Looking Back At 2019

Here we are at the end of the year and even a decade. As always, it’s a good time to pause our games and shows and look back to reflect on things. It’s also time to do the other side of that coin by looking forward. And I hope I don’t overstuff it with the links!

From Flickr To Forever

I wonder, have you heard the recent news about Flickr? You’ve heard of Flickr right? The awesome photo sharing site before photo sharing sites were common, before social media was really a thing? In fact, two years ago, I asked “Is Flickr Still A Thing?” I wanted it to be; I found it mostly was. But my use of it never really resurged. Now the latest news has tugged on me to reconsider Flickr.

Pokemon Replay

The Pokemon bug bit me again. Yeah, must have been a Bug-type Pokemon. Of course. Actually, it was Heatran, a Fire-type. I had re-tweaked my Darkness deck for a while. But now I’m building a new battle deck based on Fire. There will be many burned Pokemon. Just sayin’.

Final Fantasy Forever

I’m a bit of a Nintendo geek. Once when I was a kid, I bought my first role-playing game: Final Fantasy III for Super Nintendo. At first, I didn’t get it at all. But once I did, I was hooked!

Tickets To Star Wars

I can hardly believe it. I bought tickets for the newest Star Wars movie. Episode IX. The Rise of Skywalker. Is this really happening?

Writing A Work In Progress

Is this really only my third blog post for November? Wow. This is tough for me. I knew my blogging would take a dive, but… I committed to my writing days being for my NaNoWriMo2019 attempt. I’m far behind my word count goal, but I’m making steady progress on the days I’m supposed to. And I’m enjoying the story writing process too!

November Is A Novella Month

You know how sometimes you get busy and your routine is thrown off? Yeah, me too. That happened to me this past week. I missed a few blog days! Took a little vacay with the fam, my job got busier, plus there’s been some other stuff going on. Oh, I also started writing a book. No big deal, right? I’m on the way to 20k…or more! This month will be one for the books!

Quest For A Music Service

Raise your hand if you remember iTunes in the era of the iPod and how game changing $0.99 songs a-la-carte were. Nowadays, it’s all about streaming music services. I’ve stood as a hold-out, but the ground is cracking beneath my feet. I think it’s time to move on.

First Days Of Facebook

So…last week I re-friended Facebook. I’ve been back on for a few days now. And – surprise – I have some thoughts. Mostly good. [Like.]

Final Fantasy VII Remake

I was blown away when I saw that Final Fantasy VII is getting remade after all these years! Why? Because it’s not just a remaster of the same game with enhanced graphics. It’s totally redone in spectacular fashion! So if you will, allow me to geek out and reminisce.

Taking Note Of Evernote

Is it possible to geek out about notes? Would that be nerding out instead? Either way, as I like to trek through tech, I look for the best solutions. Many companies offer apps, services, or entire ecosystems. One that is the epitome-of-noteworthy is Evernote.

Refriending Facebook

Alright, guess what? Six months after deleting my Facebook, I rejoined. Again. Resist no more; I’m gonna give this relationship another try. And next time I get moody and sour on The Social Network, I’ll deactivate instead of deleting. Because I always return. So why did I cave in once more?

My 20,000 NaNoWriMo Goal

Okay, I did something that might be a little bit daunting. I signed up for this year’s NaNoWriMo event in November! It’s official. Also, it is exciting and kind of crazy. But what’s the point of dreams if you never go for’em?

Journey To A Journal

If you do a little Googling, you’ll find a lot of sites that cover the benefits of keeping a journal. In sum, journaling’s good! Besides my blog, which is sort of a public journal, I’ve written in a private journal for years. I’ve always used different note-taking apps, and I’ve tried a few dedicated journaling apps. Now I’m trying out one that’s new to me: Journey.

One Year Blogging

If you will indulge this self-congratulatory post with me, I’d like to mark a personal milestone in the discipline of blogging. Because as of yesterday, I have now blogged regularly for 12 straight months! I stuck with it and pushed through writing slumps and periods of doubt. So, what’s next?

