Just became a paid subscriber, thank you for this opportunity to get something out that I've been mulling over for a few years. I'm not sure if this is where we ask questions, but here goes...
Nick, your book Gumption was suggested to me by Audible in the thick of 2020, when we all needed productive distractions. It led me down so many inspirational rabbit holes, and introduced me to Wendell Berry, for which I am eternally grateful. I then devoured many of his poems, and especially his essays, in your voice, from The World-Ending Fire. Thank you again.
I listened earnestly and intently while moving my elderly folks from our homestead to better accommodate their needs, and while relocating and rebuilding the old rotting greenhouse my dad and I built when I was a kid—also inspired by your nudges toward the power of woodworking. In short, these books got me through some difficult shit, and I believe may very well have saved my life during a very dark period.
Anyway, my question: when you read and ponder Berry, do you find yourself growing overwhelming melancholy, as I do, for the world we might have had, and all we may have lost in the name of industry and globalization? How do you absorb Berry's brilliance without also feeling an overwhelming sense of longing for a simpler time?
Cheers
Sam Buzby
Spokane, Washington
"The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings." — Wendell Berry
Update: Clearly I am enjoying your musing out of order. I listened to "Dandelion Man" after my diatribe, and now I'm enjoying the heck out of "Where the Deer and the Antelope Play," which I feel is likely to be the timely answer to my previous questions. Good on ya. Cheers
How do you juggle all your exploits; acting, writing, woodworking, performing comedy, lavishing adoration on your bride, to name but a few; in such a way that you feel fulfilled and not spread too thin?
I know you strongly advocate for the benefits of a hard day’s work. I struggle to feel I can do even one thing well, and thus admire your ability to keep so many plates spinning.
Few years ago, we decided to go to Scotland and visit all the distilleries we could fit into our stay. Highly recommend visiting the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society and take time to sample the wares. Now, I am more of a Speyside kind of gal but will not turn up the nose to a Low/Highland. For me, Islay has too much of the Smokey peat for me. Oh, I couldn’t agree more with your comment about finishing casks. Take the single & let it mingle with the flavors inside the other cask! Well, I enjoyed the visit so much that I left shoes behind just to make room for some bottles in the suitcase. Love the thoughts!
While exploring writing for ourselves is a joy that Substack has brought to the masses, my favorite part of Substack is its introduction to me of great, good, serious, humorous, thoughtful writing. I am not sure which yours is yet but I love it. I had to forward your missives on Single Malt Scotch. I was invited to join a scotch club a while back. When I admitted to the distrustful founders that I knew nothing about Scotch they assured me I was invited for storytelling, not my knowledge of spirits. I have forwarded this post to all of them and I am sure they will enjoy it. Thanks for an entertaining ride.
Hello again Nick! When are you and Megan going to take the Nutmeg out for another spin? I loved reading about (ok listening to), your travels together. It felt like I got to take a little journey too. And Megan's beautiful, wistful "Home On The Range" melted my heart. More please!!
As a booze and history nerd, I'd go so far to say Scotch finished in barrels previously used for other spiritous beverages is vital not just OK, it's been going on for such a long time. My understanding is that some distilleries today actually buy barrels for Sherry makers just so they can get them back once the Sherry is done aging.
It seems to have started as an accident more or less, when Scots imported sherry (back in the day when all such things were shipped in barrels) drank it all, and being sensible folks decided to reuse the perfectly good now empty barrels to age the local booze and discovered they liked the effect. And here we all these years later with delightful booze to drink.
My wife and I have been rewatching ER (so much drama!) and last night we were both delighted to see young Nick Offerman looking like a biker but I think you were a musician? Mostly you wanted to smoke but that was a no-no. What do you remember from that experience? What did you learn from your time in the ER trauma room?
My favorite episode yet. Loved hearing more about your connection to whiskey. Agreed completely on the point about "artisanal" products. And Brighton Beach was where my lovely wife and I honeymooned, fun to hear we've frequented some of the same haunts. The British Isles are magical.
Eric from Dayton OH. Question: Should Roy Underhill's book "Roy Cobb Radio Woodworker" be made into either a play or movie and would you want to play the lead?
Thanks for sharing your erudite expressions with us. As a fellow person from the middle west, my question regards Euchre (and by extension perhaps Spades). Which is the proper bidding technique when you are on-the-bubble so to speak? I feel there are typically two schools of thought, firstly "Go for it" or conversely "Stick it to them" I realize that there is often a situational condition to this choice, but curious if you have a generalized response to this quandary.
I tend to use the term like reading a carpenter's level, in this instance when one is dealt cards that don't immediately tilt a strong direction for (♥J,A,♦J,♠A,K) or against (♦Q,♣Q,♠10,9,♥10) when bidding for trump (the suit not the guy) and one must decide on a taking the risk themselves or attempting to overturn another risk taker.
Just became a paid subscriber, thank you for this opportunity to get something out that I've been mulling over for a few years. I'm not sure if this is where we ask questions, but here goes...
Nick, your book Gumption was suggested to me by Audible in the thick of 2020, when we all needed productive distractions. It led me down so many inspirational rabbit holes, and introduced me to Wendell Berry, for which I am eternally grateful. I then devoured many of his poems, and especially his essays, in your voice, from The World-Ending Fire. Thank you again.
