One Thousand Word Challenge 48: Cold Fingers

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

Alright, it’s the morning and it is time to start doing the things that need to be done. This will be a time of production but I need to stay focused and on topic in order to get the things done. If I don’t then I might slip away and end up doing something else and following a different path and that is not something I want to do. I want to write about music and other things and not think about the things that don’t pertain to those things of which I want to concentrate my thoughts upon, so I need to stay focused, because if I don’t I’m going to be writing about other things and that is something that I don’t want to do; at least, not at the moment.

Of course the moment could change and I will end up following it as that is what I always do, and realistically that isn’t the worst thing in the world. It can lead to a few interesting things and of course being led to other things out there can be rewarding in its own way, but then that means I haven’t achieved as much as I had hoped I would achieve. Actually, maybe I still would achieve as much as I hoped, but not what I had hoped, which would still be fine, or maybe not. Not entirely sure on that one, but surely will find out at some point so long as I stick to whatever it is that I need to stick to, or something to similar effect.

I think this waffling is affecting my ability to be effective this morning as already I’m on the path of meandering and it does not seem to be slowing down which is something that provides its own sense of concern, but of course that does mean there is another path that I should probably look at following, assuming of course I am interested in attempting to follow said path, which of course I am as I do like to explore and adventure away from whatever it is that I am meant to be doing, which is good and bad in a way.

It’s good as it means I do more exploring… I think… but it’s bad as I lack the focus to focus on what I am meant to be doing… until I actually focus on what it is that I’m meant to be doing, which then leads to my having focus, but of course whether that matters or not is another story entirely.

Well, maybe it is not. I think it does matter and thus I should try and focus more, but there are so many things to see out there that I can’t help but check out as many of them as I possibly can, and… well, I don’t know where I was going with this. I can’t even remember how this all started. I think I was writing about doing things today, but then I left that and moved toward somewhere else and now I can’t help but continue on past what felt like a natural conclusion as there are so many other things that I want to express at the moment, but it would be much easier if my fingers weren’t as cold as they are right now, but that is what I currently have to deal with and deal with it I will as there is little else to deal with other than my need to go to the bathroom, but that soon will be dealt with.

After dealing with that I will eat my food I have for breakfast and then after that I will take care of other things. I guess getting this out of the way now rather than later is a small victory but there need to be more along the path of getting things done on this morning of mornings.

However, there need to be more victories along the way. There are things I need to complete. I need to water the plants. I need to live my life. I need to breathe in and out quite a few more times before the day’s end. That’s a lot of breathing to do, and I am up to the task. I am ready to breathe for the rest of the day. So long as I keep on breathing, then I can say that I have kept on breathing throughout the day and that is a good thing as air in lungs means air in lungs, among other things of course.

Perhaps I should have a second coffee. That might be a good idea, or a bad idea. Probably a bad idea. I think there are other things to worry about.

Need to get that food into my gullet and break it all down so it can be turned into a source of energy so as to be able to keep on powering this receptacle I refer to as a body so I can continue on with doing the things that I want to and need to do, but of course I need to stay warm and functioning in other ways so I can keep on doing the things I want to do, but I honestly think that so much of this would be much easier if there was a bit more sunlight pouring out from the sky today.

The weather is a bit overcast which is rather unfortunate. I hope it clears up a little so clothes dry a bit faster. I also hope to think to put on a jacket so I warm up a bit faster than relying on this shirt and my gloves and the pants and the socks and the beanie allows.

I would probably be in a better position to not be so sluggish and distracted if I was a little warmer, but maybe not. Maybe it wouldn’t. However, I am certainly aware that I’d be typing faster if my fingers weren’t cold.

The time it took to write one thousand words: 12:09:26

Surprised by how quickly this came out as I am typing rather slowly, I think.

A writing that wanders a bit more than I hoped, so I guess it demonstrates what I was trying to avoid.

Written at home.

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Space at the Quay

Posted on May 12, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

I can’t remember a time where I’ve seen Circular Quay this empty.

In a way it’s nice as you can see more of its shape and design with ease, as well as get a sense for how far it stretches in one direction.

I think the geometry is interesting as it appears rather simple and is easy on the eyes.

I like how the shadows stretch out across the path, almost as though they are reaching.

I hope you enjoy.

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 671: Some Words on Some Songs

Posted on May 12, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

Spindly limbs and a low roar leads to some push and a slight bit of aggression, but of course a gentle voice will carry it all back down and somewhere closer to a world of calm familiarity. Long the sticks hit the rim and with quick precision, until it is time to hit something else and make the noise rise.

