Five Objects

Our lives are filled with objects. Some, we attach very high values too. I can determine the importance of any of my objects based on how close they are to me. These are five things I found on my desk, where I spend most of my time when I'm home.



1. I bought this Swiss Army knife when I went away to summer camp. I had a nasty habit of losing things. And a boy can't go away to summer camp without a proper knife. I knew this then, but because I was constantly losing things, my parents wouldn't spring for one. I bought this one with my personal savings at age 11. I still have it today. Though my trusty Laguiole is my pen knife these days, my Swiss Army knife will always be a dependable sidekick.


2. My first smart phone. My BlackBerry Pearl, or as I affectionately refer to it, "The BlueBerry." Lately, I've come to realize what a piece of shit this thing is. The Web browsing capability leaves something to be desired. The keyboard is really difficult to use one-handed. It tends to freeze up. The list goes on... But the thing's gotten me out of more than a few jams when I've needed a quick Google search in a pinch. I'll never leave home without it.

3. Hunter S. Thompson is one of the big reasons I decided to pursue journalism. Little did I know when I departed on this half-baked expedition, that journalism is not nearly as cool as he portrayed it. At least not straight journalism. Now Gonzo, that's where it's really at. I'm just waiting for the right moment to dive headlong toward the edge, make the old man proud. This is one of his books that I'm currently reading. It really goes to show how the American Dream is totally fucked. It was terrible that a guy like Richard Nixon was elected twice. But what's worse is that the country didn't learn. Since then, we've elected a long list of indiscernible, unscrupulous scum-suckers. With Hunter gone, someone needs to chronicle the atrocities and reckless abandonment of power. And if someone doesn't step up soon, it just might have to be me.

4. My iPod Nano. It's a necessary evil. I have stacks of CDs surrounding me as I write this. And a stack of LPs leaning up against a large tower of DVDs. But having it all at your fingertips, anywhere you go, well, that just can't be beat. To kill the boredom on the way to work, I've been listening to each of my albums from start to finish, then posting micro-reviews on Twitter. I just made it to the Bs. Check my twitter page if this interests you.


5. Maybe the most important thing I own. My compass. I own a bunch, but I've come to favor this one. I bought it before my trip to Maine last year. I don't have any tattoos, but if I did get one, it would be of a compass. I'm obsessed with knowing where I'm going. Nothing discomforts me more than being lost or not having a sense of direction, both literal or metaphorical. I can find my bearings with this, and if I can't find my mental bearings, it serves as a reminder that they're out there somewhere. I just need to keep looking.