I maintain a diary of my feelings using Daylio which I publish to this site daily.
I wrote a bit about it on my blog, if you
are interested in how and why.
I felt good
πΊ π πΏ π¨βπ» πββοΈ π
π
Rachelβs early labor is becoming more active. We went on a walk and ended up at Taverna Kyclades for a delicious lunch.
Finished season 3 of The Wire just in time for baby to show up.
My last grandma is dying. Itβs sad but I donβt feel much.
I felt rad
π π§βπ³ π πΏ π¨βπ»
π₯³
Rachel is experiencing early labor and I think the baby is coming this weekend! Said my goodbyes at work.
Rushed to scaffold up side projects so that I can vibe them out once the baby comes. I got my lil texting agent up so thatβs good. Got to figure out the tennis stuff.
Made an absolutely fantastic shrimp masala.
I felt good
π πΏ π
π
Did more work than yesterday, tho still on the lighter side. Trying to close out all my PRs before I go.
Did some last minute gardening setup. Planted some cucumbers and a Japanese maple to replace my dead hydrangeas
Rachelβs mucus plug popped so we might be on our way!
I felt good
π πΏ π π
π
Gym was very fun
Had a baby appointment with Rachel and turned into us heading to labor and delivery to get her checked out in triage. Everything is okay, but it was a little exciting to imagine the baby coming so soon.
Stayed up too late and ate too much watching the Spurs.
I felt rad
π§Ή π§βπ³ πΏ π π
π₯³
βThe yarn is tearing this family apart!β (The cats were fighting over a ball of yarn)
Ran the stuff in the nursery to the storage unit, all purging of stuff is now done! π
We spent the evening doing or relationship scrapbook. All most all the longstanding projects are done. I need to do some harnessing on some personal projects such that I can build them on my phone.
I felt meh
π π₯‘
π
Still not π―, but was able to do a full day of work. Not much to really report.
I felt awful
π πββοΈ
π
It was a day of contrasts
Pro: Did a PR of deadlift (285lbs)!
Cons: I was violently ill from food poisoning. I was shivering and I couldnβt keep food or water down.
Rachel yelled βoh my god. OH MY GODβ and I thought her water broke. I ended up crying in bed because I felt helpless and weak.
Worked out hard, tho working on my temporary desk the day before fucked up my back in a bad way.
Work went okay, Iβm way over subscribed with the drudgery of work.
Thursdate! Rachel planned a fancy dinner in our neighborhood at Ramro. Highlight of the dinner for me were the mushroom skewers and the duck fat Daiquiri
Was on edge all day because I had my performance review. It was generally positive (Iβm doing good work) but the big thing I need to work on is being more positive about my work and being friendlier and more of a mentor. I was told that my energy is infectious, both good and bad.
Adi is leaving π and Nick is going remote indefinitely, so coming back to the office after paternity might not be a thing.
Skipped date night because I got dragged out for drinks after work.
Came home to Rachel watching The Wire, which is a welcome development.
Spent the day doing nesting activities. Got the bassinet setup and did some user testing to figure out the space
Stavβs birthday party! They didnβt reserve a room at the karaoke spot so we had to pivot to another bar in the rain. Was nice to see people, tho I did get a little drunk
Quiet day working from home. Got a little sad during demos when it was brought up, yet again, that bespoke frontend UIs are going away and the stuff I am working on is useless
Rachel and I got in a little fight about date night. She wanted to just walk to Astoria Park, which is fine, but would take me a long time to get back here in time for us to enjoy a walk after dinner. I politely suggested that Central Park would be better schedule wise and that we wonβt be able to go there because of the baby soon. Rachelβs concern was going up the stairs to the train to get there and that I was putting too much pressure on date night
Work went pretty okay!
The date night at Central Park was fun tho! It was quite beautiful and we did some people watching. Went to a nice Mediterranean restaurant called Miriam that I ate was too much food at.
I felt good
π π§βπ³ π πΏ
π
Woke up very late and very sore
Work was fun, fixed a longstanding responsiveness issue
Made a broiled miso tofu dish, was pretty good
Finished It Takes Two with Adam! We saved a marriage!
I felt good
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π
Slept for like 10 hours overnight. Woke up feeling sore from yesterday, but it was worth it.
