Birchoparenthesis

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...

I’m honestly feeling unusual low-low‑motivation right now. I’ve was using caffeine as a stand‑in with my typical low motivation, so now it is a slump. I don’t want to keep wailing and moaning online. I haven’t smiled much today—maybe twice at most. On the bright side, thinking about a new dog, which is a small hope. In reality, a big change isn’t possible right now. So I’m thinking about getting a super‑thin, high‑end smartphone. It might give me a short‑term “consumer high,” but I’ll probably ...

I’ve realized I could use a bit more social interaction—more real conversations and shared laughter. I received some tough news regarding a close friend’s health recently, which has been heavy. However, I’m keeping my outlook positive. I make a conscious effort to smile several times a day, and I’ve found that it genuinely lifts my mood. ​The Home Front The house is definitely due for a deep clean! At our current pace, it doesn't look like it'll happen overnight, but it’s on the radar. ​The B...

Journey to Balanced Energy I’ve realized that my relationship with caffeine has reached a tipping point. While my smartwatch shows I’m getting enough hours of sleep, my deep sleep—the restorative kind—is consistently low. To fix this, I am beginning a "titration" process: a gradual, disciplined reduction of my daily intake until I reach a sustainable limit of just two cups. As my counselor encouraged me, "You’ve done it before," and that reminder gives me the confidence to succeed again. The S...

I’ve been curious about the ikko "mind phone" that recently swept the internet through various articles and videos. At the same time, I’ve noticed Apple enthusiasts heralding the rumored iPhone Air as a pure expression of the Apple philosophy. As a writer, this still intrigues me, especially as I search for a device that offers faster performance than my Samsung Galaxy S22. On the hardware side, I recently rediscovered my Instax LiPlay camera. While it’s still functional, the firmware is outdate...

The "Emotional Support Dumpster Fire" I recently saw a clever kit to crochet called an "Emotional Support Dumpster Fire" featuring a sign that reads, "Everything is just fine." The irony of the sign is what really gives it meaning; it reminds me of the coffee mug at the pharmacist station used during the pandemic that said, "I’m fine. It’s all fine. Everything is just fine." I’m considering heading back to the discount site where I saw it to see if it’s still available. A Break from the Appl...

Predawn and writing at home. Typing the blog entry rather than using handwriting. The best way to accomplish handwriting recognition, that one found, is to run it through the AI chatbot engine. It is good and accurate often. So that replaced my Moleskine smartpen for a lot of reasons. The main one is that one doesn't like to write with ink‑paste ballpoint on paper with that smartpen. Rather, one prefers liquid ink to write and one of the 100 fountain pens. Yesterday one took a journey to the edg...

Enjoying Sedley, a men’s fragrance from Perfumes de Marly, I decided to compare it with another citrus‑green opening scent for men—Salvatore Ferragamo Pour Homme. In Sedley, the green character comes from a menthol note, whereas Salvatore Ferragamo Pour Homme introduces green‑fig leaf. From that point onward the two diverge: Sedley feels richer and heavier, thanks to its resinous undertones. Perfumes de Marley is renowned for “sillage monsters” that dominate a room. In my case, the effect was ...

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Toaster Oven – \$200 USD. (discount purchase) I’m really enjoying this appliance—it’s a great deal. Out of the ten preset functions, I usually stick to four: Toast, Air Fry, Rapid Bake, and Griddle. I’ve used it for toast, vegetables, steak, and seafood. I’ve nearly ruined it twice: once by overheating it while trying to broil a thick steak, and another time by slamming the door shut too hard. In both cases the unit recovered after I unplugged it and let it cool down. R...

I received a vintage keychain 110 film camera today. The engineering looks incredible! So far, the shutter works well with a disposable film cartridge. If I can successfully get photos out of it, I may later try a Lomography brand 110 camera, which costs about $100 USD. ​I wanted to test the shutter, but I was afraid of damaging the plastic, keychain-sized camera by firing it without a cartridge inside. This camera is quite primitive in its concept, with no shutter or lens adjustments, but I thi...

Amazingreen Perfume I bought this perfume a long time ago on the gray market. The bottle is beautiful—true to the CdG style and made of mirrored, green glass. To my nose, the scent is pure genius: woods, some aromatics, and then… a green pepper note. It has that signature CdG touch where they create a note that "busts through." The pepper carries like a head note but acts like a base note. It truly is one of the best perfumes in my book. Switching Back to Android I’m heading back to Android. I...

Nasomatto’s Absinthe fragrance left a lasting impression, and so when browsing online at a gray‑market outlet I encountered Pardon, a highly regarded scent from the same house. I decided to purchase Pardon as a holiday self‑gift. In character it resembles Gucci Pour Homme v. 1, yet diverges markedly: where that Gucci scent leans toward sweet, spicy accords, Pardon introduces a nuanced chocolate‑tar facet. The opening is strikingly potent since Pardon is concentrated parfum, though the dry‑down ...