...and what a weekend it's been! Been out in the wild with good buddy Andreas for a couple days, and just minutes before he arrived we were troubleshooting a new payment module at work, two days + one early morning overtime and... it's not done yet. TBC tomorrow morning. But I jumped off just in time to go greet my good friend and go walk like crazy in a new windy winter wonterland that just melted away. Lasted his stay.

Oddly enough I think I managed to properly disconnect from work for this one weekend though, despite inconclusive end, we had some fun times.

Not like old times, but new times aren't bad either!

On the blog I've tweaked up the smiley set a bit. Switched up the order and added in a couple new ones for variety - may change further further on.

There is a bundle that you don't get in that comment bar though! If you ever feel like using some of the alternative ones you may be able to guess the shortcodes by the icon names...

That's roughly 30% of 'em. Maybe you'll stumble upon some others in time. ;) Been a while since the last change here so it seems a good time.

Some have multiple alternative shortcodes for ease of use too.

I totally messed up the emoticon selection script when I was working with this and kept getting a critical error when trying to fix it though. Eventually I went back to the source and remade it from scratch, and realized that if you try to change the version number on a plugin directly via a plugin file... maybe that causes an error?

Maybe some built-in firewall causes some error then? Maybe WP has built-in plugin-tampering prevention protection these days? Not sure why it kept causing the critical error but whatever the reason it seems to have been the version number for the plugin.

Moral of the story: Don't change version numbers if you don't need to.

I've also adjusted search results to just show posts - for now - since some pages clog up results. Might find a better solution for this later on.

And since I'm going with daily reviews this year I've taken those off the main blog to keep down clutter, you'll find the link on the menu above.

Or here @S3C.

Posted some new duplicate reviews too, and here's a remix on one of my acapellas courtesy of CmD! Check him out here.

That's all y'all. See you in a bit. Östersund Sunday coming up next...

Parker Läckan, Bob vs Andreas, first to 2 wins, the final score ... 2 - 0 ... me. ;)

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Somewhat related.

Also @S3C. Also this New Year's shaping up to be a busy one! I shall live by the mottos of the old grottos that the bold potholed...

Also RIP Ken Block. Awesome dude I was so recently first introduced to.

What a way to start the year huh? It seemed like he'd live forever, having crashed pretty much every year of his career he was still going strong... don't expect the good to keep going though. Don't take days for granted. Nor you, nor your home, nor those you know; not even this planet.

Get up early, eat a sandwich, and roll on. Cold dawn. Mold strong.

Just one BIG positive thought in the morning can change your whole decade.

Props @S3C on inspiration.

Happy 2023 you all!

You can have a peek at my first post of last year here.

I'm reading through it as I write this, as seems to have become tradition the past few years. Delving into the previous as to see what I've accomplished, or changed, as time comes to once more conclude and make way for the new.

I'm no longer steadily progressing in the blogging department.

Compared to last year - by which I'd been steadily posting more and more posts each year for a good number of them - it seems I've slowed down. The post count's down by sixty or so - a ten page difference in the archives. Though if you discount movie reviews, which I have a massive backlog of unposted drafts for at the time of writing, maybe I've actually written more. More worthwhile posts. More life-related ones. More real stuff.

I'm not sure how to count words/year at this point. I'll figure that out later and do some stats on that. Not that it matters much but numbers are fun. Numbers that correlate to the blog seem to relate to my life too. This place is a reflection of it after all. An outlet of parts of it, but I believe more so a summative reflection over how engaged I am, and how motivated, and how much I manage with my time in any given year, since writing is still something I hold in high regard and would like to do more of.

I want to continually hone the craft that I regard as my first and foremost - my potential calling - if for naught else. Though spontaneously scribing away at the start or end of a day feels good too. It's my venting ground.

But enough about differentials on the blog. (It seems I had a queue of unposted movie reviews last year too btw - though I doubt it was as big as now - they're very probably the missing margin on amounts posted this year compared to the previous - additional post increase included).

I wonder if I should make any promises or predictions on post count for next year. What do you think? I think it'll rise again...

I was hopeful but a bit hesitant about life last year too.

And about the world.

Times were harsh then too, but that was before war flared up between Russia and Ukraine. And before North Korea seemed to seriously consider war with it's similarly-named neighbor. And before India were gearing up to defend themselves against China and their highly unsustainable fishing practices along India's coast. And before Taiwan was being taken over. And before the US was getting involved. Before Sweden tried to join NATO. Before the new energy crisis. Before covid spiked once again and it's said at least a million people will die in China...

It seems we were getting a glimpse of conflict and hardship last year too, but it seems to be amping up.

Occasionally I worry.

For the most part I try not too.

My mom worries enough for both of us, and I'm more frustrated with her doomsday reports - with goodwill conveyed from consistent mainstream media consumption - than with what's actually going in the world.

