One of my favorite "hacks" in micro.blog, to me, has ever been the "on this day". This is something very similar to what apps like Day One do but on your blog instead. Micromemories or On this Day was created by cleverdevil.

I have used this feature on my blog for years. It has always been fun to re-live some memories of the past. For different reasons, sometimes a nice memory, sometimes a not-so-good memory that might help you reflect and see how far you have come. And not going to lie, there have been times where a very unsavory memory has pooped up and been deleted, at least in Day One.

Recently we got Surprise me! by @sod. It is not exactly like on this day, instead, it will pull a random post from your archive, which is pretty neat. For some reason, I kind of like this better. Looking back at memories every day can become obsessive, for me. A random post, out of the blue (ish), it's a lot more fun and exciting, I think because you'll never know what ya' gonna get!

I think I will be removing the On this Day from my blog and replacing it with Surprise Me! There will still be an On This Day, not on my blog, but in Day One.

Unrelated,

It is 2022, I believe I am due for a new backpack, just sayin'

It is still yucky outside, everything is starting to melt, and it’s slushy. I am working from home today. Unfortunately, we are having — what we think — are roof issues. We have a leak, it’s been dripping from the laundry’s ceiling. There is a contractor coming over to inspect and assess. When that inspector, it’s supposed to be here? I don’t know. All he said was that’d he would be here during the day and that someone needed to be at the house. That someone is yours truly.

I am glad that I am lucky enough that I can work from home when situations arise. Plus, currently, I have no projects that need my attention on site. Furthermore, all the work rushed has subsided, and we are in calm waters again — for now.

There was something I have been meaning to look into for a while, and that was our internet situation. We have been complaining about how slow it’s been. Thanks to some friends at the Hemispheric Views super-secret discord channel for the help on this one. Nothing too crazy, took the opportunity to make some changes basically, and all it’s good.

Since I am alone in the house, I have been playing music all morning, a recent discovery,

Thirstier by TORRES

I have been really enjoying it.

I have discovered some new Latin Rock bands this week too. Bands that I have never heard before.

• De Subida by Planetarica

and

• Mística Mujer by Blacks en Tela

Okay, break’s over, back to work

After reading Mike's post on subscriptions last night, and this morning's Greg's, I had to think about my situation here and share.

The Gotta have's

Netflix - Gotta have it, if you have family, especially kids, there's no way around it. Plus consider this, Netflix puts out so much content, and high quality, for "cheap".

Apple One - Given that both my wife and I do use Apple Music, iCloud storage and at the time we were also using Apple Arcade, I believe we were already at the 29.95 mark, so it made sense. Now we also get Fitness+, tv+, and News+ (which I rarely ever use).

Kiddopia - Another, gotta have it, if this app does not have all the mini-games available, there will be riots. And we don't want riots in a full restaurant.

comiXologyUNLIMITED - Think of Netflix for comics Books, this is one I forget I have, and one that as much as I really want to use it and take advantage of, I don't. I am going to put myself to the test this month, If I don't read at least three to four issues, I am canceling it.

Glass - Photography Community - I like the app, I have written my thoughts on it, and what it means to me. I have been in conflict with it in the past week or so. I see the app as a nice-looking website for my photos, but it is not my own, like my blog, it is mine (ish). So, this one is in review.

Audible - This one, I keep going back and forth in my mind, in fact, this one gets canceled and reactivated again sometimes. I think I have a decent backlog of books to listen to that I could possibly cancel it for a while.

AppleCare+ - My reasoning, I've got kids, and I am clumsy, thus, I need it. 

Overcast - As much as I hate its UI and icon, it's rock-solid and that's that.

Tweetbot 6 - My Twitter app of choice, and I want them to both keep around and give me more icons.

Day One - Day One was my blog before my blog. Before I dared to get a weblog, I was writing in this app, circa 2012. Now I rarely actively type in it, now I have an IFTTT action that everything I post to my weblog, gets an entry in DO. Also, I use a lot their Text to Journal feature, which allows me to text quick things and create quick entries. They are usually photos in my case. It is pretty neat.

Mullvad - I got this one when I traveled to Naples, FL last year, not sure I'll keep it.

Ulysses - another, gotta have it, it is my writing app of choice, and cannot imagine a world without it.

Micro.blog - The most important sub of them all. Here is where I host my weblog. Makes everything easy and friction-free. It has a great community and even though I have tried other platforms (tinkerers gotta tink), there's no place like home.

HBO Max - I do get a lot of entertainment out of this one, ze wife wants me to cancel it, I don't lol, we shall see.

Subscriptions I am letting go (or expire) this month/year.

Hey Mail - love it, love it, love it, too expensive.

Twitter Blue - not worth it, to me.

Carrot Weather - The stock weather app has gotten much better than it used to. I am letting it expire and see if I miss it.

Drafts - For the way I use it now, I can get by with the free tier. I may subscribe at some point again, though. Just to support its development.

Bear - This used to be my notes app of choice for years, not anymore. Lately, I have been using Simplenote.

VSCO - It is set to expire, but I use it, I love this app so much, so it will be renewed when the time comes, I believe it'll be September 2022.

One subscription I am sort of considering, and this is purely a work-related thing more than anything else, It's ROAM Research. I think I had expressed this idea of having a work journal, and I like ROAM for that. Still an idea.

