4.15.25: The Collection

Julian stared at the empty shelves, once packed tight with vintage cameras—decades of collecting, hunting, obsessing. Each lens had a story. The Leica from Berlin. The broken Polaroid he found in Tokyo. Gone now. Sold in one sweep to a nameless buyer online. He told friends it was time to "declutter," but the truth was quieter: he hadn’t picked one up in years. They’d become relics of a version of himself he no longer recognized. As the shelves gathered dust, he didn’t feel regret. Just space. Space for something new, even if he didn’t yet know what it was.

4.14.25: Papua New Guinea?

Still trying to figure out if a trip to Papua New Guinea is actually going to happen this year. It’s one of those places I’ve always wanted to see, but the timing’s a little wild. I’ve got Vietnam in August for a new visa, Singapore in October for F1, and then my dad’s visiting in November. Feels like everything’s stacking up at once. I’m not against a packed schedule, but I also don’t want PNG to feel rushed. It’s the kind of place that deserves full attention—not a quick check-the-box stop between other plans. We’ll see. Still undecided.

4.13.25: Songkran 2025

Songkran in Chiang Mai is pure chaos—in the best way possible. Buckets of ice water flying from every direction, full-blown water fights erupting on every street corner, and random grandmas sniping you with super soakers from behind bushes. It’s like stepping into a citywide water war where everyone’s grinning ear to ear, soaked to the bone, and somehow still dancing. Tuk-tuks become mobile battlegrounds. You try to stay dry for five seconds—good luck. It’s rowdy, it’s beautiful, it’s exhausting, and it’s one of the most unforgettable things you can experience in Thailand. Just don’t bring your phone outside.

4.12.25: Arm or Leg?

If I had to choose, I’d rather lose a leg than an arm—no question. I think about it sometimes, not in a morbid way, just… practically. Arms feel so tied to who I am—writing, working, lifting, creating, even just eating or getting dressed. Losing that kind of control sounds devastating. A leg would suck too, obviously, but with tech now—prosthetics, mobility aids—it feels more manageable. You can still be active, still move, adapt. But losing an arm? That’s losing dexterity, expression, independence. I could learn to walk differently. But I don’t think I could learn to be the same.

4.11.25: Em Dash

I’ve always loved the em dash—still do, honestly. It’s clean, it’s punchy, and it gives a sentence that perfect little break without being too stiff. But now it’s everywhere, and it kind of sucks that it’s been co-opted as this supposed “sign” of AI writing. Like, no—I’ve been using em dashes since long before chatbots started pretending to be clever. Just because something’s good and widely used doesn’t mean it’s fake. It’s frustrating watching natural style get flagged as artificial just because the tools caught up. Let me keep my punctuation without turning it into some red flag.

4.10.25: Buying a Condo

Buying a condo was one of those decisions that felt like both a win and a weight. On one hand, it’s mine—my space, my investment. On the other hand, I’m constantly in this cycle of trying to improve it. New sofa, new windows, better lighting, small upgrades. And sometimes I just stop and wonder: what’s the end goal here? Am I really that much happier because I upgraded something? Or am I just chasing some idea of “better” that never actually lands? It’s weird how owning a place can make you feel grounded and restless at the same time.

4.09.25: Job Market

I think about what it’s going to be like trying to find a job when I’m 40—especially as someone who works remotely—and it honestly stresses me out. The world’s changing fast, and sometimes it feels like the older you get, the harder it is to stay relevant, especially if you’re not physically in an office somewhere. I love the freedom of remote work, but I wonder if that same flexibility will eventually work against me. Will companies still value experience if it doesn’t come with a big in-person presence? Or will they just look for younger, cheaper, always-online replacements?

4.08.25: AI Progress

I heard someone say that in terms of progress, AI right now is where the internet was in like 1996 or 1997—and honestly, that’s a pretty unsettling thought. Back then, most people had no clue how big the internet was going to get, how much it would reshape everything. If AI is at that same early stage, we’re in for a massive shift, and fast. It’s exciting, sure, but also kind of terrifying. The pace, the scale, the unknowns—it’s a lot. Feels like we’re standing on the edge of something huge, and we don’t fully understand what we’re stepping into.

4.07.25: Beach Condo

I’ve wanted a condo by the beach for as long as I can remember. Just something simple—somewhere I can hear the waves, see the ocean first thing in the morning, and go for a swim whenever I feel like it. That kind of setup feels like peace to me. But, like always, it comes down to money. I know it’s not impossible, but it’s one of those goals that hovers just out of reach. Still, I think about it a lot. The freedom, the quiet, the water right there. One day, maybe. Just need to figure out how to get there.

4.06.25: Loud Music

I can’t handle loud music anymore—like, bars and clubs just wreck me now. Not that I go out that often, but when I do, it’s brutal. The noise is overwhelming in the moment, and then the next day I feel completely fried. My head hurts, my body’s off, and I need like twelve hours of silence to reset. It’s not even about getting older—it just feels like my tolerance for that kind of stimulation vanished. I still enjoy going out sometimes, but I always regret the volume. Why is everything so unnecessarily loud? We get it—you have speakers. Relax.

