current status of aaron

Alright. Supply run done, restocked. Errands complete. Lunch consumed. Time to dig into this leather project: first up is a custom order I've been working on for a while, iterating a lot with a very patient client. Then chipping away at an order for 7 leather bins. The West Wing S4E11 in the background.

Can tell already, today is going to be a heavy coffee day.

Going with the flow this morning. Ran out of material that I thought I had on hand, and so will be running out to stock up again. And while out might as well combine with other errands. Looking forward to getting to my workbench this afternoon!

Eh, The Godfather Pt. II instead, just for a little.

When I write down that I need to "work" on a thing, a client project in particular, sometimes that just means sit down and simply think through how I am going to approach it. Arguably the most important part of the project: sitting and thinking about it.

Started watching Argyle, 40 minutes into it. Enjoying it and liking the story so far. More work now though, then a short ride, then back to work for a bit...and then maybe will watch some more.

sat down to do some work and immediately forgot what I wanted to work on...taking that as a sign. Time to call it a day!

Godfather on while wrapping up the day.

Wine and Chinese for dinner tonight.

…gonna be making more coffee.

made it to the end of the day, and successfully too!

Back from my bi-weekly deep tissue massage. Muscles are back to where they need to be. Feeling refreshed. Making coffee ( of course) and focused on knocking out two orders before calling it a day. Here we go!

Ok Wednesday, let's see what we can do today!

Day so far is weird. Really weird. Poured a second cup of coffee and never drank it. Forgot about it completely. That has never happened. Ever.

yep, right on time. need that pickup.

So far have gone for a walk, wrote a bunch of words, ate breakfast, had a good lunch, showered, handled a bunch of emails, invoices, and contacted folks who ordered over the weekend. Now time to do some actual leatherwork for a few hours.

Alright...mapping out the week, noting things to be done, identifying what is missing and what I need to accomplish...going to be interesting!

A walk to start this Sunday. Forecast is looking pretty awesome for the next few days, maybe even out to next weekend if such a forecast can be trusted. 60’s and 70’s all week!

tired. eager for rest.

when there is too much swirling around in my head, when I'm not sure what to do, what to work on, what to write, I just stop. All of that means it is just time to stop. And so that's what I'm doing. Everything can wait until tomorrow.

Coffee consumption lately has been…a lot.

Cloudy all day today, maybe some rain later. All good, plenty to work on today!

Time for sleep!

Thinking Chinese and wine for dinner.

The sun is shining! Not a cloud in the sky! Heading out for a walk :-)

Looking forward to a glass of wine this evening!

More deep focus today. Making me hungry.

Lots of rain = lots of coffee

Feeling slightly out of touch.

Finding it quite difficult to focus on any one thought this morning.

Satisfied with the day and what I was able to accomplish!

Rain will be falling for the next few days. April showers bring May flowers. Makes for very focused work since I won't be distracted by sunshine and wanting to be outside!

Very full day today, all very good. Eager for rest and an early rise!

Working on an "action plan" of sorts.

Oof. Time to start the day.

West Wing on while working. Some shows just never age. Always perfect.

Good day up to this point, making progress on all fronts, but head is beginning to feel cloudy and I still have the evening to work though. Time for a walk and then probably making another round of coffee.

And now, time for sleep!

insane day!

Things have been quiet lately. Calm before the storm?

Early day tomorrow, need to save writing for later, rest is needed so that tomorrow is a success.

List for the day seems to be pretty realistic (i.e. short), which means I just might cross most of these items off before the day comes to an end!

I love how exhausting a full day is! Sleep at the end of such a day is a sweet reward.

Oof. The Sunday afternoon crash is real.

Good wine. Writing a letter I've been putting off for too long.

Focus.

Accepting things for what they are this morning. I am human. I have limits. Only so much can be done in a given time. I will accomplish what is intended to be accomplished. Everything else can wait until the prescribed time. Quality cannot be rushed.

Ok. Now to sleep. Full morning awaits.

I always make things such a project. It is fun, following the ideas as they morph, but also - will I ever keep things simple?

Oof. Long workday. Time for rest now before an early start in several hours.

Feeling great, positive, and optimistic! Amazing what a solid night of rest will do!

Feeling overwhelmed. Seems like many different and unrelated things are coming to decision points at the same time. Hoping sleep helps to better process everything in the morning.

Phone calls are the best (the non-spam ones).

What are dreams?

Sleep is going to be amazing tonight, I hope!

.

Late night storm!

Getting out for a walk before it doesn't happen!

I need a day, a full uninterrupted day, to sit with my and just page through the thing. Read every word. Look at every photo, page, and product listing. Act on ideas as I have them. Edit and rebuild as I go.

Back to using iA Writer for, well, writing. Not sure why I ever stopped. The file management, or lack thereof, is perfect, and best of all is not locked into the application itself.

...and now, time for rest.

Brain is a tornado so far today. Writing as quickly as I can to capture everything.

Saturdays are for slow starts. Raining outside. Coffee, writing, and will be making pancakes shortly. Then I’ll be at a place to get into the day’s work.

