You’d think things would change? Or you would if you were me and an optimistic pessimist. I hope things get better, expect they’ll get worse, and am shocked at either result. It’s been nearly a week and a half. Since then, not much new has happened as far as the backlog is concerned. But on my side things have gotten a bit worse. My sleep debt has gotten dangerously bad, to the point I’ve had to ask a coworker to drive me home. After 13 hours of sleep total last week, I assumed, “It’ll get better. I’ll pass out the moment I get a chance to and things will improve. I’ll have time to do everything that was neglected, and things shall resume.” But alas, a bout with insomnia is winning, my classes have not happily vanished, and deadlines still loom on the horizon.
Additionally little things irk me, like the fact that every time I open the document where I’ve save the interviews, it changes the margins. Somewhere a few days in, generally around Day 6, the inch at the top becomes three or four, and the bottom margin increases to five or six inches. Thus every time I open the document to begin typing, I find myself cursing the computer as I reset everything so each day fits neatly on one page. This problem is a rather silly thing to be irked over, however the time it takes would be enough to type an interview or two, and often that’s all the time I have when I come to the computer. Or by the time I reformat I’m distracted by another item on the never ending to do list, and I end up not typing anything of relevance. Like this post.
Alas. I’ll hope for change, but first I’ll hope for sleep.
I just finished day 188. And I’ve not yet missed a day (knock on wood)
Song of the week:
I’m a Loser - the Beatles
Friday, March 7, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
An apology to those taking the time to read this.
There is no photo post today. And there wasn’t one yesterday or the day before. And I’m absurdly far behind on the posting part of this project. I’ve thus far interview 176 people. And posted ... not enough. My laptop is cluttered and my workflow method obviously needs to be modified because I’ve got 6 full CF cards to upload, a binder full of interviews to type, and I just started a second binder earlier this month.
I keep thinking, as soon as I finish (insert school/work/social activity on my agenda), I will upload and post. But inevitably what came in the parentheses involved a computer, and after hours on end staring at a screen I feel that I cannot do any digital photo work because my eyes are tired. And I feel like to do the work in that state would be an insult to those who’s photos I’d halfheartedly churn out in order to post sooner. While waiting for a time when my eyes aren’t drained, when my head is in the game, and when I can do this project justice, I’ve ended up letting the presentation part wait on the back burner.
So time passes. And my sleep debt gets worse, the backlog increases, the exams never stop and therefore the potential excuses never end. Which needs to stop. Many people advise: Enjoy life. (Specifically my day 55 and 56 ... both people on the page my binder is open to) and I do, or I try to. But perhaps enjoyment at the cost of productivity should be warned about. Because eventually you’ll end up over 120 days behind with a pile of photos, interviews to type, and people to contact with apologies for the wait.
I am sorry. Not for any specific delay because I do have my reasons. But rather for letting the delay get this bad. For the fact that the majority of posts recently have been my rambling comments rather than the images you’d expect to see. I know my schedule is ridiculously busy so I can’t promise it will change soon, but I will try to get some more stuff posted in a more timely manner. Thanks for your patience and for still being here to read this.
My songs of the week:
I’m Happy Just to Dance With You - The Beatles
Take My Hand - Dido
I keep thinking, as soon as I finish (insert school/work/social activity on my agenda), I will upload and post. But inevitably what came in the parentheses involved a computer, and after hours on end staring at a screen I feel that I cannot do any digital photo work because my eyes are tired. And I feel like to do the work in that state would be an insult to those who’s photos I’d halfheartedly churn out in order to post sooner. While waiting for a time when my eyes aren’t drained, when my head is in the game, and when I can do this project justice, I’ve ended up letting the presentation part wait on the back burner.
So time passes. And my sleep debt gets worse, the backlog increases, the exams never stop and therefore the potential excuses never end. Which needs to stop. Many people advise: Enjoy life. (Specifically my day 55 and 56 ... both people on the page my binder is open to) and I do, or I try to. But perhaps enjoyment at the cost of productivity should be warned about. Because eventually you’ll end up over 120 days behind with a pile of photos, interviews to type, and people to contact with apologies for the wait.
