I'm worried now... what if my Powerbeats Pro aren't actually Powerbeats 2? I just did a quick little search—about five minutes—and it turns out they are the latest version of Beats Powerbeats 2. Feeling kinda silly for not putting off the check and doing some research since it really wasn't that important. Honestly, writing and just enjoying the moment is more meaningful than stressing over embarrasment or worrying about getting scammed by some online store. Why do I always want the latest and g...

What am I into these days? My main focus is on taking care of myself and my housemate since we spend almost all our time together. I try to act in a peaceful way, aiming to make each place better just by being there—whether that's straightening some papers at the bank or putting a chair back in its spot at the store. For me, acting peacefully means not hurting anyone with my actions. What pushed me to commit to this was my past. When I was sick, I acted pretty dishonorably and didn’t really resp...

Learning how to burn a beeswax candle so I can actually enjoy it. First thing—trim the wick to about ¼ inch before you light it. Let the candle burn for a couple of hours the first time you light it; that creates a “memory ring” and helps stop tunneling. Tunneling is when the heat of flame doesn’t reach the edge of the candle. Instead, you get a hot wax pool in the middle, the wick burns down quickly, and the wax keeps melting only in the center. I love using search engines and AI tools to t...

This morning went great because I trained my brain, just like the psychologist suggested in today’s “Wake Up” video on the meditation app. “Give the brain a break,” she said. Earlier, I’d been scrolling through flea‑market listings online—it felt like munching on a huge bag of potato chips. The browsing never stopped, and the caffeine plus the pre‑dawn darkness drove me straight into tunnel vision. So, this morning, I decided to refocus on gratitude for the Higher Power and ask Him for help. T...

What is fun? Scri.ch digital ink service is fun; after making a drawing or not, it is possible to look back and see others' anonymous drawings. What is useful? Scri.ch service is useful for doodling; with an internet connection, it works wonderfully on a smartphone with a browser or on a tablet with a stylus and a browser. I can share the image online using Scri.ch. What is interesting? Scri.ch makes it interesting because it is free and open source. You can alter the string in the U...

of your recent moments, what was a time of joy? Write on that. Is joy one of those rare, fleeting moments? Getting a new computer was pretty fun. I told my housemate, "I'm happy" with the new device. I spent time typing blogs and writing lots of pages with it. So, what's the difference between happiness and joy? Happiness kind of sits somewhere between feeling content and pure joy. That’s how I see joy—like when you hear about a baby being born and it finally gets welcomed into the family. T...

Prompt: When was last time I did something nice for friends or family, and what spurred me to do it? My old friend asked me to make some crocheted squares in her hint for something she wanted. I was happy to help and gave to her about ten squares. My friend is someone who likes to give away blankets to help people experiencing homelessness. After I gave her the squares, she assembled them into a blanket. A close acquaintance of hers, who also runs a charitable service in her city, helped by g...

Maybe the calming medicine has started to take effect by now. I felt a bit out of sorts today after a friend was a little abrupt yesterday, which is pretty typical for her. The clutter around the house felt a little overwhelming at times. Going into town for church really helped brighten my day. People there recognized me, and that made a big difference—it's always nice to have some warm, personal interaction, especially since things can feel a bit distant at home with my housemate who is on the...

The urge to create meaning ebbs and flows, but it is not predictable for this writer. Starting the #100days writing challenge, some good ideas came to the writer. But now, it is a slog. One is also reminded of the infamous wall of the marathon runner. The writing of peers at Listed.to site inspires this writer. One feels that imagination has grown tired now. Thoughts come of accomplishing free writing sessions. But where does one do it? Before, coffee shops were the usual places. But now, they a...

Feeling okay today. I received a large order from an online store—mostly sub‑grade food and second‑hand goods. I’ve become attached to finding cheap items, and when the Black Friday sales started, there was an extra discount on them. The food items will be reported for a refund. I’m not complaining; there’s something good about it, and I feel blessed. Friends from out of state will arrive in two weeks. I talked with one of them about our holiday plans, and I’m looking forward to everything. The...