Assembled some more baby furniture and kept cleaning.
Made crispy salmon with a salad with all the fixings. Rachelβs glucose levels were perfect after it.
It was a home improvement day! I rented a UHaul to cycle the winter stuff out and summer stuff from our storage unit. We were able to move everything without fighting. I even got our old, very reliable, super Jorge to come and reinstall the ACs, mount a shelf and, most importantly, mounting a shower curtain rod on our marble/cement bathroom.
After the moving, we had time with the UHaul to run to the garden center. We got some flowers, purple basil and red peppers for our garden, as well as a bunch of soil. Did a little gardening after cleaning.
Our apartment is dusty and we need to fix that asap. Canβt have the baby coming home to filth.
My favorite memory of the day was taking the UHaul to an Italian sandwich spot a mile from us and getting sandwiches. We ate them off the side of the UHaul and it was very Rob coded. I got a sandwich that was just toasted raviolis, mozzarella and vodka sauce.
I did it all! Woke up very early to go to the gym, then an ultrasound with Rachel (Liddy is in the 64th percentile) and then a relatively good day at work.
I got home to Rachel panicking about dinner and I had to finish that off for her, as she was about to make pasta, which is bad for her.
After the rocky start to the day, things settled down a bit and work went okay.
I felt bad
π£
I overslept and missed my gym class. This put me on a spiral of βIβm stupid, I should have set an alarm, Iβm so dumbβ and punching my leg in anger. Rachel literally didnβt say a word so after she left, I was just like βIβm not supported, I have to do all the supporting in this house, sheβll be like βItβs too earlyβ which always fucking is for that sleepy bitch. I have to do everything around here and Iβm not allowed to not be okay, itβs fucking bullshitβ and then I cried for a minute.
Was able to get gym booked for tomorrow, but this ruminating has made me later for work than Iβd like and has befouled my mood before I even get to work. Great start to the week βΉοΈ
Baby shower! It was so nice that everyone showed up and was so supportive.
I got a letter from Margret and Gordon Maupin that made me cry a lot. It wasnβt even that serious, but I just overwhelmed me that they thought of me.
Rachel left for the Berkshires so I just relaxed bachelor style
Pizza day at work! Got a lot done and had a fun lunch and learn.
New program at the gym, bit more baby than Iβd like, but itβll do
I planned a simple date night of Mexican food. We ended up seeing the end of Boliviaβs football match from the World Cup playoffs with a bunch of lively Bolivians. They were quite happy they came from behind and won
Rachel and I hashed out the fight from the morning. She needs to be more specific about what sheβs scared of and what she needs. I need to be more patient and not require so much rationalization.
Inshallah we finished this crunchy birthing class! Things we spent more time on than changing a diaper: having the baby sleep in the bed with you (good?), informed consent, circumcision, and breathing. 15 hours of this crap.
I felt bad
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One of the worst fights of our marriage. Weβre both stressed and she has some intense hormones.
Shipped my work fastball! Very happy with how it turned out!
Discussed UI refactor, should be a fun lil project.
Dentist π¦·! My teeth are perfect!
Iβm so excited for birthing class to wrap up. 15 hours is just too much.
I felt rad
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π₯³
Our first formal State of the Union was a big success. I got a retro template down, a shared todo list created, etc. I think we made good progress on the things we needed to talk about and plan for baby.
Great workout at the gym that I sucked at parts of
Came home to discover Rachel had not been paying into her student loans for the past year or so because of this bitch ass administration killing the SAVE plan without an immediate replacement (which should have just been IDR). As a result, the PSLF forgiveness date has been pushed back to 2030. This sucks because it low key pushes back any date we could buy NY property to that date. Rachel cried when I explained this and went into a panic attack. I tried to calm her down and we are going to talk to an accountant about this asap
I tried to clean the apartment but Iβm just lazy now.
What an awful day. I was on deadline for a new feature, cruising right on time for delivery when⦠I find an existing feature not working as I thought at like 6pm. Just started kicking my chair and groaning cause I was so mad.
It didnβt help that I was at my computer for the whole day without breaks and lunch. That has to stop.
Management log: I was a little short with Adi this morning when he asked for help for an explanation on why a test might be failing. I should have been more curious instead proscriptive and paired with him.