Working a bit more tonight so I won’t have as much to do tomorrow.

So deep into my mind today, which is annoying, depressing, and highly unproductive! Hoping some upbeat music and making progress on a few larger orders helps to lift me up a bit.

Making an early dinner, then back to work.

Thunderstorm this morning. Strange for this time of year, I dig it!

Brain is too scattered to be productive. Cleaning up. Laundry. Writing. Bourbon.

A feeling of peace and calm, that everything is ok, questions will be answered when they are meant to be, things will happen when they are intended to. Letting go of the idea that I actually have any control over anything is wonderful. Something that I should do more often.

Back from a walk to the coffee shop with Mozzie. Now time for pancakes!

Still fighting through back pain that keeps me up most of the night. One positive to this is that getting up at 4:30 and starting the day is not an issue!

Time to rest.

Work night. Dinner soon. West Wing in the background.

It is time!

4.5 hours of sleep. Definitely not in a very good frame of mind so far today...taking a few walks throughout the day to keep my head clear, coffee for sure, and a solid wind-down routine later this evening to support a healthy night of rest.

Working through some computer-based tasks this morning, giving the sun a bit more time to rise before heading out for my walk.

Planning to move in a few months, not buying for several reasons, most important being that I'm still figuring out exactly how I want to embark on that portion of life again. So, more renting. Either way, it will be nice to find a place that is a bit more "home like".

It never ceases to amaze me at how much self-confidence/esteem can fluctuate. Some mornings I wake up feeling sure of everything, by the evening deflated. Can't quite figure out the "trick" to managing this lately.

Was planning to chip away at a few things tonight but am too tired. Listening to the nudge of my body and will head to bed shortly. Looking forward to the rest.

Brain is moving faster than I can write this morning. Lots of scribbles.

Quitting work early, heading over to watch the rescheduled Steelers vs. Bills game with Mozzie.

Time to make pancakes.

The day did not go as planned and I'm too spent to shift into what I originally wanted to have accomplished. Tea and writing about several ideas swirling around my head instead. There's always tomorrow, or Monday.

I do make a good manhattan, if I may say so. Been a while. Still got it, and never disappoints.

There are some tasks that just seem to naturally occur after hours. Accepting that and working through them.

First coffee and writing of the New Year.

Entering that annual headspace of reflecting and planning, thinking and writing. Will settle in for a few days.

Slowly exiting the fog of the last two weeks.

Soaked in a hot bath last night, felt nice. The next 9 days are going to be crazy.

My hands are physically tired from all of the leather Christmas orders I've been working on. Such a great feeling, actually...but I am looking forward to having shipped the last one and taking a short break :-)

Tea with a bit of desk work.

Today shall be improved from yesterday by the simple act of taking a shower. That and eating breakfast.

Time to sleep.

Not stressing... :-)

Overdosing on zinc, vitamins c and d, honey, water, celery juice, and of course coffee. body can just get rid of what it doesn't need, otherwise want to make sure it has more than usual for the next few weeks.

Planning the day and week ahead.

Choosing to not work through orders today, need to rest as I'm already feeling a bit run down from the current pace of work. Will be back at it tomorrow. Baking instead, some knitting, football, paperwork, etc.

No time like the present.

Tired but have goals to hit before taking Thursday off for Thanksgiving.

Have been in an absolutely terrible state of mind since Wednesday night. Hoping putting up the small amount of Christmas decorations I have, baking chocolate chip cookies, and watching a Christmas movie will help.

Going to be a heavy coffee day.

Hiding today.

Weekend was very good but very full...may need a power nap to push through the afternoon.

Making pancakes this morning and then soft pretzels for the Packers/Steelers game later today.

First up for the day: making challah (will be my first time).

Another late work night, which is ok. Home Alone playing in the background.

Now page updated -

Feeling pleased with the unpredictable nature of life.

Insane morning so far.

A great day...the resignation part of my day went very well...pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

Watching Jumanji (1995)

Silo 👍

I am feeling oddly good about things/life at the moment...which is a strange way to feel...I kinda like it :-)

Wasn't able to take the bikes home yesterday, but we picked them out from a local bike shop yesterday. I'll go back on Monday and finalize and take them home! We are both eager to ride together...maybe even dipping our toes into bikepacking!

I love a "productive" journaling session where I start with a problem at the beginning of writing and by the end have it figured out. Too much fun.

Had a great evening yesterday in Baltimore, MD at the Aquarium's member night - a simple trip that doesn't seem to get old.

Hoping to get a bike this weekend and excited for the Summer ahead and the rides that I'll be able to do with my 9/10 year-old!

Back to tracking my time (personal, work, etc) with Toggl and I'm thankful for it. I've missed the insights gained by such a task.

Starting to watch Silo.

Happy for the sun shining today!

Cloudy but focused (trying to be).

First sip. Never gets old.

Have been enjoying Perry Mason on HBO lately.

Time to conquer the list.

Way in my head lately. Eager to get through this personal chapter of life.

Some nights I have to stay up later...a feeling I just kinda follow to see where it goes.

