Slow Momentum

Yesterday moved at a gentler pace—photo processing interspersed with naps, solar installation discussions acknowledging expensive realities, and the discovery that tree clearing created an impressive layer of dust on my upper deck. Between conversations with Tom from Earthlight Technologies about energy independence costs and checking off bottled beers at Suds with Tim, Brian, and Jack, the day accumulated modest progress without demanding urgency. Sometimes productivity means accepting a restorative pace, letting tasks unfold without forcing momentum that isn't naturally there.

The Art of Not Rushing

October 7, 2025

One of the composites I like

The day belonged primarily to photos and rest, oscillating between processing images and surrendering to naps when energy flagged. No particular urgency drove the schedule, no deadlines demanding attention. Worked on a few more sets from the shoot with Mika last April—a lot of composite work that I'm pretty pleased with. Floofie's studio worked well for those shots, providing the clean backgrounds and controlled lighting that make compositing easier. Just the steady work of reviewing, selecting, adjusting, layering—the patient refinement that photo processing requires when done thoughtfully rather than efficiently.

Tom from Earthlight Technologies visited to discuss solar installation possibilities. The face-to-face conversation at my house confirmed what I already suspected: it'll be expensive. Not surprisingly expensive, just the expected cost of adding significant energy infrastructure to a house. The question isn't whether I can afford it, but whether the long-term benefits—financial, environmental, resilience-related—justify the substantial upfront investment. The visit provided specifics without requiring immediate decisions, adding another data point to the ongoing solar exploration.

Started cleaning the upper deck, which revealed the extent of contamination from the tree clearing operation behind my house. They must have kicked up enormous amounts of particulate matter during that work. The deck wore a gray patina on everything—sticky and everywhere, not just a simple layer of dust but something that adhered to surfaces. As I washed sections, color began to return, revealing what had been dulled and obscured beneath the gray coating. This will be a multi-session project, not a quick sweep-and-done situation. The work began but remains far from complete.

Evening brought the walk to Suds and time with Tim, Brian, and Jack. We worked our way through a few of the bottled beers on the card—that systematic approach to sampling the available selection, checking off options one at a time. The ritual of trying new (or at least different) beers provides structure to what's essentially just hanging out with friends, drinking and talking and enjoying each other's company. Brian provided a ride home afterward, saving me the walk back.

Minecraft claimed some evening hours, the warehouse project receiving continued attention. The usual virtual construction therapy—problems that have clear solutions, progress that's immediately visible, satisfaction that comes from completing defined tasks.

Television followed with The Greatest Controversies of Early Christian History and Hogan's Heroes—historical scholarship and comfortable sitcom nostalgia providing the evening wind-down routine that carries me toward sleep.

Some days don't demand much. They allow space for rest between more ambitious efforts, for maintenance tasks that can't be rushed, for social connection without agenda. Yesterday was one of those days—not lazy, just operating at a pace that matched available energy rather than pushing against it. The photos got processed, the solar conversation happened, the deck cleaning began, the friends got visited. Momentum doesn't always mean acceleration. Sometimes it just means continuing to move forward, however slowly, without stopping entirely.