Inspired by the time-tested practice of marginalia, the art of
note-taking inside of books, I wanted to explore note taking in digital
books.
In most apps like Amazon’s Kindle, I can highlight, notate and save until next time I open it up like below:
But there are limits. When you purchase a book it is not owned but
rather it is licensed. You are borrowing it until at some point either
the publisher pulls it or the digital store no longer supports it. They
cannot be transferred, and at some point the digital purchase will be
deleted.
Also, you cannot pass down your digital books or their annotations to the next generation.
I
used to have crates full of books but after moving them around the
country more than a few times, plus the introduction of digital books, I
gave away or sold most of them because of the inconvenience. Now, I am
regretful.
The next time I want a book for a quick read I’ll
purchase a digital license and be done with it or borrow from the
library. For long term books to keep I will be grabbing a physical copy
and look forward to scribbling my notes and commentary.
“…to be lost is to be fully present, and to be fully present is to be
capable of being in uncertainty and mystery. And one does not get lost
but loses oneself, with the implication that it is a conscious choice, a
chosen surrender, a psychic state achievable through geography.”
After several free trials, beta tests and tribulations of desktop writing software I have finally decided on my tool of choice. iA Writer helps me take notes and create the stories I want to tell (not
calling myself a writer or author yet).
The criteria I needed:
Cross-platform (Windows, iOS)
Inexpensive
Clean, simple and aesthetically pleasing
No overwhelming amount of tools that I’ll never use
I enjoyed Anthony Bourdain’s travel and food shows when I could catch
them but will find time to watch more now that he has passed. Dry wit,
curiosity no non-sense bullshit and enjoyed life by meeting people over
good food in great places around the world. Inspiring.
Also inspiring was some of his attitudes:
“If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as
much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The
extent to which you can walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat
their food, it’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the
couch, move.”
“I’m a big believer in momentum. As an
ex-abuser of drugs, I’m not a
person who should have any pleasurable interruptions. Inactivity, time
for reflection–these are not good for me. I work a lot, do a lot of
different things, but I think in some ways I’m overcompensating for the
inner, hidden knowledge that somewhere deep inside me there’s a lazy
hippie waiting to get out, that if I’m given the opportunity, I’d lay
down on the couch, turn on Adventure Time or The Simpsons, smoke a
joint, and lay there for the next six months. If I go to work, I’m going
to do things. I keep at them.”
“Create an esprit de corp, and a feeling that you are an elite,
that even if you have the shittiest jobs within a large organization,
you should feel proud of the fact that you’re part of something.
Recognize excellence. Celebrate weirdness, and innovation. Oddballs
should be cherished, if they can do something other people can’t do.”
“Who, after all, wants a ‘sensible’ relationship? Might it follow then
that we shouldn’t aspire to live always by sensible choices? That what
is good for us in the short term is not always the ‘best’ way? To live
always by what’s right now in front of our faces and the imperatives of
keeping things running smoothly for me and mine, good business, no
problems — that’s the kind of shopkeeper mentality that got the world
into a whole lot of shit back in the day. So, maybe, just maybe, fuck
sensible.”
“A few years back, I got the words, ‘I am certain of nothing’ tattooed
on my arm. It’s what makes travel what it is, an endless learning curve,
the joy of being wrong, of being confused.”
“The absolute certainty that no one was ever going to care about or buy or read Kitchen Confidential was
what allowed me to write it. I didn’t have to think about what people
expected. I didn’t care. As a result, I was able to write this book
quickly and without tormenting myself.”
Time to evaluate my progress for my Groundhog Resolutions, the 10th
annual attempt at creating life-long habits for myself. I’ve discovered
that right after the end of the year holidays I am not mentally or
physically capable of sticking with resolutions for the upcoming new
year. I need a break so I take the whole month of January off to reflect
and plan and start on 2/2 instead of 1/1.
I’ll check back in on myself on 7/7
Fun-
Get another tattoo: I am dragging ass on this one. Why?
More camping: Attempted
and failed to secure a spot at Lil Sahara, recently.. The park office
was closed. Park ranger said we could stay no penalty but it was SPARCE.
It was either sleep on sand or asphalt parking lot. No shade or water
sources. Um, no. See also, a camping trip in Robbers Cave last month.
More skinny dipping: Gotta get sneaky since summer is here
Join a book club: Still no decent bookclubs around town.
50 Books a year challenge: Currently reading “I Married Adventure” by Osa Johnson of Kansas. Adventure! Photography!
Fitness-
Yoga:
Almost daily practice using the Sworkit app and DVDs. Is it supposed to hurt when I stretch?