Have been formulating a lot of things in my mind lately, working out details, thinking ahead. Lots of custom leather projects in motion, but believe I may have also hit a semi-good stride with a writing project that I've been putting off for too long.

Mostly admin type work today. Necessary evil.

Eventually, maybe in a few months, I think I'll be at a good flow with managing everything (fingers crossed). But then I'll probably be moving (hopefully buying again, will call it my second first house) a year or so after. A few years ahead of when I had planned but needed.

So many thoughts and ideas running through my head at the moment, moving so fast I can't grab any of them. Sleep now and hopefully the important ones present themselves to me in the morning.

It is very loud in the quiet of my mind. Calm is in the future, something I am striving towards, but is still mostly out of reach.

looking forward to tomorrow, later this morning, when I will embark on my first woodworking project since early 2021. Nothing fancy, but is going to be a therapeutic exercise which leads to a very functional and long lasting addition to how I organize my work.

Sometimes, when I am least expecting it, I feel a deep sadness and there is nothing I can do but just feel it. Never quite sure what I am supposed to do with it.

One day soon, maybe this weekend, I envision myself making my usual French press and then sitting down at my computer to publish a few things and tinker on my various websites.

Next two days planned. This week is my last big push to get caught up on most of my work, making room to focus on some process improvements and learn a few new skills.

Enjoyed doing nothing for a few hours today and watched the Chiefs v. Jaguars. Will do a bit more of the same tomorrow afternoon. Still in a mode/mood of recovering from 2022, which I expect to last through this month.

Some quiet time before a busy day tomorrow. Lots of positive updates to share eventually, mostly related to my leather work. Oh, and I picked up my new Ray-Ban titanium glasses today and wowza are they comfortable!

This week is back to the grind. Spending today prepping for the week and quarter ahead. Eager for the year, both personally and professionally!

Leather product ideas are flowing, really excited about the focus for 2023. I made a significant financial investment yesterday in the future of that hobby that has become a business. Much more to come.

Feeling good about the status of things. All customer Christmas orders complete and delivered, my Christmas gifts are in-progress and will be finished soon. Tomorrow is a mix of work, video games, and comfort food.

last working weekend of the year!

Coffee, rain (was hoping for snow though!), focused work.

Increasing vitamin intake for the new few weeks, specifically C and Zinc.

Books ordered from a local-ish bookshop (hour drive). Planning to make a trip in the near future to pick them up. Will be a good break from routine.

Christmas music, coffee, wrapping gifts.

Tea now, then sleep.

Exhausted. Looking forward to a short break on Sunday!

Despite the insane work schedule this time of year I am keeping with my morning writing routine. Helps to setup the rest of my day.

Rain today, which I find myself enjoying more and more lately (which is new for me). Also new is wishing it was a bit colder so the precipitation would be snow.

Felt affection in my dreams last night. Slept longer than I should have as a result.

I shouldn't, but I need a break that isn't sleeping: watching Slow Horses S2E1

Planning to take "off" the last week of the year...looking forward to it!

Holidays feel much different with the divorce being finalized, feeling rather blue today. That aside, I am thankful for the rainy morning, my routine of hot French press coffee, and another day!

This morning I am happy to report that I was up early enough to watch the city around me transform from dark as night to light as day.

Since we've started having consistent days in the 30's, I open a window every morning and crack the door to my studio apartment - doing so drops the temperature a few degrees quickly but also gives my space a blast of fresh air as the night air is pushed out the door.

Christmas orders have me in "the zone" from 8am to midnight most days lately, with breaks for coffee and food. Quitting early today. Need rest before starting again tomorrow morning :-)

I do love the morning coffee ritual.

Admin type work first: emails, print shipping labels, reply to marketplace messages, etc. Once those important items are completed the real work can begin!

The mild Autumn weather continues! Sitting outside with my coffee this morning.

enjoying my coffee on this rainy morning.

I love waking up and starting the day with an epiphany. Sleep is fascinating.

32℉ outside, 77℉ in my apartment without the heat on...the climate control inside has been interesting the past few weeks. Have the windows up and fans on to cool it down in here.

Watching the latest episode of Andor with Mozzie.

Thankful for a morning that feels more appropriate for the season. Down in the 30's, first time in a few weeks.

Happy with today. Small amount of progress made across many different projects, no major roadblocks along the way!

Typical Monday so far: BUSY!

Tea to bring the day to a close.

Rainy Sunday morning - quite possibly the best!

what a day. exhausted at the end of it, as usual! spent some time reading to my 9-year-old this evening. he asked, I debated (I like the idea of him continuing to develop that skill on his own) but thankfully made the right decision. Time now for bed.

Coffee now, thankfully, while publishing a few thoughts elsewhere, then wrapping up a client project...then barbershop for a shave and then a cigar!

Thankful for the cloudy day today...will make it a bit easier to regulate the temp inside :-)

what a day!

The quiet before fully starting one's day...

Coffee and writing, favorite time of my day.

time to rest.

a bit of writing

tired but still a few more things to get to before oh so wonderful sleep.