Nothing in Oregon is “pricey”….it’s “spendy”.

My son just got a high attendance achievement award for 90% or higher attendance and it made me laugh because it seems like a pretty low bar. Imagine allowing kids to miss a day every other week and sending out awards for those who made the cut.

I applied for a grant and was successful in receiving about $80k in funding to go toward 12 new EV charging stations in downtown Hillsboro at my work. After about 9 months since award, I was happy to finally see them installed today!

Daddy daughter trip out to Multnomah Falls for my bday.

About halfway through Robert Caro’s The Power Broker and had the urge to search for an interview of Robert Moses on YouTube to get his voice in my head. Still find it hard to believe there aren’t any series or decent movies on the guy.

Robert Moses interview on Building New York City (1959)

Once again, my timing is impeccable. I have a trip to Yosemite booked for early May.

‘Honestly terrifying’: Yosemite National Park is in chaos

Many of the school playgrounds in Oregon have these structures so kids can stay dry in the winter. I needed some exercise so I spent about 30 minutes getting some of the stuck balls down from the rafters.

While markets are nearing record highs, I’m having a hard time envisioning any future that doesn’t involve some sort of crazy volatility due to uncertainty. Usually I just ride the wave, but I just can’t escape the feeling something dreaded is coming.

Watched The Gorge last night on Apple TV+ after we got the kids to bed. Went into it with zero expectations, wasn’t disappointed. Long, with several large plot holes and sort of goofy idea over all (I like darker movies), but it kept my attention and made me jump a couple times.

I grew up in the Midwest and spent the first part of my career there in public service, in areas that received a lot of Federal assistance. In fact, I’d say most of the good that occurred there was/is funded by outside sources. It’s what propped their mostly dead economies up. Hard times ahead.

Between two snow days this week, a holiday on Monday, and one teacher development day following that, we’re getting 6 straight days with these maniacs. Send backup!

I’m going to start handing out blocks on LinkedIn to market urbanists who post nothing but quipy things about middle housing solving all our housing problems. I’m from the future and I’m afraid it’s not a silver bullet.

Finished reading: Win Every Argument by Mehdi Hasan 📚

I had to start a different book because I ran out time with Part I of The Power Broker 😂 Back in the holds line.

Currently reading: Win Every Argument by Mehdi Hasan 📚

Rest in peace, Donald Shoup. Very strange for me that I just finished his book The High Cost of Free Parking a few days before his passing.

If they really want less government, we can start by merging all of their little exurban fiefdoms with the central cities they surround, followed by billing them for the true cost of their horizontal infrastructure the rest of us subsidize.

Man, I am exhausted.

And here we goooo… Currently reading: The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro 📚

Finished reading: Essentialism by Greg McKeown 📚. I don’t think I have what it takes to be an essentialist tbh.

I don’t like the 5 star rating system because there are far too many C- movies, books and restaurants.

Checking out the new #Apple Invites app. Curious how the RSVP process will look for people on other operating systems.

I’m not a praying man, but Portland weather gods: I need a snow day.

Off to see Dog Man with my eldest, then to our THIRD birthday party this weekend.

We’re in for a bumpy ride. I’m not even going to look at my 401k.

AI has its pros and cons, but lately I’ve been using it for mundane tasks that have been making my stressful life a little easier. For example, I’ve been recording long trainings related to a big grant app I’m working. Taking the transcript and having AI summarize notes for me has been huge.