The Social Pressure Is Getting To Me

Alright, I’ve got a bit of a confession. After deleting my Facebook account almost 6 months ago, I started feeling drawn to rejoin. Perish the thought! I’ve already admitted to the cycle I have, like bouncing back and forth in an unhealthy relationship. So I think I need an intervention. Will the cycle ever end?

Story Telling Perspective

You know how stories are told from different perspectives: first and third-person. I already knew my favorite view. But a few days ago, I realized more than ever the perspective I prefer when reading books and how hard it is to switch.

The Kindle Rekindled

The kindle is back, baby! For months, it was discarded in a drawer like last year’s fashion. My beloved white Paperwhite is the right device for reading. It is the Jedi Master of eBooks. No, better yet, it is the Yoda. Much to read, I still have!

Where Dual Screen Tech Shines

Tech devices keep evolving. The latest trend is dual screen folding devices. Samsung released the Galaxy Fold this year, and now Microsoft is heralding their own set of double screen gadgets. But where could this technology best be used?

Subscriptions To Escapism

Entertainment abounds. It’s so prolific, you can’t escape from Escapism; it’s everywhere! We unplug so much, we may need to unplug from unplugging. As I considered the options for a monthly subscription service, I was reminded how inundated we are with endless entertainment.

About That Blogtober Thing

Okay. So there’s this thing called Blogtober. It helps bloggers push to have a post every. Single. Day. But I don’t plan to do that this year.

Novel, Novella, Or Novelette?

I’ve been exploring the real world of creating fake worlds – fiction. Like seeking fireflies at night, I dream of writing a book someday. I figure it should be short for starters, to increase my chances of completion (which in itself I’d consider success). But how short should it be?

Permanent Record Review

Maybe the US government is logging my keystrokes as I type this. Or maybe only Google is since I’m using Docs on a Chromebook to write. Ambient Privacy and Surveillance Capitalism are important topics. But for this review of Ed Snowden’s memoir, I want to focus on only the literary aspects.

What About Green Texts?

The iPhone is very popular, so a whole slew of people chat with the iMessage app. I often hear that it’s one of the biggest reasons for “platform lock-in.” That’s to say, many folks don’t or won’t stop using an iPhone because they’re chained to iMessage. But I don’t get it.

Digital Bookstore Conundrum

I’ve got a personal problem. But I think others have it too. When you buy an eBook, which eStore should you shop at? Because your eLibrary gets really disjointed if you buy from more than one eTailer.

A Story Pipe Dream

Every now and then, my dream of writing fiction shimmies back up from the crevices between the couch cushions of my mind. With my recent resurgence in reading fiction (a new genre too), I’ve also started to think of creating my own worlds of escapism.

Death By Team Building Review

Ah, another good book finished. Feels good to wrap up a good story. I just finished the third cozy mystery in the Kat Voyzey trilogy by Cheri Baker. And this one was the most interesting and my favorite of the three.

The Cure For Upgraditus

There you are with your smartphone, holding the “future” in your hands. But then the newest smartphone arrives, marketing its superior awesomeness. Now you feel obsolete. You must upgrade! Yet you resist. But the latest phone tugs at your feeble mind and weak will. The struggle is real. But it doesn’t have to be.

Trying Bionic Ears

Last Friday, I saw an ENT Specialist in Audiology for my Tinnitus, that persistent and potentially maddening tonal plague inside my head, like a scratch you can’t itch. And something happened that I did not expect. I was prescribed hearing aids to try out. Talk about different!

Race For Broadband

In the countryside where I live, we don’t have hi-speed broadband internet: no cable, no fiber. We have one single provider to choose from (not counting the satellite internet ones). And the only choice we have in our area is DSL – over the phone-line internet. But in the future, this is supposed to change. Three new options are racing, and the one that reaches our area first wins the cash prize.

