Tag: The Infinite Jest

We got that attitude! – 16th April 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for this crazy book ‘The Infinite Jest’ I have no idea what is going on but finding it very readable. The writing really digs down into the way the mind thinks so it’s easy to empathise with the characters. It’s a challenging read but ultimately becoming a favourite. And I’m grateful for the online Lit Notes that can help me understand it more.

4th June 2023 – I was also reading other things but it took me around 18 months to finish reading this. I also wanted to immediately start reading it again!

We got that attitude! – 15th February 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for this book and pen – I can write down my thoughts, feelings and gratitude. Thank you to the shop I bought them from, the people who made them, the people who delivered them. I wonder how many miles they had to travel from start to finish and how many hands they touched around the world.

Weirdly happy today. Many things to do and I did them easily (maybe I’ve forgotten something) but everything just felt easy today. Is this what ‘normal’ feels like?

I did a few different random acts of kindness. I watched Infinitely Polar Bear yesterday and it was ok – interesting story – it made me think about my own mental health and how some days are good and others bad without any obvious reason.

Today was perhaps and up day but I want it to be a normal average day. Any difficulties that arose I could handle – I’m just confused about what it is I need to do to keep feeling good like this.

I finished my second run through Notes From Underground and really loved the last chapter of The Dream of a Ridiculous Man this time.

I think I forgot to mention yesterday reading an amazing chapter from The Infinite Jest – all about trying and failing to give up smoking pot. It seemed the author could tap into every single thought a person in this position might have. Paragraphs lasted whole pages – it looked intimidating but made perfect sense.

This morning started off with a smile as I tried and failed to shepherd the neighbour’s dog, Tangmo, out of our garden. That dog is so happy and playful.

I also managed to do a couple of sketches for my gratitude cards and whilst not perfect I’m pretty happy with them. All right – good!

To-do list

  • Carry on!

Go on out, get some more – 1st February 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Some vague hints of dreams. Thoughts about how you would live your last 24 hours. Imagining today is my last – all the things unfinished – but every life is left unfinished. Wingsuit riders living life to the fullest. Not sure I could do that. My thrills are different. This old man likes reading books. What a joke. I should’ve gained this wisdom as a young man. But here I am and I gotta live.

This weekend I found many lurking memories and thrilled to return to them but life is not just about the past. What of my future? I don’t want to spend my future just documenting my past I want to add to my memories where I can.

Fatman report

Weight: 77.6kg
Resting heart rate: 49

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for a week off from the kids, this week being Scout week, whatever that means. I still have to do some things with them but at least it’s not another week in the classroom.
I am so happy and grateful for the cool foggy morning. Fog like God’s breath over the jungle.Thankful for another day of breath of my own. I want to keep breathing for as long as I can.

Scout week at school means lots of free time, though, of course, I have filled up all my free time enjoying reading, writing, sketching and thinking.

I enjoyed the weekend though it could have been a couple of days longer. I started off in a blaze and kinda ran out of energy by Sunday afternoon, though listened to podcasts whilst dozing, keeping information flowing.

I finished Notes From Underground and immediately started reading it again – this time underlining passages of interest. I also really dug Eleven Minutes which inspired some writing on Saturday moring.

Started on The Infinite Jest – feels like it may be a slog but I’ll give it a shot.

Have been doing things from my list bit by bit. Feeling good about what I’m doing.

To-do list

  • Give away everything you sketch ½
  • Continue gratitude letters ✅
  • Do something for Amy ½
  • Another remix
  • Contact Benjii again ✅