Birchoparenthesis

Luxury items ... I’ve been thinking about the used Gucci B bag from 2025. It’s on the secondhand market for \$1,200, which seems crazy. But it’s still on my mind. I also want an iPhone Air. Even though it hasn’t been a big hit for Apple, I love its beautiful display and fast processor. I also want to replace my old Galaxy S22 with a Google Pixel 10. I don’t have many ways to enjoy myself right now, and that’s been on my mind. I even started thinking about investing in cryptocurrencies, but that ...

The "Human Prop" Problem What’s the deal with people and their iPhone cameras lately? Today, I watched tourists just snapping away at random customers like they were at a zoo. It’s a huge pet peeve of mine and, honestly, a little alarming. I actually called out a group once, telling them, "It’s rude." It ended up being super awkward—they just stared at me, and I felt like I'd made a scene. But seriously, even if we’re basically under 24/7 surveillance anyway, does that mean manners just don't e...

Cafe Observations My housemate and I visited a trendy cafe, trying to step away from our usual neighborhood routine. As we sat there, a couple arrived carrying baggage. I’m trying to write everything down as it happens. There was a pretty customer nearby, an Asian woman in bell-bottom jeans. Taking a deep breath, I managed to smile and hug my housemate. We drank light roast coffee—it was okay—and talked about the word "sonorous," meaning deep, rich sounds. I considered buying house-made cookie...

Navigating Life Lately, things have felt quite heavy. I’ve been navigating the constant stress of managing a demanding situation, where simply keeping up with daily tasks feels like a full-time job just to stay “above water.” Health and Perspective While there isn’t anything “bad” on the horizon, I am managing a medical condition that requires consistent attention and an upcoming hospital procedure. It’s a lot to manage, and it highlights a real need for more recreation in my life. Redefining...

I tried a different type of Korean food for the first time. It was pork bone soup with pork and noodles. The soup was rich, and the flavor was gentle, which surprised me. I enjoyed the meal. There was a lot of food, so now I feel like lying down for the rest of the afternoon. After eating, we walked about half a mile to our parked car. Overall, I feel good about the experience, although I have a hospital appointment coming up. After that, I don’t plan to eat pork bone soup or pork anymore. I'...

I got confused with my passwords and couldn’t find my Listed.to key. But then it became clear, and I figured it out. It was a bit of an up-and-down afternoon. At least that confusing search ended well and showed me that I can focus on tasks, even with my brain illness. Other things I can do well include cooking a simple meal, writing for about 40 minutes straight, and making a sweatshirt out of yarn. Today, I skipped writing my Morning Pages and instead worked on the yarn sweatshirt. I just go...

First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs: An Overview First Presbyterian Church (often styled as First Pres) is a historic, multi-generational congregation located in downtown Colorado Springs. As a conservative-leaning "megachurch," it maintains a significant presence both locally and through its digital outreach. Why I Engage with First Pres The church is a large-scale operation with a multi-million dollar budget, which translates into high accessibility. I can interface with them in s...

AI. Engine Killed the Smartpen for me ​I used to appreciate Moleskine’s handwriting recognition tech, but these days, it just feels expensive and cumbersome. In my current workflow, using plain paper and a standard pen paired with an AI recognition engine easily beats the Moleskine Smartpen. ​The main draw of the Smartpen is privacy: your notes stay on your phone, the pen’s local memory, or the proprietary notebooks. But those notebooks and pens aren't cheap. ​Honestly, my writing doesn't rea...

Monster Process and I like it Lately, I’ve found that my writing process tends to get away from me, especially since it still heavily involves handwriting. In the distant past, I was content to simply fill notebook after notebook with my "scratches and lines," but today, the goal is a permanent digital record. The bottleneck of transitioning from ink to digital format has become my primary obstacle. ​My current process is undeniably cumbersome. I write with liquid ink on paper, then snap images...

Meh outlook Everything is okay—or at least, I’m getting by. Honestly, the future feels a bit bleak with this medical procedure hanging over me indefinitely. It’s hard to plan anything fun or lighthearted when things feel this heavy. ​On the bright side, things at home are mostly peaceful. My older housemate is content just staying in, which helps. I even managed to avoid an hour of doomscrolling on the online flea market this morning! Instead, I took a moment to give thanks to my Higher Power ...

