8 posts tagged “life”

I've always been one to jump on the latest and greatest social networking sites (my home/status page is testament to this). I like to try out these sites out of my own curiosity, although every time I join a new site, I hesitate for a moment and ask myself, "Why?"

Ever since Six Degrees [now defunct] in the late nineties, I was compelled to make connections with the people I knew, through the magic of the internet. The world wide web made our own worlds smaller, and we were enchanted with the idea of connecting and reconnecting with people from near and far. With Friendster, we saw people get obsessed with collecting friends... some even likened it to Pokémon (Gotta catch 'em all!), which was rising in popularity at the same time. Friendster forever changed the definition of the word "Friend".

MySpace brought social networking to a younger (read: mainstream) audience and made itself a part of the vernacular. From then on, it got ridiculous. Social networking sites sprung up faster than anyone could count, and to this day, invitations to join someone's network litter our inboxes, and people foam at the mouth for invitations to the beta version of the newest networking site.

I feel that part of the appeal of social networks is in the ability for those of the introverted persuasion (e.g., geeks and nerds) to be able to connect to many like-minded people. We became social networking junkies, binging on forming online friendships. Why not? It's so easy... we can be friends with someone by simply clicking a button!

Yesterday, I found myself purging my social networks of people I feel little or no connection with. It was still hard for me to delete/remove/de-friend some people from these lists, so I let some of them be. What if they found out I didn't have them in my Friend List anymore? What would I say? How would I explain it? Is it easier to keep them on my Friend List to avoid confrontation? Would this confrontation even exist?

And why the heck am I so worried about this?

Just remembered this: said Halsted as we discussed some complaints about our mothers (we love 'em but can't live with 'em):

I wish I had a command line interface mother.

I love my geeky friends and the geeky things they say that I can totally relate to.

The day is spent in countdown mode. T minus six hours...

Looking forward to not really doing anything this weekend except catching up on rest. It's a good thing.

Oh, so just to clarify, with my past coupla entries, I wasn't in a bad financial spot. I do appreciate the offers to help out, but my intent wasn't a cry for help. What I did want to express most of all, was that being low on funds makes my life a lot simpler in many ways, and it's kinda nice!

Today is payday anyhoo. Woo, retail therapy time! :D

Why do I suddenly need a bunch of stuff when I'm broke... and on top of it, I think of all this stuff that I want?

Need to get: toothpaste, toilet paper, foundation, ibuprofen, prescription refill, niece's birthday gift

Want to get: sweaters, boots, scarves (it's been cold lately!), wireless headphones.

Just a list for myself, really. Carry on.

I am broke (or very close to it), at least till payday Friday.

Part of me is annoyed at this, because I kinda wanted to go out to an event or two (or three?) or maybe go out for drinks in the next coupla days.

The other part of me is glad that I don't have the money to do that, and has made my decision on what to do a lot easier.

The next few nights will be spent with Netflix and homemade cocktails. Yes.

I forgot how I found this, but it's been posted in my line of sight on my cubicle wall:

How to Feel Miserable as an Artist

1. Constantly compare yourself to other artists.
2. Talk to your family about what you do and expect them to cheer you on.
3. Base the success of your entire career on one project
4. Stick with what you know.
5. Undervalue your expertise.
6. Let money dictate what you do.
7. Bow to societal pressures.
8. Only do work that your family would love.
9. Do whatever the client/customer/gallery owner/patron/investor asks.
10. Set unachievable/overwhelming goals. To be accomplished by tomorrow.

I do a lot of these things frequently, but remember this list to snap me back into proper form within reasonable time. It's all quite good advice.

I didn't plan on it, but I spent a good chunk of the evening wrapped in my fleece blanket, enclosed my head in my large yet (surprisingly comfy) headphones, watched a movie, listened to music (technically, still listening to music), spent some quality time with me. Before I know it, the evening has gone by in the blink of an eye.

I think I started getting too anxious about the multitude of crap that I wrote about in my last entry, and wanted to not really think about it anymore today. So I got wrapped up myself up in my little cocoon of entertainment, consuming, reading, viewing, listening, thinking. It's actually been quite a good thing, being able to let go of the thoughts that tell me that I constantly have to be doing something. I have a ton of thoughts I want to write out as a result of this evening. I think that vague notes in my moleskine will suffice for now.

I had a mocha this afternoon, maybe that contributes to me being up later than usual (these days). I think was trying to prove that I could have caffeine later than 3pm and still go to bed "on time". It doesn't really help that I live a couple of blocks from Blue Bottle.

Then again, I think I'm just feeling pensive (not a bad thing at all) and enjoying the musical stylings of Bernard Sumner... enough to keep me awake. I'm content but starting to get a little concerned about getting enough rest before going to work in the morning. It's almost 1 but I think I'll get a nightcap, perhaps it will counteract the mocha effects. I've been eyeing that last bit of Bushmill's sitting in the kitchen for a while now, anyway.

...

Whiskey tastes different after you've brushed your teeth.

I think I've just started to yawn. Buenos noches.

Just wait till tomorrow
I guess thats what they all say
Just before they fall apart

I've come to the realization that if things are meant to be, they'll come naturally. More specifically, there have been quite a few really rewarding experiences I've had, that have often been the things that have just come naturally and without a lot of hard effort.

Recent Examples:

• My current job, which came to me through a temp agency, that I registered with after a year of hard job searching and giving up
• My current relationship, which happened between two friends who were simply getting to know each other better
• A current high-profile photography assignment that seemed to just drop in my lap yesterday!
  

A lot of great creative endeavors have also come to fruition because of great moments of inspiration, when the ideas and creativity just flows, and it just comes naturally.

This also goes for things on the opposite end of the spectrum. Things that aren't meant to be a part of my life seem to just disappear naturally.

For Example:

• Television. I don't have any deep desire to watch TV at all anymore, although I used to love my TiVo.
• Movies. I don't really go out to the movies anymore. They're expensive! Although I *will* watch a DVD on occasion.
• Going out. I only go out to events that I want to go to, or to see people I want to see. I've gotten over the feeling that I need to be everywhere all the time. This is actually a subject that I can write a completely other entry about...

Not to say that we shouldn't put effort into anything, but I'm simply making an observation about the things in my life that have come naturally.

On a bit of a related note, there was a bit of advice from an Apartment Therapy reader, which resonated with Robert, and he passed it onto me:

"If you don't love it, you don't need it."

I think that is actually a good philosphy not just for decorating your apartment, but for life. Sure, we have a lot of things in our lives that we don't love, but we keep out of necessity. But this is a good philosphy to help  simplify our lives.