I played The Sims 4 on a PS4 and really enjoyed it. I took a bit of a gamble because I wasn’t sure the game would run smoothly on a next‑gen console like the PS5 or Xbox series X. Then I got some cash over the holidays and splurged on an Xbox Series X. The game ran wonderfully—load times were practically gone on the newer hardware, which made it feel a lot more fun. My main draw to Sims 4 was the Pets expansion. I’ve always wanted a dog, and having a virtual pet in the game was a blast. I loved...

Today's Wins and Positives The weather decided to cooperate! We had pleasant temperatures with some welcome sunshine—a perfect day for a break. Mission Accomplished (Almost): I got my outdoor walk in and nearly hit the day's step goal, officially earning a top "Active" rating for the day. Take that, couch. Lunch was a success: The steak prepared in the air fryer/toaster oven turned out perfectly. I feel satisfied and clear-headed regarding my current situation as a family caregiver. A good ass...

I'm looking forward to seeing some friends who will arrive from out of state. That trip will involve going to the airport and getting them situated at their city hotel. Later, more friends will arrive, and the whole event will become a reunion. I'm primarily focused on visiting with the initial arrivals. A separate occasion will be, for me, visiting friends in another state. Weather permitting, I will travel 1,000 miles across the country to see them at their holiday party. My caregiving role d...

The new computer finally arrived. It's... fine. The keyboard, the screen, the weight—all just okay. Nothing to write home about, certainly not "over the moon," but it will absolutely get the job done. Specifically, the job of banging out my often poorly written blogs and online posts. It reminds me of a conversation I had a long time ago with an Internet moderator where I confessed my geekiest purchase: the Sony Ultra Mobile PC. That thing cost over a thousand bucks and, frankly, didn't work. It...

Worked on the cat plush figure today. It is pretty spooky-looking, as it turned out to be about the size of a real cat. One used super bulky yarn, so the figure is about three times the size of the original pattern's suggested size. At about three feet tall, it is not cute. But the chenille yarn feels wonderful, and the color recalls the cat who adopted me many years ago. I guess that is weird, to have an effigy of one's former cat. A lot of these projects go straight to storage, but maybe I'll ...

Yesterday, I made and cooked up about 10 cups of chicken soup on the stove. It had onion, celery, carrots, potatoes, green pepper, and chicken. Turned out pretty good, and we’ve been eating it for a few meals since then.\ Then, I was craving ice cream but didn’t have any, so it hit me I could make rice pudding with eggs and custard. So I grabbed what I had in the kitchen, and it tasted pretty good, though the egg flavor was pretty strong and different from the usual store-bought rice pudding.\ F...

The Big Dark is the season of Fall and winter combined in the Pacific northwest. We don't have a well defined fall or winter since rain is the primary weather condition of those seasons. Near to the northern border of the USA., the number of daylight hours in a day seem to dwindle rapidly especially after the onset of Daylight Standard time. Wet and Dark are do not play well with moods and energy levels, in one's experience. It didn't hit one til about five years into one's living here. Depressi...

Journal Entry Good day. I completed all my fitness goals and will weigh myself tomorrow. I went into town to attend the worship center, but once there, it was too noisy to stay. I brought home Russian cookies and sushi for my housemate. The bus ride back from downtown was surprisingly quick and easy. Writing Morning Pages went smoothly in the pre-dawn hours. The household seems to benefit from adding extra vegetable protein daily—despite our usual poor meals and snacks. I had quite a bit of c...

Today, the counselor emphasized, “We are friends of God.” They did not say, “We are friends.” Yet one leapt to affirm, “We are friends,” and then walked back the comment. The mistake became clear: a paid counselor is not a friend. There can be agreement, even laughter, but the therapeutic relationship has safety rails around it. One realized that the counselor and the client are not friends. The paid nature of the service implies measured communication. The client may become wild or impertinent...

I hoard computers. I am going to get a second-hand computer by Friday. Do I want the device? The truth is, it has been the subject of my search for many months. If it is in good condition, which is possible given the selling individual's feedback history on the online flea market, it can provide me with what I need for my writing hobby. Computers do a lot, but this new-to-me computer will be unnecessary in my household. You need a computer to acquire a computer. So there is something primal abou...

Big dark is the time in the northern part of the USA between now, at the onset of Standard Time, and about April when mornings seem to get earlier. That is this writer's opinion, and an antidote to the cold and dark is a candle. The candle looks warm and captivates me, rooting me to my place while typing in the dark. The accessory of the candle, the white gas lighter, also gives amusement. The favored type of candle is the beeswax candle. These come from our local, hippy grocery store and are po...

