Notes (21/22/23/24) - 2025

I have been gathering notes regularly over the past month, almost every day whenever I found time. I didn't have the mental space to publishing them. So, this will be a long post.

Week 21-22

• I was down for most 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. Finished Exhalation by Ted Chiang and watched Sunny on Apple TV, along with Tourist Family and Thug Life. I liked Tourist Family more. I enjoyed revisiting a few old Balu Mahendra stories from Sun TV in the name of 'Kathai Neram' - the kind of stories I keep going back to.

• Work has been a mix, some days were hectic, some were manageable. Focus has been good overall, and we’ve released a first version, which feels like a solid step forward. I also enjoy fixing bugs late at night if I’m blocked, otherwise, I don’t pick up anything new. I’ve become more of a morning person these days. I enjoy working with my team. There's a good energy.

• 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 got broke on 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 ThinkPad, I always liked how compact and handy it was, but it felt like too big of an investment right now. The Apple ecosystem is a big plus, and I prefer macOS/Linux over Windows any day, especially since I live in the terminal most of the time.

• Piano classes have been mostly off, I missed three of them, but the overall progress has been decent. The more I play, the more I realise I’m not really into string instruments. I only occasionally pick up the ukulele now. I’ve been leaning more into classical piano and reading notes, I find that part challenging but enjoyable.

• Recently I’ve started recognising that even saying “I’m off social media” is a form of privilege. For most parts, it becomes an essential platform for connection and growth. So, I've been lately appreciating social connections but I am still mindful. Also, without Tars around, I found myself waking up and reaching for my phone first thing, which I end up regretting the later part of the day.

Week 22-23

• 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 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.

• A good friend of mine, 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 for him 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.

• Without Tars, we slipped back into our old, lazy routine, waking and sleeping at odd hours. It often reminded 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 fell more balanced again. Even my sleep has better for the past week. He’s grumpy at times, but doing well overall. He’s truly our companion.

• I’m not someone who regularly keeps in touch with family, and I’m not proud of it. I’m trying to build the habit , maybe by blocking out time just for that. I already do it with a one of two close friends, and I think it’s time I do that with family too, especially as they’re getting older.