Another burst and this one reaches a bit higher, but of course the shifts once more away and into another world. It jumps and moves away from familiarity to another place of familiarity. It itself is the constant, but it continual shifts and brings new things in as new becomes old and old becomes left behind.

However, it’s all recognisable as one one cognizant thing. It has its start, middle and end, but it seems to know when to make it seem as though there is no middle. Of course there’s a soothing sensation that rises around the rage of the base noises and it is in that where the great contrast of beauty is born. Whether it is a good contrast or not is something I cannot say. It certainly does seem appropriate, however.

Onto something completely different now and it’s the sound of something gentle and wanting to welcome in all of its constituent elements. Slight taps to form patterns of the simultaneous variety and of course there is the swelling and rising of what could pass for a breeze of sorts, but its all for the servicing of the main flow and direction, of which all is happy to comply and follow along in what seems to be reaching for something bigger and something greater than the sum of its parts, or maybe just something that just has a harmonious whole, or maybe something that’s meant to just bring a sense of closure and little else. Perhaps that is the way it is meant to be, but that of course begets new beginnings and new beginnings lead to new endings at some stage.

Now something that steps in slowly and carefully, almost as though every move is lightly considered before made. There’s a snappiness to it, but there is space between each motion and of course this means that things can be a bit more gentle and perhaps whimsical. Perhaps.

It all seems to lead in one direction as something twinkles down and tries to touch a surface, but fades before it can so as to allow the next thing to try once more. Little rises, little falls and a steady motion in the forward direction leads it all to somewhere not originally expected, but also unsurprising. It’s familiar but in a most cosy and pleasant way and that’s probably the best way for this to all be at this point, for the time for my leaving this seated position and entering a state of horizontal position so as to be able to close my eyes for a while approaches far faster than I had initially expected.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 08:19:95

I’m not quite sure as to how this reads.

Perhaps it’s abstract writing. Perhaps impressionistic. Really not sure.
I can confirm that I was looking to express what I was listening to at the time of writing.

Written at home.

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Under Clouds

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

Not a great photo, but I really like how the angle and the lens (16-35mm f4) skewed the shape of some of the objects in this image.

I also like the curvature of the pattern from the clouds and how they are so much more massive than everything else to the point where they could almost wrap around everything in the scene.

Now that I think about it, they probably could.

I think its great that there are few people in the image as you get a good level of clarity.

Overall I think it’s a photo that feels slightly off. That’s likely due to the warping.

I hope you enjoy.

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 670: Rather Just Relax

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

Relax, relax and put on something smooth and silky to listen to. Need to hit that sweet spot and let it spin for a while. Relax, take it easy, sit back, enjoy and fall into a trance, or don’t, but still it is time to relax and relaxing is very much what is on the menu.

Or, at least it would be if I wasn’t sitting here continually running speed tests to try and get a data set of the frequent dropouts the Internet connection is currently experiencing and has been for more than a week now. We had technicians come out and somehow make it worse. It’s frustrating as I’ve got stuff I need to do that requires a stable connection that I now can’t, but I don’t want to talk about that right now beyond what I’ve now written. I kind of just want to relax and read my book.

My book is ready and I’m sitting here writing for the first time today and soon I’ll be going to sleep and I can’t relax as there is so much to do right now. There is much to do and I cannot relax until some of it is done, though realistically what will happen is I’ll write this, share a photo and then after that go to reading as I’d rather read than do stuff right now.

So perhaps there will be some sort of relaxing in the future that will soon become the present. Perhaps I will get to do my reading and then go to sleep and drift off and find a place where I can relax whilst in my dreams, but of course that will be shifted away by the process of waking up and becoming aware of myself and my existence once more, which will then lead into a bit of routine before I sit down and start working away on other things that need the attention of someone who decided to do those things.

There are things on my mind but they are falling by the wayside as I slowly actually do find myself relaxing, relaxing, and slipping into a state of ease. All the stress is washing away, Moving into that lazy state. I think I’m going to go to sleep soon, though by “soon” I mean in a little more than an hour as it still is somewhat-early at the moment.

I really should get to reading my book sooner rather than later, then. I need to put on something smooth and silky to listen to. I need to relax and take it easy and find myself in a state of being warm and comfortable and slowly drift off to somewhere else. Don’t necessarily need to fall into a trance, but maybe I will, but who knows for how long really?

Right now that person is not me, but I’m sure that with enough time and searching I’d find out as to whom, but I don’t want to.

Rather just relax.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 07:44:27

I think about this and think about how I could’ve written some sort of thing that suggests increasingly stressful things.

Oh well.

Written at home.

