Category: Field Notes

From type slugs to steamy tubs: An unexpected journey

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
Photo of a desktop on which we see a portable Sangean HD Radio, a copy of DX News, a leather memo book cover for Field Notes notebooks, and a curvy-top Hermes 3000 typewriter. In the typewriter is a sheet of paper on which I typed the accompanying column. Here is what's on the paper: Ah, the joys of typewriter maintenance. Picture me, just your average Joe, undertaking the noble task of maintaining my precious Hermes 3000 in pristine glory. Armed with cotton swabs and a spray bottle of 99.9 percent isopropyl alcohol, I was all set to dive into the fiddly, smudgy, inky world of typeslug cleanliness. What I wasn't ready for was the time travel that occurred after the first spray. The moment that acerbic scent of isopropyl alcohol hit my nostrils, my brain went on an impromptu trip down memory lane. Picture this: One moment, I was elbow-deep in the guts of a vintage typewriter, and the next, I was back in the sultry, steamy setting of Denver's Empire Baths. I'd somehow managed to astrally project myself into the midst of a memory of my first visit to the former gay bathhouse. Why, you might ask, did my brain make this leap from cleaning typeslugs to steamy encounters? Here's the explanation. Poppers are recreational inhalants of isobutyl nitrite or related compounds made by reacting isobutyl alcohol with sodium nitrite in dilute sulfuric acid. These aren't exactly household chemicals, but their distinctive scent is oddly reminiscent of alcohol. At the Empire Baths — or any other gay bathhouse — the aroma of poppers infused the humid air, subtly overlaying the scent of damp towels and sweat. Quite the unique olfactory cocktail. It's not a far stretch to say that my nostrils picked up the thread of familiarity between the isopropyl alcohol and those ethereal nitrite wafts from the past. And voila! My brain leaped from typeslugs to steam rooms faster than a pussy pouncing on a laser pointer. But I must cut this blog post short before we digress further into memory and nostalgia. There’s an irresistible siren call from my living room I cannot ignore: a new Chris Pratt movie on Amazon Prime.

Ah, the joys of typewriter maintenance. Picture me, just your average Joe, undertaking the noble task of maintaining my precious Hermes 3000 in pristine glory.

Armed with cotton swabs and a spray bottle of 99 percent isopropyl alcohol, I was all set to dive into the fiddly, smudgy, inky world of typeslug cleanliness.

What I wasn’t ready for was the time travel that occurred after the first spray.

The moment that acerbic scent of isopropyl alcohol hit my nostrils, my brain went on an impromptu trip down memory lane.

Picture this: One moment, I was elbow-deep in the guts of a vintage typewriter, and the next, I was back in the sultry, steamy setting of Denver’s Empire Baths.

I’d somehow managed to astrally project myself into the midst of a memory of my first visit to the former gay bathhouse.

Why, you might ask, did my brain make this leap from cleaning typeslugs to steamy encounters?

Here’s the explanation.

Poppers are recreational inhalants of isobutyl nitrite or related compounds made by reacting isobutyl alcohol with sodium nitrite in dilute sulfuric acid.

These aren’t exactly household chemicals, but their distinctive scent is oddly reminiscent of alcohol.

At the Empire Baths — or any other gay bathhouse — the aroma of poppers infused the humid air, subtly overlaying the scent of damp towels and sweat. Quite the unique olfactory cocktail.

It’s not a far stretch to say that my nostrils picked up the thread of familiarity between the isopropyl alcohol and those ethereal nitrite wafts from the past.

And voila!

My brain leaped from typeslugs to steam rooms faster than a pussy pouncing on a laser pointer.

But I must cut this blog post short before we digress further into memory and nostalgia.

There’s an irresistible siren call from my living room I cannot ignore: a new Chris Pratt movie on Amazon Prime.

Maximize YouTube learning with Field Notes

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
Photo of an opened Field Note notebook feature notations I wrote while watching YouTube videos.
Recent notes I took while watching YouTube videos.

It was just another ordinary day in 2022 when I chanced upon the intriguing idea of keeping a small notebook while binge-watching YouTube videos.

What began as a whim transformed over time into a beneficial habit that would change how I consumed and processed online content.

Today, friends, I want to share the unexpected advantages of this journey, taken side by side with my trusty, pocket-sized partner — a Field Notes notebook.

Take a moment to look at the illustration – it’s my most recent YouTube session, distilled into the pages of my Field Notes. The brand deserves a special shout-out here. With their rustic charm, durable build, and perfect pocket size, Field Notes has been an ideal companion in my writing adventures everywhere.

Now, about my notes: I’ve developed the habit of numbering each one. The first note might encapsulate a gut-busting joke, the second an intriguing piece of trivia, while the third could enshrine an eloquent quote for future dinner table conversations.

This technique has turned my YouTube viewing into an active rather than passive experience in the past year. My ability to connect the dots between different ideas from various videos has significantly improved.

And here’s the great part: I’ve amassed over 3,000 entries.

Every numbered note is a beacon of my engagement, each leading me back to a moment of knowledge or laughter. These entries archive my online explorations, serving as conversation starters, sparks of inspiration, and sources of amusement.

In my daydreams, I think of myself as a digital-age Samuel Pepys, chronicling my everyday experiences through the videos I watch, the laughter I share, and the knowledge I gain. My entries are light on royal scandals and plague reports, but they capture the essence of my gallivanting through our modern, interconnected era.

So, the next time you embark on a YouTube journey, consider bringing a notebook along for the ride. It might feel odd, but I promise it will enrich your experience.

You might end up with your unique diary brimming with fascinating tidbits, insightful revelations, and abundant personal insight.