I have a short life-story I’ve been meaning to share. I’ve long had the suspicion it is relevant to many others. A year or two ago, I found myself in possession of a pair of trail running shoes, not because I had any intention of running on trails, but because they came from the same […]
The Road Forward
Friday could be a big day for me. Friday could be the day that the sum of all my financial accounts reaches six figures. At first I was going to wait, to celebrate when it actually happens. But I realized that this is just too tenuous of a number to celebrate. It’s one thing to […]
Thoughts from Tree Line
About five years ago I hiked Mount Quandary for the first time. It was one of the worst hikes I’ve ever done. There was a lot going on in my life at the time, I really wasn’t prepared for the hike, and although I made it to the top with two friends, we were so […]
Your Life is Paid for in Time
On the one hand, I want to be a great programmer. I want to be highly skilled and capable in my field, and I want to become a technical go-to person in software. On the other hand, I do not love computers, or programming, or work. They are merely interesting, things that I typically enjoy […]
Aesthetics
I bought an expensive bookshelf. It is probably the most I have ever paid for something that serves no functional purpose, considering that I already have a bookshelf downstairs that’s half empty. No, this bookshelf serves an aesthetic purpose. I’ve never been so excited over a piece of furniture. Maybe my couch when I bought […]
Cleanse
Every year or two, I get rid of a bunch of stuff. I always feel like writing about it because it’s such a reflective topic and there’s so much that goes into the things we own and why we own them. I discover something new every year. In times past, I’ve noted that getting rid […]
Unused Stuff
It is June. In two weeks, half of the year will be over. I’m painfully reminded that seasons can change very quickly, so I need to be doing the things I really want to do with my life. Around March and April I took some liberties with my money, treating myself to this thing and […]
Adventures in Tax Law! – International Part 1
If I were any good at cartooning, I would draw the following scene, stick-figure style: an agent stands guard. Out of nowhere he’s attacked by a mysterious enemy. He fights back. The struggle intensifies. It takes the two up flights of stairs and near harrowing ledges. Finally they are on the rooftop. With a split-second […]
Green Elephant Dude
Several years ago, one of my friends returned from Thailand and brought me a keychain. I call this keychain “Green Elephant Dude”. Green Elephant Dude used to sit under one of my monitors at my last job. On especially crappy days, I’d look down and see the bright colors and patterns in the sunlight. I’d […]
Reflections from the Garage Floor
Like on most holidays, I spent today with my parents at their townhouse. It is usually a mix of talk, television, lunch, dinner, and dessert. And sometimes car work. Today, one of the goals was to check the A/C system on my dad’s old Subaru. After measuring A/C pressure using an A/C manifold gauge, the […]