Hi Nick. John L. from Dutchess County here. You and I are the same age. About a decade ago, during a particularly stressful time in my life, I trained to learn Transcendental Meditation. I practiced actively for years and it was extremely helpful. What are your views on meditation? What do you think qualifies as a meditation? Do you actively practice some form of it? Thank you for doing this. John
New subscrober to your musings. Was wondering if you are a traditionalist regarding bacon or if you have sampled the world of bacon themed/infused/doused products, if so, what's the best? I tend to get bacon related gifts, so scented band-aids, calendars, clothes, food. The most intriguing was bacon jam. It is surprisingly good on crackers. Best bacon recipe I have experienced is a meatloaf covered in bacon layered with onions. Thanks for making me think of that, now I need to go find the recipe. Have a great day.
Hello Nick. I am returning to your Donkey Thoughts after some time away. My grandmother passed in July, and I have been trying my best to be there for my father and sister who were especially close to her, and for whom this loss is a more profound sadness. Supporting them has been difficult due to the geographic distance between us; they are in the Midwest and I moved away to the California coast. I'm wondering if you would care to share your own thoughts on being physically distanced from your family and how that affects you. And also, how you try to close that gap to be closer to the people you love (even when you cannot be there in person). I hope you enjoy your time with your people. Many thanks.
Always appreciate the content and the insight. The poem Instructions for Life by Mary Oliver has been etched into the whiteboard at my office since you shared it. However, I'm reaching out now because I'm a bourbon enthusiast and a somewhat collector. I enjoy tasting sampling and learning. I'm also well versed in the difference between a bourbon and a scotch and a whiskey etc. However, I wanted to know what would be your recommendation if I wanted to expand my collection into the world of scotch? Lagaluvin ties in mind of course. I tend to like things that have a full flavor not too oaky, or charded. For example think Window Jane is producing some great bottles currently, Bulleit 10 year is another favorite and if I want something bolder a Colonel Taylor always excites me, just to provide a reference point. Happy to hear/know your thoughts.
Listened to you while spending my 60th birthday with some of my people on the island of Tenerife. My mediocre Spanish has not been much use but I have developed an authentic gruff “ola buenos dias “ greeting on my morning walks, hoping and praying that this does not lead to further conversation whereby I would have to admit that my stunted abilities do not stretch any further. Keep up your enjoyable musings.
I'm on Part 3 of "Where the Deer and the Antelope Play", and the big fat lesson of things going TOO WELL hit me deeply. I appreciate all you've put into this book, and am looking forward to what's coming up.
With that said --- There's plenty of writing about dystopian futures, where everything falls to ruin because of the path we're on. Do you have a vision of a TOPIAN future (like, not EUtopian, not DYStopian, but just... topian)? What does a topian path forward look like, where everything is just okay for everyone? (I'm trying this exercise with the path forward in Healthcare and I keep getting stuck...)
I hope you're well. I don't make a lot of time for podcasts, but if you, George Saunders, and Jeff Tweedy got something together I would be INTO IT :)
Hi Nick. John L. from Dutchess County here. You and I are the same age. I feel like I know a lot about your literary influences and interests, but not as much about your musical musings. I, too, was 13 in 1983, albeit with a very different upbringing (an hour north of NYC). I was drawn to Motley Crue, Black Sabbath and hard rock. Did music play a major part in your life at that time? If so, what kinds? Do you have any musical ability? Thanks for doing this. John
Hi Nick. John L. from Dutchess County here. You and I are the same age. I've been thinking a lot lately about the immeasurable value of friendship, and I'm interested in your opinion. I've really come to value my close friends this side of 50. My wife of almost 25 years is my best friend, and beyond that I have a handful, maybe a couple more, of close friends, a nice balance between buddies from grade/high school that have been with me all along, and truly incredible people I was fortunate to meet, know, trust and love during my active career. Aside from Megan, how many close friends do you have? How many of them are life long? Does a pre-fame friendship feel different from a post-fame friendship? How many close friends is enough?
I’m always wondered why so many actors with deep souls have been carpenters - i.e. you, Harrison Ford, Terrance Howard, Wilford Brimley, David Lynch, William H Macy, and Daniel Day Lewis, to name a few. Thoughts?