I am sorry. Not for any specific delay because I do have my reasons. But rather for letting the delay get this bad. For the fact that the majority of posts recently have been my rambling comments rather than the images you’d expect to see. I know my schedule is ridiculously busy so I can’t promise it will change soon, but I will try to get some more stuff posted in a more timely manner. Thanks for your patience and for still being here to read this.
My songs of the week:
I’m Happy Just to Dance With You - The Beatles
Take My Hand - Dido
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Day 55 - Alex
Day 55 - October 25th 2007
Location: Air above Europe between Madrid and London
Setting: BA flight 465
1. Preferred nickname?
Alex
2. Birthplace?
The UK, in Chester
3. Paper or plastic?
Plastic
4. Favorite childhood toy?
A teddy bear
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
The belfry, which is a golf course in the UK
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
Enjoy Life
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Out riding horses
8. Song of the week?
Let me think... It was really annoying. April Showers
10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
The sign of the cross
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
I’d like to say Oprah, but I suspect it’s gonna be Rosie.
Day 54 - Jay
Day 54 - October 24th 2007
Location: Gelato Shop
Setting: Madrid, Spain
1. Preferred nickname?
Uh my god... uh.. they call me Jay sometimes
2. Birthplace?
Belgium
3. Paper or plastic?
Paper
4. Favorite childhood toy?
Lego
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
I was sick at home. (In Belgium)
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
Oh my god. Just do what you like to do.
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Somewhere in a park, quiet, just sitting, relaxing, preferably in the sun.
8. Song of the week?
I haven’t heard music in a while. Probably the Lord of the Rings theme song
10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
Silmarillion
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
Oh definitely Oprah
Sunday, January 20, 2008
140 days in.
It seems like a good time for reflection on this project. Not just because the number is even, but also because there are some reoccurring themes that have come up since I’ve started this project, and I feel like making note of them.
Last night while hanging out with friends I realized the three people I was hanging out with were all faces of the day at some point. (Jeff on September 1st, Nico on October 6th and Chrysanthe November 12th) One I met completely by chance on the day of his interview. One was already a friend who I then got to know better. And the third was a girl I had met briefly once, but didn’t really know when I interviewed her. In general most people I interview initially fall into one of those three categories: Stranger, Friend or Acquaintance.
However our socializing shows that the interaction doesn’t always end there. And one of the things I love about this project is my interaction with a face of the day does not alway end on that day itself. If you look at the Facebook group for 365 Faces a growing number of officers who have been faces of the day are visible- and many of them I’ve seen since interviewing them.
For example on October 1st I interviewed Valeria, and was observed by her friend Richard. 60 days later on November 30th I interviewed him, and just this last Friday I met him again in a social dance class. One could say this is a result of the small size of my school, and not related to the project at all, but it’s also happened in the surrounding community. Over at Stanford when I was interviewing Chrysanthe on the 12th of November, her former roommate who also present, mentioned that she knew about the project through her friend Jeff. Jeff was my first face on September 1st. Outside of the academic sphere on December 21st I interviewed Anna at the SF MOMA. On January 5th I ran into her at Coupa Café in Palo Alto and she introduced me to her friend Rachel. While I was interviewing Rachel friend a man named Chris overheard and three days later on January 8th by random chance I met and interviewed him at the same café.
In fact many of the people I meet through friends and interview, I end up knowing better and to some degree befriending as well. And some who are strangers when I interview them, I later discover other connections with. In fact looking at the list to see who I’ve met thus far, I feel more like I’m looking at a list of friends than at a group of strangers. (while some were initially friends, most were not when I interviewed them) Yes there are some who the interaction has been limited to a single day interaction. And I would be rather surprised if those I interviewed in Portugal, Spain and London were to run into me while I was running around doing my daily routine. But even those I only see for the length of the interview, I feel like I’ve seen more because I’ve seen their words multiple times while rereading interviews, and I see their faces again and again when uploading and organizing photos. If nothing else, there’s a sense of familiarity and fondness for them.
