Friday, September 19, 2008
I wonder if there is a definitive point at which the damage done by the immediate stress of needing something you have thrown away outweighs the effects of the residual stress resulting from keeping some useless piece of crap, moving it from house to house, arguing over its possible value, defending it from efficient loved ones and finding ever larger spaces in which to store it, all the while convincing yourself that some day 46 pillowcases might just come in handy.
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An explanation of The Joy Division Litmus Test
Although it may now be lost in the mysts of thyme, the poll below is still relevant to this blog. In the winter of 2008, Mele and I went to live in Queensland. In order to survive, I bluffed my way into a job at a Coffee Club.
It was quite a reasonable place to work: the hours were regular, the staff were quite nice, it wasn't particularly taxing on my brain.
There were a few downsides: In the six weeks or so that I worked there, there was about a 90% staff turnover (contributed to by my leaving). This wasn't seen as a result of the low pay, the laughability of staff prices or the practice of not distributing tips to staff, rather it was blamed on the lack of work ethic among Bribie Island's youth.
However, one of the stranger aspects of the cultural isolation that touched our lives during our time "up there" was the fact that nobody at my work had heard of the band Joy Division.
The full explanation is available here.
But please, interact a little further and vote in my ongoing poll. The results are slowly mounting up, proving one thing: people read this blog are more well-informed about Joy Division than anyone who works at the Coffee Club on Bribie Island.
It was quite a reasonable place to work: the hours were regular, the staff were quite nice, it wasn't particularly taxing on my brain.
There were a few downsides: In the six weeks or so that I worked there, there was about a 90% staff turnover (contributed to by my leaving). This wasn't seen as a result of the low pay, the laughability of staff prices or the practice of not distributing tips to staff, rather it was blamed on the lack of work ethic among Bribie Island's youth.
However, one of the stranger aspects of the cultural isolation that touched our lives during our time "up there" was the fact that nobody at my work had heard of the band Joy Division.
The full explanation is available here.
But please, interact a little further and vote in my ongoing poll. The results are slowly mounting up, proving one thing: people read this blog are more well-informed about Joy Division than anyone who works at the Coffee Club on Bribie Island.
I have a feature request for SSS: a note on how long each sentence took to compose. I mean, did this beautiful structure just fall from your fingertips or did you labour over it for ten, twenty, thirty minutes?
ReplyDeleteMay I overreach and misquote Michelangelo?
ReplyDeleteIf people knew how much I worked for my art, it wouldn't seem so wonderful.
It starts mostly formed but I do return quite a few times to work at it. Quite a few have spat out underdone this month ...
Have written the occasional sermon, what with reading, thinking, and writing it works out to be about an hour a minute. 20 hours for a good 20 minute sermon. Some have been better than others if I don't cut corners.
ReplyDeleteI agree with shaw. Your great sentences come with some good mental gymnastics.
lol I love this one Franz
ReplyDeleteIf I put on my copywriter's hat for a minute I can tell you that if you had to write a sentence, a platitude say, on a candle say,you would charge two hours for it at aprox $100 per hour
This is so true and when you least expect it, someone in your immediate living quarters or family will come in and toss the item you have cherished for anywhere from one week to ten years, just in case a need should come up, or by some chance you may happen to stumble across something that values it greatly as though you expect it to become an antique.
ReplyDeleteMum threw out my footy cards and a book about stamps after I'd moved out of home for some time - they must have been worth a lot! She meant well and I seem to be able to live without them in my life.
Your best yet, Franzy
ReplyDeleteThe 'mostly formed' bit may possibly have origins stemming from your nature/nurture aspects. Could it be so....?
ReplyDeleteDo what I used to do. Anything not used or even unpacked by the third house move gets given to the nearest goodwill store. I once handed over a box of stuff and when the lovely blue haired lady behind the counter asked what was in it, I had to confess I had no idea. Then I got out quick before she opened it. In case it was something I probably should have kept.
ReplyDelete