If you’re like me, you’ve often wondered just what you would do with a year or more off work. You’ve probably even had the discussion with fellow work mates, which likely brought out the gem of wisdom, “oh, what would you do without work? You’d just end up getting bored”. Well I don’t want to depress those of you currently at work, believe me I have felt your pain, but I can now verify that that gem is a polished piece of poo.

I haven’t been bored once, and all I want for Christmas is anything that will extend my off-work status, preferably indefinitely.

A new home and new city provides endless distractions. Get a dog. There’s music and, how about writing out every second rambling thought that comes to mind, like this. It’s a year off, there doesn’t need to be a point to anything you do…

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I created this template for an iPhone stand.

I was thinking of how to keep my iPhone propped up for watching movies on the long flight back to Australia. I quite enjoyed working on the box for Hello, Brute’s latest tee, so this was a new excuse to mess around with dieline design and cutting again. I’m not sure if I’m going any further with it, or if there is anyone out there that would use such a thing, but at the least it has given me some ideas for the album boxes I’ll be flogging next year.

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I’ve only owned two pairs of Vans, but they’ve both been considerably less comfortable than wearing the boxes they came in. In an attempt to stop the latest pair from gnawing the back of my heel off, I duct taped some foam into them. This worked for a couple of months, but I eventually ended up with a sticky ball of shit in my shoe, competing with my foot for space. I then made the baffling decision to spend even more time on those bastard shoes sewing fleece into the heel.

It’s the sort of project where, just as you reach the point when you’ve accomplished too much to quit, you think to yourself “why the fuck am I spending time on fixing these things?”. After which, every second you have to spend on the project is like pouring broken glass into your underpants.

So, just to stick it to the Vans, I went out and bought some decent shoes that respect both my feet and my valuable time.

I showed them.

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Since I make so much coffee I decided I should take the opportunity to learn a new skill. Latte art.

[image title="Little Heart" size="thumbnail" id="567" align="none" linkto="none" ] [image title="Big Messy Heart / Behind?" size="thumbnail" id="566" align="none" linkto="none" ] [image title="Sheep Head?" size="thumbnail" id="565" align="none" linkto="none" ] [image title="Ghost Head? Pig Snout?" size="thumbnail" id="564" align="none" linkto="none" ] [image title="Orbicular Leaf?" size="thumbnail" id="563" align="none" linkto="none" ] [image title="Product Placement" size="thumbnail" id="562" align="none" linkto="none" ]

I find it much easier to name them after I’ve poured them. Little Heart, Big Messy Heart / Behind, Sheep Head, Ghost Head / Pig Snout, Orbicular Leaf, Another shameless plug of Hello, Brute’s latest tee.

I think I need a larger diameter cup.

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There ya go, just a few examples of things that can save one from boredom.

Is it awful that this kind of crap has kept me from replying to emails and making music? I should be comfortable with it right? It’s my year off.

I really gotta write emails tomorrow.