Notebooks
For years I’ve kept Notebooks. Scraps of paper, post-its, scribbles in the backs of exercise books. Back in school my books were so messy — drawings and ideas. Fanciful plans and futuristic dreams. Random thoughts and artistic plans.
The majority of things I write down in all honesty — come to nothing. It’s not necessarily the point though. There are ideas constantly swimming around in my head that I feel the need to get out. Sometimes I’ll write things down, full of meaning — ideas and thought brimming on the subject, only to come back a week or a month or even 6 months later and have no idea what I was on about.
On 30th July 2012 I typed “Carrot mob” down into my iPhone. Why? I have absolutely no clue. It doesn’t even mean anything.
Apparently “Carrotmob” is a nonprofit organisation based in California. It rewards business’s commitment to making socially responsible change apparently. Now I can’t imagine why or even if I was thinking about it, or if it was just a random idea that popped into my head.
When I look at the words now, I think of an angry horde of sentient vegetables. Torches and pitchforks in hand (they have hands as well, and feet and very very angry eyes) — marching through a medieval town setting fire to thatched roofs.
Why are they angry? At their king for sacrificing them to the great plate of Dinnertime? At their rabbit overlords, for feasting on a daily basis?
Why do they need torches? Can’t they see well enough in the dark already?
How did they get to this stage? How are they sentient? Were they made by an evil genius?
So many questions.
Or — did I just want some carrots and mistyped “Mom” as a reminder to ask her to get some?
Who knows? No-one ever will I expect.
I never would have thought about any of that if I hadn’t written it down though. None of those thoughts would have crossed my mind at all. One day — I may need a random idea like that. I might be painting or drawing. Writing a story or linking other ideas together.
Sometimes I’ll write down recipes for me to try — or places to travel. If I ever fancy a trip somewhere — I don’t have to look far to find some places I’ve already picked out.
I’ll write down movie poster ideas, band names, or book ideas. (Get ready for my movie “A Very Prolific Spoon”, starring the superhero “Microbe Man” — coming soon to a cinema near you, the music by my new band — “The Moonwalking Crows”)
I’ll sketch characters — like this little robot who likes balloons (If you can think of a name for him, let me know).
Songs, films, articles, or books for me to listen to/watch/read. Maybe I’ll get to them, maybe I wont — but they’re there in case I ever do.
Other times, I’ll scribble about how I’m feeling, or reminders for myself — although I can still be bloody forgetful.
Anything and everything can go in my notes. Sometimes I’ll review them, leaf through the pages of ideas and drawings. There are times I remember the exact moment I wrote something down and other times (most of the times) it feels like reading the thoughts of a stranger. Getting a glimpse into the mind of someone I’ve never met before (often times, the mind of a complete nutter!)
All in all — that’s why I keep a notebook (and post-its and iPhone notes) — because I don’t want to lose the random, stupid thoughts that I come up with. Because one day — I may be struggling to write a newsletter that I’m starting, and I might need something weird to get me started.