Consistent training: Working
out with Tracy is mutually beneficial. Accountability may be the one
thing I needed to maintain this. We’ve just started out this past week
and so far so good for both of us. Will utilize digital encouragement as
well with our Fitbits.
Consistent nutritional training: Work
in progress. Bad food is too cheap and easy to acquire while healthier
options are scare and pricey. Looking at some non-meat options as well
as eating at home more. Again, accountability is key here.
Hashing: Summer
is here! More runs, more beers! Got called out by THHH Mismanagement
for not showing up in awhile. Will be paying for it when I’m back on
trail.
Hiking: Taken
more than a few hikes this year and explored familiar and new trails.
Ancient Forest was extensive but limited access. Will go back. Also,
urban hikes along River parks, Midland valley and Turkey mountain.
Geocaching: I am 0 for 12 so far this year. Um, what? Meanwhile, Tracy has decided to sign up and has found two that I wanted.
Meditation: Will be utilizing the same space as kickboxing and yoga for this.
Creative-
Complete my book: Plot and character developments Novel or short stories? Hmm…
Photo essay on a topic I am passionate about: Fail.
Video log every month: I am on Vimeo. So far just dark, grainy video of me looking tired but giddy for some reason.
Leave inspirational notes everywhere: Send me inspiration.
Year in photos album: 2017 is just there, waiting on me. Cannot wait to see what 2018 memories I’ll have at the EOY.
How beneficial is all this research I am doing for various projects if if I’m not willing to apply it?
I
tend to overthink and research topics to the point I am overwhelmed and
paralyzed into inaction. I will do a little more research and thinking I
haven’t done enough. Procrastinating?
It gets to the point when I
get comfortable with just doing the research and thinking that is
enough. Learning isn’t the same as doing, I know this but ignore it.What
I don’t know is if my applying what I have learned is going to be
either perfect or will it be half-assed?
This shouldn’t
paralyze me but it does. If anything else I will be closer to my goals
by trying it and editing along the way. Like Nike tells us, “just do
it.”
Time to evaluate my progress for my Groundhog Resolutions, the 10th
annual attempt at creating life-long habits for myself. I’ve discovered
that right after the end of the year holidays I am not mentally or
physically capable of sticking with resolutions for the upcoming new
year. I need a break so I take the whole month of January off to reflect
and plan and start on 2/2 instead of 1/1.
I’ll check back in on myself on 6/6
Fun-
50 Books a year challenge: Up to 9 so far. Need to get a move on.
Fitness-
Calvinball: Acquired balls but need to dedicate time to learning the rules and enjoying
Yoga: Work in progress
More 5 & 10k obstacle course racing: We did it! Just today we ran the Warrior Dash. Now we’re looking into local 5ks and cause to support.
Consistent training: Working
out with Tracy is mutually beneficial. Accountability may be the one
thing I needed to maintain this. We’ve just started out this past week
and so far so good for both of us. Will utilize digital encouragement as
well with our Fitbits.
Consistent nutritional training: Work
in progress. Bad food is too cheap and easy to acquire while healthier
options are scarce and pricey. Looking at some non-meat options as
well as eating at home more. Again, accountability is key here. No
Whataburger in weeks!
Hashing: Waiting on warmer weather. Got called out by THHH Mismanagement for it too. Will be paying for it when I’m back on trail.
Hiking: Taken
more than a few hikes this year and explored familiar and new trails.
Ancient Forest was extensive but limited access. Will go back. Also,
urban hikes along River parks, Midland valley and Turkey mountain.
Geocaching: I am 0 for 15 so far this year. Um, what? Meanwhile, Tracy has decided to sign up and has found two that I wanted.
Meditation: Will be utilizing the same space as kickboxing and yoga for this.
Creative-
Complete my book: The plot thickens…finally.
Photo essay on a topic I am passionate about: Waiting for a topic and inspiration.
Video log every month: Landed on Vimeo instead of YouTube because I am getting rid of Google soon. So far just dark, grainy video of me looking tired but giddy for some reason.
Leave inspirational notes everywhere: Waiting on weather to get better and people hit the streets. Send me inspiration.
Year in photos album: 2017 is just there, waiting on me. Cannot wait to see what 2018 memories I’ll have at the EOY.
“
You must be constantly adding to your store. For this purpose you
create… principally upon your own impressions, feelings and experiences.
You also acquire material from life around you, real and imaginary,
from reminiscences, books, art, science, knowledge of all kinds, from
journeys, museums and above all from communication with other human
beings.
Researching the three main tent poles to a story that’s been in my
head for about a decade. Historical adventure/mystery, the science
behind the story, and an exotic location.
My brain hurts and I need sleep but don’t want to lose momentum. Bring snacks and sodas.