Went to gym for the first time since our Dublin trip ποΈββοΈ. Got some tightness after SSBs that sorta knocked me out. I wasnβt get ER on the squat.
I think the fastball at work is gonna slide in right on time without bugs π
Rushed home to eat dinner with Rachel and take a dusk diabetes walk. We listened to Are You Mad At Me? and it struck a chord with both of us in a different ways. The chapter we listened to was about the fawn response, which Rachel has but I do not (I freeze). My hyper vigilance comes from being fired and a lil homeless, which Iβm still dealing with.
Last couple days have been a blur. Caught a fastball at work that Iβm hammering away at while being a little bored with it.
Had couples counseling yesterday. I got a little yelled at because Iβm too silly during them. We are going to move our state of the union to earlier on the day on Sundays so we can focus better and generate more to talk about.
Had counseling today. Iβm going to start journaling more about my challenges with managing and mentoring.
Rachel got a diagnosis of gestational diabetes that really put a damper on the day. I tried my best to support, but she needs to go through it.
Made carrot and bean soup, so tasty, but I had to do a lot of cooking. I wasnβt planning on making broth, but I couldnβt close the freezer after shopping, so needed to use the chicken scraps.
Had an early morning baby doctor visit. We asked some of the questions from the birthing class and got extremely favorable answers (induce at 41 weeks, evidence based approach). Baby is also healthy.
Work had a fire that I was not a part of. Was able to focus on what needed to get done.
Went to a Kabalat Shabbat at the local synagogue for the first time. Seems like a nice community, though a little small. Met a nice couple that lives near by that we stayed out late talking to.
Woke up early in Dublin and went to bad late in NYC. 6+ hour flights are no joke.
Got halfway through a bunch of shows. The Lowdown (fun but couldnβt quite stick the landing), Chad Powers (Iβm enjoying it, but itβs Eastbound without the jokes) and Say Nothing (bummer of show that is just acted okay).
The back half of the Dublin trip was awesome! We did the Guinness Storehouse (very touristy, but fun, we learned how to pour a pint), did a 1916 uprising walking tour (highlight of the trip) followed by the Kilmainham Gaol (that one really got to me, just how carceral Irish society was during the famine). Lots of brews and music and walking in between.
Rachel and I were happy to get out for a bit. Itβs our last adult vacation before the baby, so that was nice.
Going through the Daylio list, I really did it all today. Today was also ~40 hours, so that helped.
My day started in Queens at 6am. It was raining hard as I dragged my full sized suitcase to the train as I went to work. I drank a Celsius and ate an apple fritter on the train to work.
Work went okay, was still on bug patrol, but I shipped some good features that we will realize the value of later. I got a giant Italian sandwich for lunch, only half of I ate.
Left at 5pm to take the train to JFK. TOOK THE AIRTRAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHAT A RUN DOWN SITUATION. For an 8 dollar train ticket, Iβm not asking for much, just not to almost get kicked in the face by an unhoused person making a literal witches laugh.
On the train, I started listening to Fear and Fury, which is a book about Bernie Goetz. Great read and I can understand where he was coming from in that moment and that moment only.
Took a flight to Ireland at 9:15pm, during which I experienced another 6am without really sleeping (was watching The Lowdown, which is excellent). Landed at 9am, got to hotel by 10:30am, took a quick cat nap until 2pm.
Wandered around Dublin! We went to several green spaces, drank warm tea together, bought some baby clothes and were very wholesome on our Babymoon until dinner.
At dinner, things got a little sloppy. Had a filet medium rare with an βIrish Lagerβ (Murphyβs not Guinness). The steak was so good and beer just washed it down perfectly. After that, we went to a bar to listen to live Irish music and watch Rugby. I had a Smithwick red ale and two Jamesonβs (from a wall tap no less). After that, we saw more live music (Country Roads in Ireland went stupid hard) and I had a Kilkenny and another Jameson along with it. Good and sauced at this point.
Went back to the hotel and made passionate love and finally to bed at midnight the next day.
Slept 10.5 hours last night, the toll of the previous week came due. Bed rotted and watched American Gangster.
Rachel and I cooked a dinner together without fighting. It helped that I explained what I was thinking before we started and showed how I wanted certain things.
It was nice to be relatively unburdened at work and able to focus on wrapping some stuff up instead of being on the clock. I wasnβt the blocker today!
