Greetings!

Today was another scary drive to work. Because of the intense dense foggy conditions and the low temperatures, the roads were rather slippery. I must have slipped and slid a bit at least three times. I saw a few cars slightly losing control, and of course, visibility is very limited. I even saw plowers spraying that salty solution on the streets because of how bad the roads are.

In other news,

I did not forget my Yerba Mate today!

This was an interesting thing to have watched.

I have always been aware of the fact that the pictures we take with our phones are highly processed by software. Like some kind of technological wizardly witchcraft. Thus, someone could make the argument that using a “real” camera, is probably the purest form of art, as far as photography goes? I mean, at the end of the day, we use what we have and there’s no right or wrong way to do so. I personally prefer using my “real” camera most of the time but I also admit that I take more pictures with my phone and I am sometimes happy with the results too.

According to my scale this morning, I am 6 lbs lighter. How that came to be, I have no idea. I haven’t been to the gym in two months. Perhaps I am losing some muscle mass? Still, 6 pounds of muscle mass is a lot. Maybe a little bit of both, muscle mass and fat? Stress? Either way, I’ll take it, lie to me, baby 😂!

That being said, the plan for Q1, is to get under 200 lbs.

We shall see.

I’ve read many times, to write my thoughts before bed, apparently it helps with sleeping better. Also, many times, there’s so much running through my head to figure out what exactly to write about or where to even start. I’m sure there are ways to work around that. I know journaling applications like Day One have templates for this, like many others. These templates or exercises consists of a few questions about your mood, your day, wins, and failures (I think) and goals for tomorrow, etc. I have thought about this, and it gives me some anxiety. Why? Well, it means I have to think and be honest with myself. It means I might also get overwhelmed with everything that there’s to do and accomplish. That perhaps I’m not as much in control as I think I am.

I have always been, for years, in this philosophy that things will just work out. Well, spoiler alert, it doesn’t always. Like a great philosopher once said;

That’s not how the force works!

There’s got to be some effort to put on. There is responsibility and accountability. There are many things about me that I know I need to get straightened up, that I need to be more responsible about.

Like most of us, I am a work in progress. But acknowledging that and doing something about it, are very different things, I would think.

This is my fear about writing my thoughts out. It will reveal some truths that, in some way, I’ve been just putting in the back of my head, and neglecting them. Perhaps thinking that by neglecting and pretending they aren’t there, eventually, by some act of the force, they’ll all be fixed, and it’ll all workout. Without any effort, just with the bare minimum.

It has been a week, and it was fun, also, in a way, I am glad it is over.

My sister and her husband were in town this past week, visiting. Mostly to spend time with the girls and celebrate Christmas with us. Even though I was still working during the week, or at least from Monday through Thursday, and only half days, I got enough time to spend with them. This also made my week extremely busy. After working, I catered to my visitors, so I had almost no time to post, blog, or even catch up with my RSS. That being said, family is more important.

They left Monday morning, and luckily we also had it off, so we had time to rest and sort of, normalize again.

Now, back to the regular schedule.

Though I have deleted or deactivated my Twitter account a while ago, I kept both Twitterrific and Tweetbot installed. I mean, they are both good-looking apps (or icons, since I can’t actually look the apps interface without logging on to Twitter).

Perhaps for nostalgia, or as part of one of the five stages of grief. Who knows? Today I have finally deleted them from my device.

Bye Ollie, bye angry looking bird 🐦

I am doing some “mindless” work and usually, what I do is I am either listening to background music or a podcast, book on tape, or whatever. Sometimes, I open a web browser with Youtube and put something on without paying much attention.

Today I, for whatever reason, clicked on this video,

And damn! It felt like a punch in the gut. As if he was seriously talking to me specifically, although I am no content creator, it felt that way. I felt and related to what he was trying to convey. I got it, I understood it, and again, I felt it.

I feel like I am always full of excuses and not putting in the work. I have seen pictures of my old self, of when I was putting in the work. And in those times, I know I was the best version of myself. Regrettably, nowadays, I am not pitting in the work, at least not in the same way. And I do want to be the better version of myself, maybe not the same but still better than where I am now.

I need to own my own bullshit, and put in the work.

Well, I have been using the Apple Watch since the series 0, never bought or worn any other watch since, until recently when I purchased a less smartypants watch, a Casio G-SHOCK. At first, just becue I was getting tired or bored of the Apple watch itself a bit and wanted something different, design-wise. Then, apple announces the Apple Watch Ultra. When I saw the “chunkier” and the different design of it, well, I knew I wanted one.