Compared to a nearby competitor, Scrbl app on the Windows App Store, Inkodo is stable and has high ratings there. The handwriting character recognition feature is reliable, though it will scan and convert about three paragraphs of handwritten text to digital text at a time. It has a more complicated interface, but I was able to turn off some of the controls from the display. There is no focus mode with a clean display that I could see. It takes some initial effort to learn Inkodo's features thro...

What do I do? Feeling totally drained, no vibe to write... super tired. Slept badly last night. Keeping glasses on today instead of contacts didn’t help. Also eating way too much and cut down on caffeine. Maybe I had a little epiphany, but I can't remember. Went for a long walk, that was probably the best part of today—finally clear after the rain. Did some writing, then hung out with peeps on an online support group video. Shopping online now. I will settle for living like a peasant—my grandpar...

I really enjoy learning about luggage! It’s kind of like a little subculture of men who love bags and share their passion on fashion-focused websites. I’m usually a quiet observer on those sites because I’m not the best at chatting online, but I find them fascinating. People there often follow big brands like Gucci, LVMH, or Hermès, choosing them based on their personal style, taste, or budget. Instead of being into cars, sneakers, or watches, I’ve found my thing in luggage. And just like other ...

Postal service: They run deficits but we don't know what we would do without the mail arriving almost daily. Friends like to communicate by cards and letters. Phone conversation: My friend lives at 1000 miles distance. We are able to keep a good relationship going. That is wonderful with the technology of smartphones. Since I don't use main types of social media, a phone call seems awesome. Tikka Masala: This writer saw that the deli had prepared Tikka Masala sauce for us ...

Supporting an adult with undiagnosed autism can look different to most people, and ours is a quiet, gentle journey. We tend to communicate in questions, with him often asking for information and me asking for details from his experiences. Sometimes, we find ourselves simply looking at each other because we spend so much time at home together. We might go out for a meal occasionally, and even then, we enjoy peaceful moments in silence. Over time, his circle of friends has become smaller, mainly...

He doesn’t collect kawaii things, but he enjoys them in video games—so long as they aren’t overly girly. The latest Hello Kitty game by Sanrio felt too girly for his taste. It was like a bookshelf: one doesn’t need a bookshelf to prove they can read. In the same way, he doesn’t need to spend hours with a game like Resident Evil to affirm his masculinity. What relaxes him is the pleasure of eye candy or adorable effects in a game, paired with repetitive tasks like in-game farming. There’s a quie...

Art met rock in nineties; servers gave pastries to the unhoused. Pastry revolt quelled—now part of a local food empire. Dark roast still holds depth, but lacks the wild shots of old days. Black walls, red neon glow—nineties fame, roastery hums again. Between two legends—rock venue left, tavern whispers to the right. Newcomers gather here, drawn to grit and grace in city’s heart. Unhoused man eats lunch; laptops glow in quiet congregation. Server, sweet and dark, plays new wave tunes—gender undef...

Good things: - cheap computer tablet w/ 3 gb RAM functions fine Writer bought a fire tablet that is out of date, but it is sufficient for me to pound out my little articles. A lot of places online talked about the Fire Toolbox utility for Windows allowing a person to supplant the stock launcher of the Fire tablet, maybe. But then the writer found that it is easier to simply side load apps from F. Droid marketplace. The writer's favorite text editor app is there to sideload, and it functions fi...

Think Divergent App for IOS-Apple I haven't tried any other body doubling apps. The concept of body doubling involves real-time interaction regarding our tasks. The "double," or the other person in the chat, ideally responds and supports our goals. An attractive feature of Think Divergent (TD) is the anonymous nature of the interaction. It is text-only, so there’s no concern about one's appearance or manners. There are other doubling apps, such as Focusmate and Dubbii. However, unlike those se...

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed because it's raining and the basement has flooded. I've got a plumber scheduled to help with that. It's interesting how sometimes it feels like life is always throwing challenges our way, but I try to remember that these moments are part of the journey and can help me grow. I'm grateful for my housemate’s support and for having a safe place to rest tonight. I'm also thankful for my creative projects—they provide comfort and purpose. Looking back, I remember a kind f...

