“Kept you waiting, huh?” (a few will get that one). Been a while, since I last posted something here. In our last episode our hero was unemployed, a stay at home dad, coffee snob, photographer wannabe, philanthropist and Egyptian assassin (too much Assassin’s Creed: Origins?). Later at the beginning of May I received an offer for a new job. Next thing I know I am flying to Spokane Valley, Washington (of all places) for training. It has been about almost two months since then. So yeah, I have been busy hence why I haven’t been posting. My time in Spokane was a very interesting one, the new job is good — very different to what I used to do before, met awesome people and had really good beer. So let me tell you a little about my experience in Spokane Valley. There are many things I could tell you but I would like to talk more about the people I have met here. Yes it is not the most flamboyant/fancy city (depending on your standards) but the people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, that’s what I take with me (besides all the new knowledge and extra pounds because of all the beer — and pizza — but that’s not the point). I have met very amazing, helpful and caring people which in a way it took me by surprise. In my mind this visit was just going be another stepping stone, another thing to plow through. I wasn’t here expecting to make friends and actually I wasn’t even sure if I’d really care about any of it, but as it turns out! It has been one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had in a while.

I will always be grateful for the friends I made and mentors I had while training for my new position, thank you and I appreciate you all. And the amazing folks at Badass Backyard Brewing. If you ever visit Spokane, WA — you got to give them a visit and check them out! Not only you’ll have some amazing beer (like the Adrenaline Seeker IPA or the Mojo Coffee Stout) or play board games but you’ll get to meet some lovely people in there — trust me.

Now after all that training and all that traveling back and forth, I am back home for sure. I am back to my reality and to my family. I actually start at my new position at my own site this week and will see how it goes. I can’t honestly say how much I like my new gig, it’s still too soon to tell, but I’m optimistic and I’m sure I’ll write about in the future (I think). And again, I am very grateful to the people that spent their time training me and showing me about my new job and responsibilities. The ones that just helped me in one way or another. To the ones that just wanted to chat and have a good time. The ones that played Rummikub with me while enjoying some delicious beer. I will miss them all.

It’s good to be home!

IN OTHER NEWS:

My subscription to Grammarly has expired so I apologize for any grammar errors. Too expensive to renew at the moment. 😁

I am sure I’m very late to the party but this week I have been enjoying Casey Neistat YouTube channel a lot, and his new “368” project. I have been very much enjoying the content and the production of it. Although it is true that I have been enjoying this channel (this thing) this week, that’s not it.

I got a new job this week (finally)!! Last Monday I received a long-awaited and exciting call — a job offer. It has been over two hundred and seventy days or so (not like I am counting) without a job. I am very excited (and scared) about this new opportunity/adventure. I will be flying over to Spokane Valley, WA on Monday (the 16th) for training and not only excited about the new gig but also to visit a new city. I will be taking my camera with me, and hopefully, there will be good weather for goods pictures.

Exciting stuff is happening!

Yesterday I was listening to one of my favorite podcast, Nerds on Draft. One of the topics, or pretty much the entire podcast, revolved around subscriptions. Whether they were services, content or apps. And it made me think about my own subscriptions situation. Especially since I have been thinking a lot about simplifying things recently. I am a nerd and a sucker for productivity apps (or any kinds of apps really), but in reality, I don’t need all of these complicated apps. I don’t have a super busy and complicated life. I am not a self-employed person nor a “writer.” So I own many apps that I honestly don’t use much, or if I do, there are very underused. I am trying to see, which apps I have that are subscription based. Which apps I genuinely use and get real use from. Are there any alternatives to these apps that I am paying a subscription for? Stuff like that. Not that I am against the subscription model, but as they discussed in the podcast, when you have too many, they do add up. Is not just apps, also services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Internet or even my Wordpress subscription, etc. So I am evaluating to see which ones to keep and which ones to cancel. Will be keeping my Wordpress subscription for sure, of course. ;)

In other news… I honestly don’t have anything new this week worth mentioning. :)

We had an excellent time (my wife, my mom, Marley and I) Saturday morning enjoying delicious donuts.

Well, today I stopped being lazy and went outside for a run. I haven’t run in over seven months, at this point. Haven’t done much exercise of any kind in a while, actually. Of course, I have gained weight, and I’m very out of shape. Today was my first step in getting back into it again. I am tired of feeling out of shape, overweight and tired all the time. It was a short run thought (if I can call that a run), about 1.5 miles and as expected it was terrible, I’m not in the same condition as I used to be months ago. Oh! and I wore my AirPods while running for the first time since I got them. I was afraid they would fall or something, but they stayed put, no issues at all.

If I’m honest, when it comes to cardio I much rather do other things, like hiking. I genuinely hate running, but sometimes it’s my only option. I miss my workout buddies and do high-intensity workouts with ropes, rings, kettlebells and other fun stuff. I am hoping to get back into that kind of exercise soon.

In other news! My birthday is coming up (March 31st). I am wondering what kind of adventures awaits on my 35th birthday.

Treefort Music Fest

Every year here in town we have the Treefort Music Fest. It is a fest, as the name implies and there’s music (of course) food trucks, that’d be Foodfort, and the most important thing — for me — there is beer! This would be what they call Alefort, where many local craft beer breweries get together and feature their most delicious beer. Here’s where I spend most of my visit because I love beer, obviously. So my wife and I went and got together with some fantastic beer-lover-friends and family and had a great time tasting delicious beer.

