Man mall

We went shopping at Cabela's, and I felt like I'd been inside a huge testosterone bubble by the time I left. Men everywhere, shopping alone or in groups of two. It was like a what a mall would be like if men designed it and could just sell guns, hunting gear, and meat grinders.

We got into a conversation about men being drawn to destruction and whether it's innate or learned. There's so many reasons we can never really know, but I think it must be a combination of both.

Existential Struggle

"The best way is not to fight it, just go. Don't be trying all the time to fix things. What you run from only stays with you longer. When you fight something, you only make it stronger." -C. Palaniuk

Just a quote from a book I recently read by an author who is quickly becoming a new favorite (at least his early stuff).

It's similar to one of Neitzsche's famous quotes: "Battle not with monsters lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

Which is interesting because recently I heard Palaniuk's works described as Existentialism for Dummies. That's fine by me. As someone who has spent years studying that stuff I'd say it's about time someone made the topic more entertaining for the masses.

Grapefruit

While at the dentist I thought the gloves the hygienist was wearing were grapefruit flavored. They weren't. But she told me I was the second person to have that exact olfactory hallucination since she had switched to this brand of gloves.

Later, I ran across a grapefruit flavored beverage and ordered it even though I am not usually drawn to grapefruit. I think I was subliminally coerced.

Surrealism vs Magical Realism

Is it just me or do these terms get used interchangeably these days?

I am a fan of surrealism, but I find magical realism somewhere between tedious and annoying.

Surrealism leaves some doubt as to whether the events could or could not have happened. Magical realism removes that doubt.

But I am determined to read many more books that use magical realism as part of the story before I decide it's not for me. I do remember a time when I hated stream of consciousness, and now I can't believe I ever felt that way.

Nanowrimo

Not going so well. But at least I've learned to be much more laid back since the last time I did it three years ago.

I keep thinking of something I heard a wildly successful writer say about writing. Usually, writers give the same advice. Even if you're not in the mood to write you should sit down and "move you hand across the page." Most of life is about showing up. This other writer said--in a rather crass way I won't repeat--if you don't feel like writing don't make yourself do it. Writing flows (I'm paraphrasing here) from inspiration not a sense of duty.

I do still think most of life is about showing up, but he does have a point.

Midterms

Planned on voting at the beginning of the day, ended up getting to the polls about 30 minutes before they closed. Some days are like that.

It's November...again

I may try my hand at this nablopomo thing again this year. I'm doing nanowrimo, so why not? November is all about ridiculous challenges.

A lot has changed in my life since the last time I did either. Funny how certain events can color our remembrances of a time, like a feeling so think it has weight.

I do feel no-committal to most things these days, so I'll give it a few days before I really decide.

Happy November!