sound documentation

Soon after waking, I had the bright idea to document my audible experiences for a day. After I realized that today was as good a day as any, I started jotting down everything that I heard. It took concentration. I had to open my ears, making sure not to discount any sound I usually ignored, tuned out, or simply did not notice. In my experiences, the quietest sounds are the most fascinating. I encourage you to try the same for a day, and perhaps attempt the same for smell, mental feelings, touch, dialogue, inner monologue, or anything else that strikes your fancy. Focus on your senses and your world will become a little most interesting. So for those who care at all, here is what my ears managed to notice and my brain managed to remember and describe for the day in almost chronological order (without repeats):

• man talking (tv)
  
• orchestral music (tv)
• commercials
• blanket rustle
• futon creak
• ceiling creaks (upstairs neighbors)
• something heavy drop upstairs
• click of mouse
• tap of fingernails against various objects
• wrist crack
• toilet flush
• running water
• coffee grinder
• cupboard shut
• plastic bag rustle
• dad cough
• dad speaks with incredulity, then enjoyment, then annoyance
• I mumble
• dishes clatter
• footsteps on tile
• footsteps on carpet
• swish of various things against other things
• refrigerator open/close
• sighs
• breathing
• knock on door
• gurgle of coffee maker
• door open/close
• bending spiral notebook
• pen scratch on paper
• scratch skin
• squeak of chair wheels
• dad mumbles
• brother speaks
• computer whir
• gulp
• pen drop on paper
• door squeak
• rattle doorknob
• light switch flip
• clang of toilet seat going down
• phssst of paper tearing
• rattle of toilet paper
• rattle of the toilet "pressy thing"*
  
• plastic cup hit with toothbrush
• mouse picked up and placed down
  
• tooth brushing
• water swishing in mouth
• brother coughs
• brother burbs quietly
• brother scratching head
• woman speaking (tv)
• paper rustle
• I/brother laugh simultaneously
  
• dad laughs
• typing
• brief low buzzing from outside (plane?)
• chair squeak
• sniff
• squeaky mouth sound
• I clear my throat
• I yawn
• swoosh/scratch of combing hair
• underwear snap
• zipper
• belt clink
• keys jingle
• suction of pen cap
  
• suction of deodorant lid
  
• sound of my love's voice =)
• chewing grape
• my love laughing =)
• my love coughing =(
• jing of metal being hit
• sizzle on the stove
• fan above stove
• mouth click
• shoulder cracking sound
• glasses fold (snap snap)
• toneful clang of pan
• toneful scrape of pan
• drip of water
• phone ring
• beep
• koosh of koosh ball
  
• locket clink
• I say "Ah! Fuck!" in distress
• I cough
• Dad whines/yells my name.
• I hum "Buffalo Soldier"
• I sing "Buffalo Soldier"
• microwave door open/shut
• microwave running
• beep of microwave
• coffee being sipped
• scratch of grape vine against strainer
  
• flipper hitting pan
• dad lecturing
• brother yelling
• dad ranting
• sliding door open/close
• woman speaking
• potatoes chewed
• shoe lace casing hitting against shoe
• car starting
• car sounds of accelerating and decelerating
  
• classical music on radio
• car doors open/close
• turning signal
• footsteps on concrete
  
• pouring water w/ ice
• car locking click and beep
• seat-belt pulled/retracted
• seat-belt click on/off
• ice rattle in paper cup with hand movement
• crunching popcorn
• movie previews
• movie: "Frozen River"
• sneeze
• cup squeak
• background talking murmur
• broom against carpet
• soap disperser dispensing
• footsteps on gravel
  
• sliding shoe on pavement
• distant whistle
• ka-chunck of stepping on manhole
• Indian man speaks in English
  
• young boy whines in specific unknown Indian language
  
• Indian music (tv)
• peeling a label
• computer start-up
• air from chair "shh"
• plastic buckles click
• skateboard on pavement
• trunk click open
• "chunck" of trunk closing
• key slid in ignition
• jazz music on radio. specifically "I can't make you love me"
• young man speaks
• shhh from distant cars on highway
  
• squawking birds
• viola strap squeak
• minor buzzing from light fixture
• floor creaks under feet
• different, louder shhh noise
• woman shushing me
• Myself singing
• snapping
• ambient music
• various rock songs
• men and women speaking Spanish (online homework)
• dishwasher click on
• pouring dry dishwasher soap
• glasses clink
• dishwasher running
• mom speaks
• voice echoing
• man speaks
• box of oranges dropped on table
• various other music from 5 star list
• mouse scrolled
• alarm clock button clicks
  

*In search of a word for the "pressy thing" on a toilet I consulted my boyfriend, Danny. I suggested "trigger", and dared for him to come up with a better word. He commented that this made going to the bathroon sound "dangerous and exciting" like a gun. To which I answered, "Isn't it already? You have a loaded gun in ur pants, Danny, gotta pull the trigger."