Writing today was a good time. It was with the Moleskine smart pen which aids in digitizing cursive handwriting. So it streamlines the process of getting from the paper to the digital world. The setting was a prosaic convenience store that is by a busy road. Okay caffeine, but the clerks act friendly, and it feels offputting. Maybe the term is creepy. Maybe that is normal behavior for most watering holes. Then, of course, the writer is extra sensitive at all times. An acquaintance had a drama ...

Obsession... bothersome thoughts about a desire or a concern. The thoughts are difficult to banish from one's mind. But going with action to healthy routines is a start in a better direction. Also, one learned about doing the opposite action. Or redirecting by holding onto an ice cube for example. Going outside and exercising is a good rerouting of the thinking. Reportedly 15% or more of people have subclinical levels of obsession. This writer is on the obsessive spectrum. Current obsessions: ...

frequencies sleeping with the radio forgotten we know what he is beginning a new finding the start from an end still and everything one always arrives in the middle of it losing watching spills by a precipice '~~~~~ Day was fine. Upset due to wanting. So a trip twas to out to out of the house and then treats. Composing gives one an ache. Scratch out by Apple Freestyle app. language is a virus {dot} com gave some release after telegraphic style. Cleaned spelling by common AI to...

It didn’t feel light‑hearted when two acquaintances suddenly began living together. One, who was experiencing psychosis, needed an inexpensive place to stay. The other, who is autistic, had already endured a lot of turmoil in his relationships. The autistic roommate’s rigid routines clashed with the psychotic roommate’s erratic behavior. Neither realized they were embarking on a strange, almost mystical journey toward partnership. The older roommate, then in his prime years, could see the direct...

I really love incense and enjoy collecting different scents. The best incense often comes from Portland, OR. In my opinion, a small, independent company there produces the finest quality incense with poetic fragrance compositions. Another company that's closer to me has started copying their marketing style, but while their incense is more affordable and straightforward, it’s still pretty good. Today, I enjoyed a pine-scented incense cone. It was perfectly formed and lit easily, and the sharp, i...

Marilena Pelosi Who Is She? Marilena Pelosi is an elder artist who, in this writer’s view, escaped a traumatizing life in Brazil. What Did She Say? “It’s normal people who become insane. But because I’ve never been normal, I’m not at any risk.” Why Does the Writer Call Her a Superhero? Pelosi’s dedication to her art and her original imagination earn her that title. Her work evokes an inside-out sensation of thought, stirred by the intimate settings and figures she draws. Her body of work i...

Windows is turned off for outside apps, except those from the official store. This writer relies on a few of them. The apps are simple, and after thirty years of using Windows, the file system still feels straightforward. Surprisingly, some of the apps available there work well for this writer—and they’re free. The display on the Windows tab outperforms Apple’s base iPad; it appears more laminated, more refined. The non-dedicated AI tool in use is entirely sufficient. If there were a request fo...

One awakened at predawn, as always. Spouse sleeps in the next room. Lots of caffeine. Doing okay. Tempted to go out on the bus now. Would head to the convenience store next to the walk of shame—that breezeway by the Korean Market where unhoused people congregate along the Avenue. One saw Bella hanging out, someone known from the halfway house during walk-in service days. She is a good writer, familiar from classes at that facility back then. Bella has faced many reversals since writing class. ...

They are handsome and beautiful. The writer enjoys how they look cute and seek one's attention. When I confined myself in the house, they seemed to say, "Come outside and feed us," and broke my spell of inaction. My other friend, the house cat, relished the sight of the jaybirds and hid indoors to gaze at them through the garden window. From appearances, we were both captivated—the cat and I—by the sight of the birds flitting in the big cherry tree. Another writer shared of the "aloha spirit",...

A Change in Focus: This writer's devotion to X box has fallen away; the preference now is to instead craft fabric or browse flea markets. A Practical Choice: The poor resale value of the console led this writer to dust off a wired keyboard and power up the X box instead of selling it. Connectivity Issues: The console is somewhat hobbled because its built-in Bluetooth functionality is reserved for officially approved peripherals. The Browsing Solution: To improve the future experience, this wri...

