All Food Life Music Outdoors Sci-Fi Tech

• Tech: Where is this going?
  2026-04-25
  

  As I continue to update the website, I find myself focusing on the essentials of web publishing. No ads, subscriptions, or other nonsense are of interest to me. In fact, there is a personal determination to grow this project as far as I can before even considering adding JavaScript. Right now, it's just a focus on creating a polished publishing platform. Where it's going from there? I'm not completely ready to put on paper what I think it could become but it's a fun project and I'm looking forward to sharing more as I go.

• Outdoors: Berry Patch - Part 1
  2026-04-11
  

  Planted the first part of the berry patch this weekend. A set of Brightwell blueberry bushes are now at the start of our backyard nature trail. Looking forward to when they start producing!

• Food: Birthday food selection
  2026-04-10
  

  My son's birthday is today!! I haven't a clue where the time has gone as he starts high school this year. When asked, he had only one request for his birthday dinner: smoked spare ribs. He loves it when I fire up the smoker but the kid has a special place for ribs.
  
  The details
  Hickory smoked with a home-made dry rub, aproximately 2 hours at 225 F, mopped with melted butter and brown sugar then wrapped for about 2 more hours at 225 F. To finish them, I unwrapped them and threw some more coals in for a high heat finish until they had the desired char and glaze. They rested for 30 minutes before they were served and vanished in less than that time.

• Sci-Fi: Apparently I woke up in an episode of Black Mirror
  2026-04-10
  

  This is more of a Life post than a Sci-Fi post but I will take the opportunity to say that I prefer my dystopian societies to be found in the realms of science fiction.

• Life: Once upon a time and hopefully, again, one day
  2026-03-31
  

  Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! Credit: "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus

• Outdoors: They're back
  2026-03-27
  

  It's that time of year and the hummingbirds have found their way back!

• Life: I'm that guy that talks to animals
  2026-03-25
  

  I have conversations with the cats all the time and I'll absolutely stop to talk to dogs that I pass on the sidewalk as well. If there was a Duolingo for animals, I'd be there.

• Tech: AI is everywhere but should you put it there?
  2026-03-24
  

  You can't ignore it any longer, professionally speaking. One of the frustrating engineering decisions I've seen recently is integrating AI features into products without much consideration to the user experience. Everyone wants to market their product as "AI enabled" or "powered by AI" to stay relevant but working from that mindset alone is not likely to translate well into success for the long term. Be purposeful and think ahead about how you integrate AI. Ensure that it doesn't get in the way of your user's experience. Adding functionality just so you can say it's there does not mean it's the most efficient way for your user to accomplish the task.

• Sci-Fi: Project No Spoilers
  2026-03-23
  

  I've heard that Project Hail Mary is definitely a movie I should have on my list to go see but I'm trying to decide if I want to watch the movie or read the book first. It's a classic decision, really. Until I accomplish either of those goals though, I'm avoiding spoilery.

• Life: Vacation is over
  2026-03-15
  

  Absolutely loved getting things done around the place but it was very refreshing to take more downtime than I normally take. After relaxing with friends and enjoying some well-needed downtime with my wife, I feel absolutely recharged. Seriously looking forward to accomplishing some major goals on my list.

• Tech: Pi Day
  2026-03-14
  

  Sending a very nerdy shout-out to all those friends who celebrate Pi Day!

• Life: Puerto Rico
  2026-02-10
  

  A year ago, this month, was our honeymoon in Puerto Rico. Feeling all sentimental and I consider myself the luckiest man there is to be married to my wife.

• Life: Remembering mental health
  2026-02-08
  

  This year has been off to an intense start in just about all facets of life - aside from my family. I'm reminding myself lately that it's vital to slow down and take a break from time to time whenever you can. Press pause and lean into what brings peace.

• Outdoors: Trail cam test
  2026-01-06
  

  The other day, I decided to set up a trail cam and it hasn't disappointed. We are getting glimpses of some beautiful wildlife that has been staying back on the wooded parts of the property. I think I may add one or two more back there to see other parts of the trail as I make progress on it.

• Life: 2026 has arrived
  2026-01-02
  

  Happy New Year to you all. As I remember being told once: You should work so that you can live, not live so that you can work. The perspective makes the difference so here's to focusing more on living than the distractions this year. For me, that means I'll be reading more books, taking in the peacefulness of the outdoors, and exploring my passion for being creative.

• Outdoors: Getting out to the property
  2025-12-28
  

  I've started creating a trail to maintain around the property for scenic walks and such. The kids are certainly excited about it and have aleady been exploring what I have cleared.

• Life: Merry Christmas!
  2025-12-25
  

  Wishing a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

• Life: A centenarian is not the same as a centurion
  2025-12-17
  

  My grandmother is turning 100 this week but I accidentally went BSG nerd and called her a centurion when sharing the story with someone. I'm pretty sure Cylon technology has nothing to do with it.

• Life: Reinvesting in hobbies
  2025-12-11
  

  Call me inspired but living a decent drive away from anything has me more excited than ever to get back to some hobbies I've been missing out on for quite some time. I have new music studio gear and Star Trek kits that I can't wait to get started on. That's not even including the outdoor adventures to experience around where we live now.

• Sci-Fi: Trekkie time with new LEGO set
  2025-12-06
  

  Fun and took longer than I would've thought... But also watching Star Trek while assembling so I'm probably distracted.
  
  

• Tech: Made from scratch
  2025-11-30
  

  After considering any number of blogging solutions, I made the decision to build my own from scratch. Is it reinventing the wheel? When the wheel is reporting your driving habits without you knowing then maybe a new wheel is the answer.

• Life: What kind of Friday?
  2025-11-28
  

  A peaceful one. That's what. No waiting in crazy lines to spend money or deal with crowds. Just a peaceful day away from it all.

• Music: Remembering this little project with a smile
  2025-11-27
  

  This was a fun little electro-swing project. It's been a while, and I was using a different alias online at the time, but it was cool contributing the trumpet part on this track.
  
  "Recording Town" by Kyle Allen Music

• Food: Thanksgiving 2025
  2025-11-27
  

  Happy Thanksgiving!!! It's a beautiful day for turkey and brisket on the smoker.
  
  

• Tech: Feeling nostalgic
  2025-11-27
  

  I feel like so much has been lost in the evolution of social network platforms. Not so much in features or the publishing tools they offer but with the disregard for privacy or usability in general and ideas over content ownership. There's really no reason to never see content from someone you follow or subscribe to on a platform.