It's pretty terrible all over, but what use it is to worry? Best focus on changing what you can change, with whatever you feel needs changing. And in my case I feel like that's mainly my life.

A little egoistic, I know. But if I'm in a good place myself, then I can bring others there too. Help thy self in order to help thy others.

As they say in their security overview when you're taxing off on a runway, in case of loss of oxygen in cabin during flight: put on your own facemask before helping others put on theirs. Lest you faint and die before you get the chance to, and thus they too might perish.

I'm hopeful things will get better in regard to the pandemic at least - vaccination side effects are a hot but verified potato too these days. Vaccination passes seem less common. Restrictions have simmered down. There's a sense of normalcy despite attempts to once again amp up public hysteria and booster shot profitability.

I'm less hopeful about the war. And about China. About the very real and escalating threats we face in regard to environmental instabilities, food and energy shortages, and ultimately armed conflicts around the world. WW3? Is it possible? I hope not. I wouldn't rule it out though.

People seem to act before they think these days. We have few capable leaders. Tension's rising. Seems not only weapon manufacturers truly want a war, and financial issues are bound to further fuel both tensions and conflicts. It's a war for resources after all. The resource is: The world.

More worldly negativities in last year's post if you'd like to hear more.

Think this is enough for now. I don't want to douse my new hopes on simmering aggressions over unfair politics and social hierarchies.

I haven't booked any meditation retreats 2023, but the one I took last year really calmed me down for a while, so maybe I should. A good buddy's coming over for starters, and I'll be celebrating a belated little Christmas with my brother and his family in a couple weeks - that seems like a good enough way to start things.

I didn't catch the covid this Christmas - but I did catch a cold. It disrupted my last minute resolution accomplishment potential a bit. But oh well. Better next time. I have a sharp but somewhat perplexed mind. I mind my own business, and I'm pro Christmas, I know material temptation but I have bold wishes - far beyond this material realm.

Will I set sail with my visions? At bay on their helm.

Was a little disappointed and stressed last Christmas... same deal this year. But not as much. I'm at peace with the peril. With rest instead of do. With a different kind of celebration - a little more stripped back - a little more embellishment and recreation... I can live that.

The fireworks lit the sky again moments ago. We cheered in the New Year with some white Campo de Viejo, figs and too much chocolate, and I do feel hopeful. My big bro sent a little video message shouting in the New Year, my sister called, and we had a New Year lunch with relatives earlier.

It's been good. It's been a nice way to end this phase of days and kickstart something... better? It can't get better than today can it? Today's been good. What now.

I hope 2023 will be all this year wasn't, that I'll grow and I'll blossom, that I'll throw off precaution, and try dope/get some offspring.

Seriously the first three.

You can read my recent resolutions posts here.

Happy New Year!

May revise this and that a bit more tomorrow... I mean later today. I'm off and away.

Arr the sense of satisfaction you may briefly experience were you to fully commit yourself to cleaning up leftover dues in the year that's been, and allow for a fresh start so supremely clean and sparkly once the new ones comes a running?

I didn't manage that. Not at all. I still have PMs, I still have email correspondence, I still have unrevised blogs both posted and unposted that I've been meaning to plow through and better polish, and other dues, audio cues, ideas and dreams and causeries on the news... so many undone dues!

But I still have a cold don'tchaknow, so at least I have some excuse as to why I'm not done with everything.

I still get stuck in those random conversations leading up to the New Year too. I get stuck in everything. I'm stuck. I gotta get moving. So without further ado let's move to the resolutions...

But first, once again I'd like to remind myself of my mantra, repeated a few years prior now; one I want to embody to the point it requires no further reminder: Don't wait, but don't haste. Don't hesitate. Don't stall, don't fall, don't all. Don't say "yes" if you stress. Don't do if you are not supposed to. But mostly, a 'can't do' won't do: think instead of what you could do. Be good too.

That's how I wish to live. How I want to be. That's the A, but onto the BC!

2022

This year I vowed to...

1. Get a stable secondary income, beyond my day job.

I didn't want to rely on any one thing too much, and I wasn't super happy with my day job, nor super confident that it'd last much longer.

For some time now I think I've subconsciously been wanting to move on, but I've been unwilling to. This in part because I feel like I'd be betraying my boss in the midst of financially uncertain times, when more prosperous times for the company may be on the horizon, and I might contribute to our getting there. In part also because it's comfortable. Because it's easier to stay than to move, and in truth maybe my loyalty is more a result of the second than the first part.

I'm not sure if I convince myself that it's a pretty good job too, or if I really believe it... I think it is. I'd be hard-pressed to find an alternative with the same benefits in regard to flexible hours, and part-time days that at least theoretically let me pursue my passions on the side. But I'm not using these benefits to my best benefit...

But did I get a stable secondary income this year? No. I've sold a few weight vests at a good profit margin, and a larger number of movie tickets at lesser profit margin, and I think I picked up one freelance gig. But that's about it, and I can't see how that'd qualify. There has been certain secondary income but it's all but stable...

