I’ve been working to get myself back into the reading habit for months. I’d saved 5-10 books into a want to read list but before Children of Time, I just hadn’t jumped into any of them. I’m happy to say, I finished Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky this past weekend.

The book is a fascinating story that spans thousands of years. It’s a wonderful read, and Tchaikovsky does a great job at keeping the storyline going with such an immense timeline. The concepts here are nothing new, typical Sci-Fi fare. Earth is ruined by man so humans leave to find a new home. But deep inside this standard fare, Tchaikovsky brings us depth and philosophical questions that make the book a joy to read.

Great article by Charlie Warzel over at The Atlantic on builder vs maintainer mentality. Touches on Web3 and much of the tech bro mentality that makes me cringe.

I’m sympathetic to the notion that we need big thinkers and dreamers. I’m reminded of the classic Steve Jobs and Henry Ford quotes about innovation. Ford’s line was that if he’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told him, “A faster horse!” Jobs famously remarked that “people don’t know what they want until you show it to them … Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.”

So I get it! It’s important to have smart people thinking outside the box and proposing wild, futuristic things that normies can’t wrap their head around. Sure.Where this idea runs into trouble, though, is when the Builders are so focused on building that they misunderstand the problem they’re trying to solve. They are so interested in pushing the boundaries of the possible that they make illogical leaps. The worst version of Builder mentality is that their dreams become reality, but instead of maintaining their creations, they simply move onto the next Big Thing, leaving others to deal with the mess they’ve made.

Thanks to the wonderful Sentiers newsletter by Patrick Tanguay for this link.

I’m an early riser, typically up between 5 or 5:30 AM weekdays and sometimes even on weekends. I like giving myself time in the morning to relax and wake up slowly. It’s one of the few peaceful moments during my day where I am alone with nothing demanding my attention. I spend most mornings on the patio with my coffee and my RSS reader, listening to the world wake up around me. 

There is also a short window of peace in the evenings, just after the dogs have been out for their last walk. 8PM, sometimes 9PM, it varies depending on our weeknight schedules. Different than mornings, but quiet and restful nonetheless. The dogs are lightly snoring, the TV isn’t on, and my fiancé is is usually busy around the house with something or other. 

Where do you find your peaceful moments?

For the past few years we’ve been camping at Rivernook Campground for Thanksgiving. We broke tradition in 2021 and chose Lake Cachuma. It is a great campground, with really wide camping spaces, lots of sunshine and not too crowded. This is glamping at it’s best.

The campground is pretty large, but most of the spaces (with exception to the large RV area) are pretty spread out. We took two spots with hookups, since we planned on cooking up a Thanksgiving feast.

The spot we landed at was next to a large disc golf lot, which gave the dogs a nice place to run and play. The bathrooms were all really well kept up, and included showers. There wasn’t a ton of tree cover, but we make do with two easy-up canopies.

We were also close to several wineries, so we spent part of the weekend wine tasting. We took the dogs along, which was really nice.

I was building a #wfh web design business back when that hashtag (and hashtags themselves) didn’t exist. My network of friends and work associates was growing over early social media and web forums, but I craved deeper conversations.

I found the Geek Dinner meetup and attended a few dinners out in Hollywood. They were amazing nights, filled with vibrant conversation amongst a wide variety of “geeks” across a broad set of industries. This was the catalyst for the Get Geeky. I wanted something similar, but closer to home. Since no one else was running one, I decided I had to do it myself.

During those 11 years, I was very lucky to meet some of the most amazing people. I also watched as my fellow geeks made friends, business connections, and even marriages!

Here are some of my favorite photos from the Get Geeky.

Manhattan Beach, CA

Manhattan Beach, CA

Manhattan Beach, CA

El Segundo, CA

Torrance, CA

El Segundo, CA

Torrance, CA

Redondo Beach, CA

The first ever Get Geeky in Torrance, CA - 2009

People, life, sunsets…

It rained here today, which was unexpected but wonderful. Towards the end of my day, I debated plunking down on the couch to watch tv or go for a walk on the beach and see the sunset. The sunset won and I’m so glad it did.

