Now

A page where I can post about my current passions and projects. Updated periodically, and not all sections will get updates.

Vibes

Ever since summer started, we’ve had either a severe heat warning, or a severe thunderstorm/flash flood watch every day. Sometimes both on the same day! So if you want to go for a walk and decide to wait until it cools down, too bad you get soaked.

I joined a low stakes step challenge for June and hit 400k steps! That’s an average of 13.3k/day, without breaking my 10k/day streak.

Still unemployed and burnt out seeing the same job listings on repeat, always posted and never seemingly filled.

Currently Reading

Using a Kindle Paperwhite 2023 because I’ve been spoiled and will never go back to paper - at least for read.

Storygraph Profile

Just Finished

• Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf
• Book club book for June (since it’s pride month)
• Orlando traces through gender and centuries, experiencing life as it comes and sometimes grabbing it by the tails

Just Started

• The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
• I just finished Yellowface and figured I would try Kuang’s other works. Really enjoying it so far.

Paused

• The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen
  • Finally trying some nonfiction
  • I’ve always preferred handwritten notes to typed notes if the goal was to learn and understand, so this may be interesting
  • Recommended by a friend, so should be doubly-interesting. Hopefully it can hold my attention
  • Update: it did not. I’m reading one chapter at a time, occasionally. There’s barely enough here to keep me interested for a chapter, much less multiple in a row.

Learning/Productivity/Projects

Philly Radio Stuff

• I am getting more involved with local radio nerds, including getting a HAM license!
  • I’m taking the Tech exam in a few days so I’ve been studying every day
• A big part of this push is from messing around with meshtastic, which has progressed to the point where I’m on the “operations” committee.
  • I’m excited to finally be involved in a group trying to do some material and achievable goal, like work with the Philly government to allow nodes on city buildings

Job Hunting

• Not really a project, but that’s what I’m doing.
• Unemployment ran out so I need to find something.
  • Hopefully better than a L1 helpdesk tech, but if that’s what it takes, at least it’ll be some experience to go with my skills

Currently Inked/Stationery Corner

Yes I’m a fountain pen nerd. This should not come as a surprise.

Pens and Inks

• Pilot Vanishing Point Black Carbonesque <M>
  • Pen purchased by my brother as a birthday present when he was dragged to the Philly Pen show
  • Currently inked with Pelikan Rose Quartz, the ink from the 2023 Pelikan Hub

• Schon Design Ultem Pen with FPR Ultraflex Nib
  • Purchased at the Philadelphia Pen Show 2024, my first Pen Show
  • Ian Schon is a really cool dude, was willing to chat for a bit about other alternative/cursed materials for a pen
  • Using this pen to finish up all my ink samples, since I can just pour the ink right into the eyedropper barrel
  • Unfortunately the stock (Jowo) nib was bent during cleaning so I took the opportunity to put in my ultraflex nib instead
  • Currently inked with Diamine Robert sheening ink
• Lamy Studio Imperial Blue <F>
  • Pen purchased while visiting a friend in L.A.
  • Inked with a LAMY Violet cartridge

• Spoke Design Roady, in titanium and black delrin
  • No, it’s not a fountain pen, but it sure is nice. Especially with the magnets to give a satisfying click
  • Won it in a Pen Addict twitch stream raffle
  • Currently contains a blue Schmidt EasyFlow 9000M

Notebooks

• Traveller’s Notebook Passport
  • Passport size so it lives in my back pocket
  • Cotton Zip insert so it serves as my wallet
  • Using the default, blank TN insert
  • One day I’d like to create a TN insert outlining the SEPTA regional rail network
    • TN Passport is B7, so I could print it on semi B5, cut in half, and fold to make B7 notebook inserts
• Lihit Lab A5 and B5 refillable notebooks
  • Made with whatever paper I find and punch
  • Notebooks I don’t like using have started getting ripped apart so I can use the paper as fodder for the refillable ones
• Rhodia A5 pad
  • I didn’t understand the point of a notepad when everything else I have is a notebook. But then I started needing to take notes during interview etc and I get it now.
  • It’s a semi - disposable, single use and temporary piece of paper to be used a couple times over the course of a day or two and then ripped out/thrown away.
  • In my case I take quick notes on the Rhodia pad including a decimal ID and then later type up these notes into my digital system.

And the rest

• Pentel Graphgear 1000 (0.5mm) and a metal ruler
  • There’s something satisfying about “drafting”, whether it’s drawing the layout for my weekly spread or designing a font on the fly for cutting out block letters
• Blackwing 602, Firm
• Lihit Labs case to keep everything organized in my bag and on my desk