Experience Director. Product Guy. Sports Dork.
The relatively occasional note on the goings on in my actual real life.
Wasn’t sure what all the hubbub was about beforehand, but super glad I took the time to go outside and observe what turned out to be a pretty incredible sight. The actual 3 minutes (minus the 2 minutes blocked by the clouds) during total occlusion were pretty remarkable.
Extra special getting to see it next door to my kids’ elementary school to hear all the chatter and screaming and squealing they were doing.
As a person who is constantly multi-tasking, I’m worried I’ve broken my brain. Well at least that’s my takeaway after reading Cal Newport’s book Deep Work about the importance of deep, focused work at a time when it’s easier than ever to be in a constant state of distraction.
I’ve been listening to Newport’s podcast for a bit and reading his newsletter that often touches on similar topics, but Deep Work is where he first outlined many of his ideas on focus, distraction, and the huge opportunity for knowledge workers who turn the other direction to get ahead in their lives and careers:
The Deep Work Hypothesis: The ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy. As a consequence, the few who cultivate this skill, and then make it the core of their working life, will thrive. (Page 14)
The book is structured around the following main ideas:
As a person already bought into the idea that deep work is valuable and that meetings and emails are the devil, I got the most value out of the book’s actionable advice and strategies that demonstrate how I can implement deep work principles to improve my productivity, satisfaction, and success. Continue reading “Thoughts on Deep Work”
It’s 2023 and I just got a marketing email from TiVo. Based off a search of my email, the last email I got from them was in 2007.
While I admit I often forget they’re still around, but it certainly can’t be a good sign for them if they’re resurrecting email lists from 16 years ago to try to drum up business. ?♂️
Apparently I need to buy a physical copy of Tears of the Kingdom because after watching me play a bit the last couple of days, my 7 year old has now installed it on her Switch and been playing/hogging it all last night and this morning. She’s finished the first two shrines and is about to need to learn about staying warm. Interested to see how she’ll do as the puzzles and combat get harder but she’s enjoying it so far.
I tried to convince her she’d like Breath of the Wild just as much but as any parent could guess, that did not work.
She’s playing on the main Switch, can I just turn off wifi and then be able play on my OLED at the same time she is?
Watching her NOT obsessively pick up every single tiny item/fruit/tree branch in every single area is driving me a little batty but I’m doing my best to keep that to myself. ?
In incredibly sad news Dooce, aka Heather Armstrong, passed away yesterday at only the age of 47.
I’ve been reading her blog, marveling at her writing and photography, and following along with her life and family and struggles off and on since at least 2004. I had just started reading her site again and resubscribed to her RSS in the last couple of weeks. I was so happy to read recently that she had found sobriety but unfortunately it seems like that didn’t mean the end of all the things she struggling with.
My thoughts are with her girls and other loved ones. Please hug your own loved ones extra tonight and if you or someone you love is struggling please don’t hesitate to reach out and find the support you need.
The latest of the daily and no longer shocking mass shootings in this country happened extremely close to home.
I’m so tired.
I don’t understand why a huge portion of this country is okay with this happening over and over again. Will it ever be enough? I don’t have any other words, at least not for the world.
I’m so tired.
I literally tear up every time my kids mention how they’re getting older, but also I am so ready for them to grow up just so I can turn on the iPhone setting to block all incoming calls not in my contacts.
“Everything might be bigger in Texas, but it seems that also applies to hate and bigotry.” In less than half a year, the Texas State Legislature has advanced 52 pieces of discriminatory (mostly transphobic) legislation including stripping needed healthcare from children.
Change starts at the local level. Early voting may be over but you still have one last chance to vote on this Saturday May 6th.
It’s sad that the best way for me to know who to vote for in city council and school board races is to drive by and look at the signs in the yard of the one neighbor’s house who I know is both in the loop on local stuff and not a book burning nutjob.
I spent a good 30 minutes Googling and reading various articles without much luck. A couple made their extremism loud and clear and then and several others mentioned cutting taxes two dozen times (including on completely unrelated questions.) Sadly, many of the candidates don’t even respond to the various survey/interview requests so there’s zero information on where they stand on any issue.
You can however search the Federal Election Commission database to see the past political donations the candidates have made it is often more revealing than a bunch of vague answers in an interview about what they actually believe in.
Get out and vote folks, local elections are just as important as national ones and are often decided by a shockingly small number of voters.
The Houston Chronicle has a gallery of vintage photos of Schlitterbahn that really bring back memories of pretty much every moment of my childhood summers growing up. These look like they’re mostly from the 80s so some stuff changed by my era, but really crazy how vivid these make my memories.