Bryan Robb

Stepping out my front door after some rain.

A serene neighborhood scene features tall trees, a house, and a bright sky with scattered clouds.

I understood the assignment 🩵

A person is dropping a ballot into a designated ballot drop box located near the Cedar Mill Community Library in Washington County, Oregon.

Sometimes I like to live dangerously and still restart my work computer even when 143 windows are open and it asks me, “You have unsaved work. Are you sure you still want to restart?” A clean slate can feel so freeing.

There used to be this coffee shop I’d go to in high school in the 90s near Central Michigan University called U-Cup that stayed open late and had open mic nights—I even played a couple! I miss spots like that. Imagine pounding coffee after 10 p.m. like you’re at a bar without a care in the world.

I wonder if Threads has a block limit.

My five year old is learning to read. He’s picking it up, but it’s going as expected because English is strange and phonics is garbage.

When I took Japanese years ago, I used to think Kanji was insane. But now I can see how the Whole Language approach makes some sense from learning logograms then.

I’ve got two kids who will be 6 and 3 in January. Looking for unique holiday gift ideas that encourage creative play involving art or science. Doesn’t necessarily need to be a purchase, just something that can excite a young mind. TIA for any recs.

Beautiful day to renew our Oregon Zoo membership.

Not putting yourself out there

The strangeness of putting yourself out there. The mere act of expressing that you indeed have social needs, that you crave the connection of others, is one that creates repulsion, in myself (and seemingly with others). The effort required almost makes the desired outcome somehow less desirable. Even in social situations of late, there is something different in the way we all speak to one another, something missing from the way things used to be.

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Ordering from New Seasons is now an option on Amazon? When did this happen?

Good morning. I was up an hour earlier than I wanted to be.

In the Northwest, where few homes outside central cities have basements, garages often fill up with storage, superfluous items, and detritus from consumer culture, leaving no room for vehicles.

Happy 63rd birthday to my mom today. Me and the kids made some cards with watercolor. I haven’t painted in decades. I was heavy handed and had no idea what I was doing, but it was fun. If I didn’t already have 20 hobbies, I think I’d like doing this more often.

A vibrant watercolor painting depicts a tree with orange and yellow leaves against a blue sky with clouds and a green field.

Thankful for Saturday, and that the kids actually slept in. Never happens. It had been a while since I had a moment to cook a good weekend breakfast.

What’s a Apple Watch?

The top 3 fun size candy bars, according to dad tax preferences:

Butterfinger
Almond Joy
Payday

ChatGPT has pretty much replaced Google for me for general question inquiries. It’s been a long time since a technology has changed my habits so dramatically. I’ll gladly pay them to avoid ads and crappy websites that track me.

People ringing our doorbell and trick or treating at almost 11 p.m. I swear, some people have no damn sense. Lights were off btw, they triggered the motion lights.

Taking my dog to the vet today for an updated rabies vaccine so she can be groomed, which means I’ll be shamed into some unnecessary tests and procedures and come home with a bill for $500. Ugh, why do vets suck so bad.

This Trunk or Treat fad…

Do Americans really hate walking so much that they Trick or Treat out of the trunks of cars in a parking lot?