I journaled more in 2021 than any other year. I hope to make it more of a ritual. Less of an afterthought. In the meantime, here are some selections (with commentary) from the past year.

January

Seems I spent much of the month recollecting the previous year. 2020 was notable after all and I journaled little of it.

Also, taking notes on the Bible which I had decided to read through cover to cover.

February

Received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer.

Made note of this accounting in the Torah:

Exodus 21:32 — The cost of a slave killed by an ox is 30 shekels of silver.

Brief treatment for a new script idea:

The Last Star - At the end of time, the descendants of humanity orbit the last star still burning in the universe on a massive space station. They know their generation will watch it burnout. And the void will close around them...

Journaled about the snowcalypse which eventually became this blog post. The snow qualified as a “calyspe” because it started with rain, froze immediately, and transitioned to pure sleet before even bothering to drop actual flakes. The roads were in shambles for over a week.

The night of [February] the 14th temperatures plunged below freezing and every surface was covered by a glossy layer of black ice. I took two steps out of my front door and nearly fell on my ass...

Then it was just sleet for a couple days. Mounds of it. Diminutive glass orbs. Crunchy. Tinkly. You could walk in it. Like a very coarse sand. Almost gravel...

We did get actual snow eventually.

March

I have a lot of shoulds.

April

Bought a proper pair of headphones. I actually made several significant purchases this year, many to supplement the camera I purchased in 2020. Tripod, audio kit, backpack, gimbal, drone. An inherited couch catalyzed the purchase of a coffee table and a decent media center, finally. I also bought fountain pens and a keyboard for my writing.

My buying habits can be frustrating. I know what I need. Spend hours on research to find the perfect one. Then... I don’t buy it. Instead, I let the problem and solution fester in my mind like an invisible splinter because “I don’t need it now” or “I need to save up more first” despite already having the means. I spend months (even years) with low-level background frustration that could be remedied by simply clicking “place order.”

The boys hit up Dino’s this Sunday (first time in over a year). Many beermosas were had.

We’d been hitting up bars with patios (mainly Never Never) once we better understood what was safe and what wasn’t. Dino’s didn’t have great outdoor seating. So we stayed away until they expanded and renovated their back patio. It was a good day.

May

Some directors I appreciate:
Alfonso Cuarón — Children of Men (2006)
Iso Takahata — The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)
Denis Villeneuve — Arrival
Terrence Malick — A Hidden Life
Alex Garland (mainly as a writer)
Hiro Murai (rooting for him, give this man a feature)

Many of the greats go without saying. Adding Julia Ducournau (Raw, 2016) to this list.

Coming out of quarantine wasn’t a casual thing. Indicative of an entry on the 15th which became this.

I’m starting to feel lonely ever since things have begun to open up. This is new.

On the 26th:

Ran a solo half-marathon (half-calf) last Satuday.

And I’ll do it again.

June

Mulling over a world where gods are made from graven images and are vital to society/economy. Wrote a “psalm” from the perspective of those relying on their graven images confronted by a “living god.”

ref. Psalm 121:4

The gods are sleeping;
  who shall save us now?
Our enemies surround us,
  their lord never rests.
We give them ears,
  but they do not hear.
We gave them eyes,
  yet they are blind.
Our sacrifices are not accepted.
  We have nothing left to eat.
We are abandoned,
  alone we face destruction.
Would the lord of our enemies listen to us?
  Is there mercy for the stranger?
Stop your shouting!
  The gods will not wake.
Cry out to the living one,
  he who walks with his people.

Shaved head got lots of reactions... Nice to feel the breeze along my scalp. It’s funny observing my balding peers’ reactions. Always enthusiastic when they see my curls. Almost dismay when they see my shaved head. Like they’re living vicariously through my hair.

Ruminated on creativity, success, and failure instigated by the confluence of three works of art. Edited these thoughts into a post published on the 18th.

This social media haze is becoming the majority of my days. I don’t like it... Work wears on you, but procrastination can be equally exhausting.

...

Good trees can only produce good fruit.

...

Enjoying referring to pizza as “pizz.”

July

The very oceans have caught fire. One wonders if we need to go to hell if it will simply come to us.

On the 2nd:

Met with Brett & Peter last night. They pitched a doc to me. Subject has promise. Could be a good opportunity to collaborate.

Wrote some flash fiction that I think turned out well. Love the photo I was able to pair with it.

The 18th:

I’m thankful for I can go to the theatre again.

...

I don’t think I can go back to lined paper.

The 27th:

The sun exhales toward the horizon.

August

Powered through the third act and finished draft one of The Last Witness. It’s a relief. I’ve been struggling to complete this initial draft for nearly two years.

The Green Knight is a movie.

Got to go on a family vacation for the first time in a while. Arkansas. Middle of nowhere. Spent our time kayaking, hiking and eating good food.

Corona Extra with a shot of limoncello was the theme drink. Beercello.

September

The 8th:

Just started Ecclesiaties and I’m beginning to understand why the “Collector” considers everything a “mist,” a “vapor,” “but a breath.”

...

I must remind myself constantly that there is no emergency. After all, it is all a vapor. Time is not valuable because it is productive. A moment is precious if it edifies the soul. So I will not feel guilty for sitting on this patio, sipping coffee, and journaling.

...

I turn 30 this month.

October

Noted on the 4th:

I just found the Target receipt of the things Mom and Dad bought for my apartment when I first moved to Nashville. It’s dated 8.5.2014. Seven years this past August... I think they stocked my fridge too.

On the 10th:

I am drifting about like dried out straw.

November

The 1st:

Feel like I need to be doing something. Maybe I just need to be patient.

...

It’s that wind-down time of year... Shed the old.

...

I need more mental space. Room to wander.

The 7th:

I aspire to be just some guy...

December

Proverbs 29:1 ESV — “suddenly broken beyond healing” lmao

This phrasing tickled me for some reason.

2020 began with me meeting my parents’ new puppy, Ruby. 2021 began with her grown. This year I got to meet her puppies.