I listened earnestly and intently while moving my elderly folks from our homestead to better accommodate their needs, and while relocating and rebuilding the old rotting greenhouse my dad and I built when I was a kid—also inspired by your nudges toward the power of woodworking. In short, these books got me through some difficult shit, and I believe may very well have saved my life during a very dark period.
Anyway, my question: when you read and ponder Berry, do you find yourself growing overwhelming melancholy, as I do, for the world we might have had, and all we may have lost in the name of industry and globalization? How do you absorb Berry's brilliance without also feeling an overwhelming sense of longing for a simpler time?
Cheers
Sam Buzby
Spokane, Washington
"The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings." — Wendell Berry
Update: Clearly I am enjoying your musing out of order. I listened to "Dandelion Man" after my diatribe, and now I'm enjoying the heck out of "Where the Deer and the Antelope Play," which I feel is likely to be the timely answer to my previous questions. Good on ya. Cheers
"If we're going to trade the priceless for the common, I want to know exactly
what the terms are." Barry Lopez
Never "yuck" someone else's "yum". Thanks for the entertaining post, even for someone who's not a scotch enthusiast.
Dear Nick,
How do you juggle all your exploits; acting, writing, woodworking, performing comedy, lavishing adoration on your bride, to name but a few; in such a way that you feel fulfilled and not spread too thin?
I know you strongly advocate for the benefits of a hard day’s work. I struggle to feel I can do even one thing well, and thus admire your ability to keep so many plates spinning.
Many thanks in advance,
Jonny, Australia
Few years ago, we decided to go to Scotland and visit all the distilleries we could fit into our stay. Highly recommend visiting the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society and take time to sample the wares. Now, I am more of a Speyside kind of gal but will not turn up the nose to a Low/Highland. For me, Islay has too much of the Smokey peat for me. Oh, I couldn’t agree more with your comment about finishing casks. Take the single & let it mingle with the flavors inside the other cask! Well, I enjoyed the visit so much that I left shoes behind just to make room for some bottles in the suitcase. Love the thoughts!
While exploring writing for ourselves is a joy that Substack has brought to the masses, my favorite part of Substack is its introduction to me of great, good, serious, humorous, thoughtful writing. I am not sure which yours is yet but I love it. I had to forward your missives on Single Malt Scotch. I was invited to join a scotch club a while back. When I admitted to the distrustful founders that I knew nothing about Scotch they assured me I was invited for storytelling, not my knowledge of spirits. I have forwarded this post to all of them and I am sure they will enjoy it. Thanks for an entertaining ride.
Hello again Nick! When are you and Megan going to take the Nutmeg out for another spin? I loved reading about (ok listening to), your travels together. It felt like I got to take a little journey too. And Megan's beautiful, wistful "Home On The Range" melted my heart. More please!!
Cammie from Gilroy, CA
The Garlic Capital of the World
I love glorious stupidity!
Sad to say that Barry Lopez died on Christmas day 2020. We hope that he did so knowing his own terms and knowing that we will be there knowing his.
As a booze and history nerd, I'd go so far to say Scotch finished in barrels previously used for other spiritous beverages is vital not just OK, it's been going on for such a long time. My understanding is that some distilleries today actually buy barrels for Sherry makers just so they can get them back once the Sherry is done aging.
It seems to have started as an accident more or less, when Scots imported sherry (back in the day when all such things were shipped in barrels) drank it all, and being sensible folks decided to reuse the perfectly good now empty barrels to age the local booze and discovered they liked the effect. And here we all these years later with delightful booze to drink.
Nick,
My wife and I have been rewatching ER (so much drama!) and last night we were both delighted to see young Nick Offerman looking like a biker but I think you were a musician? Mostly you wanted to smoke but that was a no-no. What do you remember from that experience? What did you learn from your time in the ER trauma room?
Neil, Greenville SC
The Mappist by Barry Lopez.
My favorite episode yet. Loved hearing more about your connection to whiskey. Agreed completely on the point about "artisanal" products. And Brighton Beach was where my lovely wife and I honeymooned, fun to hear we've frequented some of the same haunts. The British Isles are magical.
Cheers 🥃🥃
Eric from Dayton OH. Question: Should Roy Underhill's book "Roy Cobb Radio Woodworker" be made into either a play or movie and would you want to play the lead?
Thanks for sharing your erudite expressions with us. As a fellow person from the middle west, my question regards Euchre (and by extension perhaps Spades). Which is the proper bidding technique when you are on-the-bubble so to speak? I feel there are typically two schools of thought, firstly "Go for it" or conversely "Stick it to them" I realize that there is often a situational condition to this choice, but curious if you have a generalized response to this quandary.
Can you describe what you mean by "on the bubble" a little more succinctly please?
I tend to use the term like reading a carpenter's level, in this instance when one is dealt cards that don't immediately tilt a strong direction for (♥J,A,♦J,♠A,K) or against (♦Q,♣Q,♠10,9,♥10) when bidding for trump (the suit not the guy) and one must decide on a taking the risk themselves or attempting to overturn another risk taker.
We also can't wait for you to return to the UK! Thanks for another excellent read/audio.