Ended Subscriptions Over the last three days, it was easy to end the unnecessary digital subscriptions that were sapping my bank account. Consequently, I am now spending \$60 less per month. ​My Xbox subscription was due to renew for \$30, but I caught it in time. I discovered that it is not enough to simply remove the bank card; there is an additional required step of turning off recurring billing. It made me a bit angry to realize I could have been billed for another month if I hadn't nav...

Kitchen Conflict So, my housemate’s friend is staying next door, and I’m currently bracing for impact. I need to send out a "polite warning" to make sure they don't just wander into our place unannounced, though I’m not entirely sure how well that’s going to go over. Here’s the thing: we live in this friend’s ancestral home. Because of that history, they feel perfectly entitled to stroll in and make themselves right at home in our kitchen. It’s one of those classic "shared living" headaches ...

Snapshot: SERVICE DO I USE THIS 3 TIMES WEEKLY IS THERE A SINGLE PAY OPTION COST OF SUBSCRIPTION MONTHLY, USD. MY VERDICT Amzn Prime y y $ 15 KEEP Walmart Plus n y $ 13 AXE Xbox Ultimate n n $ 30 AXE creativebug n n $ 5 AXE sidedeal.com n y $ 6 AXE Google Play y y $ 5 KEEP Youtube Premium Lite y n $ 8 KEEP Paramount plus n ? $ 9 AXE So, I sat down to write tonight and considering the metaphorical drain on my bank statement. Specifically, that is my subscriptions. Let’s be...

I often find myself gravitating toward my favorite local convenience store to write. It is a striking space, defined by a soaring wall of windows that invites the steady, soft glow of northern light. The atmosphere is intentionally austere: the furniture is unforgivingly hard, and the playlist is a rotation of the unusual and unpredictable. The clientele consists mostly of what passes for neighbors in this city—familiar faces who generally respect the unspoken rule of solitude. However, the expe...

aspect SMALL TOWN METROPOLIS Subject of greeting Anyone No one as a rule energy level exuberant half smile at most Social occasion stop and interact Don't stop trust level high low It’s always obvious when a friend from a small town comes to visit the big city. My friend from back home greets literally everyone he passes, which—as a city local—honestly makes me a little self-conscious. For instance, if he sees a dog he likes, he’ll stop the owner right on the sidewalk. He’ll blurt ...

Comparing Global News vs. Pet Content I’ve been bouncing between mainstream cable news and YouTube channels like Tousi TV and Decoding China lately. It’s a wild contrast: cable is obsessed with the abduction case in Tucson, while YouTube is diving deep into the crises in Iran and China. Independent Media: A Mixed Bag Both YouTube channels claim to be "independent," but they feel very different: Decoding China: To be honest, this one often feels like science fiction. Their funding and ori...

## The 110 Film Hustle I hit a bit of a snag with a film lab recently. I bought a roll along with a prepaid mailing label, only to discover the label has a one-month expiration date. Talk about a "big waste of money" if I don't use it! To beat the clock, I spent today shooting the rest of a roll of 110 film just to make sure I had something to send in within the timeframe. The gear choice was... ambitious, to say the least. I was using a tiny, keychain-sized 110 camera with no flash. In this...

## How to properly maintain and maximize the life of your candles: • Choose Pillars for Value: Beeswax pillars are a better investment than tapers because they are less delicate and sustain much longer burn intervals.  • Establish a Memory Ring: Proper care prevents "tunneling," where the flame burns a hole straight down the center.  • "Hug" the Edges: To ensure an even burn, you should manually press the warm wax edges toward the center of the candle.  • Practice Wick Discipline: It is esse...

I've been revisiting the structure of the novel Moby Dick and thinking about the "shadow" of Captain Ahab. There is a point where a man himself perishes, yet Ahab persists in his mad pursuit. To my sense, it isn't just a hunt; it is the persistence of a "grasping mind"—a demonic awareness and a demonic idea that outlives the flesh. In my own life, I feel the weight of a "Great Mess" that threatens to doom me someday, and so I struggle. But there is a lesson in Ahab’s ruin. Knowing that my own "d...

I’ve been worried about my health lately and wishing for more real social contact—more talking, more sharing, more steady voices. Caring for an autistic elder is a daily struggle, especially while managing my own chronic condition. I’m grateful that I speak with a counselor often; her voice of reason cuts through my delusions and poor judgment. The meditation service helps too, giving my mind a little breathing room. Still, I can’t shake this feeling of impending misfortune waiting outside the h...

