I did something I don’t normally do. I bought a new notebook, and have saved it to begin today, January 1 2016. Nothing special — a ruled pocket Moleskine. Partly this is because I discovered I had three different Field Notes notebooks on the go, and that is a fucked-up way to go about your business, so I’m curing it by starting and maintaining a single large hardbacked notebook. Partly because Moleskines are a standardised, basic, sturdy notebook, neither eccentric nor “authentic.” Steady. Partly because I wanted something that was fresh, for the top of the year. Life is sloppy and spills over the tops of our arbritary containers. There’s no hard wall between years. Whatever was sloshing around yesterday is certainly splashing my feet today.

But one thing that’s new and clean and ready to go from the top? That’s doable.

Happy new year.