Stay inside

It's smoky outside. My wrist hurts. I have a cold. I don't feel like going outside for the rest of the day or if I'm not doing photography for a while potentially ever again — there are so many nice things at home and I'm an introvert so going outside is something I feel a need a reason to do.

Still there's this voice telling me to go do stuff. There are tasks and errands. I went to the library to collect part of my overly large stack of holds and then went to Old Navy because they allegedly had a sale on pants — the pants process took forever and ended in my buying two pairs of pants I have and like and that look kind of fancy so you can pretend to be a real person in them. I didn't find any jeans. Buying jeans is awful. I need to find somewhere new to buy jeans that are either cheap or that last. Damn you cycling. 

I am done my SAIT program so I no longer have somewhere to be and things to do. I won't be speaking to people all the time. I won't need to appear somewhere each morning. I could honestly never go outside again.

Anyways I don't feel like going outside. I went on Facebook and Facebook told me not to go outside. So stay inside kids. The outside world is dangerous and scary and sometimes you have to buy new pants.

Hey, can you watch my stuff

I am at the library and I know that moment is coming. The person sitting two tables down from me that I have never met before in my life and will never speak to again is about to do one of the most annoying things in the world. They come over and say, “Hey, I’m gonna go grab a coffee, can you watch my stuff?”

I mentally shudder and think to myself you want me, a complete and total stranger, to protect your notes, textbooks, iPod and two thousand dollar laptop while you galavant off to another building for sustenance or whatever else you may have planned.

I feel that this is a lot of responsibility. What if something actually happens to your stuff? Am I accountable for that? Am I actually expected to duel someone or chase down a thief on your behalf? Or even worse while I am on Twitter, I mean working on my paper, and I am not actually looking at your stuff, which happens to be just on the edge of my peripheral vision somebody grabs it. If your stuff is not there when you get back what happens?

I go with the opposite approach. You leave something invaluable like a hoodie or textbook (no one would steal one of those) to save your spot, which can be as valuable as an iPod depending on the time of day, and pack up anything you are not willing to part with — i.e. your Macbook, and that delicious roast beef, cheddar and avocado sandwich you’re saving for later.

I’ve been told I have trust issues when it comes to expensive electronics, but I don’t think this is a bad thing. I will trudge my laptop to the bathroom with me if I am working at a coffee shop or studying at the library. The time required to pack it up is nothing compared to the pain of replacing it. I will not let friends touch my DSLR (I occasionally make exceptions for people who actually know how to use DSLRs). My rule of thumb is if I can’t afford to replace it then I need to protect it. This is why I do not ask strangers to guard my laptop, because it is my most expensive and most useful possession.

This was inspired by 9 Unfortunate Situations to Find Yourself In by Christopher Hudspeth on Thought Catalog: http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/9-unfortunate-situations-to-find-yourself-in/

Renewals and holds

I’ve been taking stock of my library books — far too many of which are scattered carelessly on the floor — and figuring out which ones I am reading, which ones I want to read and which ones I should give up on.

I have a book called Submersion Journalism that had a boring introduction and first article and I never got into. It has been on my floor for a month abandoned, and unloved and its final renewal is approaching. It has an article by Ken Silverstein, who I saw speak at NASH 73 (this past year’s Canadian University Press Conference) and he specifically mentioned the article. I should read it but I just don’t know if I will have time.

There’s also Boozehound, which was a delightful and entertaining read but I have hit the wall, and by that I mean the last ten pages. After two weeks of neglect and distraction I just can’t get back into it.

I need to figure out where I left My War by Colby Buzzell, another amazing book I have been distracted from.

I also have a few books that I took out but that don’t seem that inspiring. Random books by people who write the odd article I like can end that way.

A trip to the library is impending as a new round of holds awaits me. I may fall in love with some of them and if I do I hope I can be more disciplined at finishing them.