Pencil is an easy, forgiving, and reliable medium. It is erasable, though it smudges and sometimes needs sharpening. What is good about drawing in pencil? Graphite can feel almost as rich as paint, especially when it smudges across white paper. The line variation and shading of pencil ,though different from those of liquid ink, give it a valued place in one’s complement of mark makers. Even a 70 gsm sheet is sufficient. The graphite will smudge on the page, but the shading and variation of lin...

Refilling the ink in the Pilot Varsity fountain pen requires only several supplies—a silicone gripping mat, a paper towel, and an eyedropper. It does take a strong grip and sometimes a pair of pliers, and I always use sanitary gloves. By contrast, sealing a converted eyedropper pen demands much more preparation: beeswax, gloves, an ink dropper, paper towels, and a hair dryer. Wax sealing involves more steps and is less reliable over time, since beeswax eventually hardens. Although eyedropper c...

I stayed in all weekend and caught up with some friends over the phone. I actually totally blanked on a group video call I wanted to join! I did tune into an online worship service with H.P., which was really uplifting, though I hopped off once the presentation got a bit too detailed. Overall, I’m feeling okay and not too stressed. I think ditching my smartwatch for the weekend helped me unplug. My cooking was pretty low-effort—mostly just reheating leftovers, making hummus sandwiches, and grab...

Overview After experiencing a hack and a frustrating customer-service interaction on eBay, the writer moved to Mercari as an alternative marketplace. Despite higher prices and rising fees, Mercari online has become an enjoyable place to browse, and occasionally purchase collectibles. Buying Experience Pros: Fun to browse and interesting items. Occasional genuine bargains (e.g., a 1970s compact camera with flash for $16). Many sellers communicate well and act with integrity. Japanese-origi...

Reflections on a Desert Memory I recently bought an "Emotional Support Dumpster Fire" amigurumi figure. In a stroke of accidental genius, the sign is misspelled to read "Dumpster Emotional Fire." It was originally designed as a tongue-in-heart parody of Pokémon, and though it traveled a long way from an overseas workshop to get to me, its mangled message feels oddly appropriate. My dear friend is currently facing a devastating illness. We can’t make plans to see each other in person; the logist...

Bad Cars on My Mind Recently I watched a video stream of Touched by an Angel—where the chariot of the angels is an arrest‑me‑red, 1970s Cadillac Eldorado convertible. What is it about an Eldorado that makes it a “bad car”? Why do car people promote them on YouTube? Today I saw a video about the ten most quickly depreciating cars. “Mainline” cars are the subjects of that depreciating‑cars list, so the most exotic models are left out. What strikes me is how many of the cars I actually want sh...

My Inward Smile: The Feather and the Balloon At 580 Internet beats (just before the world truly woke up), I sat with today’s journal prompt: “What made you smile today?” Since the day had barely begun, I looked inward. My "smile" wasn't a physical grin, but a deep sense of positive energy sparked by a meditation titled "The Wake-Up." The guide shared a perfect metaphor for releasing intrusive thoughts: Imagine your thought is a bright balloon floating in the sky. Your awareness is a light fe...

Caffeine cessation Since cutting back on caffeine, my motivation’s bounced right back to its baseline. I’m feeling better, sleeping better… and whenever I crave that coffee kick, I just pop in a decaf pod for my N.presso—easy. Mark making in a book Started doodling again for fun in my “legendary” notebook (that’s the stationery company’s fancy marketing term). It’s such a rewarding way to start the morning—way better than scrolling the flea‑market site and wondering what to write down each da...

Stationery Reflections I recently ran out of loose leaf notebook paper, so I’ve retreated to online shopping. Truthfully, I have a real fondness for hardcover notebooks from France and China—in fact, I already have quite a hoard of them. While browsing online, I discovered a few manufacturers that produce heavier paper specifically designed for liquid ink. I’ve added those to my cart, along with some disc-bound ring binders. I also need to rummage through my lifetime supply of writing ink to fi...

Distinguishing between the act of doodling and the creation of fine art reveals fundamental differences in training, intent, and the resulting aesthetic product. Traditionally, the formal training of an artist culminates in the production of works with recognized cultural or economic value; these works often prioritize the generation of provocative ideas over mere aesthetic appeal. In contrast, doodling is typically characterized as a private endeavor—an exercise in self-amusement or cognitive p...