There is something special about a sunset after a rainy day. As I walked along the esplanade in Redondo Beach, I passed so many people out enjoying the sunset along with me. Couples out for a stroll, fathers out with their little children, dog walkers, cat walkers, old folks and young kids.

There were surfers out catching the last waves of the day. Couples walking hand-in-hand along the shore. Cars were pulling up one after another to park, spilling out more of my fellow sunset watchers.

As the sun made its way down behind a cloud, I could see the reflection off of houses over in Malibu. The lower the sun got, the more people came out, and the slower they walked.

A photographer worked feverishly on the shore taking shots of the surfers as the day’s light began to fade. I imagined what his photos would look like, seeing them as he took them, from up at my perch. I was also trying to capture as much of this moment as I could. Who really knows how many of these we have? Each day is a gift.

It’s a wonderful feeling, being out among my fellow neighbors. I don’t know these people, but I do in a way. I am also here to see the world’s beauty, to be amazed at the colors and the sounds. We share something in those moments. And even though I know it will pass soon, I am happy.

Thanksgiving 2013

It is Thanksgiving today, so it seems a good time to think about the things I’m thankful for this year.

My life has changed massively since this time last year. A year ago I was in an emotional tailspin, unsure what was to become of me and my life. I was scared.

Instead of letting it consume me, I worked on getting my head clear and finding a new road to travel. I took time to get help, and I allowed myself time to heal. And somewhere in that healing time, I found myself again. I found my smile, my laugh, and my purpose.

I wouldn’t have been able to make that change without my family’s support. They were there every step of the way. Today more than anything, I am thankful for them.

This year marked a new direction for me in work too. I’m now part of a growing company, and excited to be there. I love my work, and I am so very thankful that I get to do work that I love (and the view ain’t bad either).

Lastly, this year brought new friends. New smiles, new laughs. I’m opening my heart back up and it feels amazingly good.

I am thankful for so much.

I got my copy of RSW by Ethan Marcotte a few days ago and finished it up last night. If you make websites, buy this book. Really. This book is a wonderful resource, and written with enough humor to keep it fun. And did I mention robots? SOLD.

In addition to the topic at hand, Mr. Marcotte has filled it full of links to dozens of useful resources on web design. It’s this part of the book that really makes it for me. I get an insight into the author’s resources, as well as stepping off points for more in-depth learning.

Considering how overflowing the web is on topics like CSS3 and HTML5, it’s often hard to find solid writing on the subjects. Content farms and a bazillion other bloggers fill Google with crap every day. Mr. Marcotte has compiled not only a great responsive web design resource here, but a great web design resource period.

Buy it. Read it. Then go build it.

Me: What time did you get up today? (Saturday)

The Boy: 6 am

Me: Wow. Why do you get up so early on Saturday, but during the week I can hardly get you out of bed at 7:15?

The Boy: During the week, the bed is so comfortable I just want to stay in it. But on Saturday and Sunday, my body gets all hyper and excited to get up and play video games.

Me: Ah, yes. That makes sense. :/

I love pants, but prefer shorts. I hate socks, love shoes, but wear flip-flops. I hate loud noises, but crank the music whenever possible. I hate nosiness, but am drawn to watch others. I hate pink, but love it’s vibrance. I like iced tea, love hot tea, but am drawn to coffee. I like to think I am a loner, but I am not. I have a tendency to know what you’re going to say, but not why. I can get very angry with those I care most about, yet am seemingly uncaring about myself. I push others to be more risky, while I am not. I smile and laugh a great deal, but not on the inside. Others see me as strong, yet I crumble quite easily. I fancy myself a hat person, yet fear wearing them. I try very hard to fit in with everyone, yet feel in place with almost none. I’ve judged you before we speak. I analyze everyone around me, but fail to see my friends. I see answers, yet lack the courage to admit them. I like vegetables, not fruit. I wear black, not because it’s cool, but because it’s uncomplicated. My closest friends are those who challenge me most. I am me.