That is a beautiful fire, Amal! Such a lovely serene scene. I'm working on my game, that counts as building I suppose. And cohousing, which is building in a very real sense. Helping to build this world back up, piece by piece.
Thanks! The cohousing is going ok -- we are in the building phase now! Because of COVID, it's still not clear when construction will be complete and we will get to move in, but it's closer than it's ever been. We're building a 30-unit community in Malden, near the T. It's been extremely hard work over many years (we started in 2013!), but it's definitely been worth it -- both on the physical building side and on the community building side. We already have 23 units sold and I am delighted about the families (of all sizes) that are planning to move in!
The keyboard I built I don't like it specifically, more like a learning experience. Like the first time you build a model kit or the first time you try to sculpt something. It's more in the hopes of building something better down the line.
The mechanical keyboard itself that I use now (which I didn't build myself) I like the feel of the keys and the tactile feedback it provides, considering I'm on the computer for most of the day.
But down the line, I'm looking to customize the feeling even further and the aesthetics as well.
"Look down at the grubby, unloved implement beneath your fingers. When was the last time you actually sharpened that sword? How often do you use each of the keys you press? Are the most used keys within easy reach? What about the tactility? How do the keys themselves feel? Is the travel of the keys helpful? Do you wish the travel was greater? Do you wish it was less? What about the sound? Does it annoy you? Does it annoy those around you? Do you have helpful shortcuts to adjust your volume? Skip a music track? Perform an oft-used set of keystrokes? Or what about an easy way to toggle between typing on your computer and typing into your phone?"
It's mainly I can customize every step of the way, so that I get my Goldilocks "it's just right" moment when typing. And the opportunity to help other people find that perfect moment as well. (Already gave away two mechanical keyboards, and will be giving away two more to friends today.)
Also part of my philosophy of investing in the tools you use every day. Bought an ergonomic office chair a few months ago for example and a second monitor.
Yes, that's mostly it. Now that I had some additional disposable income and time.
I think I was happy with the Mechanical Keyboard I got from 2016 (and I think your agent is currently in the same boat right now) but a few months ago, I wondered if there was something better... and so I jumped into the rabbit hole. (Max also uses a mechanical keyboard I think, so you can ask him as well how they like theirs.)
I'm rearranging my office, moving my grandmother's 70yo roll-top desk and installing an electric fireplace. So it will be warm for the long pandemic winter.
For the last seven weeks I've been doing sefirat ha'binyan, a practice of counting the days from Tisha B'Av to Rosh Hashanah (a parallel to the sefirat ha'omer that goes from Passover to Shavuot). "Binyan" means "building" and refers to binyan ha'malchut, building sacredness within oneself. Malchut is linked to (or another name for) the Shechina, the in-dwelling presence of the divine that relates to the domestic and the feminine and the daily experience of earthly, embodied life. So I think of sefirat ha'binyan as something like building a sacred home for the new year to move into.
Tonight was the first night in 49 nights that I haven't stood in front of my calendar and said a blessing and marked the passage of time. I miss it already, and I'm pondering what kind of nightly spiritual practice I want to build to occupy that empty space in my evening.
And of course, for the next ten days I'm building community with my fellow Jews. We're all so desperate to be standing shoulder to shoulder, and cherishing any kind of connection we can make in lieu of that.
I'm so glad you got that moment of peace and togetherness.
I read about Audible wanting audio play submissions, so I dragged out my old one-act “Theatre of the Underground.” My memories of it are embarrassed, but the draft I read was strong. Not perfect, and problematic in some respects, but the bones are good and the tone is lively. The ideas are all there. What to do? Try to adapt it for audio theatre? Expand it to a full length. Explore the characters more? Get Mir to cast it, submit it? Idle thoughts.
Oooh do I know this? This wasn't the Persephone Noir story was it? No that was a short story. I think? Oh I love when you bend older things to new shapes!!
No this was Lucy Lumen, of Lucid Theatre, Theatre of the Underground—the devil herself comes to Chicago to perform her play—Genesis: A Rebuttal—on the subway platforms, with her pet vampire (Didier) and a demon from before time began (Az). It’s sort of owes everything to Bulgokov’s Master and Margarita, and the Phantom of the Opera. Who is also a character. Mr. Og. Erik Og. Also, two waitresses, one of whom is a pyrotelekinetic blues singer. It’s... charming. But all over the place.
Great fire. I love to hear you relaxing. I love when you take breaks from Twitter. Best.
That is a beautiful fire, Amal! Such a lovely serene scene. I'm working on my game, that counts as building I suppose. And cohousing, which is building in a very real sense. Helping to build this world back up, piece by piece.
Hooray games! I'd love to know more about the cohousing!
