I haven’t yet done a wrap-up post for my seasonal focus for Autumn, but while it’s still Winter I’d like to get going on my seasonal focus, which is rebooting my writing routine. Metric 1: Hours in Focused Writing Time This is the cornerstone of rebooting my routine: I will aside … | Continue reading
Many different creativity systems1 stress the importance of the “capture” or “inbox” step — whatever you call it, it’s a place where you gather your ideas. It should be frictionless and ubiquitous. Though we exist in an age where technology has wrested the “frictionless and ubiqu … | Continue reading
Working remotely today, and wow am I out of practice. | Continue reading
Without the internet to distract me, I made it over halfway through the 2023-2024 YearCompass. Wrapping up last year this way was incredibly cathartic. I recommend it! | Continue reading
We had a PDX winter weather adventure, nearly 24 hours without power, which meant no heat. 🥶 It got down to 49°F inside. But our neighbors with a generator invited us over to warm up and charge our phones, and they fed us a hot meal. We are so lucky, and so many are not. | Continue reading
Diamine Solar Storm, a stunning blurple with chameleon shimmer, which means the shimmer changes color depending on how the light hits it. ️ This was an Inkvent 2022 offering; my friend L was willing to lend this to me to swatch. It’s even prettier than I thought it would be! | Continue reading
My office-mate Alfonso did not appreciate the reading material I provided today. | Continue reading
Nearly two years later, I’m reviving the idea of a Micro.blog meetup for analog tools like paper and notebooks, pens and ink, pencils, stationery, planners and journals, typewriters, index cards, etc. Thirteen intrepid fans of analog tools filled out the survey last time, and the … | Continue reading
Spent the day hosting a monthly meetup for several lovely humans who are all into analog delights such as planners, fountain pens, ink, and other stationery. ️ My heart is full. | Continue reading
We finally started watching “A Murder at the End of the World” and I am already loving it. Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij write some of my favorite stories. | Continue reading
Animal #159 🦅 I figured it out in 14 guesses! 🟧🟧🟨🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 2 | Avg. Guesses: 9 metazooa.com | Continue reading
🦋 Animal #158 I figured it out in 4 guesses! 🟧🟨🟧🟩 1 | Avg. Guesses: 4 metazooa.com | Continue reading
Read Most Multnomah County library staff feel unsafe at work, audit finds: I had read this when it was published a month ago, but lacked the fortitude to share it. Not my library system, but the one right next door. My thoughts are percolating into a longer post soon. | Continue reading
This morning I finished setting up my planners. For work, I use a Wonderland222 A5 Weekly Planner. Everything else goes into my Hobonichi Weeks. Let’s go, 2024. | Continue reading
My vintage Esterbrook Dollar Pen atop my morning pages notebook. ️ Fawn would have approved. | Continue reading
We are still in a pandemic. People we love died from COVID. People we love are trying to live with Long COVID. People we love are grieving and struggling. It only takes a little effort to care for us all. Get the updated vaccine. Wear a mask. Stay home when sick. Be kind. Thank y … | Continue reading
🤔 In a year of chaos, I exercised control by procrastinating. This hadn't occurred to me before, and it's hitting me hard today. | Continue reading
Read Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Scammers | Blatant Calm: “If you have already paid a suspected scammer, don’t let shame prevent you from telling someone ASAP if you think you’ve been scammed.” Wise advice from my friend Toby. | Continue reading
Hmm. I didn't dislike it, which is high praise from me, considering it's an adaptation of a book I devoured while struggling to like anything about it. I can't recommend it because the central message -- we can either choose to face adversity in community or in isolation -- was a … | Continue reading
Finished reading: London Rules by Mick Herron Book 5 in the Slough House series was a bit more dour and cruel than the others, but still a good read. | Continue reading
From My Afterlife on the Body Farm, by Fawn Fitter: “What I really want is to be as useful as possible for as long as possible.” I appreciated this piece when it was published, and even more today as I re-read it after her death. Fawn taught me a lot about being useful. | Continue reading
FunkyPlaid and I are helping our neighbors while they are out of town by checking in on their chickens and moving them into their coop overnight. This one is quite personable, and came up to say hello a number of times. And pecked my leg, gently. | Continue reading
Wrung out like a damp rag from a week of confusion and despair. Dragged myself to nap, woke up to the news that a dear friend is gone. She would have tutted my self-pity, me with everything yet to experience, health intact, heart scarred but beating. To life, then, on our own ter … | Continue reading
