Waaay back in the 80s, there was a show on television called Night Court. I don't remember much about it, except that at the time it was on preceded my irritation at Harry Anderson and John Larroquette I possess today.

Beyond that, I don't remember much... save that I watched it.

The one Night Court moment I remember clearly involved Richard Moll's character, Bull. I don't even remember what the plot of this episode was, I just remember that Bull was standing under a light bulb, and when he had this idea, his expression synced up with the illumination of the light bulb perfectly.

And I fell out of my chair, because I was laughing so hard. Probably swallowed my gum too, since I tended to chew a lot of gum back then.

Yeah, it felt kind of like that.

I am taking a history class that centers around the subject of "The Grand Tour." For those who are unaware, this is where English gentlemen (and some women), who were not the firstborn heirs, would travel across the European continent to see what there was to see.

Part of the readings for this class involve the writings of a fellow named Smollett, as well as the writings of a fellow named Sterne.

Now Smollett, in my mind typifies most people I know. He is in rather poor health, and decided to travel from England to Italy and back... and it is quite apparent in his book that he hates everything. All he does is bitch about prices and policies and people and dirt and people and whatever else he can find to bitch about.

Sterne (also a sickly man) on the other hand, did not write about that. In fact, for his travel journals, he didn't really write about anything. The reader gets no idea of Calais or Paris or Versailles. He writes about the people.

His writing focuses on what he finds important. He goes through life interested in how people respond to him, he studies them, and how they react to him.

He enjoys life, even though his condition is more advanced than Smollett's. He completely abandons the minute descriptions of trip details that are the norm in that era, writing absolutely nothing about the places. However, he goes into great detail about the ladies he "crushes" on, and the ladies that his servant falls for.

Who would have guessed that my enlightenment would have come from the eighteenth century?

In the reading of these books and the subsequent discussion, I realized the crux of my problem. I don't want to be like Smollett. Too many people are like that.

I want to be like Sterne. The history class is made up mostly of women, and I could see and hear that the women in the class found Sterne very attractive, and were repulsed by Smollett.

It was amazing.

I went into the class at a low point, which carried into the break. During the break, I made eye contact with a lovely "9" in my class, but did not feel that my game was there.

But the realization of who I want to be more like was transforming. After class, I ended up walking the same "9" to her car, all the while discussing the class, the readings, and people we know like Smollett... making fun of people like "Smelfungus" (Sterne's pet name for Smollett).

It was magical. This is going to be a great thing.

One of the "self-improvement" DVD's I watched over the weekend offered the following nugget to consider:

If you're not relaxed OR having fun, consider that you're NOT PRESENT.

I have seen so much of this in the people I hang around with, but now I actually feel like I get it.

Now I know what's missing, and what to focus on, and the reasons why.

And, now that I've made a note of it, I can refer to it when I don't feel present.

This is truly a breakthrough!

What i'm listening to:

Room at the Top
Adam Ant
Manners & Physique