I do plan to keep going with this though. I plan to experiment with different revenue streams until I find something that's right for me. Something that can become somewhat systematic; that I can fall back on and expand if need be. I'm pretty confident I could get something proper going here if I just take the time it requires to start something.

2. Put out a finished body of audio unrelated to the Inktober verses, be that an album or mixtape.

Nope. I've put out another Inktober mixtape, properly mixed and mastered and all - and I'm proud of it, but that's it. And then I did Inktober again.

I wanted more. Somehow every autumn I find my motivation just goes right out the window, I grow tired and glum, and come spring there's too much other stuff going on! Then comes summer and off to the farm we go, and sow and plow. Excuses, I know, but this is something I really do struggle with. Motivation. Should probably find a resolution to remedy this...

3. Buy property or land.

I did say 'Anything goes here, however small' on this one, and so yes, I have this year actually attained a piece of land I can truly call my own, though it measures but a meager meter. Mission accomplished. :) I am actively looking for more though! I have little financial surplus available for such investment - and I want to make it count, so count on this to possibly take a while, but with property prices currently on the decline it's not impossible something suitable will come around next year...

4. Participate in a demonstration for human rights and democracy.

I could've done this one so easily back in January. There was a big thing going on then, I planned on going but... something came in the way.

After that the motivation to accomplish this particular goal fizzled out a bit. I've signed petitions, I've plugged important things on the blog... I think? But no demonstration yet no. Currently I have no plans to attend one, but if a similar opportunity presents itself again I shall make an effort.

5. Make my current cellphone subscription free.

Nooope, not all the way there yet. I was down at 30 SEK/month for a while, I'm currently up at 40 SEK/month; I think I was higher at the end of last year. So I'm getting there but not there yet! If you're in Sweden and you need a solid cellphone subscription plz see this.

6. Update website infrastructure.

Nope, not this one either, it's one of those things I'd hoped to get to this month but as usual shit got in the way.

I must do this eventually. It's non-negotiable. Currently one of the plugins I have installed doesn't work with the framework I'm using, and the number of unsupported plugins will surely grow this coming year. I aim to get to this soon, yet without incentive I assume it won't become a priority until it's absolutely essential to secure further sustainability of the site...

7. Cold showers every day.

I skipped a day again, whilst up North, this autumn. The water was getting hella cold (5-6°C?) and I caught a cold - potentially covid - and didn't feel like it'd be good for my health to keep it going.

There's no shower there. The lake is it. The morning air's cold too. I think it was raining that first day. Cold rain. It was not very inviting.

And as last time I skipped a day this too turned to more than a day, and it definitely impacted my mood and motivation for some time to come. Probably impacted my long-term immune system negatively too, since I've had a cold a month for three months straight now, starting with the one I had here! I started taking showers half-assedly when I got better - sometimes I'd skip them if I wanted to sleep in, but after the second cold I'm back to it being a daily necessity - no excuses - and I do feel better.

I didn't stop taking showers when I caught my third and final cold of the year either, and if I hadn't been eating candy and partaking in tiresome Christmas celebrations I believe I'd have battled off the virus in record time with this routine. Just don't take too cold showers when you're sick, and I'm sure it does speed up recovery too.

TLDR: I missed a month or so, and it sucked. The other eleven months went well. I'm back at it.

8. Write something every day.

Have I...? I'm not sure. I probably have. I have a lot of creative writing streams in parallel. My blog, the hundred word site, my diary, NG, various other notebooks and pads and post-it's...

I can't vouch for this one 100% but I'm pretty certain I've managed to write at least 99% of all days this year.

9. Get healthy.

I wanted to be able to by the end of the year jog at least a Scandinavian mile (10 km), and do ten consecutive pull up's at any time.

I'm currently sick, so I can't test the one mile run, but pull up's...? I can't even do one properly. -_- FML man. Remember that site? It was a pretty good site, maybe it's still out there.

But my goal to get in - and stay in - proper shape, this year, has definitely not been accomplished. It was good this spring, and summer.

Not so much at the time of writing.

I'm a part of a little incremental improvements club to further motivate me with things like this, and one of my goals for this month was to initiate a one-month-free gym membership too. Of course I didn't get to that either. My other two goals in my latest resolution post there were to get through the goals here, and to get to the track one day and see how far I could run.

I didn't get to that either. Caught a cold instead.

So conclusively, how did I do? Two out of nine accomplished, with another two almost accomplished, and a couple in progress...?

That's not so bad. To make progress you must stay positive so that's not so bad, come on now.

I can do better though.

2023

Some of these are just repeats on the previous, but they need to be done, so here we go...

I've also learned that it's easier to accomplish something if your goal is precise. If you know exactly what you're trying to do. So here we go...

Read on...