This “Stealth” special edition of the Endless Recorder notebook was a thoughtful gift from my dad. Endless calls this the world’s most ink-friendly notebook. Have you used one? Do you agree? | Continue reading
Any Shortcuts experts out there willing to help me? I want to create a shortcut to remind me within 24 hours of a party, gathering, etc. to text the host with a thank-you for the invitation. | Continue reading
If you’re looking for high-quality shampoos and soaps that come in aluminum or paper packaging, are vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free, I recommend Alpine Provisions. 🧼 The Cedar + Sandalwood scent is my favorite. | Continue reading
Finished reading: Spook Street by Mick Herron Book four in the Slough House series, and the pace has picked up significantly. I do love how Herron gets into the heads of his characters. Already on to the next! | Continue reading
I quite enjoy using iA Writer, so I was intrigued by the announcement of their notebook for writers. Lay-flat binding? Check. Mesmerizing teaser video? Check. Vague raffle giveaway? Check. Marketing is on point. But how does the paper take fountain pen ink? | Continue reading
Although I did not purchase Diamine’s Inkvent calendar this year, I’m following along with the daily reveals. ️ Day 5’s ink, Nightfall, looks like a fan favorite. I won’t spoil it for you, but you can see the ink tests at Mountain of Ink. | Continue reading
Yesterday I turned a spare A6-sized notebook into a reading log. I decorated the cover with a vinyl sticker and washi tape and I’m ready to go! | Continue reading
Sunday project close-up. 🧶 I’m pleased with how this is turning out! | Continue reading
Finished reading: Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel Wiped away a troubling day of work with another beauty of a book. | Continue reading
Finished reading: Thanksgiving: How to Cook It Well by Sam Sifton This book became my buddy over the past few weeks as I figured out how to host Thanksgiving dinner for ten for the first time. Wonderful resource! | Continue reading
Finished reading: Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel A book about a pandemic, time travel, and the simulation hypothesis could easily go awry in myriad ways. In this author’s expert hands, it shares a small story of unraveling that deeply resonated with me. | Continue reading
Finished reading: Real Tigers by Mick Herron Another fun one in the Slough House series. On to the next! | Continue reading
If this week were a flavor, it would be chewable antacids, only the chalky lime-flavored ones. Returning to work after several days off was a bit more stressful than I thought it would be. And this is the time each November when I question my ability to write anything at all, let … | Continue reading
If you’re looking for distraction-free writing in your web browser, I recommend Sprinter. You can use the default sprint time of 15 minutes, or set your own time or wordcount goal. | Continue reading
If this week were a flavor, it would be the aftertaste of Halloween candy, because we bought way too much for the volume of trick-or-treaters (read: four). Also, Halloween candy is a good NaNoWriMo snack! Yes, I’m attempting NaNoWriMo again, which means I have even less time than … | Continue reading
A total of four trick-or-treaters tonight. Which means my coworkers are about to get a bunch of candy tomorrow! | Continue reading
Finished reading: Dead Lions by Mick Herron Ahh, I love this series! Now I have to wait in the holds queue for the third book. | Continue reading
Finished reading: Waking Up by Sam Harris Some interesting reading about consciousness and meditation here. Now that I’ve finished the book, I’m trying the Waking Up guided meditation app. | Continue reading
Finished reading: Slow Horses (Deluxe Edition) (Slough House) by Mick Herron I lost count of the ways in which this is so much better than the TV adaptation. Happily continuing with the series. | Continue reading
I usually start these out with my flavor profiles of the week, but I’m not in a pithy mood. Everything about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is more nuanced than anyone can summarize and solve with a blog post, so I’m not going to do that, and I encourage you not to do that, eith … | Continue reading
Diamine Celadon Cat, a grayish blue-green. ️ Tested in a Col-o-ring ink testing book. I purchased both the ink and book from Oblation Papers & Press. This ink has a drier flow than my usual inks and performs best in larger nibs. | Continue reading
Finished reading: Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam That was the fastest I’ve read a book in a while. It was quite a page-turner, beautifully constructed, but the ending was too abrupt for me. | Continue reading
Currently reading: Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam I checked this out from the library on a whim, after hearing that it’s going to be made into a Netflix film. I’ve read over half of it today. | Continue reading
A somber first day of October in our home, as we reckon with the loss of a friend, far too soon. A good day to ponder and treasure the words in this project, “For You." | Continue reading