Over coffee this morning I’ve been catching up on some blog reading. Robyn posted about a day in her life, and suggested we all follow suit. I’ve always been fascinated by Robyn’s balance of her engineering day job and prolific designing career, and it was really cool to read about her day. Since I’m absent-minded and we’re going to press on the magazine soon, I figured I’d post about my day in two parts: a weekend day (yesterday) and a work day (hopefully tomorrow).
So, yesterday:
8:00AM: Wake up. This is late for me; I’m usually up around 7:30. Make coffee, read email.
8:20: Coffee has sufficiently started clearing the cobwebs, so it’s now safe to send some emails. Send the first of what will be many emails about a new book I’m working on. I’m very behind the original schedule for this book, for two reasons. First, I’d front-loaded the schedule because I thought we’d be going on holiday in July and I wanted everything to be done before then; turns out we’re going later this month, so I can work on the book after we travel (we’re going to London. I’ve never been. I’m very excited). So I let things slide schedule-wise, but I don’t feel good about it. Second, I’ve had trouble committing. Not to the project. But to decisions. The hardest (and simultaneously most exciting) part of my job is committing to designs that will be in the book (or issue of the magazine). With every commitment I make, the final product becomes more concrete, and there’s less room for flexibility. I’m happiest on a wide-open road of options and potentials, so steadily decreasing my own flexibility is a challenge every time. This is a good thing, not a complaint.
8:45: Blog about a desk I want, and about working from home.
9:45: Yikes! Running late. Pour a bowl of Cheerios and eat quickly.
9:55: Shower, dress.
10:30: Run out the door. Miss the bus (not so much because I was running late, but because this particular bus never, ever comes on time).
11:30: Arrive thirty minutes late to meet friends at Cafe Bojangles. Apologize to an embarrassing extent. Drink coffee, eat bagel, talk for three hours.
3:00PM: Return home. Follow up with said friends via email.
4:00: Walk the dog. Read. Take a nap.
6:15: Go to bus stop again, this time with the man.
6:45: Bus arrives after thirty minutes (*shake fists at Translink*).
7:05: Eat yummy dinner at Noodlebox with two friends.
8:30: Go to Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design undergrad show, where we meet up with more friends. Get overwhelmed by so many hipsters and artists and young people with blue hair and huge eyeglasses and self-important-looking middle aged people all packed into small and large spaces. See some cool design. See more mediocre design. Realize I’m getting grumpy because all the design pieces are accompanied by written explanations, and for the most part the writing is bad; there are many inappropriately-placed commas. Share disgust with the man over one particular piece that attempted to represent statistics through sculpture, on the premise that statistics are ambiguous. Rail against the apparent assumption that going to art school means you don’t have to actually understand the subject you’re artistically commenting on. Decide it’s time to move on from design to go view fine art. Experience great relief that fine art pieces aren’t accompanied by explanations. Enjoy viewing art.
10:30: Go to Comox Long Bar and Grill. Enjoy funny conversation over a pint of pale ale. Throw some darts.
1:30AM: Return home.
/end navel-gazing. Today we’re going to Got Craft.
I am thrilled beyond what I can express that you shared your day too! Thank you!!!
You are going to love London! We lived in England for 6 monthes and adored it. Let me know if you need some good curry or Pub recommendations.