So… here it is! I’m excited to share my first post. There are so many various topics I’m excited to share about in the near future, but I’ll start with what comes to mind about today.

Tonight is Christmas Eve, and also my wife’s birthday. She is a year and a half older than me, but I always like to say how she looks multiple years younger and hotter than me (not in self-deprecation, but simply a compliment). Her celebration was low-key this year, since neither of us wanted to spend much money. However, we went out to brunch with her sister and nephew, and had a kickback at our place last weekend.

While admittedly, I feel a bit insecure about my creative gift-giving ineptitudes, I bought her a Baggu bag she wanted, wrote a thoughtful card, and got found an Etsy seller to make a PDF map showing Doe Donuts, our first in-person date on December 12, 2020, titled “Where It All Began.” I got it professionally printed on thick poster-sized cardstock at Walgreens. It still has to be framed, but I’m proud of myself nonetheless for endeavoring outside of my comfort zone in service of a love language towards another. My mother-in-law helped wrap the gift, and my wife seemed truly touched by it.

Also, today is my first day of vacation, after working Monday and Tuesday, and my wife gets a two week hiatus from work. Neither of us work until Monday, January 5th! We feel privileged to have some time off. A low stress end to 2025 is welcome and eager development to say the least!

Having grown up in the Portland, Oregon area, I am very well acquainted with the cold, dark, and rainy winters. However, I’ve managed to avoid seasonal depression as contrasted with many I know. As a side benefit of feeling better, I’ve rarely been getting sick. With my recent outdoor marathon training, sleeping well, taking vitamins, and mostly eating healthy, I’ve felt okay thus far. Plus, now that I’ve finished school, I invested in a Meadows value ski pass to join one of my best friends, so I’ll get to thrive, not just survive this winter.

Merry Christmas Eve, and happy holidays, no matter who or how you celebrate. Cheers!