Grump Central Archive: Week of 26 July 2020
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Saturday, 1 August 2020
Increasingly I find it difficult to stay focused on any one thing for more than a few minutes at a time. That's assuming I even want to do something, because all too often I'll be painfully honest with myself and realize I'm just killing time, waiting for the inevitable. Thinking this way does tend to warp one's perspective, and leave one in a nearly perpetual state of somber introspection occasionally punctuated by anxiety: every time I feel a twinge or flutter in my chest, I'll think, Is this it? Such are the thoughts that occupy the moments between the others spent—often unsuccessfully—trying to distract myself by doing things.
Incidentally, the video above is among my favorite short films. I've lost count how many times I've watched it over the years. Simply brilliant. Notably, its effect on me has changed of late, in ways impossible for me to articulate, except to say that its now deeper, more profound. I'm also grateful that the film introduced me to the composer Nils Frahm: I can leave his track "Promises" on repeat all day.
Friday, 31 July 2020
Just for giggles, I've entered a competition to produce a short film in 48 hours. I figured, with that deadline, I have a pretty good chance of living long enough to finish it. But we'll see; the rules won't be announced until this evening, so I don't even know what the requirements are yet—I might have second thoughts once I find out.
Thursday, 30 July 2020
Five years ago right about now, a storm blew through and dropped a tree right into the ravine in my "back yard." I'd have left it except that, first, it right in the middle of my view, and second, it laid across the fox den. So I had a tree crew come in and remove it.
Wednesday, 29 July 2020
Four years ago I was finishing up the roof on the main living level.
Tuesday, 28 July 2020
I love optical illusions. Here's one you can make yourself—all it requires is an image with converging diagonal lines. Place two copies of it side-by-side, and watch what happens. Yes, these images are identical. Makes your brain hurt, doesn't it?
Monday, 27 July 2020
On this day in "history": 27 July 2015, I applied for my septic permit. In the above scene, holes were excavated so engineers could test the soil and determine what needed to be done in order to build a proper disposal bed.
Sunday, 26 July 2020
Wow, my bed is a year old now.