Dear Members and Constituents, What sets a great work of art apart from the rest? Take a musical masterpiece, for instance. It uses the same notes as lesser works (88 on a modern piano). It is arranged according to a set structure dictated by the scale the piece is composed on. It has themes that repeat, like all the rest. It follows a certain rhythmic pattern. Yet there is something about an inspired composition that stands-out. While there are many dimensions that go into making a magnum opus, it seems to me a key variable is knowing the rules intimately and then selectively choosing which ones to deliberately break. That unexpected sharp or that silence where a note should be create a certain element of surprise. An anomaly which contrasts with the familiar fabric of the expected. Like salt on a dish, break a couple of rules and the experience is enhanced; break too many and you’ve ruined it. That’s why we don’t enjoy the sound of a child pounding a piano (unless, of course ...
Donuts are part of the magic that makes life so sweet. I founded the Level 3 Friday Donut Club in 2004 and ran it until my departure in 2015. It had a three year run at Windstream and is now virtual, but at its peak, we had a rotation of 50+ folks who brought donuts every Friday. We had three simple rules: (1) five dozen (2) boutique shop donuts (3) by 8:00 am. This blog memorializes these e-mails to share my thoughts (and, once upon a time, announce the donut arrival). Have a happy Friday!