• Reading

    Currently reading: Path of the Assassin by Brad Thor 📚

    June 25,2019
  • Haiku

    So Tired

    Middle of the day,

    Hard to keep eyes open. Great,

    Hours until bed.

    June 24,2019
  • Reading

    Finished reading: The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor 📚

    June 24,2019
  • Andrew McMahon is a remarkable storyteller. 🎵

    June 24,2019
  • Haiku

    Website Security Policy

    SSL is great,

    When it works. When broken, ugh.

    Much time lost today.

    June 23,2019
  • Reading

    Currently reading: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain 📚

    June 23,2019
  • When mailing a letter, I always choose a stamp based on the recipient.

    June 23,2019
  • Reading

    Book Review: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up 📚

    I was first introduced to Marie Kondo on The RapidWeaver Show. Ben, one of the Realmac bros, brought up the book on the topic of minimalism. I’ve come around to Ben’s way of seeing things and finally got into this book.

    It lived up to the hype and gave me a different perspective. I really enjoyed it and look forward to finding some time in the near future to do my own tidying.

    I found the central idea of the book to be profound. Only be surrounded by things that spark joy in you. What a wonderful way to manage your life.

    Would I recommend: YES

    ISBN: 978-1607747307

    June 23,2019
  • Haiku

    Book Shopping

    Went to a bookstore,

    It was full of people. Great!

    Best way to book shop.

    June 22,2019
  • Reading

    Currently reading: The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor 📚

    June 22,2019
  • ChetCast

    Episode 86: Pigeon Puppet

    Benedict built a puppet while Felicity & I ran an errand. The kids tell you all about it.

    June 22,2019
  • Reading

    I spent part of my Saturday morning at a local bookstore with my daughter. We walked through the stacks, I picked a book off of the shelf, and bought it with cash. The ultimate reading experience. 📚

    June 22,2019
  • Reading

    Finished reading: Spymaster by Brad Thor 📚

    June 22,2019
  • This magnet board sparks joy.

    Magnetic board with sun, ice cream, sandles, and blueberry magnets
    June 22,2019
  • Haiku

    Friday Night Chores

    Summer Friday nights,

    Mow lawn, wash cars. Then, relax.

    Done for the weekend!

    June 21,2019
  • Reading

    June 21,2019
  • Welcome back, Summer. ☀️

    June 21,2019
  • Haiku

    Morning Errands

    Loaded the kids up,

    Drove all over town. Four stops,

    Home in time for lunch.

    June 20,2019
  • In the last 30 days, I’ve consumed a total of 190 grams of sugar. A 20oz glass of Coke has 65 grams of sugar in it. Pretty incredible.

    June 20,2019
  • ChetCast

    Episode 85: New Car Seat

    Felicity’s new car seat arrived today, so I caught up with her to get her thoughts on this milestone.

    June 20,2019
  • Reading

    Book Review: Boys Should Be Boys 📚

    A few months ago I read Meg Meeker’s Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters. I found that book incredibly helpful in understanding my daughters better, and how to apply that knowledge to my parenting. I picked up Boys Should Be Boys with the same intention, only for my son.

    This book was not Meeker’s best work. I found it dry and somewhat difficult to follow. Her audience was for mothers and fathers of boys, which meant that there was a considerable amount of content that didn’t apply to me. I read it so that I could better understand Alison’s relationship with our son, but it made the journey less pleasant.

    There were some good ideas sprinkled throughout, and of course, a few lessons that I’ve already began to implement. I just don’t find myself as overwhelmingly satisfied as I was when I finished Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters.

    My main gripe with this book is that it could use a revised edition. Published in 2009, it was full of dated references that sounded silly, even though they were only a decade old. Meeker recently published a new book for fathers, called Hero, which I intend to read in the coming weeks. It’s my hope that that title will meet some of my learning objectives.

    Would I recommend: NO

    ISBN: 978-1596980570

    June 20,2019
  • Haiku

    A Short Story

    My son wrote a book,

    He is creative and proud!

    Bonus: a good plot.

    June 19,2019
  • Reading

    Currently reading: Spymaster by Brad Thor 📚

    June 19,2019
  • It took me too long, but I finally registered chetcast.com. Much easier to say and, one year in, I think this show is going to be around for a while.

    June 19,2019
  • Google is Gone

    Seven months ago, I wrote about my intention to delete all of my Google services. Without a doubt, Google creates some incredible and easy-to-use products. However, their corporate positions on human rights, national defense, and privacy outraged me. I pledged to delete all of my Google services within the year. Yesterday, I closed my Nest account and I am officially out of Google’s orbit.

    It was not an easy task. Google has its fingers in many pies, and their products, in many categories, are superior. The Nest Thermostat, for example, is a beautiful product with intuitive design. Their business listings present just the information that I need, when I need it. Waze is Waze. There’s little doubt that their trackers are following me across the Internet, but I’ve made myself a much narrower target.

    The alternatives are not as good, but we have a much better values alignment. The themes that Cal Newport highlights in Digital Minimalism continue to reinforce my decision. I recommend the book to everyone. I want to protect my data, my family, and withhold to the maximum extent possible earnings that Google can generate off of me and my profile.

    It’s been over a year since I’ve deleted my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. It feels great to let Google join that list.

    June 19,2019