Lawn Club was fun. I liked the trash can beer pong competition with Gabo and nice to have a heart to heart with Sean.
The thing I need to keep in mind is that tomorrow is a new day and I cannot carry forward negativity that Iβve been feeling at work because of mismanaged projects. The help is here and I have to believe that things are gonna get good.
Got home and just had fun talking to Rachel about our days and what we are thinking about. I really needed that.
Weather was so fun! We walked through Times Square (Rachel hated it) after seeing a movie. As someone tweeted, βweekend before shutdown vibes in 2020β as there is a blizzard tomorrow.
Saw Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie and really liked it. We hadnβt seen any of the web series/television show, but the characters were so lovable and funny and so dumb. For a movie that cost $2 million, really creative shooting to make it work.
Made pinto beans using some leftover bacon fat. Oh my god, it was so good. Gonna roll those into two meals as a part of the blizzard.
I felt bad
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π£
Work was rough. I had a hard problem to solve that I tried to craft a prompt off of to one shot but failed. Iβm going to take the planning document on Monday and do discrete shippable tasks that will be easier to review.
Logged off completely wiped. Didnβt even have lunch. Got a little stoned and watched You Got Mail. New York is the fucking best man. Rachel was weeping at the end.
Rachel and I worked through the Valentineβs Day SNAFU. I said my piece, she cried a little, but I donβt think I was out of line in what I said and she agreed.
Stav visited! So nice to see them!
My left heel bothered me all day, yet I kept pushing myself on it.
Spent the weekend finishing some books! A Man of Many Fathers (loved it, very funny and was interesting what was similar from my life when I was a poor young man), American Kings (Wickersham can write about football, man) and Empire of AI (I need to limit my AI information consumption otherwise it makes me little crazy)
Started the day off with a killer workout (stretching + class). Rachel showed up for the class so that was nice.
After that, we vibed and then went grocery shopping for the weekend. Going to try to eat more fruit this weekend as the default snack.
We went to a Mardi Gras party! It was nice to meet some other Jewish people there and learn that the conservative synagogue in our neighborhood isnβt homophobic and that we should probably go.
I was a little overwhelmed in the party and sorta hid. Iβm not doing good with loud rooms lately.
Got back and tried to have a successful Valentineβs Day dinner. Dinner turned out great, but Rachelβs desert sorta killed the mood.
Watched Roman Holiday, which was an early Audrey Hepburn flick with Gregory Peck. It was very cute and had a thinker of an ending.
I felt good
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π
Stressful day but weβre only looking up for the long weekend and work will be better next week
Watched Sleepless in Seattle. I wish we could live in the PNW, but alas, Iβm a city boy now. Couldnβt make that movie today in that no streamer would all you to have that big of stars not be on the screen together with dialogue until the last scene.
Iβm grateful that Rachel stay up a little late so we could cuddle and talk. I felt the most love Iβve felt in a bit just now.
I felt good
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Did a lot at work, but shipped just a little. Had fun profiling code to debug an issue.
Woke up early for the gym, still had time to pick up a bagel and make it to work before 9am.
Had a Celsius at like 5pm and came home wired. Lots of joking around.
Work was hell in that not much moved and I juggled too much. Oh well, tomorrow will be better.
Had personal AND couples therapy AND also got a little too personal with a coworker about my anxieties of the future.
The homework for couples therapy is that Rachel and I need to cook some meals together and write about it independently in a Rashomon style assignment.
Went on a long weekend trip to Miami for a wedding. It felt great to have sun touch parts of my body that hasnβt experienced it in so long. Even got a lil sunburn.
It was so nice to see Rachelβs friends. They are so solid and nice.
Flew back to 10 degree weather πβοΈ
Super Bowl was fun because I love defensive football. Just made a lil potato soup for dinner.
Work was less stressful and had bit of good news. They are releving me to a better job title! If I can just get this project off my plate, Iβll be happy.
Iβm grateful that Rachel and I cackled in bed at this DBT coping strategies worksheet and all its awful ideas.
Storm prep day! Made a big batch of chicken tortillas soup and will prep burritos instead of going outside.
Iβm powering through The Gods of New York. The 80s were a crazy time.
