Through the Fog

Went to Coffee Culture Annex, worked on my day plan before Jim arrived. My side of our conversation was so-so, wasn't feeling well, disappointing. Tentatively set up a meeting for next week. Searched for breakfast with Joey—many places were closed on Christmas Eve, we ended up at Wise Cracks. Joey left to continue her journey to Hillsboro, I took a nap. My chainsaw arrived. Worked on New Zealand planning for a while—lots of mashing around to get airline reservation information in line. Went for a 30-minute walk, listened to a Lex Friedman podcast with Michael Levin. Made plans with Annette to visit the beach tomorrow. Put gas in the Xterra. Took care of spider plant starts—plan is to give them to Annette tomorrow. Did my exercises. Spent some time looking at travel expediting mechanisms. Sat in the hot tub for a bit. Watched History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective—Peru and Mexico civilizations.

When Nothing Quite Clicks

December 25, 2025

These notes describe the events of Wednesday, 12/24/2025.

I went to Coffee Culture Annex. I worked on my day plan before Jim arrived. My side of our conversation was so-so. I wasn't feeling well. That was disappointing. Jim's a great guy and we have very enjoyable conversations. We discussed emergence in bubble sort from the Lex Friedman interview with Michael Levin, content authenticity standards (C2PA and CAI), and the Ubiquiti travel router. We tentatively set up a meeting for next week when hopefully I'll be in better shape. It had been an off day when the usual connection doesn't quite happen, my physical state affecting engagement.

A random Mexico memory

I searched for breakfast with Joey. Many places were closed on Christmas Eve. We ended up at Wise Cracks. Good breakfast. The simple pleasure of a morning meal together before her departure. Joey left to continue her journey to Hillsboro. I took a nap. The recovery time needed after a late night and early breakfast, the house quiet again.

My chainsaw arrived. The new tool ready for future tree work. I put it away for now. Not today's project, but available when needed.

I worked on New Zealand planning for a while. Lots of mashing around to try to get the airline reservation information in line. The reservations are fine, but the information retrieval was somewhat difficult. The administrative frustration of dealing with systems that don't make information easily accessible. Adding Joey to flights, confirming accommodations, getting all the pieces aligned for the shared journey.

I went for a 30-minute walk. I listened to a Lex Friedman podcast with Michael Levin. The physical movement and intellectual engagement pulled me out of the morning's fog. The walk improved my perspective, shifting me away from the weird ambivalence that had settled in.

I made plans with Annette to visit the beach tomorrow. The sibling connection, planning time together on Christmas Day. I put gas in the Xterra. I took care of the spider plant starts. The plan is to give them to Annette tomorrow. The gift preparation, plants I've nurtured now ready to share.

I did my exercises. Core protection with planks and bird-dogs to stabilize the spine for heavy camera backpacks. Joint mobility stretches—still trying to figure out the full routine, managed five sets. The physical conditioning continuing, building strength for New Zealand.

I spent some time looking at travel expediting mechanisms—TSA Pre-check, Global Entry, CLEAR. The research into making airport experiences smoother, the practical preparation for international travel.

I sat in the hot tub for a bit. I listened to a segment of Project Hail Mary—the section about their approach to Adrian with the peculiar interlude about the sexual relationship of the two astronauts in training embedded in the middle of it. The relaxation, the warmth easing tension, the science fiction narrative providing escape.

I watched History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective. This episode turned the focus to Peru and Mexico and the many cultures that left behind stunning examples of their now-vanished civilizations. Impressive pyramids and tombs, startling examples of artistic pottery, especially those produced by the Moche. The complexity of societies that flourished long before European contact. The different patterns of human organization and achievement across the Americas.

The day moved through physical discomfort and administrative frustration toward small accomplishments. The walk shifted my perspective, exercise built conditioning, plant preparation created a gift for tomorrow's beach visit. New Zealand logistics gradually fell into place despite difficult information systems. Some days just feel off, but I continued to move through the tasks anyway.