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ragrugs, brooms, big bowls

2025-04-08

3 minute read

I'm settling into a routine now. I've got this room for at least 4 months - that's enough time to enjoy myself and figure things out a little. I have plenty of things I want to do, as always. I'm hoping this journal, like the last time I was unemployed for a stretch, helps me to focus my intent.

The schedule is rough, I'll adjust it as I go, but it's currently:

Mon - Fri:
morning - breakfast, portuguese study, drum practice
afternoon - projects

Weekend:
whatever I like

At the end of this week I'll see how I went with it, and see what was missing. I'm not tracking what I'm doing, which would probably help. It's something I find difficult to do.

probably help

Also like the last time I was unemployed, I want to write a conjugation program for portuguese verbs. I nearly launched straight into doing that now, but I paused. It needs to go through the small-project wringer. I turned to writing this entry instead, to help plan the approach and to help myself focus.

The trouble I have with finishing projects affected my work in my "real" job, and it will hinder my progress in ever getting a business (or something of the sort) off the ground.

The best thing I can do with this time (outside of learning portuguese) is learn to overcome this hurdle. There are lots of things I want to do, but the order of things matters. Learning to start and finish stuff will go a long way towards the other things I want to do.

the order of things matters

One of my main goals this week is to get a Bike. I was going to put this off until next week, but I remembered a bike really is a key to the city.

After than I can bike somewhere (ikea) to get sheets, I can bike to the climbing gym, I can bike to the beach.

walking

Walking still has a place. I walked to the bikestore yesterday (it was closed early, owner had an orthopedic appointment). On the way I found a cheap homegoods store that blew my mind. It literally had everything I wanted, everything I had even considered buying for my room, including but not limited to: rag rugs, brooms, big bowls, soap dish, mats, electrical cables, light sockets, sheets (though not, I think, cotton), little chairs, yarn. I had to control myself, I bought an aluminium mug and a soap dish.

light sockets?

I want to make my own lamp. Buying a lamp seems like it has 2 options:

  1. Buy the cheapest most banal one you can find
  2. Buy a designer lamp that costs upwards of €500

I don't want to spend that much money, and I'm reluctant to buy into consumerism with a simple ikea lamp. I've always wanted to make my own lamp, why not do that now? If I can't figure out how to do it in the next 2 weeks I'll buy an ikea one.

what's next?

Talking about "finishing projects" before made me remember the "getting things done" book. Might be a good time to give that a go? Now that my life is a lot more minimal

what else?

listening to

Te Whare Tīwekaweka by Marlon Williams

questions