Life

This is not a lifestyle change, This is a commitment to my health, for myself, my wife, and my daughter.

Solid couple of runs in Maryland over the past week: pushing myself more and more

A man is jogging on a suburban street, recording his afternoon run on Strava with a distance of 6.22 km in 40 minutes and 59 seconds, maintaining a pace of 6:35 per kilometer. A person taking a selfie while running outdoors, with Strava stats showing a distance of 8.46 km, time of 49m 28s, and pace of 5:51/km.

9/8/25 →

First couple of days back in the US for a while, for personal family-related matters

A cozy living room features a fireplace with toys scattered across a patterned rug, surrounded by a leather couch and armchairs. A person wearing glasses and a black T-shirt is seated at a table with a laptop and a Maryland-themed mug, making a peace sign. Shopping carts are lined up in a parking lot in front of a Target store under a cloudy sky. A person is pushing a child in a green shopping cart designed like a car, while another person walks beside them in a parking garage. A person is holding a bottle of Kevita Tart Cherry kombucha with another Health-Ade Cayenne Cleanse kombucha bottle in the background. A café with a mural featuring portraits above the counter and a display menu. A farmer's market stall displays an array of fresh vegetables and fruits under white tents, with colorful baskets and brick buildings in the background. People are enjoying a sunny day at an outdoor market with tents, food stalls, and picnic tables. Two people are sitting in a car, smiling, and holding McFlurry desserts. A large brick house is nestled among tall trees with a grassy lawn in the foreground. A person is grilling burger buns and chicken on a barbecue grill outside on a deck, with various grilling tools and dishes nearby. A small table holds various magazines, a heart-shaped dish, a pair of glasses in a case, and a wireless earbud case. A black pickup truck with a ‘YAKIMA’ logo has a colorful license plate reading ‘NOSUP4U’ at a traffic light, a popular reference to Seinfeld. A golf course with players is set against a backdrop of trees and a partly cloudy blue sky.

9/4/25 →

First run for these next couple of weeks in the US. Overall, quite happy about the performance, especially given that this was a longer run than usual .

Nice to see some bike lines that I could use however, being in the suburbs is definitely not ideal at with regards to running paths.

A person is taking a selfie during an afternoon run, covering 6.22 km in 40 minutes and 59 seconds.

9/1/25 →

🎵 Whenever September comes, I get into a crisp Fall mood and one of my little rituals is to listen to Springsteen & Prince endlessly. Can’t explain it, it just brings me joy!

Auto-generated description: A collage of various images and album covers related to Prince surrounds a central image of Prince peering through beads.

9/1/25 →

Run cut short by the unexpected pouring rain today, but glad I’m able to keep these going 3-4/week so far

A running track and field are shown under a cloudy sky, accompanied by details of a "Lunch Run" covering 3.77 km in 21 minutes 52 seconds with a pace of 5:47/km. A person with short hair and a gray shirt is making a funny face while sitting on blue seats in an outdoor setting. A sports field with a running track is set against a backdrop of cranes and apartment buildings, under a cloudy sky.

9/1/25 →

🏡 🇫🇷 Super excited to wake up to this article about our home and neighboring town in The Times today!

A man and a woman with a dog stand by a cobblestone path next to a river, surrounded by trees, with a bridge in the background.

Greater Paris is born, reconfiguring the city. (…) The east (…) [side] has risen, turning the banlieue from Pantin to Romainville into cool, desirable areas. (…) The action is no longer on the Seine River — it is on a 200-year-old canal, the Ourcq.

8/30/25 →

4th 5k workout this week, starting to feel good and get my routine down.

Glad my wife and daughter were able to join for a bit but the local stadium security guy asked them to leave cuz “too dangerous” for the toddler to run around in an unused area of the track 🤔

A person is taking a selfie on a field after completing an afternoon run of 4.99 km in 29 minutes and 41 seconds, with a pace of 5:56 per km, while a group of people are seen in the background.

8/28/25 →

Fourth day of the week
Third (5k) run of the week
Ran uninterrupted / non-stop this time
First one with the new shoes — no soreness, super light, super comfortable, kept a good face in the entire time

Overall, very happy :)

A running track leads past a modern building under a cloudy sky, accompanied by Strava workout statistics for a morning run. A person wearing a navy blue sleeveless shirt and earbuds is jogging on a red outdoor running track. A person wearing running shoes stands on a red track, facing a yellow line.

