Okay, let’s get back to journaling. This is a second paragraph, but not enough space between it and the previous one. How do I fix that?
Okay, that makes sense … this is Markdown we’re writing here, and Markdown says that paragraphs are delimited by blank lines. So what I wrote above is a single paragraph with two lines. Whereas this is a single paragraph with only one line? Since I haven’t used the enter key to move the cursor to the next line anywhere within it.
I think I’m done with blogging, at least on the Dry Creek Chronicles blog. If anyone is left reading it, they never let me know. Servetus was the last one, and it turns out she died of cancer in April
I still want to write … but am not sure right now whether I’ll actually do it, and I’m not interested in setting myself the task. I’ll continue with the things that come unbidden, like reading and watching videos and “writing in my head”, and if at some point actual writing (as opposed to journaling) starts to happen I’ll devote some time and effort to that.
Meanwhile I’ll look at other possible ways to fill my time, to see if any of them are congenial. I want to experiment with programming, to see if pursuing it without a specific goal (e.g. some app) engages me. Possible tools are Clojure, Svelte, Javascript, and (less likely) Python. Probably some sort of web app, using a reactive framework. I have one rich set of personal data with API access, namely Readwise. I suppose I also have Library Thing, though that is out of date and not really all that exciting. For tutorial purposes there are other public data sets that would serve.
I also want to try making music, since I have the equipment and a bit of background. Nothing ambitious, and nothing that would point towards performance or creating work for public consumption. I may look into the details of synthesis, or sequencing. The idea is not to make anything useful but just to find an area that stays engaging as I look deeper into it. I installed Surge XT on the Mac, and hooked up the Linnstrument. I also bought a cheap ($25) midi sequencer, Midinous, because it has such a weird and intriguing approach. Haven’t done much with any of them yet, but even getting all the pieces tested and working together should occupy me for awhile.
I won’t give up on ambitious writing, but I won’t set myself writing projects for now. There are plenty of possibilities for that which I think could be useful to others and absorbing for me, but for now when I attempt anything I find it more oppressive than enjoyable, and there’s nothing I could produce that would be so valuable that I ought to power through the oppression. I think I am getting comfortable with the idea that if I never write down another bit of “wisdom” the world will continue on fine regardless. And so I should only go down that path if I find it enjoyable and stimulating, not from any sense of duty or obligation. I doubt the Old Man in Seven Samurai wrote anything down! Maybe settling in comfortably to that attitude will reduce the pressure enough that writing will become enjoyable and stimulating.
A month ago my insurance company notified me I have until May 2005 to have the roof replaced (plus a small siding repair done). Proud of myself (!) for getting the process started, and actually arranging for multiple estimates. One came from Roofer A, a smaller company (but still with 100+ five star reviews on Google), the other from Roofer B, larger and slicker company (also well reviewed). Roofer A quoted $9500, Roofer B $11500. I don’t see any reason to go with Roofer B, Roofer A seems reputable enough. So, saved $2000 by getting two quotes! Probably should have gotten a third, but the only other obvious company was Dynamic Restorations, whose trucks I see all around and whose website is slick … but they seem a bit too large. Topper seems to hit that sweet spot of local, reputable, big enough.
Set up the replacement tent this morning. Getting the mail poles aligned properly gave me a heck of a time, first time that ever happened, maybe because I wasn’t using the footprint. I should have gone a little slower, a little more carefully. Anyway, everything is there and fine. I didn’t put the rainfly on, but that is just a piece of fabric and should be OK. I hosed off the footprint, which was pretty dusty dirty. There are still dirt stains, but just cosmetic, I could work to get them off but really no need, they shouldn’t get me or the tent dirty. Washed both sides, let it dry in the yard, folded it up. I still need to take the tent down and pack it, but that can wait until the shadows are longer and it has cooled down a bit (high 80s today).
I used the work of putting up the tent as an excuse to put off using the rower today. Still haven’t totally figured out a comfortable discipline for using it. I don’t mind it that much, definitely don’t try to avoid it, but don’t look forward to it either. I scared up the Bluetooth speaker and tried using it to play music while I row, made it a bit more pleasant to go an entire 30 minutes. May try podcasts as well. Putting it off from time to time is an experiment in itself, I don’t want to be a slave to that routine (and can’t be, since I have multi-week stretches where I’m away from the machine), I just want to get regular exercise, with “exercise” not defined as anything especially strenuous, just something that keeps me flexible and in good physical health, i.e. anti couch potato measures.
Just had a call from Will, my contact at Roofer A who just left for a two-week trip to Scotland, to say that his boss will come by tonight after 6pm to close the deal on the roof. Sounds like it could probably be scheduled even before Labor Day, so should be no problem having it done shortly afterwards.