When you work at a movie theater (or at a restaurant, or a bar, or any number of service jobs), there's a lot of noise that gets thrown at you. Figuratively and literally, I guess. I worked concessions most of the time during my brief theater stint, and we had a screen next to the bar that would run the same ads over and over again. By the third or fourth iteration, you can pretty much sing along with most of the 20-second bits and by the eighth, you begin to dread the first few notes that herald the beginning of your favorite jingle.
I think there's a secret circle in hell where you're forced to listen to these things over and over again for eternity. Probably while you're dealing with an endless line of irate and ridiculous customers.
A friend of mine showed me a secret though. There's one sweet spot on the whole floor, right next to the slushy machines where the white noise drone of the mixing ice drowns out everything else. No commercial subliminally encouraging people to buy popcorn. No dancing Sweet Tarts boxes. No inane m&m's commercial set to an 80s hit song.
I think there's a secret circle in hell where you're forced to listen to these things over and over again for eternity. Probably while you're dealing with an endless line of irate and ridiculous customers.
A friend of mine showed me a secret though. There's one sweet spot on the whole floor, right next to the slushy machines where the white noise drone of the mixing ice drowns out everything else. No commercial subliminally encouraging people to buy popcorn. No dancing Sweet Tarts boxes. No inane m&m's commercial set to an 80s hit song.
There's a lot of figurative noise in our lives, and I find that sometimes I need to find that sweet spot...that kind of white noise, to destress. I'll share a secret with the readers of this blog, mostly because I think it's only my sister that reads this. (Hi Izmeister) One of my favorite white noise spots is the Washington State Ferry. The Bainbridge Island one, to be more exact.
The round trip is only about $7 and it's about an hour and a half to the island and back. There's something magical about sitting on the top dock on the ride back, watching the Seattle skyline get closer and closer. Whatever is going on in my life or in my head - all the noise - gets wiped out.
The round trip is only about $7 and it's about an hour and a half to the island and back. There's something magical about sitting on the top dock on the ride back, watching the Seattle skyline get closer and closer. Whatever is going on in my life or in my head - all the noise - gets wiped out.
Seattle is a magical place.
There are a lot of things that give me peace of mind though. Playing music is one of the big ones, although lately I haven't been able to play flute or guitar for more than a half hour at a time. I contracted tendonitis in my right wrist about a year ago and it's unfortunately been flaring up rather aggressively over the past few months. But! I did buy a couple drumsticks recently...and it may look/sound ridiculous, but I have fun just making beats at home while listening to some other music.
Reading and writing are wonderful too. I love getting immersed enough in a book to find that the light has gone out of the room when I close it.
And funnily enough, I think I've gotten more into levitation because it quiets the traffic highway in my mind. I meant only to do levitation shots for the month of June, but they've continued into July. I'm not sure how long I'll do them for.
While I'm taking the shots, it's all about focusing on getting a good shot. Jumping in front of the camera, looking for different angles, different positions, better ways to make it look good. For a half hour, there's nothing to think about but levitation. These days I've been experimenting more with making different shapes, or trying to catch on camera the weirded-out expressions of people nearby while I do it.
There are a lot of things that give me peace of mind though. Playing music is one of the big ones, although lately I haven't been able to play flute or guitar for more than a half hour at a time. I contracted tendonitis in my right wrist about a year ago and it's unfortunately been flaring up rather aggressively over the past few months. But! I did buy a couple drumsticks recently...and it may look/sound ridiculous, but I have fun just making beats at home while listening to some other music.
Reading and writing are wonderful too. I love getting immersed enough in a book to find that the light has gone out of the room when I close it.
And funnily enough, I think I've gotten more into levitation because it quiets the traffic highway in my mind. I meant only to do levitation shots for the month of June, but they've continued into July. I'm not sure how long I'll do them for.
While I'm taking the shots, it's all about focusing on getting a good shot. Jumping in front of the camera, looking for different angles, different positions, better ways to make it look good. For a half hour, there's nothing to think about but levitation. These days I've been experimenting more with making different shapes, or trying to catch on camera the weirded-out expressions of people nearby while I do it.
I like relationships that bring out that focus. There are some people that make everything else disappear when you're with them.
I've been working and teaching a lot, as well as taking part in some community music events...but I guess that can wait for another post.
I've been working and teaching a lot, as well as taking part in some community music events...but I guess that can wait for another post.