With the exception of one day last weekend, which we spent in the Black Mountains, and (finally) yesterday and today, it has been grey, white, dark grey, another grey, whitish grey, heavy grey here. Rain sometimes. Cold. Windy. It’s tiring. I miss waking up to bright, bright blue skies. But it’s also good weather (especially the sudden, very heavy downpours we’ve been experiencing) for working. Which is what I’ve been doing. Writing in coffeeshops (because my self-control when it comes to checking just-one-more-thing on the internet is abominable) in the mornings. Preparing bookmaking tutorials for the course I’m facilitating. Finishing this PhD and thinking about what’s next (although the finishing seems to last as long as the whole rest of everything: two months ≥ four years?!).
I made a cyanometer last week. Mostly because I find Saussure’s beautiful. In part in irony, since there is really no blue here to speak of. Also in part as an exercise in gradation and in putting hues in an order that makes sense to me. And I made a ‘blue sky’ to take the place of the one we don’t have, of the insides of envelopes and other blue objects. This is part of my ongoing use of my wall as an installation space (more here). I would like to collect enough blue papers and objects that I could make a whole sky, not just the suggestion of one, and grade it as the sky is–lighter nearer the horizon. Another time. This is practice in all meanings of the word.
Brain weather. I feel scattered. A little hazy. I have so much to keep track of, making list after list. It feels good, though. Except when someone tries to talk to me while I’m working or right after I finish work: then I am still too hazy, still completely wrapped up in my theory and writing and thinking through the logical propositions of my thesis, and I feel resentful or submerged. Better if I have a walk and then meet people or go home.
I am enjoying this mix. It’s on frequent work rotation.
Using pinterest to track textures for my writing: one story. Another story. I like watching the colors pattern.
This interview with Michel Houellebecq is difficult to read (for me, at least) but very interesting.