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One Thousand Word Challenge 47: Not Writing What I Should be Writing

Posted on May 10, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

I’ve been sitting here for a while procrastinating on writing. I probably should have started writing earlier, but I didn’t. Need to finish a review off, but that likely won’t happen until tomorrow morning at this stage. Such is the way of things.

I don’t know how it is for others, but sometimes when I get tired of writing I decide to write. I don’t know why. Perhaps I am compelled to write and when I don’t feel like doing so I somehow still feel like doing so, if that makes sense.

I think it makes sense to me, but only in a way that doesn’t make sense, or something. I think.

Anyway, I’m sitting here and I’m trying to think of a way to write the second half of this review, but what I really should be doing is jotting down more notes and then expanding into sentences. Or perhaps I should be finding other ways to write the review. I should be sitting here and writing away and getting it done so it’s another one off the list of catching up, but I don’t think it’s going to happen right now as right now I don’t feel like writing it, but I need to. I need to stop procrastinating and get to it, but instead of doing so I’m just going to sit here and ruminate for a while as that is far more interesting to me in this given moment. Maybe it is a waste of time, but maybe it is not.

My arms seem hairier than usual. I don’t know why I wrote that down.

On the plus side, what I’m listening to right now is pleasant enough. It isn’t what I am meant to be reviewing, but I am enjoying what I’m hearing. Currently I’m listening to “Toy Automatic” from The Afghan Whigs’ In Spades which is a rather satisfying listen as far as I’m concerned. Solid album, solid performance. The album that I’m meant to be listening to I just don’t want to listen to anymore. I’ve played it enough that I’m done with it, but of course I will have to go back sooner or later.

It’s not a bad album by any means. It has some well-structured exploratory jazz and sounds classically jazz, so to speak. It’s a well-crafted collection of songs that sound like they came from one person backed by a band willing and eager to perform. Brass comes through as strong as piano, percussion and other instruments. People weave in and out of each other, knowing when to come forward and to pull back and follow the songs trajectories to a tee as they journey in and around their sound and rhythm. The first two songs are oddly-placed and do impact the album’s cohesiveness, but the songs and ideas come through strongly, but I just don’t want to listen to it anymore.

I’d rather also write about other things, but of course whatever those things turn out to be is yet to be seen. That might just be a good thing as it means I’m going in a bit more blind. At the same time, lack of foundation can be a bad thing.

I don’t know what else I can say at this point, but perhaps I can think of something as I let all of this come out and I keep on avoiding writing the review and listen to more of In Spades. Still a good album at this track. Still a good album the rest of the way through.

Maybe at the end of the day instead of overthinking the whole process of the review I need to write more loosely. I have been working on the new form of writing but of course it is taking time and I think I’m still thinking too much about what I am and am not writing, which is okay. The thinking will eventually be a bit less, but right now it is still causing issues that I don’t want to have to deal with at this point as it slows my process down far too much; well, that and the procrastination, of course.

If I could just say about how it seems that the band bounces off and reacts to each other, I’d be quite happy. If I could talk about the only song with vocals on it being rather rhythmic and kind of a standout track, then I’d be happy. I’d be happy if I could talk about the relaxed nature and how it sounds like everyone is having fun whilst being completely professional, I’d be happy. I think I’d be happy if I couldn’t talk about those things also, but… well, you know.

It seems that in my attempts to write about stuff in order to avoid writing the review are having an effect where it’s coming out here and I guess that’s a good thing, but right now I kind of want to write about writing more than anything else. Maybe not at the start of this bit of writing, but now that I’ve come this far I feel as though it would be better to write about writing rather than the album I’m meant to be reviewing.

Actually it would be better to stop writing this and work on the review, but that’s not going to happen until this ends, but that of course will come soon and I’ll go back to trying to put together words that express music in a non-music form, or something to similar effect. Maybe I’ll come up with something profound whilst exploring the minutiae of the musical textures and say something so amazing that I will have to stop the review and more onto something else.

Either that or I won’t say something amazing and instead just finish the review and move onto the next thing. That also works.

I don’t know where I was going with this, so it’s probably a good idea to have this end here.

The time it took to write one thousand words: 17:02:10

Whilst writing I thought I’d have this done pretty quickly. It took less than twenty minutes which is something I’m happy about, but it was slower than I hoped.

Probably my most grounded bit of writing in a while. A bit repetitive in places, but I’m kind of okay with that.

Written at home.

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 669: Too Long in Front of the Computer

Posted on May 10, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

I think I’ve spent far too long in front of the computer at this stage.

