The thing that gets you the most is when people assume it is a vacation. As though I am exchanging the equity accrued through my work for some time to not think about work. Or, rather, The Work. The thing that gets me every waking moment of my day when I can’t help but break down the human motivation behind everything in an attempt to understand it without letting it determine how I react or what I do next.
Be a careful observer, but do not interfere. Assess, take notes, and promise yourself you will use them for…something. Standing in any line, anywhere. Sitting in a chair while waiting for my turn at the barber. Watching the moments between the stories, the transitions of emphasis, on the nightly newscast. Seeing how the shadow falls across the model’s thigh. Stopping to watch every new advertisement - not because it caught my attention or piqued my interest in whatever they were selling, but because I have to know what it is humans think other humans need to see.
If advertising were truly effective, we’d all be drinking Pepsi and taking Ozempic. But we’re not. Nothing reaches 100% market saturation. We’re approaching an era of post-advertising. Post branding. Anti-branding? This next generation will show us the way.
So, no, not a vacation. But I do need to get out for a little bit. Right now, the last of the suitcases are getting packed for a few weeks in Scotland. Castles and Culture. Scotch and Serenades. My ancestry DNA map his nothing more than a splash of color across the British Isles. With any luck, I’ll dig up the right grave and finally inherit the last of the family fortune.
For the past week I’ve been thinking loads about how bizarre the start of this year has felt. And maybe this feeling is the result of the slow reading initiative I adopted by choosing to read Infinite Jest as slow as I possibly can. So far, just a few pages a day and I’m about halfway through the 1,100 page book1, and everything else has slowed down with it. More notes and drafts are by hand. Less time in email, on meetings, and keeping up with the social media landscape.
In turn, this has led me to take stock of the sheer magnitude of applications I pay for even though they don’t work for whatever it is I’m attempting to do. I wrote about this extensively. The question is: how will I carry this with me to Scotland? Already, I’ve resolved to not bring along a laptop or any form of keyboard. Pretty much all of the social apps are getting aced from my phone. Camera, sketching pens, and a notebook I’ve diligently written the itinerary in.
But no, I am not mad enough to even think about attempting this trip without my phone. A good map is hard to come by and I’ve got some old-ass pubs to drink in.
Other Recent Stuff:
I finally got my aces together and put together an on-demand print store. Limited, for the moment (I had to re-educate myself on stuff like dpi and aspect ratios), to the catalog from my trip to Havana. You can get something nice to hang on your wall. You’re welcome in advance.
There are too many apps. Most of them don’t work. Maybe it’s my fault. Either way, I’m trying to get myself back to as few apps and services as possible.
Chances are, if you have heard of it, I won’t like it. A gripe against popular culture from your favorite curmudgeon.
Since I last posted an update, I have dropped by a dozen life drawing sessions all over town. It’s amazing to see how a skill can develop.
I’m trying to use more footnotes because I find them endlessly fascinating.2
The gallery next door. Hell, it could be your living room. I swear, I’ll get around to posting an update about my grand re-artification of the house.
Entertaining Ourselves to Death - notes and such from my slow read of Infinite Jest.
I’ll update after Scotland. You know how it goes.
-DAVID
Now, I have to ask, will I bring this volume along with me to Scotland to continue the slow read? The copy I have weighs in at nearly 6 pounds, a considerable percentage of checked baggage and easily the weight of a decent bottle of Scotch I will inevitably bring back. Or, do I make like I do in my backpacking days and tear the book in half, leaving behind what I’ve already read through while lightening my load?
Even though I’m certain no one takes the time to appreciate the good stuff at the bottom.