I have deleted my Facebook account — again. It is not the first time I have done this. A lot of times it’s just because it has gotten out of control and is my way to do clean up. This last time it’s been a little different, though. Ever since I opened the latest one, I always had weird feelings about it. I always felt and told myself it was a “necessary evil.” I have friends and family back home I wanted to keep in contact with. Facebook was (is) the only way to do so. But this recent Facebook scandal with the Cambridge Analytica thing, it gave me that last push (excuse) I needed. I know it’s not going to solve or fix anything, but I feel better by not having it. I feel like by closing it I have reclaimed control of my brain and emotions.

In other news! I have had a job interview today. I think it went well! Will see.

Assassin's Creed Origins: The Curse of the Pharaohs DLC

This week Ubisoft released an expansion pack for Assassin’s Creed Origins, The Curse of the Pharaohs. It is the second out of two expansion packs for the game, alongside The Hidden Ones. It was amazing and creepy at the same time when I first saw one of Pharaohs coming back from the dead, and oh man, they look cool! I am probably just a few hours in into this storyline, and I have not been yet disappointed. My only complaint is the giant scorpions appearing around in the afterlife, and I don’t like scorpions at all.

Then again, I am having so much fun with this game in general. Once I finish The Curse of the Pharaohs, I will replay the whole game again, as I do, because I can’t get enough of this game.

Found this entry I wrote 4 years ago, as a “memory” in my journaling app. Can’t believe it’s been four years. That was a fantastic Batman run by one of my favorite artists. Batman 29 was part of the Zero Year storyline, where they basically retold Batman’s origins.

Something I gotta share quick, as some of you know DC comics back in 2011 or so decided to "reboot" the universe, meaning they gave their characters new beginnings, new stories, and whatnot right. They didn't do anything crazy like "Superman is now from f&%ing mars, and he's green” everything is like it should be, but some things have changed. So they started giving everyone new origins and what not except for Batman. Finally, they decided okay we need to tell the origins story for the new generation, so they reached the writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo to tell the story right. We all know the origins of Batman and blah blah blah but I just read Batman issue 29, and the story and the art are so well done that I was like "OH MY GOD THEY KILLED HIS PARENTS!!!" I mean if you can throw me off like that and engage me even tho I already know what's suppose to happen, you, as a creative team, you are doing your job right. And I have to say BATMAN # 29! WOW !!!!! Yeah, I know this is the Geek in me talking but had to share !!!

This is going to sound either very funny or very wrong, especially given my situation. But I am taking a week off. I am taking a break from job-hunting and stressing about it. From stressing about whether or not I’m going to hear from someone or checking up my email every 5 minutes, contacting or checking up on people. To realize that I have no control over people or specific processes, that there’s only so much I can do and the rest it’s off my hands. And maybe, this is probably something I shouldn’t be doing, given how desperate I need a job — or so I feel. I feel like this is something I need to be on top of, no matter what. But I also feel like I need a little break. Do other things like finally, it’s getting warm out, so let’s take Marley out to the park, or go out for a hike, take pictures, do other stuff that lifts my spirit and inspire joy. Anything else other than staying indoors stressing about things.

Then again I feel sorry for doing this, in a way. I think I don’t have the luxury to say “I am taking a week off from job-hunting.” Because I need a job, I need a real income, we (as a family) need it. But, I am sure my 2yo would appreciate spending some time out of the house and so would I.

In other news! Nothing too exciting to report. I had a phone interview that I think it went well. We will see what happens next.

Ever since I became a “freelancer” my routine and habits have changed drastically. Not only has been affected because of my new found “profession” but some other life events as well. It got pretty much all over the place, a little out of control some may say. And it was like that for a while, trying to figure things out and dealing with it. However, things have changed recently. Still a freelancer but now I can say I am also a stay-home dad — and it’s excellent.

Needless to say, my personal routine has changed again. But this time things are a little more interesting. First thing in the morning, Marley wakes up (before everybody else of course), I change her diaper, prepare milk, give her the milk and sometimes she might go back to sleep. Some other times she doesn’t fall back asleep because we need to drop off mama at work. After either she wakes up, or we get back, I make coffee (always coffee first — always). I also prepare myself some breakfast. Usually, two eggs scrambled with veggies. I prepare something for the little one as well, a plate with fruits, cereal and a piece of chocolate (please don’t judge). We sit at the kitchen table set her up with her iPad Pro (actually my 10.5” iPad Pro), so she can watch some cartoons while she eats. Once she’s all set up I login into my computer, put on my helmet and start job hunting. There are several breaks in between due to a very demanding 2yo which I don’t mind at all, she’s a lot of fun. Sometimes she will get a bath, and I’ll let her play for a long while I do my computer stuff.

Then around midday is nap-time, usually a struggle but I have found ways to make it happen. For example, “Hey Siri, play Jump Around by House of Pain,” and we jump around the house until she’s exhausted. That’s when I do catch up with my nerdy podcasts, maybe watch a movie or like yesterday, take a phone interview! Then usually the afternoon may vary, we play or watch cartoons or just go out and about.

So I am both a freelancer and a daddy-daycare and to be honest, it is a lot of fun (a lot of work too), and it makes me happy. Getting to spend so much time with my daughter is one of the best things I have right now. Yes, I would love to find a job and get some real income, and I’m doing everything within my power to achieve that, or at least I think I am. But I have no control over certain things, unfortunately, but spending time with Marley and play around, teach her things, it is so awesome, and I love it!

My professional life is a little screwed up at the moment, but my heart is content. Perhaps I should find a job where I could work from home? Maybe start the most fabulous successful blog in the world? Probably not, this is just a thing I’m doing for fun. Seriously though, the day I find a job, I am sure I will be missing these moments, so better enjoy them.

In other news! I had a job interview over the phone, and I am expecting to have another one coming up, from a different company. And we will see what happens. I am sure I’ll write some nonsense about it!