Love the photo of you and Meghan and your meanderings are the kind of slow drawl that counterpoint well my overcharged busy life, but I’m disappointed you haven’t followed through on your desire, expressed in your NY Times interview, to “join the wonderful folks working to make the planet more sustainable.”
Oct 8, 2022·edited Oct 8, 2022Liked by Nick Offerman
Hello,
I thoroughly enjoyed your most recent tome. In my opinion I think it might be your best yet. Since writing it, is there a topic writ large that especially needs the lens of nuance? Can I Airbnb your canned ham? How can any person be a better steward for their neighborhood lands?
Enjoy New York! My love and I are enjoying a getaway in Penn Yan, NY this weekend, and your words couldn't have rung more timely or true.
Say hi to your folks for us. Here's an invite to Highland Park, NJ. We'll gladly singe a steak for you both if you feel so inclined.
Ed from Milford, NH here. This weekend is my small town’s annual Pumpkin Festival. Two and half days of great music, stories, sales of junk and great fair food. My favorite is the fresh cut, greasy french fries, fried dough and maple sugar cotton candy (I never eat that stuff, but maple sugar flavor - yes!). I am lucky in that I can walk downtown to the fair. It is great to see friends and kids having a blast painting pumpkins, making scarecrows and getting their faces painted. This to me is one of the great things in our country - the local fairs where people just simply enjoy good food, entertainment and NOT talking politics (well at least we try not to………..). I hope you and your bride find some good local fairs and enjoy some greasy fries and maybe even a fried Snickers bar.
I like my Lagavulin neat. So proud of Nick Offerman and his brand of scotch. I never had any before watching Parks and Recreation. Now I like to sit down for a sip with my friends and talk about things. Reggie from Castaic
Follow up: are you familiar with (I hope so, but if not you have some enjoyable reading ahead) the writings of Pat McManus, esteemed outdoor humorist? If so, feel free to wax poetic, or just snort and chortle appropriately.
Hi Nick. John L. from Dutchess County here. You and I are the same age. About a decade ago, during a particularly stressful time in my life, I trained to learn Transcendental Meditation. I practiced actively for years and it was extremely helpful. What are your views on meditation? What do you think qualifies as a meditation? Do you actively practice some form of it? Thank you for doing this. John
New subscrober to your musings. Was wondering if you are a traditionalist regarding bacon or if you have sampled the world of bacon themed/infused/doused products, if so, what's the best? I tend to get bacon related gifts, so scented band-aids, calendars, clothes, food. The most intriguing was bacon jam. It is surprisingly good on crackers. Best bacon recipe I have experienced is a meatloaf covered in bacon layered with onions. Thanks for making me think of that, now I need to go find the recipe. Have a great day.
Hello Nick. I am returning to your Donkey Thoughts after some time away. My grandmother passed in July, and I have been trying my best to be there for my father and sister who were especially close to her, and for whom this loss is a more profound sadness. Supporting them has been difficult due to the geographic distance between us; they are in the Midwest and I moved away to the California coast. I'm wondering if you would care to share your own thoughts on being physically distanced from your family and how that affects you. And also, how you try to close that gap to be closer to the people you love (even when you cannot be there in person). I hope you enjoy your time with your people. Many thanks.
Always appreciate the content and the insight. The poem Instructions for Life by Mary Oliver has been etched into the whiteboard at my office since you shared it. However, I'm reaching out now because I'm a bourbon enthusiast and a somewhat collector. I enjoy tasting sampling and learning. I'm also well versed in the difference between a bourbon and a scotch and a whiskey etc. However, I wanted to know what would be your recommendation if I wanted to expand my collection into the world of scotch? Lagaluvin ties in mind of course. I tend to like things that have a full flavor not too oaky, or charded. For example think Window Jane is producing some great bottles currently, Bulleit 10 year is another favorite and if I want something bolder a Colonel Taylor always excites me, just to provide a reference point. Happy to hear/know your thoughts.
Listened to you while spending my 60th birthday with some of my people on the island of Tenerife. My mediocre Spanish has not been much use but I have developed an authentic gruff “ola buenos dias “ greeting on my morning walks, hoping and praying that this does not lead to further conversation whereby I would have to admit that my stunted abilities do not stretch any further. Keep up your enjoyable musings.
