kenjari | Watching the Olympics and Other Stuff (Reply)

Like most people, I've been watching the Olympics lately. Mostly, it's the gymnastics that fascinates me. I think it's because, unlike most of the other televised events, gymnastics isn't a game or a race - it's a performance. Maybe that's why I find it so interesting. As a musician, I know what it's like to be on stage. I know how it is when even the details count for a lot, when absolute perfection is the goal. One of the commentators on NBC apparently understands nothing of the mindset required for this, though. After one of the American gymnasts made a rather noticeable mistake on the balance beam (during the qualifying competition, I believe), the commentator said, "She's thinking about that mistake right now." If gymnastics has even the slightest in common with the performing arts, that's a completely false statement. You can't think about the mistake you made for more than a millisecond. Once it's been made, there's nothing you can do to get it back. You just have to let it go and go on to the next part. Dwelling on a mistake just ruins your ability to concentrate.
Much as I think that Bob Costas is indeed annoying, I do have to agree with him on one thing. They are using the original site of the ancient Greek Olympics (complete with ruins) for some of the track & field events. And as Bob Costas said, that is about the coolest thing.

As of today, I have been a temp/contractor at Genzyme for 5 years. For those of you who don't know already, I do documentation and records management work there. It's a great day job, because I have wonderful co-workers and my duties provide me with just enough mental stimulation to keep me from being bored or apathetic, yet not so much that I am too drained after work to do the really important stuff (music, of course). Yeah, I know they probably should have hired me by now, but since my professional goals are elsewhere, it's not worth pushing for it.

Oh yeah, congratulations to