QUESTION #1:

Why is it when taking notes during a lecture, we find ourselves drawing spirals or radial designs outside the punched hole; following our pen down that thin red line on our paper, slowly darkening then widening then connecting with a blue one; joining horizontal blue lines repeatedly making a checkered pattern, each one identical and carefully filled; or differently, letting our pen and wrist float as organic explosions happen in one corner, risking an encounter with our text?

QUESTION #2:
(note: Q1 related to Q2)

Why is it when talking on our cell phones, we find ourselves pacing even measured steps though varying dependent upon the present temperament in discussion; walking from point A to point B countless times, only occasionally detouring from our path but content to snake our way back as if drawn; following the perimeter of a building or object while, sometimes not even to our knowledge, learning the subtleties on the pavement below our feet, comparing the feel of cool concretes tooth as compared to the chill of painted metal rails?

ANSWER #1 and a 1/2:

Don’t you find that interesting? It’s as if there is some language or maybe just practice common to all, but only spoken or engaged in privately. The subject of the doodling can be varied, but I believe that everyone has, at least once, traced the lines on their notes. Why is that? It’s as if we have to arrest or fatigue our creative brain in order to absorb a particular type of information. I think this is connected with music during art (or homework, etc) and our sense of taste. There is something in the nature of our composition that works best in these circumstances.

Perhaps our senses (and/or modes of thinking: right vs. left (creative vs. logical), to put it way too simply) can distract us. So in order to focus on one or two senses (in art: sight and touch) or engage in a particular mode (creative predominantly, aided by logic), we deluge one or more senses with stimulants, who soon fatigue so that the other senses can then be fully engaged (note: with this thinking it sounds like I could endorse the use of hallucigins (spelled way wrong), but I am not. Just commenting on experiences I have had, drug-free, mind you, and the possibilities as to why). To continue: Maybe this is why, when listening to music while working, the music can appear at first dominant, but soon fade and we realize the final notes we have just heard was the end of a favorite song, the one we never miss, but somehow, this time, we did.

Last week, I saw a woman talking on her cell phone (uh, there’s more to that) who chose to walk back and forth on a 1’ borders of stone squares instead of the six feet of padded carpet inside. Now…why did she do that? Well, you can’t very well step on every other piece of carpet, avoiding the lines in between, can you! (It’s a feature rolled carpet does not afford, but tiles relish in). And don’t think I’m just making this up or exaggerating, she really was intentionally doing this! Her steps were very deliberate. Even when I walked by, she never moved or noticed, she kept on lurching.

But, this process of hers was not really the thing that captured her attention; the conversation was the real focus. The lurching about on tiles was only a side effect of her involvement in her discussion or a needed action in order to facilitate careful listening. I don’t really know how to describe why this is necessary for some people (I have no real system by which to place her actions, so I can only grapple with words and images).

So, I’ve seen people do it (a few weeks before a different woman was doing the same exact thing), I have done similar things, so I know it’s something general not personal, but I don’t really have a good reason why.

Or, we’ve all watched too much TV and need a regular regiment of Ritalin.

p.s. about "deluging the senses", I think there is another factor involved. Between the process of art making and listening to music, there is the possibility of a relationship, a give and take. While making art (worded that way makes it sound like some kind of voodoo! Boogha-boogha-booboo!! chanted thrice) it is easy to hit the equilvelant of writer's block, and so the inspiration (?, uneasy word to use lightly) through the quality of the music can perhaps bring one back into a creative mode or encouragement (self-esteem is huge in art and in general) can stem from it.