Slow-talking, mediocre content (as YOU post, not I) is relaxing compared to the speedy-prattle, inaccurate content elsewhere.
Hi Nick,
I'm on Part 3 of "Where the Deer and the Antelope Play", and the big fat lesson of things going TOO WELL hit me deeply. I appreciate all you've put into this book, and am looking forward to what's coming up.
With that said --- There's plenty of writing about dystopian futures, where everything falls to ruin because of the path we're on. Do you have a vision of a TOPIAN future (like, not EUtopian, not DYStopian, but just... topian)? What does a topian path forward look like, where everything is just okay for everyone? (I'm trying this exercise with the path forward in Healthcare and I keep getting stuck...)
I hope you're well. I don't make a lot of time for podcasts, but if you, George Saunders, and Jeff Tweedy got something together I would be INTO IT :)
Take care,
Jessie Hammersmith
Lombard, IL
Hi Nick. John L. from Dutchess County here. You and I are the same age. I feel like I know a lot about your literary influences and interests, but not as much about your musical musings. I, too, was 13 in 1983, albeit with a very different upbringing (an hour north of NYC). I was drawn to Motley Crue, Black Sabbath and hard rock. Did music play a major part in your life at that time? If so, what kinds? Do you have any musical ability? Thanks for doing this. John
Hi Nick. John L. from Dutchess County here. You and I are the same age. I've been thinking a lot lately about the immeasurable value of friendship, and I'm interested in your opinion. I've really come to value my close friends this side of 50. My wife of almost 25 years is my best friend, and beyond that I have a handful, maybe a couple more, of close friends, a nice balance between buddies from grade/high school that have been with me all along, and truly incredible people I was fortunate to meet, know, trust and love during my active career. Aside from Megan, how many close friends do you have? How many of them are life long? Does a pre-fame friendship feel different from a post-fame friendship? How many close friends is enough?
As I've said before, thanks for doing this. John
I’m always wondered why so many actors with deep souls have been carpenters - i.e. you, Harrison Ford, Terrance Howard, Wilford Brimley, David Lynch, William H Macy, and Daniel Day Lewis, to name a few. Thoughts?
Love the photo of you and Meghan and your meanderings are the kind of slow drawl that counterpoint well my overcharged busy life, but I’m disappointed you haven’t followed through on your desire, expressed in your NY Times interview, to “join the wonderful folks working to make the planet more sustainable.”
Hello,
I thoroughly enjoyed your most recent tome. In my opinion I think it might be your best yet. Since writing it, is there a topic writ large that especially needs the lens of nuance? Can I Airbnb your canned ham? How can any person be a better steward for their neighborhood lands?
Enjoy New York! My love and I are enjoying a getaway in Penn Yan, NY this weekend, and your words couldn't have rung more timely or true.
Say hi to your folks for us. Here's an invite to Highland Park, NJ. We'll gladly singe a steak for you both if you feel so inclined.
Kindest regards,
Bob
Howdy Nick,
Ed from Milford, NH here. This weekend is my small town’s annual Pumpkin Festival. Two and half days of great music, stories, sales of junk and great fair food. My favorite is the fresh cut, greasy french fries, fried dough and maple sugar cotton candy (I never eat that stuff, but maple sugar flavor - yes!). I am lucky in that I can walk downtown to the fair. It is great to see friends and kids having a blast painting pumpkins, making scarecrows and getting their faces painted. This to me is one of the great things in our country - the local fairs where people just simply enjoy good food, entertainment and NOT talking politics (well at least we try not to………..). I hope you and your bride find some good local fairs and enjoy some greasy fries and maybe even a fried Snickers bar.
I like my Lagavulin neat. So proud of Nick Offerman and his brand of scotch. I never had any before watching Parks and Recreation. Now I like to sit down for a sip with my friends and talk about things. Reggie from Castaic
Hi Nick,
I've just started listening to Donkey Thoughts. Well done!
So talk to us about bacon. It all seems greasy and salty to me
but my tribe lives for it. I want to impress them. Take care...Rose
Follow up: are you familiar with (I hope so, but if not you have some enjoyable reading ahead) the writings of Pat McManus, esteemed outdoor humorist? If so, feel free to wax poetic, or just snort and chortle appropriately.