(no subject)

[haptalaon]

the rats got our electric

I know I'm an old hand at disconnection now, but I was surprised by how much more rich that experience becomes when it's not optional. I reflected on childhood boredom, the sort of day you spend reading an entire book of maps just cus it's there. I find that form of boredom supportive and productive; I can't do without it, & one of my big concerns on behalf of others - always a dangerous feeling to have, of course - is that nobody needs to experience this as adults, and so they don't. It's like the difference between a Big Mac and a fancy steak - a trade off between the easy, pleasurable convenience (removing the boredom asap) and the difficult, full-bodied pleasure (sitting with it until you find something organic to fill it). In that context, the tumblr slogan - "never be bored again" - comes to sound more like a threat. And as I said: even as someone who is uncommonly disconnected, who isn't on socials, who is very cosncientious about my digital choices, I found having the choice taken away entirely once again...felt good, felt differently good. I'm not sure what to do with that information. I suppose the active labour of resisting the easy choice is tiring?

I did more work trying to figure out a basic fencraft circling system (no new information/inconclusive but i think it includes two circles not one). I hung out with my books - the Encyclopedia of Things that Never Were, the Brian Froud Fairy Book, etc, those big paper hardbacks that are perfect for whileing away time and daydreaming

The only two albums I had on my laptop, being run off our single working socket (which also had the fridge, but could not reach the hot water boiler) was Jethro Tull's Songs from the Wood and that bloody Tom Bombadil album. I thought about being situated in time. Historically, music was a way to place you in time - what was on the radio, what albums were you listening to; with digital availability, that becomes more diffuse. Is that bad? I think its just different. But it's meaningful to me that this period of time was so marked by that damn ring-a-ding-dillo.

most of all, I got more done. Kitchen is spotless. Went on more dog walks. And got really good at basic 3D cubes from my How To Draw book. I can't access that kind of effectiveness without the deep, deep quiet of isolation.