FILE: Bill Payments - With Copious Notes FROM: 2011-2013 (give or take) ARCHIVED: 2020-08-26 (c) Copyright Brett Paufler # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Living in a crowded urban environment, I decided to be more social... or at least, work on my social skills. To that end, it seemed to make sense to make a running file of notes concerning those I met. Meet Someone: Write Quick Notes Transcribe Notes To Lasting Format Review & Update I certainly remembered names much better, as I was writing them down right away and looking at them again within a few days when I transcribed the handwritten pocket notes to a .doc file on my computer. I don't know exactly when I started taking the notes. Originally, the file I stored these in focused on reoccurring monthly payments. But notes about those payments and the associated people involved quickly grew. And at some point, I decided to make entries for all the random strangers with whom I shared a few words. Names, descriptions, and specifics have been deleted. Foremost, my desire was to remember my neighbour's names and give myself a little head-start on more interesting small talk topics. "So, how's that job search coming along?" and other openings of that nature. Further, the listing has been reduced to abstraction, chopped into individual statements, and finally alphabetized, so as to insure anonymity. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Another lost soul, trying to make sense of it all. Back from vacation. Did lunch. Does helicopter work. Dropped $20 while reaching into their pocket. Favors purple. Gazed at snow on the mountain. Giving life and meaning to random sights to be seen in the natural world around us. Got a haircut. Got the dog in the divorce. Hairbrush was an example of a prized possession. Hard Drinker Has a cat. Has allergies. Has lots of tattoos. Has rescue dog. Has two big dogs. Her mother says she's single. In painters pants. Interested in trees, bugs, and rocks, some sort of circle of life thing. Into the outdoors. Is writing a book. Just out of college. Likes the rain. Looking for his younger friend. Low key goth, punk, mod sort. Medical Intern Met in park. Named after Anakin Skywalker. Niece is visiting. Off to cover the news in the morning. Often has daughters in tow. Old lady I keep running into on the street. Parents stopped by for a visit. Plays soccer. Probably, thought I was just as crazy. Ran into their nephew. Recently divorced. Retired Law Enforcement Officer Rides a bike. Rode a bike while wearing backpack. Said would email a picture. Scanned their business card. Shoe Designer Smokes. Talked about urban planning. Talked to briefly at the library. The competition. "The money. The love, it will come later. I’m not worried." Traveling Salesman Trying to figure it out. Was wearing his biker colors. "We should hang out." Will get a bed in shelter in four weeks. Wore batting gloves. Working new job. Works as a valet. Works for airlines. Works for Big Oil. Works retail.