It has been officially 16 days since I got my Apple Watch Ultra, aka MEGAZORD, yes, I’ve named it MEGAZORD. And, I am loving this thing. I had some first impressions. I still think it’s a hefty, chunky watch but that was never my concern, to be honest. I mean, I have always been a fan of chunkier-ish watches and to be honest, it is not any bigger than my G-SHOCK.

Heavier, yes, but not crazy heavy. Love the new design, the flat screen is probably my favorite thing, the protruded buttons, it looks very different from what I have been wearing all these years and I appreciate that. The screen is, to me, much much brighter and of course, bigger, which I also appreciate, I ain’t getting any younger, so everything is more clear and legible, especially outdoors.

Battery life of course it’s awesome, I think I charge mine every other day. However, if I am taking a bath or in any other situation in which I am not wearing the watch, I just throw it on the charger just because. I don’t necessarily wait until is dead-dead to charge it, probably should but, meh! Also, the braided cable, love it!

I got mine with the orange alpine strap band, I love the color, and I guess I have a newfound appreciation for the color orange. Love the accent orange color on the action button, which I forget it’s there since this is the first watch to have it. The build quality of this watch is top-notch, it doesn’t feel — or look — cheap by any means (and it certainly ain’t cheap).

As far as the watch faces, I am always bouncing between two different ones (so far), Modular, and Wayfinder.

Wayfinder has been my daily one. The apps I am using with it, so far are,

• World Clock with my local time. I suck at reading analog clocks these days so I cheat. I know I can have the digital time on the top Sub-dial but many times the clock hands get in the way and it’s hard to tell the time.

• Calendar.

• Carrot’s Weather

• Things 3

The Modular one is usually for workouts, I like easy access to timers and some information. But as I am typing this, I think I am just going to consolidate everything on the Wayfinder Watch Face, I would be just adding a slot for easy access to the Timer app.

Overall I am very happy with it, definitely more my style, no complaints here — yet.

IN OTHER NEWS!

I’ve gotten a new backpack, super-randomly, I need to play more with it and see what role fits in my everyday carry workflow.

I got a Confession to make. I love my iPhone 13 mini, I really do. I think is the best phone ever made, however, recently, I have found myself wanting a bigger screen. Not Necessarily a better camera, although that would be nice, but I have been feeling constrained with the mini’s screen size, for whatever reason.

you’re getting old, gabz

Also, it does not help the fact that I visited my local BestBuy recently and actually held an iPhone 14 Pro in my hands. And guess what? I did not mind the size as much as I thought I would.

If, I am going to go that route, it won’t happen until sometime next year, I think. I could find a way to expedite that but I rather just wait it out as much as I can.

I live, unfortunately, in a very Red state which makes me hesitant, and yet, I still feel compelled to vote. There’s a name I have seen around that, for whatever reason, does scare me, Ammon Bundy. Also, I was told that my level of sexiness would go up ten percent if I posted a selfie with an “I Voted” sticker.

For reasons I don’t remember anymore, something’s wrong with our washing machine, besides being super-old, that we have to add the softener in the middle of it rather than the machine do it by “itself”. We can’t just add it to the tray or whatever spot and hope it’ll work. Since I am the only responsible adult here (ha! responsible, he says) I am the one that has to remember, usually Annie is the one on top of the timing, or actually paying attention.

Yesterday, I loaded some clothes, and actually started a stopwatch to figure out how long it takes until I have to add the softener. Thirty-five minutes, in the normalsetting, thirty-five minutes until I have to add the softener. Now, when I load some clothes I ask Siri to remind me to add softener in 35 mins.

Good, I did that today because I am fiddling around on the computer and totally forgot I had a load goin.

In other news,

Today is a relaxing Sunday. The girls are playing, nicely with each other which is rare sometimes, and litsening to Los Wálters - Isla Disco.

I’ll take it.

So, I messed up, big time.

Even though I did call the school to confirm the time of Marley’s lunch, in my mind, for whatever reason, it was still 12:20pm rather than 11:20am. I even left earlier than planned due to the climate to make sure I’d be on time. And yet, I was an hour late to have lunch with Marley.

😫😫😫😫

We have both been waiting for this day all week, super-excited, and yet, I failed. My day wasn’t going well, to begin with, but this… ugh!

Anyways, they allowed me to have lunch with her. As expected Marley was not happy and that broke my heart. I explained what happened to her, apologized to her, we sat, had lunch, we talked. We got snow, for the first time this year, down in the valley, and Marley asked if she could play outside after school. Sadly I think it’ll melt by the time she’s out, but I told her if we still had snow she certainly could. Once we were done with lunch I walked her back to her classroom, apologized again, and pinky-promised ( it’s kind of a big deal and she smiled) that it would never happen again, and off she went.

