Monthly Archives: January 2023

Photobook 🖼️

Once upon a time, putting the pictures you took in a photo album was typical. That way, it was possible to take the photo album, flip through it, and go down memory lane. After buying my first digital camera, the pictures are stored on a hard drive, but I never look at them, which is a pity. In 2005, I got to travel a lot, and I printed miniature versions of the pictures I took but never looked at them. They are too small, and there are too many of them.

This year, the course Building a Second Brain I bought inspired me to create a photo album covering 2022. The result was a physical book that was mailed to me. I'm holding the book, and I'm not sure I'm happy with it. I like the book's quality, but something is missing. I wanted to write comments beside each picture, but I skipped that part partly because I wanted to keep the price low and partly because I wanted to finish the book quickly.

I'm considering whether to give the photo album one more try. It bothers me a bit that strangers will see the pictures and text comments because some of them are very private to me. The idea behind creating the photo album is so that I can go down memory lane when I get older. I don't have children or a partner, so I don't have anyone else to help me remember the past. A photo album with text comments will help me remember.

The photo album was not cheap, but I don't think it will be cheaper to print it myself. The benefit of printing the photo album on my printer is that I can edit the photos and write what I want. I can also reprint a page if I'm not happy with it. My biggest hurdle with printing the book is finding an easy way to create it. I need to only concentrate on choosing the pictures and writing the text. I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

Cover of my photo album
Front cover of the photo album
Two pages from my photo album
A couple of pages from the photo album

Kitchen utensils 🍳

My kitchen utensils have always been made of hard plastic, and I think they are ruining my pots and pans. The manual for the pots and pans states that I'm allowed to use metal utensils, but I still believe that hard plastic is too hard on the pots and pans. Therefore, I started looking for new kitchen utensils.

I don’t like to visit several Danish stores. I don't get enough variety because all stores have the same brands. Instead, I looked at Amazon but ended up on the homepage, where I bought my newest pan.

Choosing which kitchen utensils to buy was difficult because the Germans have different designations and purposes than we do in Denmark. I picked five different utensils; if I were satisfied, I would order more.

I'm thrilled with my new kitchen utensils. They are heavier than my old plastic utensils, but they are fantastic at scraping the food out of the pots and pans because they are made of silicone. I also think they are easier to clean, and I like the large selection. I'm going to buy the extra kitchen utensils that I want.

Kitchen utensils
5 køkkenredskaber + pensel

Ring Doorbell 🛎️

Usually, the delivery guy places my packages in my carport, and I have a camera that alerts me when a package is delivered. I like that setup. It means that I get my parcel delivered without having to speak with the delivery guy, and I don't have to wait for an email or a message to get notified that there is a package in my carport. Unfortunately, some delivery guys leave the package at my door, and sometimes I don't get a notification. Recently, I received an international package, and to my surprise, I found the package lying on the ground near the door. It was difficult to spot, and I wondered how it had been lying there - maybe for several days.

I bought an outdoor camera like the one mounted in the carport, but I hadn't considered that it would be an easy target for young people wanting to have some fun by throwing something at it. I also didn't want to record everyone walking by on the sidewalk. I would instead use the camera at the back of the house to prevent a burglary. So, I started thinking of an alternative.

My doorbell doesn't always work because my door frame is made of aluminum, preventing the wireless signal from reaching the house's chime. I would also like to see who is at the door if I don’t feel well. If I suffer from a migraine, I don't want to struggle to get to the door if it is a salesperson, but I would do it if it were the mailman.

I searched the internet and decided to buy a Ring doorbell. On principle, I don't want a camera that stores footage in the cloud, whether it is footage of a stranger or me. On the other hand, I couldn't find another doorbell with a camera that could run on a battery.

The doorbell has arrived, and I have mounted it. I'm very pleased with the doorbell. I can create zones so the camera won't react to people on the sidewalk. I still need to make minor adjustments, but it works as I want for now. Now, I'm waiting for the delivery guy to deliver my package.

Ring doorbell and replacement plates with different motives.
Doorbell and 4 extra plates

Coast flashlight 🔦

I have bought a new flashlight. It might not be the most exciting topic, but the reason for my purchase is a bit sad. My friend and I were driving home from big band practice when we saw a deer lying on the side of the road. We decided to pull over and check if the deer was alive. The car ahead of us also pulled over, and we discovered that they were the ones who hit the deer.

It turns out that the deer is alive but badly hurt, and, in our opinion, it won't survive. We contacted animal protection, which sent a hunter to kill the deer. Before the hunter arrives, the deer flees into the woods, and we can't see it. We only have our phones as flashlights, which are not bright enough to see into the woods. That is why I chose to buy a flashlight to keep permanently in the car.

I didn't know what to choose or what to look for. I understand that the brightness is measured in lumens, but I didn’t know if I should pick 1000, 2000, or 4000 lumens. I read a couple of articles about lumen, and I found that if the flashlight's brightness is too bright, you almost go blind when you turn the flashlight off. Moreover, I also considered the size of the flashlight.

I have chosen a Coast XP11R. The flashlight has three brightness levels, and you can focus the beam. I also liked the size and the price of the flashlight. I'm delighted with my choice. So far, I haven't tried it in a similar situation yet, and to be honest, I hope I never will.

Coast flashlight

Happy New Year 2023 🎆

Another year has passed, and my first reaction is that it is incredible how fast time flies. It is strange to think about how normal it was to celebrate Christmas and New Year without my father. Other people might disagree with me, but in my eyes, it is the new normal.

My mom's health issues characterized 2022. She had several meetings with various doctors at three different hospitals. She had an operation, and the doctors changed some of her meds. My mom also has some meetings planned at the beginning of this year, and I hope her health improves.

2022 brought a lot of changes to my workplace. My boss and one colleague quit their jobs, so I've gotten a new boss and two new colleagues. The company again chose a person with a financial background as head of It, which I think is stupid. It is annoying when the boss doesn't understand how It works. I must admit that my new boss is by far the best boss I've ever had. One of my new colleagues will take over some of my assignments, and the cooperation with him is going very well. All in all, my work conditions have improved considerably.

In 2022, I realized that my health was affected by my worries and my workload. I've always told myself that my migraine would warn me before I get stressed, but I'm not sure about that anymore.

In 2022, I made my debut as a solo musician. The local church hired me to perform for 30 minutes for a summer concert. I accepted the offer because it was an excellent opportunity to grow my musical skills. I was too nervous to assess my performance, but many complimented me, so I concluded it was okay.

In 2023, I want to find inner peace again and regain my body balance. I like to change my priorities so that my health comes first. Secondly, I must prepare for another summer concert at the local church. The church has invited me to play one of their summer concerts like the last time, and I've accepted. I'm very much looking forward to it. Lastly, I want to start a YouTube Channel, which requires my health to be normal again.

I wish you all a happy new year.