Thanks! The cohousing is going ok -- we are in the building phase now! Because of COVID, it's still not clear when construction will be complete and we will get to move in, but it's closer than it's ever been. We're building a 30-unit community in Malden, near the T. It's been extremely hard work over many years (we started in 2013!), but it's definitely been worth it -- both on the physical building side and on the community building side. We already have 23 units sold and I am delighted about the families (of all sizes) that are planning to move in!
Glad you're able to build something Amal. We missed you!
I got into the expensive hobby of mechanical keyboards so two days ago I managed to "build" a keyboard (my second one).
Hoping to build you a personalized keyboard one day (it's just that shipping it will be a challenge).
Oh that's so interesting!! What do you most enjoy about it?
The keyboard I built I don't like it specifically, more like a learning experience. Like the first time you build a model kit or the first time you try to sculpt something. It's more in the hopes of building something better down the line.
The mechanical keyboard itself that I use now (which I didn't build myself) I like the feel of the keys and the tactile feedback it provides, considering I'm on the computer for most of the day.
But down the line, I'm looking to customize the feeling even further and the aesthetics as well.
My favorite quote is from this article: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2020/05/complete-guide-mechanical-keyboards/
"Look down at the grubby, unloved implement beneath your fingers. When was the last time you actually sharpened that sword? How often do you use each of the keys you press? Are the most used keys within easy reach? What about the tactility? How do the keys themselves feel? Is the travel of the keys helpful? Do you wish the travel was greater? Do you wish it was less? What about the sound? Does it annoy you? Does it annoy those around you? Do you have helpful shortcuts to adjust your volume? Skip a music track? Perform an oft-used set of keystrokes? Or what about an easy way to toggle between typing on your computer and typing into your phone?"
It's mainly I can customize every step of the way, so that I get my Goldilocks "it's just right" moment when typing. And the opportunity to help other people find that perfect moment as well. (Already gave away two mechanical keyboards, and will be giving away two more to friends today.)
Ahh that's so lovely! Makes me realize how often I've sort of customized myself to my keyboard instead of the other way round!
Also part of my philosophy of investing in the tools you use every day. Bought an ergonomic office chair a few months ago for example and a second monitor.
Yes, that's mostly it. Now that I had some additional disposable income and time.
I think I was happy with the Mechanical Keyboard I got from 2016 (and I think your agent is currently in the same boat right now) but a few months ago, I wondered if there was something better... and so I jumped into the rabbit hole. (Max also uses a mechanical keyboard I think, so you can ask him as well how they like theirs.)
If nothing else, you can always change the way it looks. (There was this Astrology/Sailormoon-y keycaps for example): https://drop.com/buy/drop-dsa-astrolokeys-keycaps-by-sailorhg-and-cassidoo
I'm rearranging my office, moving my grandmother's 70yo roll-top desk and installing an electric fireplace. So it will be warm for the long pandemic winter.
For the last seven weeks I've been doing sefirat ha'binyan, a practice of counting the days from Tisha B'Av to Rosh Hashanah (a parallel to the sefirat ha'omer that goes from Passover to Shavuot). "Binyan" means "building" and refers to binyan ha'malchut, building sacredness within oneself. Malchut is linked to (or another name for) the Shechina, the in-dwelling presence of the divine that relates to the domestic and the feminine and the daily experience of earthly, embodied life. So I think of sefirat ha'binyan as something like building a sacred home for the new year to move into.
Tonight was the first night in 49 nights that I haven't stood in front of my calendar and said a blessing and marked the passage of time. I miss it already, and I'm pondering what kind of nightly spiritual practice I want to build to occupy that empty space in my evening.
And of course, for the next ten days I'm building community with my fellow Jews. We're all so desperate to be standing shoulder to shoulder, and cherishing any kind of connection we can make in lieu of that.
I'm so glad you got that moment of peace and togetherness.
I read about Audible wanting audio play submissions, so I dragged out my old one-act “Theatre of the Underground.” My memories of it are embarrassed, but the draft I read was strong. Not perfect, and problematic in some respects, but the bones are good and the tone is lively. The ideas are all there. What to do? Try to adapt it for audio theatre? Expand it to a full length. Explore the characters more? Get Mir to cast it, submit it? Idle thoughts.
Oooh do I know this? This wasn't the Persephone Noir story was it? No that was a short story. I think? Oh I love when you bend older things to new shapes!!
No this was Lucy Lumen, of Lucid Theatre, Theatre of the Underground—the devil herself comes to Chicago to perform her play—Genesis: A Rebuttal—on the subway platforms, with her pet vampire (Didier) and a demon from before time began (Az). It’s sort of owes everything to Bulgokov’s Master and Margarita, and the Phantom of the Opera. Who is also a character. Mr. Og. Erik Og. Also, two waitresses, one of whom is a pyrotelekinetic blues singer. It’s... charming. But all over the place.
THIS SOUNDS AMAZING, IT SHOULD BE ALL OVER ALL PLACES
My true champion.