By that point, she was her normal self.

But I was still feeling terrible inside. I still do. Like the worst parent on Planet Earth.

Once I had some time to reflect, I came home, to try to get some work done, the day is not over. I opened my email and a whole lot of other shit ensued.

I sat back, cried a bit, cracked my fingers, and started typing emails.

Nothing today is going according to plan and I feel very frustrated, very much so…

On the other hand, I am looking forward to picking Marley up from school, then Luna from grandma’s, watching a movie, and having popcorn with the girls.

Today I wrote a thank you note, with a pen, I might add, and I can not remember the last time I wrote something somewhat extensive. Immediately realized that the pen does not have autocorrect or the card had a Grammarly extension. It was like writing blind and without a safety net.

This made me think, that I am probably more “writing fluent” in English than I am in Spanish by now. English words don’t have the same grammatic rules as Spanish words, accents, and such, so it is easier in that sense, the spelling though, that’s another issue entirely.

I also noticed that half my words were in all caps, or mixed. I swear I’ve forgotten how to write.

It is still, at least on my side of the world, Wednesday, mitad de semana, and I have not been to the gym a single day this week. I haven’t for a few reasons, well, mainly because of exhaustion. Work has been a little hectic this week. And not only that but, I am also, a little out of wack. They always say consistency is the key, and I am now struggling with that. For the past two weeks, I had been consistent but inconsistent at the same time.

Let me explain.

Mom was here the past two weeks helping out with the girls, as Annie’s parents were away. That, in a way both, spoiled me and threw everything out of order.

I was consistent about working out every single day, but when and where, were inconsistent. Some days it would be right after work, or after picking up Marley from school, mom would be here to pick up the slack so I could do my workouts rather than go later at night after everyone is asleep like I normally would.

Last Sunday, mom left. Not only I am readjusting my work schedule and such, but everything else. We all are.

I need to build up a routine. One that no matter what, it does not get disrupted. I have been toying with the idea of early-morning workouts. Rather than going out to the gym (or even home workouts) after everyone is asleep, do it while everyone is yet still sleeping. That’d mean getting up way earlier than usual and some discipline for sure. But I need to do this for myself, I need to build up that superpower that is consistency.

Now, will I go to the gym tonight, or tomorrow morning? We shall see.

Marley has no school today — and tomorrow — so I took the day off.

Morning of coffee and donuts

Downtown walk

And finally lunch, before heading back to the house for a nap

Almost two months ago, I got myself a Casio G-SHOCK. Mostly because I wanted to change this a bit, I have always been a watch guy, and I stopped buying watches the moment the Apple Watch had come out. And I have been using the Apple Watch exclusively, since. 

The Casio I got, was a MOVe model, basically, it can be synced to the iPhone via Bluetooth using the G-SHOCK MOVE app. I could still get some notifications, and it would track my steps. I was never able to figure out if it could track a workout the same way the Apple Watch does, I am not a runner so, tracking speed and laps wasn't for me. After a few weeks, I started missing the Apple Watch just to track my workouts and easy access to timers and was using it just for that whilst using the Casio for daily use.

One day, something changed, my AirPods Pro started acting up. I would get this high pitch noise somewhat regularly among other things, it was super-weird and it seemed very random. One day, in my frustration, I went online to look for possible causes and fixes. One was to turn off the ear detection feature and that seemed to have worked, a bit, but not quite. I had also read that another cause, could be that another Bluetooth device may be interfering with the AirPods' connection, but I ignored that part or didn't think much about it. I stopped using my AirPods, entirely, mostly out of frustration. I had started using my Powerbeats Pro more, the battery life alone won me back over. 

Recently, I picked up my AirPods again, and still thinking about the annoyances, it occurred to me that perhaps the culprit was the G-SHOCK. I unpaired the G-SCHOCK from the phone, they aren't Bluetooth-connected anymore and what do you know, The Airpods Pro are acting normal again. Thus far.

It is still an ongoing experiment, it could be something totally unrelated. I need more data, so far it's just a theory.

Technology is weird...

In this household, we have both the OG Nintendo Switch and the Switch lite. I fell in love with the lite, so light and easy to handle and carry around. Eventually, I went back to the OG, and Marley sort of took over the lite. Last night, I picked it up again, and I remembered why is so sweet to use, but at the same time, it feels so tiny on the hands it almost feels ridiculous.

