Between Sleep and Preparation

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Woke at 3:30am, did some journaling, gave up trying to sleep again at 5:15am. Sent Quest extension note. SESIG with Larry and Peter. Housekeeper came during SESIG. Sent Things to Do in Christchurch guide to Joey. Came home, napped. Decluttered bedroom. Looked for checkered wardrobe. Tidied NZ trip planning documents. Worked on Christchurch maps. Yard guys moved dirt around. Exercised. Disposed of a dead mouse. Brief exchange with Rajeev. Set up studio for tomorrow's shoot. Yoga. Forgot meeting with Bob. Watched Ancient Civilizations on Fall of Roman Empire. Watched Hogan's Heroes. Listened to Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Vol. 1.

Travel Planning and Creative Preparation

December 31, 2025

These notes describe the events of Tuesday, 12/30/2025.

I woke up at about 3:30am and did some journaling. I tried to go back to sleep but gave up at about 5:15am. The predawn waking, the mind refusing to settle, the decision to use the time productively rather than fight it.

I sent a note to Quest requesting a stay extension. The New Zealand planning continuing to evolve, adding more time in Christchurch.

I went to SESIG. Only Larry was there but I chatted a bit with Peter as well. The Tuesday morning gathering, the intellectual engagement even with reduced attendance. The housekeeper came this morning while I was at SESIG. The domestic maintenance happening in parallel, the rhythm of regular household support.

I sent a Things to Do in Christchurch guide to Joey. The research compiled, the planning shared, the collaborative approach to travel preparation.

I came home and took a nap. The recovery from the early waking, the body catching up on lost sleep. I decluttered in the bedroom a bit. I looked for checkered wardrobe. The dual purpose: organizing the space and finding clothing options for tomorrow's shoot with Joey. I tidied up the NZ trip planning documents. I worked on maps related to the Christchurch portion of the New Zealand trip. The administrative work on travel logistics, the visual planning of movement through the city. The yard guys came today to move dirt around. The outdoor work progressing, the property maintenance advancing.

I exercised. Three 45-second planks, 15 bird-dogs, 5 iterations of the world's greatest stretch. The fitness routine maintaining consistency, the New Zealand preparation staying on track.

Test shot
I disposed of a dead mouse. The small dramas of household maintenance, the unwelcome visitor dealt with. I had a brief exchange with Rajeev. The plan is to try and get together sometime this weekend. The connection with an old friend, the reaching out maintained. I worked on setting up the studio for the shoot tomorrow. I experimented with snoots, gobos, gels, and projectors for different lighting effects. I have the tools. We'll see how it turns out. The Belo Retrato preparation, transforming the basement space for photography work with Joey, trying new techniques.

I went to yoga. The physical practice, the flexibility and strength building complementing the planks and stretches. I forgot about a meeting with Bob. I guess my brain was flushed after yoga and I spaced it. I feel bad about that. Need to reschedule. The honest acknowledgment of the miss, the commitment to repair.

I watched Ancient Civilizations. It was an exploration of the many reasons and the many dates attributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. The historical complexity, the multiple perspectives on decline and collapse, the recognition that such transformations resist simple narratives. I watched Hogan's Heroes. The comfort show providing light entertainment. I listened to The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Vol. 1—specifically "Scanners Live in Vain" by Cordwainer Smith. The classic stories, the foundation of the genre.

The day moved between preparation and adjustment. The New Zealand trip simplifying toward more time in Christchurch, the planning documents tidied, the maps studied. The studio prepared for tomorrow's creative work with Joey. The bedroom decluttered, the wardrobe search for the shoot. The early waking leading to nap and yoga, the body's needs attended to across the day. Small tasks completed—the mouse disposed of, the extension requested, the guide sent. The forgotten meeting with Bob a reminder that even with planning, things slip through. Not every task completed but the important ones advancing: travel plans stabilizing, creative work prepared for, connections maintained, fitness routine honored.

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