Something that I have struggled with for years is managing time and tasks. Not the best organized person by default, also the most forgetful one. Always having ideas, things to do in my head and no system or way to recall them. Thats how it had been all my life until around 2010? If remember correctly, when apple introduced it’s own to-do list application, Reminders with iOS 5? I might be wrong. Anyway, that was the first to-do/task manager app I have ever used.

Then I discovered Clear, a very minimal interface, and gesture-based to-do/lists app. It was amazing to use and I got by with that for a long time. Then I discovered other applications over the years like, OmniFocus, Things, Todoist, 2Do, TickTick, among others. And yes, I own and have used them all. The one that I have used the most and always seem to come back to it’s OmniFocus, something about this app that clicks with my brain in ways the others have failed. Things 3 is another one that usually works with me pretty well too.

And yet, I struggled to keep up with any of them, there’s always a mental stress about having task managers, at least for me. Sometimes I find myself serving the app instead of the app serving me. I find myself indecisive about what application to stick with and switching/trying different ones way too often. So this week I have decided to break my tasks managers. I have deleted them from my phone and I am left with just Reminders.

Having the Apple Watch , I am a huge fan of the Siri watch face and how it shows reminders/tasks that are coming up. Also been able to dictate any tasks to Siri with ease (yes third party applications do have access to Siri but I find it that it works only 50 percent of the time, whereas with reminders, it works 90 percent of the time) Because the Reminders app is so “limited”, it makes it a much simpler system. On top of that, both my personal and work life aren’t so complicated that would require a complicated system to manage them, I think. All I need is a place where to put things so I don’t forget about them later. Then again this is just an experiment to see whether or not I can survive without a more “complicated” task managing system (I say complicated in quotes because things are as complicated as you make them).

All that being said, maybe I just haven’t found my ideal system or I’m just overthinking this way too much.

We will see!

IN OTHER NEWS:

I am going on a trip to Seattle this week, I’m very excited about that.

Pocket City

IN OTHER NEWS: Still Playing a lot of Destiny 2, I probably need an intervention.

DESTINY 2 on Xbox One

I can tell I really like this game because after finishing the main story, even though you can still play much more after, I started a new character right away. I am not so much about completing every single mission, collect every single special gear/upgrades/weapons and whatnot. I am more in it for the ride and have fun playing. (But man I do suck at PvP lol)

Anyway, If you are playing this game (still) on the Xbox, feel free to add me at Batbriel, and maybe we can all play together — or not, it’s all good.

IN OTHER NEWS: It’s too hot out!

“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.