As part of my plans for Q1 of 2022, is to better myself and be healthier. Not only work on the lack of exercise but also be more mindful of what I eat, but even more so, what I drink. I need to cut back on my alcohol, specially beer. So, as a way to shock my, I don’t know, my body out off the habit, starting today, I’m going a full month (ish) without alcohol. I want to see how this goes and the effects of it.

Since today’s the third of the month, I’ll extend it to the third of February (I cheated this past weekend 🙈😅). Or maybe even further, who knows.

This is the plan, I do hope I can stick with it.

Everyone should blog — Ben Werdmüller

A blog is just a journal: a web log of what you’re thinking and doing. You can keep a log about anything you like; it doesn’t have to be professional or money-making. In fact, in my opinion, the best blogs are personal. There’s no such thing as writing too much: your voice is important, your perspective is different, and you should put it out there.

A hundred times, yes!

This is probably an every “New-Year” thing, but there are three main areas where I want to really focus on this year. Well, let’s make it a short-term thing, Q1 JANUARY-MARCH

Health

I need to get back in track. I am a lesser version of myself. I feel lazy, fat and very unhealthy — very. I got to commit, forget the cheap excuses, show up and put on the work. I want to get back on running, or get into biking. I would love to get a rower, I much rather bike or row than run, for some reason.

Discipline

Better commitment to me, to my family and work. I feel like last year I was winging it a lot, without a clear path or focus.

Mental health

I believe that if I can really commit and work in the two areas listed above, my mental health shall improve, all these areas go hand in hand.

Will make sure to keep track of any changes, log them, journal them. If it’s not documented, it’s as if it didn’t happen, I need to see the progress or lack thereof. I’m sure any systems to accomplish any of these goals will change, but as long as I stick to the original plan, I guess it won’t matter. Although, having a consistent system would be the best approach.

I came across this shortcut created by Nash, he calls it ’Time Tracker”,

Time Tracker is a shortcut I built (here’s a link to it). I’ve been using it the last few days, and I’m loving it so far. I press the app icon I’ve built, or the button on my watch, and write out whatever it is I’m currently doing or thinking about. It then gets logged into Fantastical as an event with the specific time that I logged it. This will help me see where my time is going, and also help me refer back to for writing prompts.

I found it very intriguing, it would serve as a quick way to log things and perhaps use them for. Weekly reviews and post them to my blog and journal/document my progress in these areas.

Moreover, I am rethinking the way I use task managers. I want to use Things 3, and rather than just tasks like I have always used it for, perhaps I can also use it for tracking habits. I am still working on this one, more on that later. I feel like if I stick to it, it might help to stay focused and disciplined.

Well, this is the plan, so far, at least for the next few months. We will reassess in three months. Oh, I’ve just remembered, I need to get my passport.

Due to all these weather shenanigans, we have been advised (at work) to come in at 9am and leave by 3:30pm or earlier. At least for tomorrow (Thursday). I could just work from home, where’s safe. Unfortunately though, I have samples to sample that cannot wait a few more days.

As we woke up with snow, not a lot but still enough to make me extremely nostalgic about Puerto Rico. All I am wishing is to be able to drive to the south of the island, go to a place by the beach, where they’ll have cold beer and delicious food.

Instead, it is freezing cold and everything is frozen 🥶

Dear digital journal,

Today is, in a way, my last day at the trial. Today was more about, re-evaluating what was evaluated yesterday, ish. I was asked to take a second look at one part of the trial, the one damaged by herbicide. Although I was still able to evaluate and make a call, it is still too iffy and people aren’t happy. So, I only spent about half a day on site, right about up to lunchtime.

I knew I wanted to enter all my datas before lunch, so instead I drove to the hotel, got all cleaned up and entered part of my data, until I got hungry. After my lunch meal, I entered the rest of my data and did more computer work.

Now, there is no need whatsoever for me to go back to the site tomorrow, I am done with the project. So, I wanted to try and see if I could change my flight to get back home much sooner. I called the company in which we book everything through. The lady on the phone was very helpful, but unfortunately, there were no earlier flights (sad trombone). The one and only option was leaving tomorrow afternoon but then stay overnight at an airport which it’ll put me arriving home the same day as it’s already scheduled.

So, not sure, I will most likely work from the hotel or a Starbucks all day tomorrow. I could go to the site too and use a room. I could also take the day off. For what, though? There is something about this place that doesn’t make me want to venture much.

Bar hopping?

No?

Okay.

I’ll work then.

It’s been a busy weekend so far. Between Friday and today. In my mind, my parents would be here for another week. Well, I have just left them at the airport. Today was a fun last day with them and family.

I don’t have much to say, but have some to show.

Today was a day. For me, it was another Wednesday where I needed to sort things out at work, get some things done, and hopefully call it a day early. My parents are in town — have been in town — for a few days, so wanted to wrap up early, go home, and spend time with them. Well, the day didn’t go as planned, obviously. Had to track down some samples I received whilst I wasn’t on-site yesterday, that was quick and easy — ish. Then I had my CPR/First responder certification training.

Success!

The rest of the afternoon, well, that was a clusterfuck! It’d be nice if people followed process, that would prevent so many issues for sure. And that is all I am saying.

Afterwork, was a lot more enjoyable. I got home, went to pick up a new pop-up canopy with dad. Then we all went for dinner at the Twisted Timber.

Then Dad got me a thing…

And now, we are relaxing before another hectic day — for me — tomorrow.