Finished A Space for the Unbound. What a beautiful game with a touching story. Canny believe how up my alley it was.
I felt meh
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I just feel a little bit of terror when I think about work. Itβs like bailing water out of a sinking boat. It doesnβt need to be, but Iβm making it that way.
Part of it is that I have a light flu going on. Why am I waking up so sore and queasy.
I felt bad
π§βπ³ π―ββοΈ π π πΌ
π£
Work was hell. Iβm sick and Iβm powering through to meet a deadline. Iβm not seeing the point of the deadline, but Iβm rolling with it.
Couples therapy was helpful. I kinda steered it a bit more than in the past. I need to investigate more coping strategies, gentle startups, and the relationship house.
Worked late and spent even more time cooking a dal for dinner. It wasnβt too spicy, but had flavor and was very good for me.
Worked extremely late. Realized I didnβt QA some work closely enough AND just more bugs popped up that put things in peril for tomorrow. AND I HAVE TO GO IN TO THE OFFICE FML!!!
Got a quote back from a nursery of $30k a year π΅βπ«
I got home and asked about said quote and made Rachel cry as she has no idea of our finances.
Woke up in a rush, but couldnβt eat until my blood was drawn.
Worked through lunch in a minor panic. Gotta ship this API, but I also think I hit a flow state with 3 Claude Code sessions so that was fun.
Had a therapy session where I complained about my wife for an hour. Walked away not feeling great about it, but talked to Rachel later about it and I think we got somewhere. Sheβs gonna explain some of the baby shopping ideas for me and Iβm gonna work to make the space work. Also, phone free friday nights.
Cleaned and cooked all day. Did so much domestic labor.
Minor flare up around rugelach. Rachel went to a store that sold nothing but it, bring me back none of it because she thought I would think itβs βtoo shortbreadyβ or whatever that means. I got a little short because I did all the domestic labor today while Rachel just got to hang out with a friend and I couldnβt even get a single rugelach.
Extremely busy day! Rented a UHaul to move some stuff in our apartment to our storage unit. Rachel and I didnβt fight once and I had a blast driving around the neighborhood. We didnβt fight once and just got along super well.
The gym was great this morning. We talked a bunch about Hegsethβs trash ass kettlebell swings. I got better form than him!
Personal therapy: I need to stop seeing everyone at work as literal competition. I also need to really focus on 1-3 things that Iβm grateful for.
Couples therapy: I need to turn down doing bits about 25%, especially when Rachel is sad. Let her be in it for a bit before rescuing her.
Coding with LLMs sucked all my energy yesterday. I have working code, passes test locally, fails in the CI, and I have to loop on how to fix it in a distracting way. Oh and it was two sessions doing this.
Gratitude: Rachel for sharing as much as she did during couples therapy. We are still in love, we just need to find time for that to simmer together.
Went to the gym early and really just powered through my workout.
Got back home with my mind buzzing about the game Iβve been kicking around in my head for a year now. Sat down and got Claude Code working with the Godot MCP and Iβm just vibing now. Core game loop is 20% there and rolling.
Ended the day watching One Battle After Another with Rachel. CINEMA! PTA did it again. Man heβs got a TYPE!
Therapy went really well. We are going to do some couples therapy just to get us ready for the next phase of our life.
How am I 35 and still fighting GitHub Actions?
Roasted a whole chicken over cabbage, always a winner of a meal.
I felt good
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Work got a lot better after I vented for a bit with my therapist + caught up with Edipo. I gotta remember to give people grace and remember what success can look like.
Was able to get in the zone for a bit work wise, which was nice.
Made pasta e cici with a bunch of veggies and homemade chickpea that was very tasty.
My talk went so well, I killed! I started the talk with everyone sharing their salaries and ended sticking my points somewhat.
It was awesome to see people I havenβt seen in 3-5 years! I need to convert them to friends
Rachel is pregnant for realz now. Iβm gonna be a daddy! Baby Methuselah!
Work went well, we moved desks, things got done, gotta stay supportive of everyone.
I felt good
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Spent all day finishing my talk. I have the slides where I want, just need to figure out a snappy conclusion. Like literally 2-3 lines. Itβll come to me tomorrow
Rachel and I had a little dust up because I was a little too roasty. I need to take a beat and remember that I love her and sheβs soft before saying any old thing.