Song of the Week:
Dancing on Thin Ice - Shock Stars
Last night while hanging out with friends I realized the three people I was hanging out with were all faces of the day at some point. (Jeff on September 1st, Nico on October 6th and Chrysanthe November 12th) One I met completely by chance on the day of his interview. One was already a friend who I then got to know better. And the third was a girl I had met briefly once, but didn’t really know when I interviewed her. In general most people I interview initially fall into one of those three categories: Stranger, Friend or Acquaintance.
However our socializing shows that the interaction doesn’t always end there. And one of the things I love about this project is my interaction with a face of the day does not alway end on that day itself. If you look at the Facebook group for 365 Faces a growing number of officers who have been faces of the day are visible- and many of them I’ve seen since interviewing them.
For example on October 1st I interviewed Valeria, and was observed by her friend Richard. 60 days later on November 30th I interviewed him, and just this last Friday I met him again in a social dance class. One could say this is a result of the small size of my school, and not related to the project at all, but it’s also happened in the surrounding community. Over at Stanford when I was interviewing Chrysanthe on the 12th of November, her former roommate who also present, mentioned that she knew about the project through her friend Jeff. Jeff was my first face on September 1st. Outside of the academic sphere on December 21st I interviewed Anna at the SF MOMA. On January 5th I ran into her at Coupa Café in Palo Alto and she introduced me to her friend Rachel. While I was interviewing Rachel friend a man named Chris overheard and three days later on January 8th by random chance I met and interviewed him at the same café.
In fact many of the people I meet through friends and interview, I end up knowing better and to some degree befriending as well. And some who are strangers when I interview them, I later discover other connections with. In fact looking at the list to see who I’ve met thus far, I feel more like I’m looking at a list of friends than at a group of strangers. (while some were initially friends, most were not when I interviewed them) Yes there are some who the interaction has been limited to a single day interaction. And I would be rather surprised if those I interviewed in Portugal, Spain and London were to run into me while I was running around doing my daily routine. But even those I only see for the length of the interview, I feel like I’ve seen more because I’ve seen their words multiple times while rereading interviews, and I see their faces again and again when uploading and organizing photos. If nothing else, there’s a sense of familiarity and fondness for them.
Song of the Week:
Dancing on Thin Ice - Shock Stars
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Day 53 - Mano
Day 53 - October 23rd 2007
Location: Granada, Spain
Setting: Hotel Lobby
1. Preferred nickname?
Mano, Emanuela
2. Birthplace?
San Margherita, Italy (NOTE: I can’t read my handwriting, so the town name could be wrong)
3. Paper or plastic?
Paper
4. Favorite childhood toy?
I was growing up with my grandmother so not many toys. I played with kids. And bear named Andrea from Swtizerland
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
I was in Italy and I was on the beach.
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
I always say, my motto, ‘Always the true’
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Depend where I am... In nature. Could be sea side, on the mountain, everywhere!
8. Song of the week?
I think it’s not a real song, its flamenco music. .Not one special, should be a song.
9. Do you know any racist jokes?
10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
Uhh... oof. The book is Indian author in America... Vishnu death (I then promised to look it up and have since found out it is The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri)
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
Oh I think Oprah
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Day 52 - Keith
Day 52 - October 22nd 2007
Location: Gibraltar
Setting: View Point
1. Preferred nickname?
I don’t have one. Keith.
2. Birthplace?
Liverpool
3. Paper or plastic?
Paper
4. Favorite childhood toy?
Oh. Dear me. Uhhh. My bike I think.
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
I was at work. But I was at Liverpool Airport actually.
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
Just be honest
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Riding a bike. Sorry, I meant with my wife!
8. Song of the week?
Um yeah I like that new Amy Winehouse, Valerie
10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
Bourne Ultimatum
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
Oh Oprah. Well the big Oprah.
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