< Notes...

Gulp! This happened again. Twenty something something years. What to do that’s memorable, enjoyable, and worry free? I am already feeling that third! 😅 Well, to start with, I am going to “disconnect”. Just for the day, of course.

Horses birthday’s today. Happy birthday, Horsie! 🎂🥳❤️ She already got her favourite morning drink (coffee) prepared by yours truly. Her gifts are on the kitchen table, let’s see when she sees them 🤭. Later today we have a date at The H, and tomorrow… back to work! 😅

Picked up Horsie at the airport today. She spent a weekend with friends on the West Coast. They went to Vegas, and had a good fun, but she couldn’t wait to be back home, to her own bed (where she now sleeps), to her Monkey. She told me that, and make me feel very special! 🙈

The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come.

Attributed to Confucious, the quote above was paraphrased on the “Perfect Crown” (★★★☆☆) , a Korean series Horsie is forcing me to see. The translated caption on a text written in Seoye by the monarch on the series reads “In times of peace, do not forget danger, in times of prosperity, do not forget ruin, in times of order, do not forget chaos”. Indeed.

Grabbing everything bagel chips from the box, and re-arranging said box afterward, so that Horsie doesn’t realise I have taken some, is the ultimate deception. Let’s see how well I fare. 😅

Spent half of the afternoon replacing Horsie’s vehicle’s tyre. She got a really, really big screw precisely on the side edge of the tyre, which made it impossible to patch. A costly endeavour, indeed!

It also annoyed me that she would get a flat so soon. Of course, not her fault, yet, I battled the feeling. On top of that I worried about the shop damaging the rim, or something else. These days that’s a flip of a coin. Luckily—I think—it felt on the side that favours us this time.

Came across the UniFi Travel Router on George’s very well written post. What an amazing little device! I know I don’t need one because, sadly, I don’t travel often enough to take full advantage of it, but as I commented on his post, I am going to ask Horsie to budget for one, as a want (yeah, I am setting my expectations low 😜).

I have been wishing, on and off, to dabble with infrared (IR) photography. I have not done it because of money. Converting my Sony α7ii to a full spectrum camera costs over $500, plus the filter ($100 for a 850nm). Even if was willing to spend that amount of money (I am not), Horsie is already pretty mad at me because I have spent money on more than one camera in the past, and ended up not using them. The Sony has been languishing in my office for the last 3-4 years, or more.

As I finished washing Horsie’s wagon, and was about to apply tyre shine, it started to rain. Had to rush to move the car into the garage, where I finished the cleaning just now. From 16:00 to almost 19:00, and I didn’t even have time to apply a ceramic coating. I am tired now, boss. Dog tired.

Was just telling Horsie about a program I listened to on NPR, which related to horses, and their whinnies. They theorised that the high sound isn’t coming from the vocal cords, but from just above the larynx, being similar to a whistle (in human terms) instead. Horsie told me they don’t use it to communicate anymore because for that they have “Horsemobile”, a portmanteau, so to speak, similar to “T-Mobile”. 🤣

Feeling guilty beyond belief after eating around 8 fluid ounces of Häagen-Dazs’s caramel cone ice cream. I told the Horsie not to buy it (she ordered rum and raisins, they delivered caramel cone), but she didn’t listen. Can that be considered an excuse? I mean, once it is paid for, it would be a shame to simply toss it, wouldn’t be?

That’s it, this was the last time. No more ice cream for me!

If that MacBook Neo advertisement isn’t incredibly well done, I don’t know what is! Horsie needs a laptop of her own, maybe one of these awaits her?

I have noted about sponsoring, and donating before. I recently came across this organisation, while reading about Yolanthe Cabau because of a Dutch movie Horsie was watching.

Every day, children around the world are trafficked, deceived, and forced into sexual exploitation. Free a Girl works to rescue these children and provide them with a safe place to recover. Together with local partners, we conduct undercover missions, support police investigations, and build long-term change — from protection to the prosecution of perpetrators.

You will agree that it is another worthy cause. A one time $25 will not make us that much poorer. What say you?

Even though I moved away from using 1Password in 2023, Horsie wasn’t able to do so. With their upcoming price increase she now promises, for sure, “cross my heart and hope to die”, to she will stop using it before our next renewal date comes up (November 2026).