8/27/25 →

Parents of Toddlers: how/when do you find time to read books?

8/26/25 →

Day 2, Run 2
And now time to finish the workday before retiring these shoes and trying a new pair

8/25/25 →

First day of the week first run of the week

A person is taking a selfie on a track, showing details of an afternoon run including the distance, time, and pace with buildings in the background.

8/24/25 →

A lovely summer weekend before the rain and the start of the ”rentrée”

A green park with tall trees is situated in front of a distinctive multi-story building. A person is holding two cans of Yeo's drinks, one lychee-flavored and the other soy bean, in front of a refrigerated display stocked with various beverages. A narrow street with modern, angular buildings on both sides and an arched structure at the end under a clear blue sky. A green iron bridge stretches over a canal beside modern buildings, with a mural and a café visible along the waterfront. A weathered brick wall features a wooden door and a street sign labeled ‘Rue de Crimée’ with a building in the background. A vibrant mural depicts a hand using chopsticks to pick up pieces of sushi, set against a graffiti-covered wall with barbed wire above. Two people wearing sunglasses are outdoors, with one pushing a stroller near wooden structures. A plate of fried appetizers with dipping sauce is set on a wooden table alongside glasses and someone preparing to eat with a knife and fork. A quiet street lined with classic European-style buildings basks in the bright sunlight under a clear blue sky. Urban landscape at sunset with buildings and trees against a colorful sky.

8/19/25 →

Day two: back to back

A person wearing a red shirt is taking a selfie on an outdoor running track, with workout details overlaid on the image.

8/19/25 →

My First Five Steam Purchases (after reading the related article on The Verge):

Torchlight
Team Fortress 2
Portal 2
Poker Night
Left 4 Dead 2
Plants vs. Zombies

A list of video games with corresponding dates is displayed.

8/18/25 →

Considering the stadium and running track are close to where I live I’m trying to set up new routines to get in better shape and become healthier

8/17/25 →

Final holiday pics before getting back to work tomorrow: a well deserved break and staycation!

A child in a red dress walks towards an ornate, historic building with statues and architectural details. A spacious art gallery features ornate ceiling, wooden floors, and walls adorned with large framed paintings, accompanied by plush seating for visitors. A majestic castle stands beside a serene lake under a partly cloudy sky, surrounded by lush greenery. Two children in strollers are reaching out to hold hands. A street scene in a sunny city features a vintage advertisement on a building facade, lush greenery, and a small market or kiosk. People are gathered in a bright, modern café with a mirror displaying a decorative world map on the wall. Two women are sitting on a picnic blanket on a grassy area while a small child stands nearby. People are dining outdoors in a courtyard with historic architecture and ivy-covered walls. A young child in a checkered dress walks along a cobblestone path with an adult in the background. A table with a cappuccino, an empty espresso cup, a chocolate chip scone on a saucer with a spoon, a basket of bread, and two people's legs nearby. A cozy café features wooden flooring, modern chairs, round tables, and warm globe lights, with plants and framed art for decoration. A charming Parisian building with classic architecture is framed by lush trees under a blue sky. A plate of penne pasta is topped with mushrooms, cheese, and fresh basil, served on a decorative blue and white dish.

8/17/25 →

📰🎙️🎧 NYT: Where have all my male friendships gone 😢

Two armored figures holding hands are depicted above a headline about male friendships. An illustration of three abstract figures accompanies the podcast episode titled 'Where Did All My Male Friendships Go?' detailing a man's journey to overcome loneliness and reconnect with friends.

The Power of Politeness | The Atlantic

8/7/25

The idea of Kindness being Punk, continuing to grow and get good traction. I love it!

When you become less polite, the alteration in your conduct can make you less happy, more depressed, and angrier about life.

(…) One study [allows] us to infer that you inherit some politeness from your parents partly through your genes, but more through how you were brought up. This also implies that you can become more polite with good influences and by cultivating positive habits.

Researchers (…) showed that being polite to others raises happiness and lowers anger. (…) Being impolite is more like scratching at your poison-ivy rash. Giving in to the urge makes things worse.

(…) I see politeness as today’s punk rock because it so transgresses the spirit of our times. And like punk rock, when you empower yourself with politeness, you feel exhilarated. It is the ultimate exercise in freedom: the freedom to be the person I want to be in the face of a cultural tyranny.

[≠]

A person with a floral-patterned mask featuring smiling flowers is illustrated above a text about the power of politeness by Arthur C. Brooks.

