Simple Living

Discovering Git After Years of Coding A Late but Welcome Introduction I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that after all these years of writing code, I never truly utilized Git. Instead, I relied on my own improvised version-control system—saving off code in separate files and appending date stamps. It worked , but after finally learning Git through W3Schools, I realized just how much easier things could have been all along. Why Old Habits Sometimes Stick Even now, I still see the utility of the “old-fashioned” approach. There’s something simple and comforting about having physical files you can browse without needing a tool or command line. Not every experiment or quick idea needs a Git workflow, and that’s okay. Git isn’t a mandate—it’s a tool. Practice Makes Things Click Like anything worth learning, Git only made sense once I took my time and practiced deliberately. I’ve been dabbling with it for a few months—since at least March—and now, here in November, after about 20 focused hours o...

Leatherman Supertool 300 vs. Swiss Army Knife Trekker Cutting: Trekker for the Win After using the Trekker on a November trip, it provided exactly what it promises. If most of your multitool use is cutting, it’s hard to beat—light, easy to open, and great for camp tasks like slicing small logs, feathering wood, and cutting cord. Pliers: Supertool 300’s Strength For pliers-heavy work, the Supertool 300 is the clear winner. It’s strong and built for real gripping and twisting. But since I usually have full-size tools nearby, I rarely needed multitool pliers, and my Supertool mostly went unused. Real-World Carry The biggest difference is weight. The Supertool is tough but heavy, so I didn’t carry it daily. The Trekker is light, so it always ended up in my pocket— and because I carried it, it got used. Shelf Tool vs. Everyday Tool Over time, the Supertool became a shelf tool: cool, but not needed. The Trekker earned its place because it handles everyday tasks without trying to rep...

1st Epic 16-Day Road Trip Across the Southwest & West Coast Planning 4,500 Miles • 67 Hours of Driving • May 2026 After a handful of successful shorter road trips, decided it was time: 1st  true EPIC road trip — from Dallas all the way across the American Southwest, up the California coast, through the Rocky Mountains, and back home. I wanted a journey that blended nature, adventure, and city fun .  I'll continue planning and adjusting as I near May 2026, before setting out on a 16-day adventure (13 nights + 2 buffer nights) covering national parks, beaches, famous cities, and stunning landscapes. Long Term Goal - 30 States by 2028 Eventually, I want to visit as many States accessibly by regular roads and envision breaking it out into a series of multi-week excursions starting with this tour then a Southeast (2027) and Northeast (2028).  If time permits, I'll try for all 48 States, but even just a single epic road trip is awesome. States Visiting (In Driving Order) T...

Thanksgiving Road Trip: Camping, Bricktown, and a Smooth Cruise up I-35 Adventure Creek Ranch - Texas Lido Restaurant - OKC Renaissance Hotel - OKC Bricktown - OKC Bricktown Brewery - OKC Road Trip I-35 1. Adventure Creek Ranch @ Forestburg, TX I kicked off Thanksgiving break with a much-needed escape into the outdoors near Forestburg, Texas, at Adventure Creek Ranch. They have some incredibly creative cabins—everything from Star Wars themes to Hobbit-style hideaways. I spent two nights in their Yellowstone-themed cabin, which turned out to be exactly what I needed to unplug. With barely any cell or internet service, I spent most of my time outside—driving around in a Kawasaki UTV, enjoying the quiet, and embracing the challenge of cooking over a campfire. It took me about 90 minutes to get that first fire going. I made it intentionally difficult by using wet logs and limited tinder—just dry grass and strips of bark from mountain cedar trees—to test my survival skills. Armed only with ...

Going Back to a Computer Instead of a Smartphone When Did Smartphones Take Over? When did we become so attached to our smartphones that we now find them more comfortable for tasks a computer is obviously superior at? Watching a movie, typing a document, reading long-form content—nearly all of these activities are easier and more efficient on a computer, especially a laptop. Yet our smartphones remain the default choice for so many of us. Why We Prefer Smartphones Part of the irony is that laptops are better tools for many tasks, but smartphones are always within reach. They’re lighter, instantly on, and woven into our daily habits. I’ve realized that one reason my laptops—now over a decade old—still function well is because they’re barely used. They get powered on only a few times a week, while my smartphone is active six to eight hours a day. Intentionally Shifting Back Lately, I’ve been making a deliberate effort to use my laptop more often. I’ve started doing things like watc...

2026 Goals and Aspirations My goal for 2026 is to minimize distractions and focus on activities that will foster both professional and personal growth. This includes cutting out video gaming, particularly mobile apps, and improving my wardrobe by replacing 10 items and adding 14 higher-quality pieces. 1. Lifestyle Goals This year, I want to focus on habits that improve productivity and mental clarity. Abstain from Video Games: Reduce distractions to dedicate more time to learning, reading, and self-improvement. I noticed I was spending 1-2 hours per day on my phone playing video games.  I gain no benefit other than wasting 10-14 hours per week. 2. Wardrobe Goals I plan to bring balance and organization to my wardrobe. Currently, I own 46 items , and my goal is to reach 50 items with the following net additions: Add a second pair of shorts Add two more shirts Add a fifth pair of shoes What I've learned is rather than focus on a specific minimum quantities o...

Costco Wine Haul for the 2025 Holiday Season Getting Ready for the Holidays I stocked up on a few wines from Costco for the 2025 holiday season—something for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. I love GSM blends from Côtes du Rhône, so I was drawn to the Bordeaux and Priorat options. Costco’s European wines continue to deliver great value compared to California bottles, though Paso Robles is catching up. I’m still not ready to spend $80–100 on Napa Cabs, so the $20–40 range at Costco is perfect. I’ve tried three of the four wines so far, saving the Priorat for Christmas. 2019 Reignac - Bulk Buy This one blew me away. It had everything I love—great aroma, smooth texture with a touch of dryness, and a clean finish. At $30, it rivals far pricier Bordeaux labels. I bought several more and plan to let a few age. 2023 Pauillac - Bulk Buy Another hit. For $20, this is a fantastic deal. I tried it after the Reignac, so I’ll need to revisit it on its own, but I liked it enough t...