I just had the best Horsemade jajangmyeon. Granted, the black beans paste was purchased, as well as the noodles, but the pork cooking and flavouring, vegetables, the extra spiciness and flavours, and the timing and execution were all Horsie’s. Soooo delicious! It made true the saying “a barriga llena, corazón contento” (full belly, full heart), for sure!

Horsie mentioned to Martin that recently our credit score took a -7 points hit, to which he replied “Well, 7 points down isn’t a disgrace. You can still look the neighbours in the face 😐”. 🤣

We came to see bố today, just like we do every weekend. It is a less than an hour visit, just to bring him some food, check on him, and tidy up his space. I also checked on Kathleen and Roxanne. Kathleen thanked us for the madeleines we left by her bedside last weekend (I was waiting for her, but she was taking an eternity in the bathroom, so I had leave). Roxanne was in the day room, being amused by the bunch of other elderly folks who get together on weekends to read, play dominoes, and otherwise engage in all sorts of tomfooleries. 🤭

I also went to visit a newly “adopted” resident. She is an elderly Vietnamese lady, who seems not to have much family around. The last two times Horsie and I passed by to see her she didn’t mutter a word. Today I brought her a madeleine, and she said “Cảm ơn”. Baby steps.

Happy New Year of the Horse, everyone! May this year be good or, at the very least, better than the Snake we are leaving behind. This year is, on its entirety, the year of my Horsie, which is, well, a Horse! 😅

There is no better way to start my Valentine’s Day than sipping coffee next to my Monkey, and then going to auntie’s house to replace all her light bulbs—yes, you read right, all of them! Coming home with a white chocolate mocha with extra whip for Horsie tops it off.

These two photos were taken by Horsie somewhere in Rome, NY, in December, 2019. That’s the kind of winter I wish we’d have. Instead all we have is 24°C, with 58% of humidity.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we are hosting, like we do almost every year. This time around we are expecting 22 people, all family. As you can imagine, it is going to be a busy day. I am on clean up duty, before and afterwards. Yay! 😅 Still, happy to see a bunch of the family at once, and share a meal with them. As Horsie said, elders have their time left counted—but, don’t we all?—and we never know if we will be able to share a day again with them.

Even though I was able to move away from using 1Password back then, Horsie wasn’t, or didn’t. So, here we are, two years after, and a $59.85 subscription renewal coming up on 23 November. Of course she promises this year will be the last. 🙄

Coming across Horsie’s many boxes and paper piles brings reflection. If it was up to me they would be gone long time ago. They are… attachments. I want to believe they are. Anyway, for that reason an old Mark Pilgrim’s blog post came to mind, and I had to go hunting for it.

“I had been waiting for the facts inside these boxes to change. Of course facts do not change; only people change. And with that, I dumped them in the trash and hauled them to the curb, still unopened after all these years.”

Will that time come for Horsie? I am going to work harder now to get rid of things I might have accumulated and left unused for years. If anything so that others—specifically loved ones—don’t inherit that burden.

The Horsie and I watched “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (★★★★★) last night. This is the—wow, had to pause to think here—sixth time I have seeing this movie, but the very first, and probably last, with the Horsie. She was rather lost, because she hasn’t seeing the preceding movie on the trilogy, nor any other based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings.

Call me weird, but I don’t tire of seeing them.

Came across Wealth which was illustrative, rather accurate, and super easy to read (and I loved the page design, and font, but I digress). Though still not fully set, Horsie set us at an upper ↑3. That is:

“If they lose their job, it’s financially stressful, but they can make it a few months without income. Upper ↑3 could even make it a year if they maxed out their credit cards. They generally can choose where to work, and to leave terrible work environments. Their hours are dictated.”

I pinged a retired friend about it, sending him the link, and asking “Pick your ↑X Wealth 🤑”. He replied:

Yes, I’m #6 (Rich) and am striving to be #7 (Ultra Rich). 🤑 I found 6 figures to 7 figures and to 8 figures fairly easy to obtain, but that jump to 9 figures ($100M) seems like an incredibly huge mission that I don’t think I’ll see in my lifetime. Hopefully the Dynasty Trust I leave to my heirs will someday reach that level. 😇👍

➝ Via Hacker News.

With 1°C (feels -6°C) temperatures today is, by far and so far, the coldest day of the year around here. Horsie freezes. I am already dressed with my shorts and tshirt to go grab coffee at mum’s, and go walking with ông. Sun shines!

