#notesbyash

09.02.2026

Rewarding myself for reading about theory for class by reading about theory for fun.

My therapist says I should let my mind rest during breaks so as to avoid burnout. Clearly not doing very well at that. The inevitable burnout may be spectacular but before then, I’ll have gotten to think about Concepts so surely it’ll have been worth it.

27.04.25

Big fan of an espresso tonic.

Weather’s turned for the better; sun has returned and everything is beginning to flower, to the detriment of my allergies. But nice weather warrants espresso tonics again, so there’s that small delight to enjoy amidst everything. Time of pressure in the PhD program again. Acquaintance of mine dropped out of the program a bit ago and gave me a small notebook before leaving. Mentioned knowing how much I like writing on paper and felt it was an apt parting gift. Aim to honor their intent by getting good mileage out of said notebook; in tandem with my normal spiral bound, it has thus far served its purpose well.

18.04.25

Daily carries.

Need to keep reminding myself of the importance of ritual in my life. When I forget it, when I forget myself, I find myself feeling so adrift. Like I’ve lost something. Ritual grounds me in a way few things do. Writing as a ritual. Fragrance as a ritual. Water breaks as a ritual. Lip balm because I perpetually forget that last one.

17.07.25

Sometimes you just need to borrow your partner’s headphones about it.

Been reading Bloom’s Against Empathy lately, more on a whim than anything. Some interesting ideas tucked away between those digital pages. In other news I finally got around to watching Villeneuve’s Dune - the first one, late, I know. The aesthetic cohesion is really quite something and much of the design language used aligns so well with my own preferences. Jacqueline West really got me with the Atreides outfits; I fear I’ll be searching for a kosovorotka like Paul’s for the rest of my life.

09.05.25

The days feel long again. But at least the sunlight is nice.

11.05.25

Perhaps I will finally pick up calligraphy this year.

Not fully, not seriously, just enough to derive a style between my normal writing and something like Copperplate for use in special occasions. At risk of sounding narcissistic, I do quite enjoy my handwriting. All it took was a bit of time, some diligence, and a dash of self-reflection to have something which reflects me back to myself in a small and delightful way.

03.11.25

November already.

Inexplicably one of my favorite months. Also fond of September and June, in that order, with no apparent love in my heart for the season of spring. None of these months carry any real significance in terms of notable personal events, but all seem to share the same soft whisper. Dark warm storms in June, summer's agonal breaths in September, biting winter winds in November; there's something that ties them all together and draws me to them.

24.03.25

Reviewing coursework again.

I've fallen into a nice mix of digital and physical notes; a recent acquisition has helped the last few workflow pieces click into place. I've always struggled with finding a physical notes that feel flexible enough match my thought processes, but a combination of sticky notes and a refillable notebook seems to be working well. I'm delighted to be using my fountain pen regularly again.