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currently reading

2025-01-05T01:46:25Z

As a kid, I always got a Farmer’s Almanac in my stocking. I looked forward to reading the weather and crop predictions, along with the quirky stories and jokes. I’m not sure if it’s nostalgia that drives me to purchase the current edition every year, or if it’s my inner nerd wanting to know what might happen in the coming year.

*also pictured: my favorite Sharpie® “Everybody swears”

tin snips

2025-01-03T00:42:02Z

Yesterday, when I picked up the folks to return their old iPhones, Dad found these tin snips laying in flower bed by the billiards room. They were full of rust, and looked pretty bleak.

Today, I used a wire brush to remove the loose rust, then soak them in naval jelly for an hour. A rinse, and some 3-in-1 oil brought them back to life.

Maybe there’s a metaphor in that story. Maybe I just wanted to play with chemicals. I’m not sure.

2025 day 1

2025-01-02T02:20:20Z

Met the folks at 1pm today. Had to park in back, because there were no open spots in the front. Helped the folks reset & wipe their phones for trade-in credit. So that was fun.

This is the stairwell by the folks’ apartment. I’m not sure why but the lighting in stairwell caught my attention. Maybe because of all the gray tones. Gray walls. Gray carpet. Gray skies outside today and a gray mood.

bomb cyclone

2024-11-21T08:08:11Z

The weather nerds are hyped about the bomb cyclone that formed off the coast of Washington state. And, they’re pretty certain that it will produce an atmospheric river here in Northern California. Rain all week, according to the forecast.

It has rained most of the afternoon here. A slow, soaking rain. Yesterday, I brought some of my succulents inside. Even put in a grow bulb to keep them happy. I kinda like the blue hue to the light.

almost thanksgiving

2024-11-17T23:13:04Z

Not sure if I’m thankful for all the things. Let’s be honest. There’s a lot of horrible things happening in the world and I’m unsure how I can find a way to be thankful without seeming like a selfish asshole.

Meanwhile, the weather is allowing me to get my walks. It’s a small thing that helps my mental and physical health. And, I am thankful for that.

amador county

2024-11-11T19:47:29Z

A peaceful afternoon at Rombauer yesterday. I needed this after such a crazy week.

And, I am still trying to wrap my head around the proposed changes to education in the US.

I didn't gain any clarity at Rombauer, but it was nice to let all of those ugly thoughts drift away for a moment.

sunrise to sunset

2024-10-17T03:09:23Z

View on the way to work, before the 90 minutes of light rain this morning.

View of the clouds at sunset, on my evening walk.

plants

2024-10-16T06:31:30Z

🪴

Happy that this Norfolk Island pine is thriving. I ordered this one from a nursery in Portland, and it arrived shortly after the COVID lockdown of 2020.

It shipped as three small pines, all intertwined at the trunk. Last year,I separated them. Twice, I’ve repotted them. And, this one seems to be doing best of the three.

The elephant bush is maybe the tenth one I’ve grown, since propagating a plant bought at Green Acres in the Summer of 2022.

view

2024-10-16T06:20:40Z

Fiery sunrise, with all the smoke in the air.

*iPhone 16 pro @ 5x zoom

on principle

2024-10-16T01:13:18Z

The life hack is that, if you keep consistently doing healthy things even when you feel like shit, you’ll eventually feel less like shit on principle alone.

somewhere out there

2024-10-15T03:41:21Z

Donner Summit rest stop, I-80 eastbound

10/10

2024-10-11T02:10:16Z

Finally cooling down in the afternoon. Makes for a nice walk.

Met Tony at Tap House after work. Had one drink then we did some grocery shopping.

time

2024-10-08T23:26:36Z

Time is the only currency you spend without knowing your balance. Use it wisely.

file management

2024-10-04T16:26:52Z

Walking more regularly has allowed me to think about things. One topic that I keep pondering is file management and data storage. Wrangling and storing images and video clips can be a time suck, and it can get expensive. Maybe I need to start a photo blog?

4.5 miles

2024-09-02T19:02:48Z

Took the trail around Golf Links and back. Ended the walk with approximately 13,500 steps / 4.5 miles.

morning walk

2024-09-01T21:16:32Z

Another long walk. Averaging about 10k steps per day each week. Feeling pretty good about that.

wine with friends

2024-08-31T23:42:00Z

Had a nice day in Amador County with friends. Started at Rombauer and stopped by Turley, home of the worst red wines on the planet.

Came back to the house and dropped $117 to have two, XL pizzas delivered. Totally worth it.

dog days

2024-08-28T19:29:27Z

Another evening walk in the 94 degree heat.

moment of zen

2024-08-26T01:56:45Z

metaphors are tricky

2024-08-25T19:33:42Z

I still have miles to go on the dissertation writing but I’m getting really good at toilet repairs.

Replaced the tank flap and installed a new handle in under twenty minutes. I'm pretty proud of my work.

There’s a metaphor in there somewhere.

what i’m into lately

2024-08-25T18:45:11Z

I really like it. And, every time I do it, I want more. I’ve really been into walking lately. What did you think I meant, weirdo?

I like it in the early morning, and the late afternoon. That’s my preference but, on occasion, I’ve gotten on it midday.

The lighting at aunrise or sunset is amazing, though. Over the summer break, I was going at sunrise because it is coolest part of the day. Now that I’m back at work, I’m beginning to walk around sunset. And I’m going to keep doing it.

Palm Springs

2024-07-01T19:23:00Z

Going through the camera roll on my phone, and I realize that I had not posted a single thing since May.

Perhaps I was too focused on my dissertation writing. Perhaps I have too many other adult responsibilities. In any case, I’ve decided that I need to get back on bullshit and start posting here once or twice per week.

Meanwhile, enjoy some pics from late May/early June 2024 in Palm Springs.

cinco de mayo

2024-05-06T02:13:18Z

My last post was over a month ago and a lot has happened. The district EOY party was last week. A long shot won the Kentucky Derby. And, Lulu is fascinated by the new dog next door.

In other news, I’ve finished Chapter 1 and have a good working draft for Chapter 2 of my dissertation. Onward!

blooms

2024-04-03T23:56:45Z

April 4, 2024

Citrus blooms happened overnight. At least, the navel orange seemed to explode in the last 24 hours. The smell is amazing. I worry that the coming cold front, with its wind and rain, will knock down some of the buds. The bees seem do not seem to be bothered with it, though.

believe

2024-04-01T17:25:41Z

wine

2024-03-23T17:22:00Z

It’s been a while since I had some wine. No wine since Christmas, as I’ve been trying to cut sugars out of my diet. I didn’t do “dry January” or cut out alcohol altogether. Instead, I’ve moderated my alcohol consumption considerably since the holidays.

Over the last four months, I've lost almost 10lbs and I sleep much better than I have in the past. Maybe I should try going sober. From everything I have read, and from the stories friends have told me, cutting alcohol consumption entirely can be life-changing. Meanwhile, I'll let that idea of participating in a long-term cleanse ferment for a while.

blooms

2024-03-22T16:33:28Z

Took this image this morning before sunrise. Orange buds about to break, just a few days into Spring. Rain on the way this weekend, just in time for Spring Break.

7 layer dip

2024-03-13T00:57:32Z

DST revisited

2024-03-12T00:34:44Z

I used to catch a pretty sunrise on the commute to work. DST ruined that. But, it is nice having that extra hour of daylight in the evening. Mixed blessing. Now, if only the sun would come out to play.

DST

2024-03-10T22:43:58Z

Walked 4.5 miles this morning. Also, Daylight Savings Time is utter bullshit.