A digital travel diary. · WP v1.08 · Updated
Today, January 12, 2021, I canceled many of my social media accounts. . . . . I didn't like all the censorship imposed by Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and decided I didn't need these social media accounts. They sell my personal information to advertisers in exchange for algorithm-curated news, headlines, and photos. No, thanks!. . Twitter - deleted my account on January 12, 2021. Instagram…
Read More: Cancelling Social Media
On Saturday, January 9, 2021, on a beautiful but chilly winter day, Inna and I decided to hike the trails of the nearby Sanborn County Park in Saratoga, CA. We drove to the Costanoan Group Area parking lot and parked there. . . . . As it was a cold winter's day, we chose a shorter version of our average hike (about 2 miles) that…
Read More: Hiking Sanborn County Park
As a 2021 New Year's present, Inna surprised me with an Apple AirPods from Apple. She engraved them with "sea sloth" as a charming moniker. While they sounded clear, I realized she had overpaid for them, as Amazon was selling the Airpods Pro model for the same price. . . . . We proceeded to return the original Airpods and replace them with Airpods Pro.…
Read More: Review: Apple Airpods Pro
For the New Year, I purchased a new Apple MacBook Pro 13' M1 512 GB SSD laptop for Inna, as her 2013 MacBook Pro was starting to misbehave (rebooting often). . . . Initially, I was leaning toward the new MacBook Air 13' M1, but the MacBook Pro M1 512 GB SSD/8 GB RAM was offered on sale at Costco.com, and the difference between the…
Read More: Review: Apple Macbook Pro 13′ M1
I decided that he needed a surf skateboard to improve Alex's surfing technique - maneuvers such as cutbacks, bottom turns, and slashes. . Alex already owns a 43" Cardboard, but it's not as maneuverable as an actual surfboard. After researching, I found that a Florida company called Swelltech specializes in manufacturing surf skates that closely mimic surfing.. . On October 21, 2020, I pre-ordered the…
Read More: Riding Swelltech J.O.B. Banzai Surfskate
Ah, 2020 be gone! . With COVID-19 changing our lives (mainly for the worse), we are happy to move into 2021! I look forward to a time when wearing masks is no longer required, when lines to Whole Foods are a distant memory, and when I can sip my Philharmonic coffee at Philz and enjoy my freshly baked croissants at Fleur de Cocoa. . Despite…
Read More: Welcoming 2021!
. . How was 2020 in Sports? With COVID-19 raging, it turned out quite different, with much more surfing and mountain biking than in previous years. . 77 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center) before Covid-19 closed it. I really miss playing tennis!. . 14 days of working out in the gym (City Sports) before COVID-19 locked it down. . 46 days of surfing…
Read More: The Year in Sports 2020
Which are the best restaurants, spas, and travel destinations? . At the end of 2020, I am rating the following (from best to worst) based on my personal experience. . . . Restaurants. . Even though Michelin has not rated it, Mama's Fish House on Maui is our favorite restaurant worldwide. Mama's Fish House combines an authentic Hawaiian atmosphere with exceptional cooking and a magnificent…
Read More: Best of the Best 2020
This year, unlike most previous years, our neighbors spent lavishly decorating for Christmas and the upcoming New Year, and the results speak for themselves. . . As we strolled through the Almaden Winery neighborhood along our usual walking path, we enjoyed the fancy decorations and beautiful illuminations. . . . . After wrapping all our presents and putting them under the Christmas tree, we went…
Read More: Enjoying Christmas
Is human knowledge only to be found in books?. As wonderful as books represent, document, and express human thoughts, they are not a substitute for direct, personal contact that comes from seeing, hearing, feeling, and experiencing things for oneself.. . Can any book truly capture the exhilaration of windsurfing on Maui, snowboarding on freshly fallen powder at Whistler, piloting a Cessna single-engine aircraft, swimming with…
Read More: The Bucket List 2020