I’m not talking about the years of my life, but only the morning of this morning. Fixing up a whole lot of music sot hat it’s titled correctly, and the correct artists are listed. It was a long, lengthy and long process and now I soon will be commencing the shift of the day of work and need a break from the screen but am unable to get one at the moment. Soon work will start and I need to be ready and primed in order to do my job and all that other stuff. Need to have lunch too. Which will come first?

Maybe it will be good to do both at once. People can listen to me eat whilst I listen to them refusing to pay attention. It works out. Everyone wins. Maybe this is indeed the best idea I’ve had in a long time.

Better yet: maybe I should just disappear into my computer. Jump into the screen and surf the world wide web and see what lies out there for me. Become one with the systems. All that kind of stuff. Seems like fantasy in science fiction, but maybe it could be done. It would be an experience, that’s for sure.

Of course, if I were to attempt to do that then I’d probably injure myself and severely damage the computer. I need the computer working and I’d rather avoid injuring myself where I can, as I much prefer not to be injured more than I already am. Makes things a bit easier.

Maybe I won’t do that. Maybe instead I’ll just get set up and read for a little while whilst I eat food. That way I can go into work feeling a bit more satisfied, or something.

Maybe instead of going into work I should just call in sick and go for a cycle and explore the area for a bit. I’ve cycled along The Cooks River quite a few times, but there’s nothing to say that I can’t cycle along it more. In fact, that might just be a good idea… if it didn’t mean I would not earn enough to survive, that is.

I think that instead of doing all of that I’ll just go for… wait. I will do the eat and read thing, but that means I’ll leave the computer for a period of time. How will it feel? Maybe it’ll feel lonely. It might have been enjoying this shared time together. I should keep that in mind.

I think I’m overthinking this and should just get on with my life and worry about getting ready for work when necessary.

Perhaps the computer has spent too much time around me.

Anyway, now that I’ve rambled about very little for long enough I am going to make myself something to eat. It’s around lunchtime now and I should probably be closer to full than empty. Probably.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 06:57:02

One of those writings where I feel I do well for time but don’t explore stuff enough.

Written at home.

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Departure

Posted on May 10, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

On the train heading from Circular Quay to St James Station. It was leaving the platform whilst I took this shot.

That’s rather evident, so I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea say so.

Anyway, I think this photo is about the contrast. There’s a strong contrast between the light outside and the dark inside, as well as the scenery. Outside is full of more things, whereas the inside is rather plain.

This is my submission into the ninety-sixth Lens-Artists Photo Challenge.

The theme for this one is “Cropping the Shot“. I won’t show the original as there isn’t much else to see. There was part of another window and a slight bit of extra space around this one.

Cropping this image was about bringing more focus to this window and what was outside of it, but keeping it within the context of the train carriage’s interior. I think I was successful.

The challenge is hosted by four people and cycles weekly:

Week 1 – Patti

Week 2 – Ann-Christine aka Leya

Week 3 – Amy

Week 4 – Tina

Patti is hosting this one. The next will be guest-hosted by Sue of Mac’s Girl

I recommend giving the challenges a go and seeing how you interpret each theme. I also recommend checking out what other people are doing to meet the challenges.

I hope you enjoy.

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Think Fast, Act Fast

Posted on May 9, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

I’ve still got the itch to keep on writing poetry and make an attempt to improve.
I also still have the itch to keep sharing it, regardless the low quality of my output.

So here’s another attempt at a poem.

I think I’ll go for something longer next time, or at least try to go for something longer.

I hope you enjoy.

—

Need to think fast
Need to act fast
Be nimble on my feet
And be sure not to slow
Rest is necessary
Though right now a hindrance
As time is short
Though it seldom is long
Once the motion ends
Then a respite will come
So long as the motion completes
And shows a sense of the deliberate
Until then speed remains
To race against time
It’s in short supply
Though rarely isn’t

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A Flock of Rock Doves

Posted on May 9, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

This was taken a few weeks ago now whilst walking around the neighbourhood.

It’s not often I get to see a flock of birds flying around; especially when it comes to the way these rock doves were moving. They would move quickly with an occasional “stop” where they’d shift around rapidly before heading in another direction; At least that is how they appeared to be moving.

There are a few forms of this photo, but this is the one I’m happiest with. Some of the others are better, but I like how this one turned out. It’s less realistic and more “stylish”, but the rock doves are still clear and distinct.

It was great to see them moving around as it was graceful and beautiful. There was a great deal of power in their movement, but of course birds are.

This is my submission into Leanne Cole‘s TPM photo challenge for this week.

The theme for this challenge is “Powerful”. I’m submitting this image due to birds being powerful creatures.

I suggest checking out Leanne’s photography, as well as checking out what other people submit into the challenge.

You can find the challenges here.

I hope you enjoy.

 

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