4.05.25: I Get Excited

I get excited about stuff all the time—it’s just how I am. But for some reason, when I actually say it out loud, people look at me like I’ve said something strange. I don’t know if it’s the word “excited” or the fact that I genuinely mean it, but it catches people off guard. Like, sorry I have emotions and express them? It’s not some over-the-top thing either—I just like sharing what I’m into. Guess we’ve all gotten a little too used to pretending we don’t care. But I do. And I’m not going to pretend I don’t.

4.04.25: Same Restaurant

How many times can you go to the same restaurant in a month with a different girl each time before the staff starts judging you? There’s gotta be a limit. Once or twice? No big deal. Three or four? Questionable. Five or more? Now they’re taking bets on how this one ends. The waiter gives you that subtle smirk, the hostess remembers your “usual table,” and suddenly, you’re the main character in their workplace drama. Do they respect the game or silently roast you? Hard to say. Either way, you better start tipping well—or find a new spot.

4.03.25: Palindromes

I love palindromes. There’s something weirdly satisfying about words and phrases that loop back on themselves, like a secret code hidden in plain sight. Racecar, taco cat, madam, I’m Adam—they just hit different. It’s like language showing off, proving it can be clever without even trying. Numbers too—2112, 1221—clean, symmetrical, no loose ends. Maybe it’s the balance, the way it all clicks together. Or maybe I just enjoy pointless little patterns and mindless wordplay. Either way, palindromes are underrated. They’re simple, satisfying, and never change, forward or backward. Honestly, if you don’t like palindromes, I don’t trust you.

4.02.25: Massage Gun

I bought a massage gun, convinced it would change my life. Sore muscles? Gone. Daily recovery? Dialed in. Except now it just sits there, collecting dust like every other “game-changing” gadget I’ve impulse-bought. I used it once, thought, Yeah, this is nice, and then never touched it again. It’s not that it doesn’t work—I’m just too lazy to actually use it. Feels like a gym membership for my muscles: great in theory, neglected in practice. Maybe I’ll pick it up again someday. Or maybe it’ll just stay in the drawer, silently judging me for my poor life choices.

4.01.25: Sofa Shapes

Is there a word for L-shaped sofas that have a long section on both sides with an empty middle? Feels like there should be. It’s not quite an L-shaped couch, but it’s not a full circle either. If I had to name it, I’d go with “THE U”—clean, simple, and accurate. It’s the kind of couch that says, “Come hang,” but also “Stay in your lane.” Perfect for lounging, hosting, or just pretending you have your life together. Whatever it’s called, I respect the design. Function meets comfort. Now I just need to know if that’s the actual name.

3.31.25: Earthquake

There was an earthquake the other day and it totally tripped me out. One second everything was normal, and the next, my whole building was swaying like it was made of rubber. Pictures fell off the walls and shattered on the floor. Cooper bolted straight under the sofa and wouldn’t come out for hours. I just stood there, frozen, trying to figure out if I should run, hide, or just ride it out. It’s one thing to know earthquakes happen—but it’s a whole different thing to feel the ground move beneath you. Makes everything feel a little less solid.

3.30.25: Picky Eater

Cooper has officially entered his picky eater era. He used to be fine with dry food, but now? Won't even touch it. Wet food is the only thing on his menu—apparently, he’s got standards. I get it, though. If I had the choice between bland, crunchy pellets and something with actual flavor, I’d probably make the same call. But now I’ve got a little diva on my hands who turns his nose up at anything that doesn’t meet his new gourmet expectations. Guess I’m just here to serve the king his preferred cuisine. Dogs, man. They keep you humble.

3.29.25: I Like Graffiti

I’ve always admired graffiti. There's something captivating about turning dull walls into vibrant expressions of identity. Each tag or mural tells a story, a rebellion etched in bold colors and sharp lines, reshaping mundane spaces into living canvases. It's raw creativity at its finest, art born from risk and passion rather than galleries or critics. Graffiti artists break rules yet add soul to overlooked corners, making cities feel alive. For me, it's not vandalism—it's fearless storytelling, a powerful reminder that art thrives everywhere, not just where we're told to look. Graffiti's beauty lies precisely in its fearless authenticity.

3.28.25: Get Aligned

Dating is all about alignment. I’m not out here trying to force a connection that doesn’t fit. I can’t be out until 2 AM drinking on a “date” anymore—that’s not where I’m at. I need someone who’s on the same wavelength, who values the same things. It’s not about fun for the sake of fun; it’s about real connection, shared priorities, and actually enjoying each other’s company in a way that makes sense for both of us. If we’re not aligned on that, it’s just a waste of time. At this point, I know what I want—and what I don’t.

3.27.25: Successful or Satisfied?

I was asked the other day if I’d rather be successful or satisfied, and honestly, these kinds of questions are pretty dumb because they immediately put you in a box. But if I had to choose, I’d pick success. If I have a successful career, am a successful father, boyfriend, husband, or whatever, I assume satisfaction would naturally follow. That said, I don’t really like the word satisfied. It feels like settling, like you’ve reached a point and just stopped. There are much better feelings out there—fulfilled, excited, inspired—that go beyond just being satisfied. Why stop at "good enough"?