Angel Has Fallen

My wife and I enjoyed watching Angel Has Fallen at the theater last weekend – we got to go out on a date!

Squeezing The Tablet

Some have said the tablet is dead. Others thought the tablet would replace all traditional computers before it. Steve Jobs said Apple thought there was enough room in the middle, between a smartphone and a laptop, for a tablet to not only exist but to excel. I say that space has become too tight; the tablet is being squeezed out.

Reading Challenge Update 2019

I’ve missed reading! I started off the year doing about a book a month, but things got extra busy this Summer. I had read only one short book in the last few months, so I’m behind in my annual goodreads reading challenge. But I think I’m gonna catch up.

Shout Out To Chrome Sites

When I was all into using only my iPad for everything, I enjoyed a few websites dedicated to that. But now that I’ve switched to Chromebook, I like some new sites; they helped in my transition process. And they’re good to fuel the Chromebook fun.

Apple Reiterates The Smartphone

Earlier this week, Apple had their annual iPhone event and announced some updates. So here are a few of my well-uninformed thoughts from my soft spot for new tech.

Silence Is Not So Golden

Living with Tinnitus may not sound like a big deal. But if you could actually hear the inaudible sounds in someone’s head, you’d think silence is not so golden.

Involuntary Turnover Review

If you like to read fiction, you probably have a favorite genre to stick with. For me, it’s mostly Sci-Fi and Fantasy. (Is Dystopia its own genre?) Last week, I finished reading a book outside my norm: a Cozy Mystery. It was good! In fact, I’ve already started reading book two in the series.

Pocket In My Pocket

We’ve got a lot of cool little technology solutions these days. There’s an app or website for everything, right? Well I’m back to using one that I’ve always liked – Pocket.

The Sound Of Hearing Tech

It happens to be Deaf Awareness Month, (or week…) and I stumbled upon a tweet from @Android that made my eyes open wide; then my ears got tickled. Why? Because of the news that Android smartphones now work with hearing devices in a new improved way. And it sounds promising!

Cost And Craze Of Pokemon

During the past holiday weekend, my family enjoyed lots of Pokemon trading card game action, among other things. We attended the weekly League meet-up for card trading and lots of head-to-head battles with everybody’s current decks. And as usual, I learned a few more things, had fun, and embraced challenges. But this Pokemon thing is a craze that sometimes has me a little concerned.

The Expensive Halo Effect

Living in Apple land was nice and comfy. My sweet set-up consisted of just two things: iPhone and iPad. Well, I guess I should also include the cheap bluetooth keyboard I cobbled together with my Apple tablet. But it’s good that I escaped the soft glow of The Apple logo because the Halo Effect is real.

Post 100 For 2019

This one’s gonna be meta. Along the way of blogging, I like to trumpet my small milestones. I make these mini-celebratory posts to encourage myself in writing, despite the taboo of tooting my own horn. Maybe my fellow bloggers will get a little pumped themselves. Our solo writing gigs could use the camaraderie. Otherwise, this post just happens to follow the 99th one.

Headphones Rescue Parents

Weeks ago, I finally took the wireless plunge and bought my first bluetooth headphones. That act was a rock in the pond. The ripple effects – I didn’t see this coming – made parenting a little easier!

Blog Post Cramming

Some people are good at ignoring certain things. But most of us pay attention to the numbers we get: likes, shares, comments. For my blog, I check the stats. I’m the blogger who, close to the end of the month, wants to post more, hoping to boost my monthly numbers, like cramming for a test at the last moment.

My iPhone Got Googled

Would you believe me if I told you it is nigh impossible to get away from Google? The tech giant is so ingrained on the internet, you likely use at least one Google service. Several attempts at escaping Google’s vortex are posted online; just do a quick search for them – try not to use Google search! I distanced myself from Google several months ago, but now my Apple iPhone has become Google-fied.

