How I spent election day.
6:00AM: wake up, make coffee
6:00-7:00AM: read (Finished Point Omega)
7:00-7:30AM: workout (arms, legs, core, back, etc. weights and bodyweight.)
7:30-8:00AM: three mile run (snowy/muddy)
8:00-8:30AM: make smoothie and shower (creatine, protein, collagen, vitamin C, frozen fruit, coconut milk, water, almond butter)
8:30-9:00AM: inversion table and traction for neck rehab
9:00-9:30AM: read paid asset briefs, answer email, edit student PDF, email all business cards collected at Review Santa Fe, respond to Slack messages, respond to text messages that came in overnight (THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE LOOKED AT MY PHONE, AND YOU WILL NOTICE, NO SOCIAL MEDIA OR INTERNET BROWSING.)
9:30-10:00AM: unfollow numerous photographers who signed me up to their newsletters without asking. Decline numerous “influencer” opportunities. Everything from camera parts to bird feeders. Why do I never get the companies I would actually consider? (They are intelligent, that’s why.)
10:00-10:30AM: write two blog posts for Shifter (one photo-related, the other book-related)
10:30-11:00AM: write blog post for Blurb Hit the Books Email campaign. (Topic is still a secret)
11:00-12:00PM: reorganize equipment closet which had been in disarray since returning from Japan and pulling books for Review Santa Fe. Reorganized entire space, floor to ceiling, including the camera kit and numerous bags of book samples. (I get so many books in the mail my house is bursting at the seams)
12:00-12:30PM: work with Blurb creative team on video campaign. Talking about older films, new film possibilities and how the structuring and teamwork would happen.
12:30-12:45PM: lunch and practice German. (Ich bin sehr klug!) chicken salad, salmon on bagel, an orange.
12:45-1:00PM: order mousetraps and protein powder. (little bastards have taken up residence in the van.)
1:00-1:30PM: write second Blurb Hit the Books Email. (topic still secret) I write these in my head while running, cycling, or doing other things, so they don’t take me long when I sit to type them up.
1:30-2:00PM: send information about Japan to someone making a trip. Write short script for possible film about print. Update screen share software, reinstall BookWright and MagCloud Digest template for InDesign.
2:00-2:30PM: research international design and photography events for 2025. I’ve already met with marketing to discuss what the plan is, but I have since learned of a few new events that might be worth attending.
2:00-2:30PM: film book samples for potential upcoming storyboards. (me flipping through publications mostly) (Nikon Zf and Fuji XH2s for inquiring minds.)
2:30-3:00PM: Ponder a list of questions I might ask for an upcoming interview. Need at least five questions but need to start with more so we narrow down to only the best. Retrieve footage and stills from SATA archive system. Upload to whiteboard software. Make tea. Bamboo Mountain Chinese oolong.
3:00-3:30PM: failed attempt at jumping out and scaring my wife. Walked to mailbox to retrieve package. Removed all food products from van to help curb ratoncito infestation.
3:30-4:30PM: Answer blog comments/questions. Assist photographer with publishing project and help with options for how they can proceed. Transcribe notes from Review Santa Fe. Photograph sample/swatch kit of Blurb competitor so that I can include in my weekly whiteboard. Text nieces.
4:30-5:30PM: Weekly marketing meeting. This could get cancelled and I’m “writing ahead” at this point because I have other things to do besides this post. If it goes, an hour of marketing team chat, and if not I get the hour back. (Will use to write script for film series and perhaps bullet point a film I want to make about reading.)(THIS DID GET CANCELLED, BUT I DID WRITE ANOTHER POST.)
5:30-7:30PM: dinner with visiting photographer friend.
7:30-8:00PM:drive home
8:00-10:00PM: Work around the house.(cleaning up after my wife) laundry, help wifey with AirBnB duties which is more laundry, second smaller workout which is mostly long hangs, pullups and pushups, read. Sauna, small portable infrared which I’ve done since contracting Lyme Disease. (30mins)
10:00-11:00PM: Attempt to watch something with wife but fall asleep in first ten minutes.
You might find this post boring, or my life for that matter, and I would not fault you for that. The last few hours of this report are speculation, but I know some of the details will come true while others might vary to a degree. Some of this is routine. I wrote this post because of something that happened a few days ago. I was introduced to a stranger by someone I’ve known for several decades. My friend said “This is Dan, he takes pictures for Blurb.” I realized my friend had no idea what I do or what a typical day looks like. As you can see, taking pictures for Blurb isn’t how I spend my time. I wish that was all I did, but I also want a toilet made of gold.
I’ve said this a hundred times to anyone who will listen. I have the best job in the world. Perhaps a bit misunderstood but that’s okay. Most of what I do is behind-the-scenes, which is precisely where I like to be. For every public event there are weeks of desk duty. I’m guessing it’s much the same for many of you. Everything I listed above is fun. Well, except the mice. Within the next day or so we might have a better idea of what America decided to do. Postpone the inevitable or destroy everything we stand for. Regardless, I’ll be here tomorrow doing much of the same. (And looking for remote, unguarded Canadian border crossings.)
AS YOU CAN SEE. NO INTERNET. NO SOCIAL MEDIA. NO TELEVISION. NO ELECTION NEWS THAT IS MOSTLY MUTE AT THIS POINT.(OUTSIDE YOUR CONTROL, AND BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW, THE DRAMA COULD CONTINUE FOR DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS.) IF YOU ELIMINATE DISTRACTION YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH QUITE A LOT WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT.
Comments 46
Spent part of the day researching Canadian citizenship. My mom was Canadian so I might be in.
Author
I’m so adoptable.
We can work something out.
🤣🤣🤣 My fiancé is Salvadoran .. that’s where you will be able to find me should trump trump Kamala..
