solon_kitten | Freeing Up Some Space

With everything going on, I've been trying to work on my writing and get some inspiration back. One of the things that's been happening is that I've been pulling my book collection out of storage and filling up some new bookshelves. I've got them right behind my recliner, creating a bit of a reading nook for myself in an otherwise unused corner of my bedroom. There's another set of shelves as well, but I need to find a spot for them first.

Thing is, I'm now looking at my massive collection of older tech-oriented books, and all I'm thinking is "donate or sell." Especially the programming-related books that I just can't get myself into anymore. Modern tech doesn't interest me, I have most everything I need from certain periods in ebook form, and the few books I do want to keep are fairly compact (or don't involve programming). Like... I'd keep my Mac OS X stuff, my historic copy of "Managing UUCP and Usenet", and certain other tomes that have significant meaning to me, but a sizable chunk will be going away once I'm able to offload it somehow.

In other news, I now have an Apple Wireless Mouse (A1015) to use with my MacBook Pro. I've always loved the one-button/"no-button" soap bar mice, and I like my Magic Mouse 1, but I actually find it easier to work on projects without the second button or scrolling. It isn't limiting, so much as it is focusing me. I can still Control-click for a context menu, and I have scroll bars on my screen to use in place of the wheel. Given how cheap it was, I'm glad I got it.

Honestly, everything is finally starting to hit me hard. It feels like the end of an era for me, and I'm trying to start anew to some degree. I'm finally getting a chance to focus myself on my work, to follow a schedule, and curb at least a little of the chaos. My interests have shifted with everything happening in the world, and my drive toward tech and gaming have kinda nose-dived. I still play older stuff occasionally, but a vast majority of newer games just don't grab my attention, and I've mentioned how much I dislike the modern tech industry, so no need to go into that.

I mean, this is why I don't mind having my gaming rig put away in my closet, and only have my ancient MBP sitting on my desk to work from. I just don't find any joy in newer stuff, but give me a controller and a Z1 or SMB3 randomizer seed, and I'll have fun. Old MS-DOS games, old console games... It's less the aesthetics, and more the entire design style of those games, mechanics included.

I'm focusing more on reading and writing more than gaming, though. I'm getting into the Stephanie Plum series of novels again, of which I have a number of them on my iPad, and more in physical form. I've also gotten a copy of The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann from a local thrift store, and have it in my to-be-read list, among a few others. Between my bookshelves and my iPad, I've got plenty to work through right now.

I also found my sketchbooks, and I'm going to start practicing some visual art again, at least to some degree. I don't have full use of my wrists like I used to, but I think it'll help with some of the mental hurdles I'm having right now. Not sure if I'll upload them anywhere, but we'll see.

For now, it's time for me to rest and relax.