My 2023 Computing Retrospect

Many tech changes filled out this year for me. There were new devices, apps, systems, and games. My setup switched more than once. I can’t imagine as much happening next year, but it wouldn’t surprise me either. And really, this year’s turnover of digital tools and toys is kind of my norm.

My 2023 Blogging Retrospect

This was a busy blogging year for me, no doubt! I blogged across four platforms and may have finally settled on “The One.” Time will tell of course. Part of the busyness was directly related to the upheaval of Social Media as we knew it, with Twitter officially imploding into X. Also, for the first time ever, I blogged long-posts every single day for an entire calendar month; I’ll probably never do that again.

Pokémon Violet Impression

Surprising nobody at all, I started playing a new video game, coinciding with my recent Pokémon TCG revival. As if getting back into TCG by itself wasn’t consuming enough, add to that a new role-playing game. RPGs are my fave, so yeah! Pokémon Violet is fresh on my Switch.

Playing With Pokémon Fire

Pokémon TCG Live is somewhat new-to-me, replacing the good ol’ TCG Online. It gives you some battle decks to start off. So far, I’ve scored three consecutive victories with the Arcanine ex deck (and lost one). A fire deck that favors attacking, it’s been fun.

Pokémon TCG Bug Bites Back

I quit playing Pokémon TCG over a year ago. Though fun, challenging, and engaging, it also consumes time, money, and space. So instead, I chose to spend my limited free-time enjoying RPGs on my Switch. But then I started taking my son to Pokémon League again, dropping him off while I do other things. One thing led to another…and I’ve been bitten by the Pokémon bug again. But I think it’s a small bite with a bonus.

My 2023 Reading Retrospect

Last year, I bought the newest Kindle Paperwhite; it’s awesome! This year, I read almost zero books on it; that’s awful! Goodreads thoughtfully reminded me how badly I bombed my Reading Challenge 2023. And you know what? No worries.

My 2023 Gaming Retrospect

This year, I didn’t watch a single minute of the annual Game Awards show. I was too focused on finishing construction on my home’s bathroom addition before Christmas. And honestly, I’m not that interested in the show itself but in the results. I just like to know what RPGs won awards and how well Nintendo games did.

Setup Switching Habit And Hobby

As a tech geek, I suffer from chronic setup switching. Bouncing from one system of devices or apps to another is an ongoing habit and hobby. Either bored with stale or tempted by shine, I like to try new tech tools or revert to the familiar.

Apple Journal Lock In

The Apple Journal is coming. And as I’ve expressed my concerns before, I plan to abstain from using it and don’t think I’ll even try it. Not to brag, but journaling is a “solved problem” for me, so I don’t need a new solution no matter how shiny Apple markets it. Yet having some interest, I watched CNET’s recent video in which Bridget Carey previews it. Something she said about “lock-in” struck a chord in me. And with that I want to reiterate some reasons why I won’t use Apple Journal.

Sometimes Hardware Sells Software

There’s the idea that “Software sells hardware.” If there’s a certain app you want or need strongly enough, you’ll buy whatever device that’s required for its usage. If you want to play PC games, you buy a PC instead of a Mac for example. Want to play Mario or Zelda? You must buy a Nintendo device. Many folks prefer Apple’s software operating system or Mac-only apps like Final Cut Pro, so they buy a Mac instead of a PC. But sometimes it goes the other way: hardware sells software.

Forgetting My Phone Was Unsettling

Today I took one of my sons to our local Pokémon League meetup. He has a phone, so I was to drop him off and he could text me if he needed anything while I was Christmas shopping. But as I started to leave, I suddenly realized my phone wasn’t in any of my pockets. I left it on the charger at home! It was kind of an unexpected shock. I casually told my teenage son he wouldn’t be able to text me, but I’d be elsewhere in the mall and return before too long, so no worries. Yet once I went Christmas shopping, concern gripped me.