Focus

Howdy, Y'all!

So, I promised to tell you what the meaning behind AUSTERITY is, but... well, I don't really feel like it. In fact, I haven't been feeling very Mormonky at all lately, which I find kind of interesting.

But first, I have a couple more pictures for you. These were taken when I first began this gig, and HOPEFULLY I've grown into the robes a little since then.



Somebody asked if I was supposed to be a druid. Nope. Somebody also asked if I wore the yellow and maroon robes, and I said no, because those were Tibetan monks. Then I realized that didn't really make any sense, because technically, Mormons don't have monks, so I could as easily copy the Tibetans as the Catholics as the anybody else I care to. So, I guess it wasn't that silly to ask.

Incidentally, if you want to read an EXCELLENT non-fiction, read "Autobiography of a Tibetan Monk." Amazing book. I read it during AUSTERITY, and I think it's going to become Mormonk required reading.



And this shot is just to give an overview of the robe. Yup, hurr et be.

So like I said, I haven't been feeling very monkish lately. I'm kind of torn, now that my new appearance is beginning to set in. One part of me enjoys it all, but another part of me... resists. I'm a little less than half through with this experiment, and I haven't yet gotten everything out of it that I wanted to. You can only be something you're not for so long before it starts to wear on your nerves.

A big part of it is that I guess I had imagined a lot of interesting conversations, witty dialogue, and just general socialization being involved. I should have known better; most people aren't very likely to approach a stranger ANYWAY, and the chances decrease drastically when that stranger is bald and wearing black robes. Instead, I just see a lot of people look away quickly when they notice me noticing them.

At least now, the playing field is level; I make people as nervous as they make me. But that wasn't really the point of the experiment. I guess I had imagined that putting on black robes would somehow make me quick-witted and carefree; but while the robes definitely make a good conversation piece, they haven't given me the ability to think on my feet any better than I did before, and they haven't made me any bolder (except in that I have to explain myself regularly).

When push comes to shove, the robes are just like anything else; I'll get out of them what I put into them, and nothing more.

Alright, then; TOMORROW, I will explain the meaning of AUSTERITY.

Have a great Fourth of July, everyone.