Also, I have to confess, I kind of want the OLED Switch…

To respect the identity and privacy of the subjects, I’m going to refer to them as child number 1 and child number 2 😉. Number 1 being the oldest.

Childs one and two are plying, as they do, there’s laughter, all of a sudden, no more laughter but crying. Child number 1 comes out of the bathroom crying and complaining, touching her stomach.

Turns out, child number 2 had, allegedly, jumped on her. After some serious scrutiny and interrogation, we got a somewhat picture of what happened. Child number 2 apologizes to child number 1, and all is good, ish.

Child number 1 still complains about serious pain, her tummy, and diaphragm area. I asked if it hurt enough to got to the doctor, child number 1 says, yes.

To the urgent care we go. After some waiting, lady doctor comes into the room. She asks child number 1 a few questions, and examines her. Luckily, there was no bruising, nothing felt loosened or improper. Lady doctor says there’s no concern for anything being broken, that child number 1 is just, tender, and sore. Rest and pain medicine should do the trick, but obviously be on the lookout if anything develops in the next day or so.

In conclusion, child number 1 and number 2, will be the end of me.

There’s a Porsche car show in town today, which they do every year. I was very excited about attending and snap a couple of photos. But, for whatever reason, I found myself uninspired. I guess when there’s too many of the same thing, it’s hard to see something unique. I did find a couple of cars that did catch my eye, but when it came to the photography part of it, I didn’t have the “eye”. I probably took like 8 pictures and most likely one will be cool enough, to me.

I’m a little bombed by that, I had been waiting all week for it and then, meh!

Oh well, it happens, I guess

Today, Marley, was riding her scooter, as she does. I come into the house to grab my car keys and wallet because I was going out to the car wash. I heard Marley crying, and see Annie rushing to Marley’s. She had fallen and hit her knee, nothing super-serious, a superficial scratch, but it will definitely bruise.

Marley being marley, it is a huge deal, and very dramatic. We sat her on the couch, she’s freaking out, we spayed her scratch with antiseptic, and put on some ice. Marley is still being dramatic, crying, “it hurts, it hurts!”

Once the situation has been somewhat handled, I say, “well, I’m leaving”.

Marley: Wait, where are you going?

Me: to wash the car

Marley: to the car wash?

Me: Yes…

Marley: I WANT TO GO!

Me, Can you walk?

Marley: I can try…

Next thing you know, a miracle! She’s walking and jumping! Clearly , it wasn’t that bad

It has been a strange week this one. Mostly because I haven’t been sleeping well. I mean, previously I hadn’t been sleeping but it was more because my mind was always racing, or too much stress. This week, however, it’s been because; I honestly don’t know. I feel exhausted. Last night’s workout was mediocre at best. Not because of lack of motivation but lack of energy. Also, I showed up without a clear plan of what I wanted to do, so I was just aimlessly winging it, al-garete as we would say back home.

Two things, one, I need to rest and get some sleep. And two, I gotta be better at planning my workout routines. The latter should be easy, I have the resources. In fact, I pay for a Patreon membership, 5.00 USD/month to a guy that posts kettlebell workouts, I have just been too lazy to sit down and watch his workout routines and put something together for myself, based on that. And honestly, 5.00 USD a month for basically a workout program is a steal.

Perhaps I gotta start planning my weeks better from now on, no more al-garete

This morning on our commute to grandma’s house, we had a nice spectacle. In our route, we are basically coming downhill a bit, and it is a long stretch, a few miles before we have to turn left and lose sight of what was happening, having a clear view of the sky.

It was a lightning show, somewhere north of us, there was a thunderstorm and although it wasn’t raining in our area, we could clearly see the lightning. Marley and I, were excited about it, and every time a bolt of lightning would show up in the stormy sky, we would go “Did you see that one!!?” Luna, on the other hand, was not impressed, whatsoever.

Having been living in Puerto Rico, I am very sad we don’t get that many thunderstorms here, they are rare, so I’ll take what I can get and be wowed by it.

Hope they don’t cause any Wildfires, though. 🤞🏼

I have read somewhere that dreams are usually your brain putting together and “reliving” events from the previous day, or something like that. That, to me, checks out, or at least more so recently.

I know I dreamed about a sweet dog that was following me and we were playing. That piece of the dream, I can explain. I had been listening to a book on tape by Stephen King before bed and yeah, there is a dog in this story.

What I cannot figure out is, why for most of my dream I was being chased by a Predator, and everyone was getting killed left and right. I remember waking up a few times trying to shake off the dream but I was always back at running away from this alien hunter creature.

Even Arnold was in it, “GET TOTHE CHOPPA!!!!”