Wrapping up the better book
I finished up Project Hail Mary over the weekend in a bit of a melancholy state. The book was really good. It was hopeful in a way that I really needed right now. So much so, I didn’t want to let it go. I had been on a pace to finish it under a week, which is not very common for me. Especially with so much work on my plate. But then when I got near the last 100 or so pages, I slowed way down.
I just didn’t want to let go.
It’ll be interesting to see what they do with the film. I can see how it would translate well to the screen. Hopefully it delivers.
Back to a better book
I started Project Hail Mary following my last book and it’s just such a jarring difference in quality. At least to me. I have been slamming through this book so fast that I will be finishing it in well under a week, which is fast. Again, at least to me.
I’m so happy to be reading again. It has been helping me sleep better and feel a bit more connected to myself and the world around me. That sounds odd out loud, I suppose. But it has been true.
Back to the books
I set a goal for myself this year of reading at least four books. That may sound low to a lot of people, but I haven’t really read for entertainment in a long time. I finished my first book of the year, which was Past Crime by Jason Pinter. It was… not good. At least it wasn’t for me. On to the next! Hopefully it hits a bit better. I am going to start a recommendation from a friend, which is Project Hail Mary. It sounds a lot more up my alley. The Past Crimes book was more thriller than it was sci-fi. I need more sci-fi than, well, anything else.
I kind of lost some time there. The last week of work, as my wife put it, felt like a month of time. It started off ominously with a night at my work computer until after midnight and then things only slowed down somewhat after. I will taking this weekend seriously. I hope.
Took tonight off work. Did non-work things. My director encouraged me to do so and it felt liberating. Churning late nights all day this week wouldn’t have been ideal.
Today blurred together in this horrible mess of meetings and calls before I managed to get anything done… on my own time. I debate sometimes what is worse: email or meetings. I suppose it’s both.
This week was such a fever dream. The handful of days that were paused for brief periods of sleep were so confusing. Work didn’t help at all.
Missing sleep makes me a broken person in so many ways ways. Currently patching holes with espresso.
I am trying to practice mindfulness more now. And on days like the last few, it’s taking a lot of effort. I just have to quietly chant to myself, “Head down, keep moving forward.”
I know I have mentioned weekends a time or two before and will try to stop doing it so much, but I think I know why I love them. Apart from not working, it’s about the variety. I can be productive, then enjoy something, and then take a rest all in the span of an hour without guilt. That feels good.
Such a nice productive morning so far. Going to mess that all up now and do some tech-related stuff that feels productive, but isn’t productive.
Am I ready for this week of work? Probably not. Do I appreciate how relaxing the weekend was? Absolutely.
I am terrified to count up the number of hours I spent on calls this week at work. It’s not quite 1:1 for the workweek but it would be close.
Walk in listening to Iggy Pop’s Blah, Blah, Blah and walked home listening to Tom Jones’ Reload. Somehow I fucked around and got old.
Brisk one this morning in the GTA. Still making do with a spring jacket. Just have to add gloves and a hat.
Work today has absolutely gassed me. I had non-stop meetings from 9 - 5 today with a few breaks peppered in. No time to do any work of any kind. I should be working tonight but mentally feel done. We’ll see if I conjure any magic.
My better half just surprised me with a bit of great personal news. Such a needed injection of joy during a run of exceptional sorrow. Silver linings among the storm clouds.
Weekends are woefully too short. We should add more weekend days to the week. Maybe trim back the weekdays a bit.
Going to be spending the better part of my morning getting a security system configured for a top-secret location. Oooooh, the thrills!