Hey gang, it’s been a long while. A lot has happened since my last post way back in 2024. Where to start…? I suppose we’ll just start from the beginning and work our way to today.

The Great Ecosystem Swap

At the start of the year, I decided to move away from the Google ecosystem (if you can even call it that). After living with the Pixel 7 Pro for a while, I found myself wanting a total change of pace rather than just another linear upgrade.

I went all-in on Apple, picking up the iPhone 16 Pro Max and swapping my Pixel Watch 2 for the Apple Watch Series 10. Honestly? I’ve been loving the shift. The hardware feels incredibly premium and the integration between the watch and phone is exactly as seamless as they say it is. Of course, it hasn't been without its friction. The biggest hurdle has been navigating the messy SMS/RCS/iMessage headache. Sending photos to Android contacts is still like playing a long game of telephone where the message gets garbled along the way. Despite the blue-vs-green bubble war, the polished hardware has made the switch well worth it.

Getting My Hands Dirty

During the spring, I decided to play mechanic for a bit. I replaced my car's brake pads and rotors, did an oil change, and gave it a thorough deep clean. I had planned on flushing the coolant system and replacing the reservoir too, but some things are better left for another day.

It was a rewarding learning experience, mostly because I did it entirely solo, but I can safely say I won’t be doing it again anytime soon. I felt like I had been ran over by a car for about a week afterwards.

Trips to Boston

Shortly after the car saga, I headed to PAX East. To be honest, a lot of the floor is a blur of neon lights and crowds, but one highlight stands out from this last visit: sitting through a panel that mapped out the real-world Boston landmarks seen in Fallout 4. It’s always cool to see how developers interpret the city I've traveled through. I haven't snagged my tickets for the next one yet, but I’ll be getting them soon. Can't break the streak now!

The summer was filled with trips to Fenway. I don’t think the Red Sox won a single game I attended (maybe I’m the bad luck charm?), but there’s still nothing quite like the atmosphere of a live game with a "Fenway Frank" in hand.

High Stakes and Heartbreak in Vegas

In my last week note, I mentioned getting tickets to the WWWY festival in Las Vegas. My partner and I made a whole week of it. Before the festival kicked off, we trekked through Death Valley and Joshua Tree. The landscapes there are otherworldly; I took a bunch of photos and might upload an album for y'all to look through eventually.

_{A photo around sunset coming back from Joshua Tree National Park, shortly after getting off of Route 66.}

The festival itself was incredible. We arrived around 4:00 PM just as Simple Plan was wrapping up. Every performance was top-notch, but the highlight was Spencer Smith coming out to perform with Panic! At The Disco after years of being away from the band. For the 20th anniversary of their first album, it was the perfect "emo kid" fever dream.

However, life has a way of balancing the highs with the lows. Shortly after returning from Vegas, my cat passed away. I was at work when it happened, but I'm so thankful my mother was there to hold her in her final moments. It’s incredibly hard to say goodbye to a companion you wish could stay by your side forever. I’ve kept her ashes close by, so in a way, she’s never truly gone.

_{Photo of my cat, circa 2016.}

Birthdays and Big Surprises

When my birthday rolled around, I tried to play it cool like it was "no big deal." My partner had other plans. She managed to coordinate a surprise visit from my best friend, something I never would have expected. The four of us (me, my partner, my best friend, and their partner) took a trip to the Lizzie Borden House to soak in some macabre history. We also hit up the casino, where I actually walked away with $90 in winnings. I’ll take that as a win for the year.

The Disney Sprint

To cap off the year, my partner’s parents gifted us a trip to Walt Disney World. It was my very first time going, and my partner’s millionth. We only had two days to see everything, which meant we were on a mission. We absolutely nailed it, though. I’m especially glad I got to experience DINOSAUR and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster before they get reimagined into whatever comes next.

_{Photo of the Iguanodon named Aladar outside of the DINOSAUR attraction.}

It’s been a whirlwind of a year. New tech, new places, and some tough goodbyes. I’m hoping to be a bit more consistent with these posts in 2026, but we’ll see where the road leads.