2021 wrap up
As 2021 comes to a close, I’ve been thinking through some of the best parts of this year, which I’m sharing in a few categories below.
favorite foods
the original buddha bodai in nyc
Best vegan dim sum in the world, probably. I’ve been there many times but getting to go back after uncertainty about whether they would make it through the pandemic nearly made me cry.kamakura japanese cuisine in seattle
I think we went there 7 times in 6 weeks. I wasn’t expecting much from a regular sushi place with a separate vegan menu, but it was delicious. The rice was always on point and they were so creative with their sauces and different vegan rolls. Convenient location near Gasworks / bike paths made it a staple in our Seattle experience.nectar cafe in portland
I thought this would be some hippie place with mediocre food and juices, but it really blew my mind. Both times I went, I ended up getting another order to-go to delay the sadness of not being able to eat it again for a while. Their smoothie was top notch and all the breakfast plates I tried were delicious.cha cha chinese pecan sunflower seeds
I’ve eaten way too many of these. Truly addicted.sestina in culver city
Who knew basic pizzas and pastas could be so good?terms of endearment in brooklyn
The breakfast sandwich was kind of a greasy mess by the time I ate it, but it was SO GOOD. Such fresh pastries and ingredients.
favorite objects
ipad mini
I’ve had many iterations of the iPad and while all have been useful, none have matched the compact utility of the new iPad mini. It’s small enough that I have completely replaced my Kindle with it — between Goodnotes for PDFs, the integrated Books app, and the Kindle app, I can read any kind of content and be able to highlight and save notes quite easily. I use it as an occasional second monitor with Sidecar, and no longer have a dedicated external monitor for work anymore. I take notes on it for work, sketch a bit in ProCreate, watch random YouTube videos on it, and save project inspiration notes in Pinterest. I can also connect my Planck EZ directly via USB-C and type away on iA Writer or even the Squarespace app.bike hex tools
I spent a lot of time this year working on bikes, and I love the simplicity of this multi-color hex set from BikeHand. It makes identifying the right size tool much easier, and the bright colors are easy to locate. They’re also much sturdier than the random set of free hex keys I had prior, and making tightening and loosening bolts much less painful.nintendo switch (w/ zelda breath of the wild, overcooked, and smash)
I’m not an avid gamer by any means — in fact, I’ve avoided games for a lot of my life because of the guilt associated with playing them. I tried to confront that earlier this year and got a Switch because I wanted to be able to play the more recent Super Smash Bros game with Max after that became a core fun component of our 2020 quarantine. I ended up getting Breath of the Wild too, which has been an incredible visual experience and such an engaging game. Overcooked has been great as well for quick post-dinner unwinding.roka glasses
I hate wearing glasses because most glasses are poorly balanced on my uneven years and end up causing ear pain, and eventually a headache. I got a pair of Roka glasses early this year because they were advertised as being really light and non-slip, and they definitely are. They are the only glasses I’ve been able to wear multiple days in a row for multiple hours at a time without causing pain. I have the photochromatic lenses on them, and even though they look kind of stupid, they’ve been great for travel since I can go on long bike rides or hikes without having to worry about another pair of sunglasses or protecting my eyes from wind even when it’s not sunny.fujifilm x-pro 3
Thank you Max for this lovely gift. Though film will always have my heart, sometimes it’s more practical (and much cheaper) to shoot digital (say, when you’re going on a 3 month roadtrip). The sensor, film presets, and e-ink display on the X-Pro 3 make it as close to a film experience as possible without shelling out life savings on a Leica, and it’s a joy to shoot. With a classic manual focus lens on there and a nice preset in place, I almost don’t miss film.converse chuck 70’s
I haven’t purchased new casual shoes in years, but as my all-white Converse Chuck II’s have become a nice mud color, I decided to finally set them aside for biking-only and replaced them with a pair of high top black Chuck 70’s. The quality is quite nice for a fairly inexpensive shoe, and I love that they go with pretty much anything.
favorite books
crying in h-mart by michelle zauner
I cried myself to sleep multiple times during the reading process of this book, and sometimes I feel like I’m still processing it. It’s a complicated story, beautifully conveyed.
the day the world stops shopping by jb mackinnon
I really enjoyed this intellectual exercise examining consumerism and the widespread impacts it has on every corner of this planet.pipe dreams by chelsea wald
I wrote in my Goodreads review that I “can’t this shit out of my head” and it’s true. I think about plumbing way more than I want to after reading this, but I also find it so fascinating.anxious people by fredrik backman
This was one of the first books I read this year and still one of my favorites. I’m a big fan of Fredrik Backman, as you might remember from this blog (Beartown was a favorite for long time). I find his characters so human and I admire his ability to turn simple events into compelling stories.freedom in exile by dalai lama xiv
My love of memoirs continues.it’s all about the bike by robert penn
This book inspired me to spend an absurd amount of money building my own bike. I think it’s for a particular type of materialistic nerd (ie. me) who obsesses over the most minute manufacturing details and/or bike history enthusiasts.
favorite memories
bike 100 miles (august)
It felt amazing to be able to accomplish a goal that I thought was silly and unreachable, part 2.
making my first backpack (march)
It felt amazing to be able to accomplish a goal that I thought was silly and unreachable, part 1.
birthday trip to culver city (may)
It was nice to be a tourist in LA and have a mini birthday getaway. Although Shojin was a bit disappointing, Sestina was a great find.
finding a great place to live (october)
We no longer live in a converted garage! Having 3 bedrooms seemed like it would be too much initially, but having white space in the house, being able to store things in closets, not hearing each other during separate Zoom meetings, having a dishwasher, and being able to access pools/hot tubs has been so nice.
hobbit house / outdoor shower on the oregon coast (august)
Have you ever had a hot shower in the middle of the woods?
meeting coworkers in denver (november)
It had been nearly 2 years since our last retreat, and although COVID risks were definitely present, it was nice to be able to connect with people I’ve been working with in real life and get to know everyone on a different level.
favorite new skills
a lot of new sewing skills
I’m much more comfortable with sewing zippers, curves, and thick layers now. My edges are a lot more clean, and I’ve started working on my patterning/design skills to make things beyond the patterns I’ve found or bought.
doing things with motors
E-bike conversion and an industrial sewing machine swap!getting better at bike maintenance
I can confidently fix a flat, tape drop bars, re-wire derailleur and brake cables, adjust rear derailleurs, and remove bottom brackets now.cutting hair
I have burgeoning clipper skills and can do a half-decent fade in less than an hour.
kind of being able to make some pottery
Centering is hard but I can make some bowls.notion life management
Everything is a database now.
