Author Archives: theoracleofz

Mediations on “Process,” OR the ratchet of linear time and the clockwork universe

Recently, I started a new job with a vague and fancy title. I am a Process Architect, specifically a Business Process Architect. Now, as titles go, I understand how pompous and jargon-y it is. I have worked in IT and IT-adjacent fields for over 15 years, and I know that the words we use –Continue reading “Mediations on “Process,” OR the ratchet of linear time and the clockwork universe”

Slow Fashion and other hashtags

A number of things coincided within the previous month of March that made it a good time for a reflection on my wardrobe. The first thing was #mendingMarch. If you are not spending time in my corner of the Internet, you could be forgiven for not knowing that March is the month for mending garments.Continue reading “Slow Fashion and other hashtags”

Jigsaw Puzzles and Common Law Marriage

To start off the new year, my significant other, EW, and I decided we would have a little screen detox. “But, Z, “you might say, “are you not currently interacting with a screen? How serious a screen detox is this anyway?” And that is a good question. It’s not that I want a blanket banContinue reading “Jigsaw Puzzles and Common Law Marriage”

Media Break: Sustainable Futurism?

Lately, I’ve been having this problem where I wake up every morning at 5:30am. My weekday alarm is set to go off at 6:15 and I have no weekend alarm but my circadian rhythms care not. For 2023 one of my goals for myself is not immediately jump on social media as soon as IContinue reading “Media Break: Sustainable Futurism?”

Masking Virtuoso Takes the Day Off

My mother was recently visiting our family for a little more than a week. Some friends have said that a week is a “long” visit. Though I understand that this statement is relative, the designation of the visit as “long” is both a gross understatement and completely untrue.  It’s untrue because saying the visit isContinue reading “Masking Virtuoso Takes the Day Off”

Life-life balance, OR Does this meet my strategic goals?

Though I intermittently engage in New Year’s resolutions, this practice is one that I increasingly follow without holding the outcome too tightly. As an example of this fact, it’s almost March and I am just now talking about New Year’s. What is time anyway, amirite? This year, however, after having formally exited my shitty jobContinue reading “Life-life balance, OR Does this meet my strategic goals?”

Curated: conjuring demand and identity

I love beautiful things. Full stop. When things are not beautiful it hurts a little. I have been known to say to friends, usually when talking about things like interior or fashion design, “if you can make it beautiful, you should.” I live my life in the center of what one would call “refined aesthetics.” Continue reading “Curated: conjuring demand and identity“

Reality, Mysticism and Psychedelia

The first time I ever “tripped” I was sitting in a university classroom. I went on a mystical journey to a time before time, where the totality of what would have been existence represented itself to me as a tableau my mind could comprehend: a committee meeting to choose the laws of physics where godContinue reading “Reality, Mysticism and Psychedelia”

2021 Growing Season: urban farming by the numbers

It turns out that the lofty goals of building a 500 square foot chicken enclosure, 250 square feet of raised beds, a 20 foot long by 2.5 foot tall rock retaining wall, while also roto-tilling the better part of 2,000 square feet of sod into mulched perennial beds [which amounted to about 14 cubic yardsContinue reading “2021 Growing Season: urban farming by the numbers”