8/6/25 →

Our Parisian/home staycation continues…

Today started with a homemade brunch, before a visit to the Great Mosque of Paris, a delicious lunch, and a walk across town!

Stumbled upon the memorial of the November 13th, 2015 terrorist attacks — a stunning, well-designed square across City Hall

A breakfast setup with a plate of food and a glass of coffee on a table, featuring items like Tabasco sauce and seasoning. A quiet urban street lined with parked cars and scooters offers a view of a tall, ornate building in the background under a partly cloudy sky. A spacious, ornate courtyard features tall arches, decorative columns, and a central fountain. A lush garden with a central fountain is framed by an ornate archway and vibrant greenery. A woman stands near a decorative fountain surrounded by vibrant pink flowers and intricate architecture. A meal featuring a dish with octopus and garnishes is served on a white table alongside glasses of water and wine, with a person in the background. A street with classic European architecture leads to a grand domed building under a clear blue sky. A grand architectural scene features historic buildings with tall columns under a clear blue sky, alongside parked cars and a few people strolling nearby. A street market stall under large trees displays various art prints, books, and postcards on a sunny day. A hand is holding a cup of iced coffee in front of a stroller, where a child is sitting and eating. A simple storefront sign featuring a drawing of a hand is mounted on the corner of a building with blue and beige accents. A historic building with ornate architecture is surrounded by a lush garden and trees, with people walking and relaxing.

8/6/25 →

More holiday shenanigans

A cup of coffee sits on a patterned table outside near a grand building with a clock tower. A man wearing a floral shirt is seated on a couch, interacting with a young child standing beside a marble table with items on it. An adult and a child are walking on a decorative floor in an ornate room with large windows. A person is taking a photo of their reflection in a mirrored table with two cups of coffee on it. A man is helping a young child at a playground with a play structure nearby, while other people and trees are in the background. Appetizing flatbreads topped with vegetables are served on a table alongside two red drinks. A rooftop terrace features a closed umbrella, potted plants, and wrought-iron furniture, overlooking a cityscape under a clear blue sky.

8/4/25 →

Quiet morning in the neighborhoood.

It was really nice to see kids welcoming my (much younger) daughter and letting her play with them, trying to get her to kick the ball ⚽️

Heartwarming moments 🥰 🥹

A child stands alone on a colorful, outdoor sports court under a clear sky, surrounded by a fence and trees.

8/3/25 →

Vacation Day 03: 🧋☕️🍦

#CongCaPhe #Paris

A Cộng Cà Phê coffee shop is situated on the corner of a street with beige buildings in the background. A group of people browse merchandise displayed on wooden shelves, with bags labeled ‘HA NÓI’ and ‘DA NANG’ prominently featured. People are standing in line inside a wooden-themed cafe with shelves displaying various products. A cozy café scene features people sitting at tables, engaging in conversation, with a wall decorated with colorful teapots. A park scene shows people walking and gathering near a large reflective sphere and a Ferris wheel under a partly cloudy sky.

Day 2 of our summer break ☀️🏞️🏙️

8/2/25

Went out to Musée de L’Homme for the exhibition on Wax Textile, and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in fashion, colonialism, ethnography, culture, and global trade.

Then had lunch at Schwartz’s Deli before enjoying the sight, and spending time with some of our friends living close to the Eiffel Tower on Rive Droite.

A vibrant red wall features digital displays with various colorful patterns and the bold word "wax" in the center. A gallery exhibit showcases vibrant, colorful artworks and patterned clothing on mannequins against a white wall. A plate of food featuring a sandwich with pickles, fries, and coleslaw is accompanied by condiments, a glass of beer, and a water bottle on a table. A person is standing on a sidewalk taking a photo of the Eiffel Tower in the distance, surrounded by trees and urban scenery. A chalkboard outside a deli humorously references loss of hope, cash, jobs, and bacon, while a person works inside. Two people are taking a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower on a sunny day.

Day 1 of our summer break ☀️ 🍪 🥃 😘

8/1/25

Including delicious cookies and affogatos from Crème and a visit to the National Archives and seeing the official handwritten “Appeal of June 18th” from General Charles De Gaulle, which he broadcast on the BBC from London while in exile, on June 18th 1940, trying to inspire the French to resist their invaders.

Also: Happy International Spritz Day! Grateful that we have a lovely big Eataly here in Paris 🇮🇹