Monday, 23rd May, 2022
I built the Ferris Sweep last night. Was fun to do, and it all works except the M key. I’ll check the solder joints tonight, either on the switch or maybe the controller - unless the switch itself is broken, but that seems unlikely. My goodness it’s going to be a challenge to use the thing though! 😅
I’ve added the DayOne widget to the Home Screen of my ipad. Now I get to see the “on this day” without having to open up the app, which is nice. I’ve entered into it on and off over the years but never really looked at old entries, so having this is nice. I did get two books printed out, which are really nice and great ways to actually look back at what we did. It definitely encourages me to keep using it.
I used to get hung up over missing days and thinking that I needed to go back and fill them in. Then that would feel overwhelming so I wouldn’t enter anything and that made the situation worse. I learnt that when I come back to read the entries, I don’t really care that I missed entries but that I really enjoyed when I did make them. So if I miss a day, a week, a month etc. then don’t fret and just add today’s. That usually helps build up the rhythm to keep adding to it everyday.
I’m currently a little like this with a photo album I was going to make. I was planning on printing off some photos and sticking them into a large notebook. This was planned in time for the new year and I have still yet to do anything. Now I’m wondering if I go back to 1st Jan and print things out or just start from today. Adding photos is fine but I wanted to write a little commentary to go with it, and maybe make it into a present. Now I’ll struggle to write anything worthwhile - either it’ll just the be obvious: “here we are at so-and-so’s”, or I’ll just copy DayOne entries, which is just a duplicate. I guess by my previous logic I should just start now…but somehow I’m not convincing myself enough. 🫠
In case you haven’t seen it: The first eight minutes of Stranger Things Season 4 has been put on YouTube by Netflix.
My daughter was using the typewriter today. She enjoys seeing the output immediately on the page and the noise and feel of it. Carriage return has a new (original) meaning now! She was amazed at how to do ! too. It’s very loud though. Speaking of loud, the neighbour’s boy is learning the bagpipes. 🏴 I can hear it well through two sets of double gazed windows, so it must be absolutely deafening in the house! Let’s hope he masters it quickly, for his family’s sake!
There’s lots of things I could do. But I think I’m too tired to do any of them. Is that okay?
I kinda like sitting at my new writing area and…er…writing. It’s mostly been on the iPad rather than notebooks or typewriter, but I think that’s okay. I’m still using a computer but it’s slightly better. I did try to tidy up the apps on my iPad so I wouldn’t just wonder off and look at random things. I did find myself scrolling through Amazon Prime video list. I’ve barely watched anything on Amazon Prime, and scrolling through it didn’t encourage me to watch anything. However, what was I doing? I then opened up YouTube and started scrolling. I even opened a video but then closed it immediately. Everything is 20 minutes minimum and I don’t want to commit to that. I could watch it at 1.5 or more speed but still. It’s mostly about buying something. Least that’s what I get recommended: new cameras, computers, stuff. It doesn’t help. I’m too tired to do anything but seemingly not too tired to buy things!
What could I be doing?
- Fixing the keyboard I made last night
- Fixing the GPIO headers on the pi zero I soldered a month+ ago, and then finally getting it working with e-ink display.
- Printing photos for myself or others
- Write a letter to someone
- Do all these JavaScript and etc. tutorials I’ve saved for myself.
- Read some of the endless non-fiction books I buy
- Go for a walk, run, cycle
Listen to music. When was the last time I just listened to music as the activity. Not have it on in the background or whilst I do something else? Probably about the time I last bought a CD.
I remember as a boy, before we had a computer in the house, that I had a desk in my room. There was nothing on it. I presume I used it for drawing or colouring or maybe reading. I do remember getting a telephone (from somewhere) and running an extension cord to the socket and then having the phone on the desk. I’d put it on the top, or in the drawer or on the keyboard drawer and generally move it about. I didn’t call anyone or get any calls - although I probably took calls from my dad on it. I’d admire the phone and felt the desk was whole and proper now that it had a phone. I really wanted a computer but that was never going to happen. Least not for another 5 years. Now I look at my desk and I can’t find a surface for computers and other stuff. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just how things are. I’m probably not looking back on them as the good ol’days. I do wonder what I did with all my time as a kid. I wish I had a photo of my room. I remember having some shelving which kept all my books and things. I just don’t remember what was on it.
I like looking at Google Streetview and house listing archives to see inside and out of the houses we used to live in when I was a child. I could make a record of it all, but I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. Sometimes I think about trying to remember as far back in time as I can and then writing it all down, and seeing what does come back to me. Sometimes I’m not sure I should though.
