,” then that is fine with me...

With this brief interaction, maybe they’ll think I am a cool fan – someone they would like to know instead.

(Recent meetings: Conor Oberst, Taylor Goldsmith, Matt Vasquez, Tony Dekker)

Things I should have given up #1

Things I should have given up #1: My last few book ideas.

More than half a dozen book ideas and first chapters sit untouched in my computer and journal. Without giving myself time to sit and map out ideas, I just let them lie. Yet, they stick to my mind. Characters. Plots. Ideas. Plenty of beginnings. Even a few endings.

Each day passes so quickly. At work, I will find my self staring off, thinking about how long its been since I made time to sit and write -- usually an ache is attached to this. And I start to wonder if this desire to be a writer is just something I should to give up. 

Of course I'm not going to, but I still can't help when the thoughts come. 

So I figure I ought to record these thoughts, and maybe it will help me get going again. Maybe it will help me finally get going on these new book ideas.

(The idea with this series of posts is to reflect on things I'm not doing with the intention of taking time to, hopefully, start doing those things again.)

...is through his stomach.

She took the best way to my stomach -- through my heart.

New book idea

So, it's a long story (that I'm currently working on writing and hope to share soon), but I have a new book idea. It's about getting scammed.

What an experience it was.

More to come.

Attempts #2

Here are a couple videos I worked on over the weekend:

The River Monks release: This Saturday!