I was doing some spring cleaning recently and came across old photos from the pre-mobile-phone-camera days (2000-2004 to be exact). These were photos taken with a very basic digital camera

I was doing some spring cleaning recently and came across old photos from the pre-mobile-phone-camera days (2000-2004 to be exact). These were photos taken with a very basic digital camera and then developed into actual, real-life photos! On paper! As I went through these “old” photos, there was feel to

At this moment, AI feels like a battle in the extremes, a war where you HAVE to choose sides. You're either team #truebeliever, believing that everything in the world must

At this moment, AI feels like a battle in the extremes, a war where you HAVE to choose sides. You're either team #truebeliever, believing that everything in the world must be solved or approached using AI, or you're team #resistAI, believing that AI is the downfall of humanity and should

These days, everything I read about AI gives me a bad case of whiplash. Educators are fed up with Ai, so much that they are going back to pen and

These days, everything I read about AI gives me a bad case of whiplash. Educators are fed up with Ai, so much that they are going back to pen and paper assignments in class. At the same time, the government is investing untold sums of money so that AI can

I am not a seasoned birdwatcher by any means, but I love watching birds. I live near a very large state park that has undertaken extensive efforts to conserve birds

I am not a seasoned birdwatcher by any means, but I love watching birds. I live near a very large state park that has undertaken extensive efforts to conserve birds native to our region, so we’re fortunate to have tons of birds right in our backyard When I discovered the

Every week I save dozens of links - articles, funny YouTube videos, Bluesky posts, Instagram videos. The only thing there's more of than links I save is apps that promise

Every week I save dozens of links - articles, funny YouTube videos, Bluesky posts, Instagram videos. The only thing there's more of than links I save is apps that promise to organize all these links. And I've tried many of them - Raindrop.io, Instapaper, Pocket, MyMind, KeepIt...just to name a

About five months ago, I made the decision to stop using DayOne for journaling and use Obsidian for journaling instead. It felt like a big decision at the time, as

About five months ago, I made the decision to stop using DayOne for journaling and use Obsidian for journaling instead. It felt like a big decision at the time, as I had journaled in DayOne for over 14 years, amassing thousands of memories. I made the move to Obsidian not

I started using Wispr Flow this week. I was potentially influenced by the YouTubers waxing about the incredible productivity gains achieved using AI speech-to-text apps, or I just like trying

I started using Wispr Flow this week. I was potentially influenced by the YouTubers waxing about the incredible productivity gains achieved using AI speech-to-text apps, or I just like trying new stuff. Whatever it is, I am trying it. On a keyboard at the computer, I like typing. I'm a

I was shocked to learn that our local water company, WSSC, maintains a beautiful azalea garden. We visited this week when the azaleas had just peaked and it was absolutely

I was shocked to learn that our local water company, WSSC, maintains a beautiful azalea garden. We visited this week when the azaleas had just peaked and it was absolutely stunning. Five acres of nothing but azaleas bushes. The area is very accessible. There is parking just across the street

AI tools are something I use daily. I am not an AI power user but more of an AI-tools-make-me-a-bit-more-productive kind of person. Personally and professionally I use AI tools like

AI tools are something I use daily. I am not an AI power user but more of an AI-tools-make-me-a-bit-more-productive kind of person. Personally and professionally I use AI tools like Claude and Gemini regularly for personal and work-related research, drafting, and summarizing information. Questions I used to drop into Google

A vegetable garden is an exercise in patience - waiting for things to grow, waiting for the right time. It's also an exercise in avoiding temptation and amateur weather forecasting,

A vegetable garden is an exercise in patience - waiting for things to grow, waiting for the right time. It's also an exercise in avoiding temptation and amateur weather forecasting, especially in the D.C. area where spring can feel like summer one day and winter the next. This extreme temperature

This year has been a fast transition from slow-prep mode to full swing with our vegetable garden. Spring was a beautiful season with rapidly warming temperatures in the D.C. area.

This year has been a fast transition from slow-prep mode to full swing with our vegetable garden. Spring was a beautiful season with rapidly warming temperatures in the D.C. area. Temps are still swinging back and forth, but with a number of 90+ degree days behind us and no foreseeable

It’s hard to avoid the GLP-1 craze these days. Over half my friends are on a GLP-1 or have tried one, and those are just the ones who have outright

It’s hard to avoid the GLP-1 craze these days. Over half my friends are on a GLP-1 or have tried one, and those are just the ones who have outright admitted to it (I suspect a number of people are closet GLP-1 users). I never considered using a GLP-1. First

Springtime in the D.C. area is always amazing, with the cherry blossoms and many other trees bursting with color all at once. But this year has been particularly exception. It's

Springtime in the D.C. area is always amazing, with the cherry blossoms and many other trees bursting with color all at once. But this year has been particularly exception. It's like technicolor everywhere I look. Maybe it was the snowcrete this winter or the bitterly cold temperature we dealt with.

We had a couple of extra days to fill this spring break, so decided to head up to NYC to see a Broadway show (Book of Mormon….it was hilarious!) and

We had a couple of extra days to fill this spring break, so decided to head up to NYC to see a Broadway show (Book of Mormon….it was hilarious!) and do a few other random things. We travel to NYC fairly frequently, mostly for Broadway but also because there is

Thanks to conservation efforts in our region, eastern bluebirds are once again common sightings. But they still amaze me, with their bright coloring and gentle nature. This bluebird couple appears

Thanks to conservation efforts in our region, eastern bluebirds are once again common sightings. But they still amaze me, with their bright coloring and gentle nature. This bluebird couple appears to be taking up residence in our backyard this spring. The male is one of the brightest colors of blue

Contrary to what many non-locals think, the Tidal Basin in D.C. is far from the only place in the D.C. area to see the cherry blossoms. In fact, in my

Contrary to what many non-locals think, the Tidal Basin in D.C. is far from the only place in the D.C. area to see the cherry blossoms. In fact, in my experience as a lifelong local, some of the best places to see the cherry blossoms are simply driving through the

Today we made a trellis for the tomatoes! Supplies needed for this endeavor were: This video provided us with the inspiration.

Today we made a trellis for the tomatoes! Supplies needed for this endeavor were: This video provided us with the inspiration.

I first noticed the 90s revival a couple of years ago when my daughter wore an outfit that looked a bit like Quinn from Daria. Then my friends’ kids talked

I first noticed the 90s revival a couple of years ago when my daughter wore an outfit that looked a bit like Quinn from Daria. Then my friends’ kids talked about getting CDs and listening to bands like Green Day. On a Discman. One of them sported a Nirvana t-shirt.

We took a trip this weekend to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (about 45 minutes west of Philadelphia). It’s still early spring so we were there for the indoor

We took a trip this weekend to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (about 45 minutes west of Philadelphia). It’s still early spring so we were there for the indoor conservatories, especially to see the blooming of the blue poppies. The conservatories are absolutely gorgeous, composed of multiple large greenhouse

Lettuce, scallions, and a few other cold-weather things have been planted outside, and seedlings started indoors. But the biggest update is that the garden beds are being rebuilt. A friend

Lettuce, scallions, and a few other cold-weather things have been planted outside, and seedlings started indoors. But the biggest update is that the garden beds are being rebuilt. A friend is replacing an old deck so we took all the old wood and are repurposing it to replace our previously