Muji fountain pen For contrast, let's examine a pen with a similar price as the Muji fountain pen-- the Platinum Prefounte. The plastic, Platinum brand fountain pen offers several distinct characteristics. This model features a transparent nib section that allows you to easily monitor the ink level. It has a warmer feel almost instantly to the touch, unlike the cold grip section of the metal pen. The various color options are inviting and less bland than the metal pen's appearance. It is a...

Learned many things by Lurno AI today: How to cook a skillet bake of chicken, zucchini, and rice. Syndicate cryptocurrency as compared to Polygon. Four names of male macrame crafters and their brief biographies. NBK Syndicate online art market proposed to go online this year. Obscure references to Tyvek fabric on neocoties.org. ...

Scanning Handwriting with Samsung Bixby Vision One scanned the handwriting with Bixby Vision v 3.8.22 and from the Galaxy Store That was applied to handwriting done with a gold pen for handwriting recognition. The system is almost as good as the Moleskine Smart System for recognizing cursive handwriting. The liquid ink and the gold pen surpass the Moleskine setup for several reasons: * Gold pen: No battery, gold, biodegradable, and inexpensive options. * It is cursive first. * Aesthetic rea...

What Are Morning Pages? Morning Pages are 750 words of free writing, typically done each day. The blogger has made a habit of writing them daily, a process that usually takes about 40 minutes. This writing exercise is known as free writing, a practice rooted in stream-of-consciousness expression. Imagine a line running from the mind to the hand, through the pen, and onto the page—the words flow along that path, unfiltered and uninterrupted. How many years have you been writing them? At least th...

The writer pulled the trigger of a blind buy on a cheap keyboard case. Since flipping the case to a relative and keeping the keyboard, it is okay, and it was practically free. Cheap Keyboard One enjoys the multi-colored feature to select of backlit keys. One can easily change them to a backlighting color that is suitable, and there is a setting for disco flashing from color to color. The keys may be of scissors switches since the action is responsive. It takes a minute to get accustomed t...

Here it is at the end of the writer's day, and the blank screen resembles a black crow clacking its beak for some sustenance. The writer casts before it the morsels now. The bits are not good, but it is for a moment's peace, and the crow lives a short life in comparison to mine. The poet wannabe wants an audience. The best place of worship for the writer is at a halfway house facility in which there is a large church setting. The parishioners seem to be, a good portion of them anyway, well-meani...

This blogger bought selvedge jeans. Selvedge is a classification for special, elaborate denim manufacturing. It has fine texture and appearance. Demna inspired one to want "self-tailoring." To this blogger, that meant whacking off excess fabric with scissors and then allowing the edge to fray. Since this blogger is of advanced age, people indicated that such a one should not use such undignified adornment. Being enthused about learning hand sewing, one finished the hem of those selvedge jeans wi...

RNote for Windows is a free and open-source app that began its life on Linux and now has a Windows version available for download via GitHub. Rnote feels old-school and technical. Its chief claim to fame is its feature of annotating PDF documents. It has digital ink capacity for stylus input, and it can handle keyboard and computer mouse input, too. Besides other output formats, Rnote has SVG output. Rnote depends on the Windows file system for document organization. Microsoft Journal is a digi...

Terrible message... murder. But the vocal expression of Hendrix and the guitar work cause critics and listeners to listen to it. For the listener, the track came as an offering on the music service today. At the time, it was pre-dawn, and one awaited a bus on an avoided stretch of bus line in a genteel neighborhood. The plaintive and powerful message of Hendrix seemed like a beautiful contrast to the listener's jaded attitude at that time. There is no good time to hear a message of love gone wro...

The writer finds himself amazed by Melville’s Moby Dick, where each page delivers insights that send chills through the mind with waves of comprehension. He marvels at the audacity of the author for crafting a story of a relationship in which Queequeg finds comfort with Ishmael, the story’s main character. Preferring the audiobook version, the blogger listens closely, as the narration is voice acted with careful precision and clear enunciation—since the blogger has fleeting focus when it comes t...

A person needs the motivation support provided by the smartwatch, especially when working from home. Additionally, health data from the device is crucial due to the current poor state of personal health. Before the era of smartwatches, there was an obsession with time itself. This fascination led to a gravitation toward Swatch watches and the concept of Swatch Internet time, resulting in a sizable collection of those watches. The interest even extended to luxury timepieces from other brands unde...