Author
See you there! Good surf.
Dan, Dan, Dan. You’re supposed to be making time to work on your watercolor painting. 😀
Stay safe Dan
Author
Oh ya. That’s on the list….still.
I think the election is done. It’s not going to be a fun four years. Four years of zero efforts on climate change. We’ll want that time back.
Author
That might be the least of the problems.
Dan……Very impressive and inspirational. Time to redo my life (again)
Author
It’s not anything out of the ordinary. Just focused.
Hey Dan,
did I miss the voting part?
Author
Voted ages ago. Early voting here in NM.
Mark! I would have to believe he voted early haha.. but I can’t speak for him. Lol, but that is a good observation/point.
Author
Voted weeks ago.
Reading this is much better after waking up and watching the news to see what’s happening in your country. 🫣
Author
Yep. It has the potential to get truly ugly.
I have a spare bedroom. But Canada is very affected by the US. Trump has reach. Yo can expect the immigration lineup will be doubling tomorrow, and Trudeau has just pledged to cut immigration way back. It’s also amazing how many people are trying to immigrate to Mexico.
Italy has many dead and dying towns…
Author
Yes, suddenly it’s us going over the wall.
Reading this it’s 6:30 a.m. on November 6th (time difference) I have to say that your life in my opinion is not boring at all. It’s creative and interesting. You can only be inspired and it’s not just about work but also taking care of your own body. It’s true that I can’t run because of my knee but there are other forms.
Author
Yes. At 35, you never think “Oh, things are going to go sideways,” health wise. And then….
Morning Dan! Like someone already mentioned – where is voting? I just saw morning news and New Mexico voted for non orange and not an ape candidate, good for you! On the topic.. you are quite organised for a C student, I was a B student and can’t stick to my agenda very well. I do have some concrete points in the day/week, but even those get interrupted from time to time and it’s always a struggle to get back on the horse. Big work travel is coming and this is always setting me back with my routine, specially with fitness and eating. I do much more writing and reading when I’m in between my destinations – at least this is a good thing. Good luck in the new reality..
Author
Early voting in NM, so I voted long ago. You just have to work on your distraction level.
I study and teach time management for myself and my students (I’m a lawyer) and I find your post so enlightening and inspiring. Thank you so much.
Cristiano – Italy
Author
Time management. I’m glad that’s a class. We all could use a bit of learning in that department.
The people have spoken….thats all I’ll say
Yeah.. Good luck guys :/
Author
Yep. Let’s see where we are in six months.
i am worried about my daughter and son-in-law in South Korea. Working to get them here. I am going to have to see the heartbroken faces of the Ukrainian refugee kids at the school where I work. They know that their country will be gone. This is a disaster for the world. Not to mention global warming. It’s good to live in Canada, but we are citizens of the world.
Author
It has the potential to get truly horrific. We should know soon enough.
Once Trump deports everybody, the produce section and meat sections will be dry, and the choice of only eating Vegan (if available) will be named as a radical left conspiracy and grounds to start jailing them
Author
Yep, the real lesson here is that vegans are dangerous.
My son and I went to the polls to cast our votes. Was nice to do that together – a first for us. Had made my election day plans well in advance and mostly stayed off the internet except to research a weaving piece by Anni Albers. Did go on FB to the check the weaver’s marketplace listings as I’m in the market for another loom. Went to the grocery store and came home to play with a new weaving design of my own on graph paper. Had one of my favorite movies, Practical Magic, cued up. Did not check news. Phone was off most of the day. Went to bed early.
Was awakened in the wee hours by my inconsiderate t supporting neighbors shooting off fireworks. I knew then that the news I would be greeted with this morning would not be what I’d hoped for.
I remember being in middle school and hearing something about how Russia said they would never have to bomb America, that we would destroy ourselves. This morning I understand why that memory resurfaced. Yet also, this morning, my phone has been blowing up with texts and messages from friends far and wide and there is a lot of love and fierce determination to never let the bastards win (from the Handmaid’s Tale if you’re not familiar).
ps: to all the friends here who do not live in the States, I am also adoptable. My strengths include being remarkably helpful, an organizing genius and I’m a whiz at developing systems for intelligent efficiency.
Author
I’ve always thought we were destined to destroy ourselves, but I am old enough to have experience the bomb drills in school. Like being under my desk would help protect me.
I’m productive as far as my homemaking skills…and working out everyday. I’ve reached a creative burn out..I had to pause on my book making because of it. I feel my productivity is empty. It’s odd. Maybe it’s seasonal depression setting in..
Do you have any tips with creativity burnt out/productivity burn out??
Speaking of German: Kanzler Scholz hat soeben Finanzminister Lindner gefeuert. Wahrscheinlich kommt es zu vorgezogenen Neuwahlen.
Wie schade! Herr Lindner ist mein Lieblingspolitiker. Ich bin sehr enttäuscht! – Wer hier Sarkasmus findet, darf ihn gern behalten.
Author
Ja! Super!
Actually the Salvadoran president congratulated #dumpytrump and so we aren’t willing to go there anymore!
Canada did too. It’s diplomatic protocol. But Donny will say they congratulated him “like nobody has ever seen”. And Musk’s net worth increased by 12 billion dollars. With a B.
Author
Musk is such a toad.
Author
This won’t be the last time that happens.
When I read “Order mouse traps and protein powder” the first thing I thought was you need to cut back those critters’ protein powder! 😉
Author
I want to bulk them up before I lower the boom.
I find this interesting. It’s always fun to see how other people live and spend their time. If every hour you wrote about was accompanied by a picture, it would be sooo much fun! At least for me. Thanks Dan for your post.
Author
Too much work for me. And it’s mostly me sitting in front of multiple monitors.