Privacy And Technology Mixed

There’s been a lot of bad news in the past several years about data breaches and other privacy related issues. You would think that, like oil and water, Privacy and Technology just don’t mix. Despite advances in security and protection with our web-connected devices, privacy keeps getting thrown under the bus. Are there any tech companies you can trust these days?

Switch To Chromebook

If you don’t have the right tool for the job, you try to make the most of what you’ve got. I tried to use my clunky bluetooth keyboard for a long time, pairing with my iPad to use it like a laptop. It wasn’t the best fit, so I searched for a better tool. And…you’ll never believe what I found!

Switch From iPad

You’ve heard the saying about the right tool for the right job. Having the wrong tool is very frustrating. Technology is helpful if you have the right device. Let’s say you need a good selfie-camera – then a tablet won’t fit. What about blogging? I’ve used a bluetooth keyboard paired with an iPad for about a year. It works, but it isn’t the best fit.

My Dark Deck Got Whooped

Today I played in my first Pokemon League Tournament. It was fun even though I got knocked out every round – well one was a draw. In a first, I had two of my Pokemon killed in their sleep! They never saw what hit them. Yep, out of 12 players, I almost made it into the top 10, coming in dead last at number twelve. But like I said, it was fun.

Unchained Audio

A few days ago, I did one of those “finally” things. For years, I tolerated a tangle of wires, like tentacles tethered to my head. Those famous white earbuds and their silhouette ads from Apple…always untying the undying knots. But no more! I bought my first pair of wireless headphones; here are my first impressions.

Unified Minds

Two geeks walk into a deli. And play cards… So my wife and I are still on a Pokemon kick; it really is a fun strategy game! The cool thing is, the newest expansion was just released August 2; it’s called Unified Minds.

50,000 Words In 7 Months

Have you ever wondered what it takes to write 50,000 words? It’s kinda baked my noodle. Every November, people try to do it in one month to write a novel! It took me 7 months of blogging this year, January through July, to hit the big 50k.

Amwriting And Daydreaming

What is #amwriting, you ask? It’s a daydream of mine. It’s one of those someday things. That, “If you could be anything when you grow up..?” idea. Some people fantasize over a romanticized notion of what it is to be a best-selling novelist. I’m one of those people.

Going Chrome

Until recently, the computery things in my house were kinda simple. My wife and kids used Windows machines; I use an iPad. This made my job as household I.T. guy not too hard. But now a Chromebook has been thrown into the mix. So things are a bit more interesting.

Good Morning My Muse

Here’s a little update about my writing endeavors. I’m still plugging away at it. No novel in the works, but novella ideas here and there. Mostly I’m focused on blogging. Finding time is usually the roadblock, so I was driven to find a way around.

Moonshots Of Lego

Fifty years ago, Earth witnessed an incredible feat: man walked on the moon for the first time. I’m still amazed by the fact we pulled this off using 1960’s technology, and I still marvel at documentaries on NASA’s early space program. But now I have a new way to geek out on the lunar landing!

Two Must Have iPhone Features

You might have noticed that new iPhones these days are not as groundbreaking as they were in the first few years. Smartphones have been iterated to ideal form. But is there room for improvement? You bet; more zoom and more room please!

Three Things To Buy Apple Watch

Apple makes a nice ecosystem of gadgets, but the Apple Watch is one that I haven’t been compelled to buy. I just don’t find it that interesting or necessary. But there are three things that would likely cause me to wear Apple’s Wrist Computer.

Catching All The Pokemon

About that thing called Pokémon, yeah, it’s all kinda new to me. So far I like it. Specifically, I’m talking about the trading card game (TCG). Have you played it? It’s kind of a big bite to chew on if you’re new to it. I bet you’ve heard the slogan, “Gotta catch’em all!” Well, there’s now over 800 Pokémon to catch! And that’s just for starters.

Nintendo Just Flipped The Switch

This here’s a bit of a reaction to Nintendo’s announcement that revealed a new version of the Switch called Nintendo Switch Lite. Yes, that’s right, new hardware! A new handheld gaming console, just like the Switch, only less!?