Things I enjoyed since February
Got busy. Here's what I enjoyed since February!
We went to Florida and rode their private rail from Boca to Miami. Ignoring for a second that they might go bankrupt, it was easily as nice as a Japanese bullet train and restored some hope that we can build when we try in the west.
I was gifted some tickets to the see F1 in Miami. They're like fighter jets on wheels.
Friday is movie night for the kid and in between the animated shows I've been sneaking in some 90's kids classics. My reviews:
- The Sandlot - incredible
- Mighty Ducks - more dramatic than I remember; averman is actually funny
- Heavyweights - pretty bad tbh
- Angels in the Outfield - slow but orphan storyline came through as an adult
We took a boat from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Something about boats and approaching a shoreline gives me what I can only describe as therapeutic delusion of grandeur. No further elaboration.
It stopped snowing.
There was a chaotic easter egg hunt in Prospect Park where they cordon off kids by age group and let them go wild. Afterwards Mia joined two teenagers in smashing all plastic eggs to bits.
I am out of level ideas for Adventure Game. I am accepting submissions.
[Dumb Phone Update] I was using my Kompakt eink dumb phone exclusively since February. Fully a daily driver. Sadly, I lost it two weeks ago but that is the first time I've been able to cutover fully to a dumber phone. It's possible!
We were the last ones at the office and ordered a pizza.
In Florida we stayed at a family's place. I learned that my uncle who is the complete all around outdoors guy – think hunting, fishing, self made and very capable – has recently become obsessed with 3d printing. The week we were there it was always running. He makes toys for his grandkids and utilities like golf ball dispensers for himself. I've always associated 3d printing with sf nerds like me but in hindsight this makes complete sense and all at once I was inspired and impressed how far 3d printers have come in quality and cost.
I rode a camel in Morocco.
I did a workout at Gleason's. It's a famous and historic boxing gym in Brooklyn. We're talking Ali, Tyson and anyone that came through New York over the past few decades has trained here (or in its previous locations). There are trophies, belts, and tattered memorabilia in every corner, offices for trainers and active professional fighters and 4 rings with all the gear you need.
Mia is learning to read and to my surprise in a couple week's time has become able to pronounce every letter in the alphabet – all thanks to my aunt showing us the Letter Factory. It's a cartoon that teaches you the sounds of each letter over 30m. It's well made. I have no memory of learning to read so this whole process was interesting to me: they learn the letter, both capital and lowercase, then they learn the consonant sound associated with it. Then they drill with some words and associations. Vowels come later but already with just the consonant sounds she can read some trivial words around the house. One interesting meta challenge is teaching her that words can be pronounced. She can see a letter and make its sound but hasn't fully understood she can now look at a word and try to read it.
I started using my Meta Ray Bans and to my surprise I love using them. I can take very candid photos with Mia that don't distract either of us with the phone. And I can listen to podcasts or talk without putting anything in my ears. They rattle the audio through your ear bones, aka bone conduction. They're not perfect, a bit bulky and so on but for hanging with the kid and snapping some candid pics it's been perfect. Putting something in my ear feels strange and isolating now.
We attended a potluck in Greenpoint where they close the whole street off and make one big long table. You sit down and enjoy lunch and about 500 people showed up. It was cool to have kids come by and ask if they could have some food or other neighbours share some salads.
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