For a month I had not been publishing any notes, but I did collate them — whenever I could. I didn't have the mental space to post them. So, this one might be a bit long.
Week 21-22
I was down for most part of the weeks, realising how hard it is to collect your thoughts and write when you're not feeling well. I mostly stayed occupied with reading and watching things.
Among other things:
- Finished Exhalation by Ted Chiang
- Reading The Door-to-Door bookstore
- Watched Sunny on Apple TV. I personally liked as it had to do with robots and love.
- Watched Tourist Family and Thug Life. I liked Tourist Family.
- Revisited a few old Balu Mahendra series from Sun TV under the title Kathai Neram - the kind of stories I keep going back to.
Work has been steady, and focus has held up well overall. We released the first version recently. I often end up fixing bugs late at night and try not to pick up anything new unless I've cleared my head. I genuinely enjoy working with my team - there's a good rhythm and energy right now.
- I've been thinking about how important it is to practise “being nice” consistently at work. I remember reading a post once, for many of us, work takes up most of our lives, especially in IT. So how we communicate really matters, especially in a remote environment.
My MacBook's display broke one of the weeks, and I ended up getting a new one (M4 Air) through an exchange. It was an unexpected expense, but the migration was surprisingly smooth. I wanted to get a ThinkPad but it felt like too big of an investment right now. The Apple ecosystem is a big plus, and since I spend most of my time in the terminal, my preference is over macOS or Linux over Windows anyday.
I've come to see that even saying “I'm off social media” is a kind of privilege, when for many it's a lifeline for connection and awareness. It's easy to scroll past the political noise, but the ache still cuts through. Maybe it's the shift in tone, a quiet sense that something steadier might yet take shape and there is still hope.
Week 23-24
Hemanth and I got to spend some good time together too. We worked out of co-working spaces most days. We also went to Church Street on one of the days, picked up a few books, and sat at the open section of Kling — the food was great.
- The kids upstairs still drop by now and then. They danced at our apartment recently. We talk stories, they write, and I've been setting up a small space for them to feel comfortable. They mostly enjoy juices and ice creams, and they miss Tars too.
- Photos are one of the few ways we attempt to hold time still. They offer a glimpse into something that no longer exists, except in memory. This very thought often makes me want to take that 'click', as if preserving it might help me stay connected to it later. But I've started questioning the need to preserve everything. And most importantly, the phone gallery gets cluttered and messy. If every moment is photographed, none of them feel rare. It's been on my mind lately, and I'm open to ideas.
- Bobby recently bought a house in Hebbal. I went for the housewarming and we kept it low-key. He wasn't too into the whole ceremony bit, so we just chilled with Ambili and their kid. I'm genuinely happy as I know how much this place means to him. We had some food and boiled milk, and I left early to pick up Tars.
- When Tars wasn't around, we slipped back into our old, lazy routine of waking and sleeping at odd hours. It often reminded us how much he grounded us. He's back now after a month at boarding , a bit leaner but well-fed and rested. He had a good time there, made friends, followed a routine, though he's still a little anxious. Ever since he returned, things have felt more balanced again. Even my sleep has been better for the past week. He's grumpy at times, but doing well overall. He's truly our companion.
- Jagan has been exploring a really interesting space, and I'm looking forward to writing more about it once he shares his work.
- I'm not someone who regularly keeps in touch with family, and I'm not proud of it. Slowly trying to build the habit , maybe by blocking out time just for that. I already do it with one or two close friends, and I think it's time I do that with family too, especially as they're getting older.
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