Texas Roadhouse Bone-In Ribeye: Their Best Steak I recently tried the bone-in ribeye at Texas Roadhouse after years of ordering their regular steaks — and now I wish I had discovered it sooner.  The flavor and juiciness are on another level. The bone helps keep the steak tender and adds that rich, steakhouse taste I usually only find at higher-end places. At $30.99 for a 20-ounce cut, it’s an incredible deal. You get a big, flavorful steak that easily beats most others on the menu. If you usually stick with the sirloin or boneless ribeye, do yourself a favor and try the bone-in next time — it’s the best steak Texas Roadhouse serves.

Stepping Out of the Box: My First Pair of New Balance 515s Moving Beyond Nike and Adidas For years, I stuck with what I knew: Nike and Adidas. My daily lineup included Air Force 1s, Stan Smiths, Air Jordans, and Nike Milers. But after logging 7–9k steps a day, I started craving something different — something built more for walking comfort than style alone. A Solid Find: New Balance 515 I’d always been curious about New Balance, so when I found the 515 in Navy, Size 10 Wide for $50 (down from $75), I jumped on it. Right away, I noticed a big difference. The uppers felt incredibly light , almost like I wasn’t wearing shoes at all — a huge contrast to the more structured feel of my Nikes and Adidas. That Retro Feel The 515s have a vintage, laid-back style that instantly reminded me of my old Onitsuka Tigers . That mix of suede and mesh, paired with a low-profile silhouette, gives them a nostalgic edge — like a modern update on a classic runner. It’s a subtle throwback that sti...

2026 Wardrobe and Reflections on my 5-Year Spending Patterns As 2025 comes to a close, I’m focusing on refining my wardrobe and budget for 2026. Over the past few years, I’ve built a system that prioritizes intentional purchases, high-value basics, and long-term wear. This year is about thoughtful upgrades, smart replacements, and sticking with what works. What surprised me was how much I spend on clothing & shoes.  For past 5 years its constituted almost ~70% of my total expenditures.  In comparison, I spend very little on hobbies and technology.  But this makes sense as I've been investing in more expensive but quality clothing items. Funding Source I budget myself $60 a week in discretionary spending for annual $3,120 personal allowance.  About 1/3 dedicated to these planned purchases and rest for meals, drinks and incidentals.  As I've not seen a major increase in spending, I've not seen a need to increase this any further. 2026 Budget Overview ...

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone Air: My Take on Form vs Function Why I Care About This Comparison I’ve used the 14 Pro in the past, and more recently the base iPhone 16. Those experiences shaped how I look at Apple’s lineup today. While the Pro phones impressed me with their 120 Hz ProMotion displays, I found myself frustrated with their heft. The battery life wasn’t dramatically better than the base model either, which left me questioning whether all that extra bulk was worth it. That’s where the iPhone Air won me over. It’s slim, elegant, and feels fantastic in the hand — quintessential Apple design. It may not have all the bells and whistles, but it strikes a balance I appreciate in day-to-day use. The Form of the iPhone Air For me, the Air represents form at its best. It’s light, beautifully balanced, and carries that classic Apple minimalism I’ve always admired. It doesn’t overwhelm my pocket or my hand, which is more than I can say for the Pro Max models. Yes, it sacrif...

After One Month: Why the iPhone Air Is Losing Its Shine After a month with the iPhone Air, I finally understand why some people are returning it while others are holding on to it. Personally, I’m leaning toward the first group. The excitement has worn off, and I’m starting to feel a bit of buyer’s remorse. In hindsight, I probably should’ve gone with the base iPhone 17 instead—it’s got a 6.3-inch screen, dual cameras, better battery life, and it’s $200 cheaper. As sleek and modern as the Air is, it’s starting to lose its luster for me. Why I Chose the iPhone Air I’d been holding on to my aging Samsung A32 as a work phone for too long. My main device had been the iPhone 16, but with the launch of the iPhone Air, my plan seemed perfect: the Air would become my personal phone, and the 16 would move to work duty. What caught my attention was Apple’s marketing pitch—a thinner, lighter iPhone that still featured the 120 Hz ProMot...

The Best Smart Home Upgrade: Kasa Smart Plugs The Kasa smart plug has been the most cost-effective upgrade in my home. I’ve connected almost every lamp to one, letting me control them all from my iPhone with a tap or simple schedules. They’re inexpensive, easy to set up, and don’t require a hub. That made it simple to expand room by room without spending much. The biggest bonus comes when traveling—my lights can make the house look lived-in, and if my cameras detect movement, I can instantly turn lamps on for extra security. Small device, big impact.

When Retirement Savings Finally Got Real I didn’t get serious about retirement savings until just a few years ago. For most of my working life, I was contributing about 8% of my income into my 401(k). Not bad, but not nearly as powerful as what I’m doing now. As of last year, I finally committed to maxing out my contributions. That change has put my retirement trajectory on a whole new path. The Power of Compounding Using a 7% annual market growth assumption, here’s how things look: 11 years from now: around $1 million total balance. 15 years from now: about $1.4 million. 20 years from now: it leaps to $2.6 million. 25 years from now: crossing $4 million. Full retirement age (late 60s): close to $5.8 million. Compounding is slow and steady in the beginning, then suddenly exponential. Seeing the numbers stack up has been motivating. The Catch I can’t withdraw from my 401(k) without penalties until 59½. That means even if I wanted to step away earlier, I’d h...