The writer learned about AI-generated poetry and the concept of the "uncanny valley" in the expression of a gap in depth of poetry of AI and that of more meaningful poetry of human creators. AI models learn by analyzing literary texts, allowing them to mimic the nuances of human poetry. Some people use AI as a creative tool, raising questions about ownership: does the poetic work belong to the AI, the human director, or the literary texts that trained the AI? This remains uncertain. This unders...

Listening to Yppah, I find their melodic, mysterious lyrics rival those of the Cocteau Twins. A bumper sticker that reads, "Don't honk, I'm trying to understand the Cocteau Twins," perfectly captures a relatable sentiment. Cafe Chill helped shape my musical taste, and Yppah’s diverse sound continues to impress me. I’m grateful for affordable, quality earphones—modern technology, including streaming and smartphones, has greatly enhanced the music experience. My childhood memories include the Wa...

The pouch one assembles from yarn goes very well. It is an "easy" level of difficulty, and that is a step up from one's previous "beginner" level. The goal was the glorious Gucci B Bag emblazoned with the obnoxious yet desirable G-G signs. But this crochet project will replace that idle desire for the Gucci bag. It is called a hobo bag, which is amusing to the writer since that is what one would be if fate had been less kind. Bought some soft, cotton-blend yarn in bulky weight to go with the pat...

The writer observes that Inspire is an open platform requiring an account, though most posts are publicly accessible, much like a blogging site. While earlier concerns about teens posting with angst or suicidal ideation have lessened, the platform still feels like a vast mansion with countless rooms. This makes it difficult for users to find others to network or chat with meaningfully. Many use the "discussion" threads as personal blogs, replying repeatedly to their own posts. Occasionally, the ...

Writing ink offers limited colors and less thrill compared to digital ink. It’s difficult to share or edit ink drawings easily. In contrast, ink writing and a fountain pen is timeless, affordable, mechanical, repairable, biodegradable, and portable. Digital ink’s main advantage is its shareability, such as converting to NFTs or quick erasure, but these lack the tactile and enduring qualities of physical ink. Since the pandemic, digital media’s ability to bridge isolation may be a key benefit of ...

'Starbucks told me that there was "no status" for my drink 'The peer support network for mental health told me that the "connection was unstable." 'There was a setting in a popular graphics design program where my text would have "no style." 'A peer support manager said that he tells his auditory hallucinations to "leave a voice message. " Jokes about lacking style, status, or stability are few and far between for the blogger. Humor shared within a community facing chronic challenges lifts ...

Internet Time What is it? A one-time-zone scheme started by the Swatch Group in the 1990s. Unfortunately, the Swatch Group proudly made Biel, Switzerland, the dateline or primary reference place for that scheme. So it doesn’t have any bearing on today’s planning. To the blogger, Internet Time remains a quaint relic of pop culture. Each day in Internet Time is composed of 1,000 units called beats. A beat is equivalent to 1.44 minutes in standard time measurement. In 1998, the Swatch Group planned...

During meditation, the blogger unexpectedly shed tears, influenced by years of preserved pain, leading to a sense of gratitude. A guided session highlighted sadness as a common meditation companion, echoing the idea that tears signal true engagement. Earlier, while listening to Moby Dick’s prologue and crafting yarn, tears appeared again—seemingly random yet meaningful, aligning before the quote about tears marking the start of genuine meditation. ...

Even during his most difficult moments—especially a rough patch years ago—the writer’s friend never gave up on him. That kind of loyalty means everything. ▣ The writer has been living with a brain illness and working through recovery for the past thirty years. While many people close to him took more of a sink-or-swim approach, this friend stayed. His town is full of beautiful trees and flowers that bloom right through winter. The writer loves bundling up and heading out for walks in the cold, ...

In naming this blog, the blogger chose the name of a deceased punk rock drummer and haircutter from Arkansas named Bircho. One does not want to steal his thunder, so the blogger changed the name to its present one. Then, the blogger learned a little bit about parentheses. A remark or a citation can be enclosed in parentheses. But the two parenthesis marks are necessary, and the pair of marks are called parentheses. A citation or parenthesis can add information to the sentence or story. Bircho, t...