I had to wait around 30 minutes, and finally provide aid, in order to get $40 “digital gift card” for the Horsie, while opening a Costco membership for the first time throught a reseller. I will tell you this much: I would have, gladly, given away $40 not to go through that. 😅

This weekend we have watched two movies, so far. “Joy Ride” (★★★★☆) , a comedy, was fun to watch. With never a dull moment, and surprising—often shocking—hilarious outcomes, it kept us laughing in between WTFs. If you are into comedies, with a girl’s twist, you will like this one.

“Wonka” (★★★★☆) was a joy to watch. Not quite a musical, I would say, even though it is, it was entertaining and well done. It was a new twist to Willy Wonka, seemingly the precursor of the Wonka movies we have seeing before—you know, before he builds his factory.

These are two little nuggets I have under this domain, which I had forgotten about but found earlier today while cleaning old staled DNS records. Both safe to execute, I promise. The first:

dig +short txt badhorse.netbros.com | sed 's/[\" ]//g' | base64 -d

And the second, similarly:

dig +short txt poem.netbros.com | sed 's/[\" ]//g' | base64 -d

Horsie and I watched “The Treacherous” (★★★★☆) last night. Same king as the one on “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty”, different twist. First Korean movie I see that’s sexually explicit; it truly suprised me. Worth watching, it’s a good movie.

Last night was movies night with Kim. We saw “About My Father” (★★★★☆) first. It is a comedy, so we enjoyed it quite a bit. Good cast, light, but entertaining plot. I would recommend. The second movie we saw was “Ice Road: Vengeance” (★☆☆☆☆) , which was a total, and absolute flop. The only reason we finished watching it was because of the time we had already invested on it. Avoid at all cost; trust me on this one.

I added a new recipe to my shared (with my wife and other family members) “Recipes” folder on Notes, which ruffled some feathers. My wife asked me, “Why do you keep adding recipes if you never make them? Are you waiting for me to cook them?” Secretly, between you and me, I am! 🤭

“Do you want to see it?” – asks the Horse about “Building The Band”. “I am going to take a bath.” “Turn it off, turn it off, I want us to see it together.” – I reply while gesturing by closing my left hand, uniting all fingers tips, Italian style. “We will see it together” – replies the Horse, “… or not”. We both laugh.

Partner just announced, to my delight, that tonight we will have thinly sliced pork for dinner. It comes with rice, because, duh, rice is godly, and a mixed salad which I plan to dress with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Salivating already.

I wish everyone was like mum, when it comes to be on guard, and suspicious, about everything Internet. I have given her the cookie-cutter talk about Internet security, in simple terms, but I have always told her, “If you have any doubts, you can always call me, and I will come to help you.” And she sure does! At least once every couple of weeks I get such call, or message. Today was one of those days.

As a bonus I get fed as well. I am not sure if ever mentioned it, but mum’s cooking is second only to partner’s. Of course, I tell each the same. They really are both wonderful.

I don’t think I have noted about this before, it doesn’t come up on the few searches I have run. I have been procrastinating a move to a newer VPS. This one has been running since Ubuntu 16.04, and it is now at 22.04. It is running out of space, and I truly need to replace it. Hmm…

I figure the only way to get me moving is by renting the new server, and then having to worry about paying double expenses. Then my partner will make sure I do something about it! 😂

Can’t wait to enjoy that extremely delightful—and nutritious—pumpkin soup that Horsie is cooking. I minced the garlic, and chopped the onions, and peeled the pumpkin, so we can say it’s a team effort, right? I will also eat it with pleasure! After all, what’s good food without a consumer? 🤭

Twenty seven years is a long time, don’t you think? Yet I look back and wonder, where did the time go? Really! With ups and downs, but no regrets, I love you, Horsie! —Signed, “Conniving” Monkey.

“Oh, a horse with a horn is called a unicorn/A horse with stripes is called a zebra/A horse with wings is called Pegasus/And a horse with a broken leg is called glue.”

Poor broken leg horse. I shall not show this to Horsie, because it will make her sad, and even cry. She will know is a joke, but who jokes like that with “family”?

It is Horsie’s birthday today. This is the first time I mention about Horsie’s birthday here, which I find odd, somehow. Anyway, celebrations start now, as she has left the bed 😂.