Modern Simple Living

Rediscovering Fountain Pens for Serious Note-Taking The Problem With Long Writing Sessions As I’ve been writing a lot of notes for my Machine Learning studies, I’ve started to notice the physical toll of long writing sessions. On a typical day, I’m putting down 10–15 pages of notes. While reliable, regular gel pens like my Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.5 begin to feel uncomfortable over extended use. The pressure required and narrow grip add up quickly, turning note-taking into a strain rather than a flow. Returning to a Familiar Tool It had been a while, but I recently refilled one of my Pilot Metropolitan fountain pens with Iroshizuki Kon-Peki ink. Almost immediately, I was reminded why I originally fell in love with fountain pens for note-taking. The experience feels fundamentally different—smoother, more relaxed, and far less fatiguing. Why Fountain Pens Work Better for Notes Iroshizuki ink is particularly well suited for standard composition notebook paper. It dries quickly, which minimizes...

2026 Study Goal: Machine Learning Fundamentals One of my main study goals for 2026 is to gain a deeper understanding of Machine Learning .  It was previously a sub-discipline of AI, but has become synonymous with it as its been the impetus in the latest breakthroughs like ChatGPT. I. ChatGPT Before ChatGPT and large language models brought AI into the mainstream, machine learning was often treated as a buzzword. Today, AI is clearly a disruptive force, reshaping how people work and think about technology. While tools like ChatGPT are impressive, they also reveal limitations—hallucinations, shallow reasoning, and weak long-term memory. LLMs have their place and will continue to improve, but they are only one part of the broader ML landscape. II. Online ML Courses - Introduction I’m starting with the Google Machine Learning Crash Course as my December 2025 study focus, followed by a more structured MOOC such as an edX Machine Learning course . I’ve found that learning terminology...

2025 Nespresso Holiday Flavors: A Quick Take Festive Collection Highlights This year’s Vertuo Holiday lineup brings three seasonal releases:  Cinnamon & Candied Tamarind Sweet Almond & Hibiscus Double Espresso I also picked up the Barista Creations Gingerbread , which feels right at home in the holiday mix. I sampled the Sweet Almond & Hibiscus in-store and was pleasantly surprised—balanced, not overly floral or nutty, and genuinely enjoyable. Reflections on Favorites The new Double Espresso looks especially promising. I’m a dark-roast fan, and last year’s Pierre Hermé Double Espresso was a standout, so I’m hoping for similar depth this year. From the Pierre Hermé line, the one I still miss most is the Hazelnut . I’ve been slowly savoring my remaining Raspberry Espresso sleeve. I’ve also held onto a Kona sleeve, and I still find myself thinking back to Blue Bottle #1 , which was exceptional and hasn’t quite been replaced. Stocking Up - 10 Sleeves + 3 Free Bonus (Dec 1...

 December 2025 Everyday Carry (EDC) My Everyday Carry has stayed remarkably consistent since 2024, with just one major update: I now use the iPhone Air as my daily phone. The biggest shift actually happened back in March 2024, when I switched from a full-size wallet to the Coach Card Wallet .  That change made a noticeable difference in comfort and pocket space— as long as you keep it snug in your pocket . I’d hesitated to use a card wallet before because I’d had it fall out more than once, but after adjusting how I carry it, it’s been trouble-free. Since then, my EDC setup has remained simple, lightweight, and pocket-friendly. Current EDC Items (December 2025) Apple iPhone Air Casio G-Shock 5600 Victorinox Classic Victorinox Huntsman Coach Leather Card Wallet I still enjoy rotating between my Victorinox models—especially the Huntsman for its versatility. And depending on mood or occasion, I switch between my G-Shock 5600 and the classic Casio A168. Future Considerati...

DIY Car Maintenance: My Plan to Start Small and Level Up Why I’m Starting DIY Maintenance I’ve decided to take on my own basic car maintenance. The plan is to begin with oil changes and gradually work up to brakes, fluids, and eventually anything I feel confident doing. Beyond saving money, learning these skills just feels empowering. Cost and Break-Even Estimate The upfront cost for quality tools and supplies looks to be around $400 . Based on current shop prices, it’ll take roughly 8 oil changes —or about two years for my two cars—to break even. After that, every oil change is pure savings. But the bigger payoff is being able to handle larger jobs that would otherwise cost hundreds per visit. Mechanic Tools I'll gradually add tools and for now all I need for oil changes are quality ramps, oil drain pan, oil filter wrench and a 1/4" socket set.  I already have the socket so the ramps, pan and filter wrench are maybe $200 . Kobalt - 65 piece - Household (has 1/4" so...

2025 State of Wine Collections Finding a few bottles of Kirkland Gigondas 2023 for just $14.99 prompted me to reflect on how much my wine journey has evolved over the past few years. I’ve enjoyed French GSM blends for a long time, and learning that Gigondas borders Châteauneuf-du-Pape —a region whose wines I’ve also appreciated from Costco—only deepened my admiration for high-quality bottles at accessible prices. This discovery highlights a broader shift in my buying habits. After many years of relying on Trader Joe’s for everyday wines, I’ve now fully transitioned to Costco as my primary source. The combination of value, consistency, and surprising depth—especially from the Kirkland Signature lineup—has made the switch both rewarding and economical. With Gigondas added to my shelves, I’m excited to explore more from Costco’s selection and continue refining my collection. Current Wine Collection (as of December 2025) Red Wines — 20 Bottles Priorat — $40 — 1 Reignac — $30 — 2 K...

Leatherman vs. Swiss Army Knives: Two Different Multitool Philosophies Cutting: The Swiss Army Knife Advantage During a November trip, I found myself thinking about why, despite owning several Leatherman tools over the years, I always end up carrying a Swiss Army Knife. SAKs are built around the blade, and the Trekker is a perfect example of that design philosophy. It handled every cutting task I threw at it—slicing small logs, feathering wood, cutting cord—with an ease that felt natural and intuitive. Light, quick to open, and optimized for real-world cutting, the Trekker highlights why SAKs excel when most of your multitool use revolves around a knife. Pliers: Where Leatherman Leads Leatherman tools take the opposite approach: everything centers on the pliers. The Supertool 300 showcases this perfectly with its strong, grippy, durable plier head built for twisting, tightening, and tough hardware. If your multitool work is genuinely plier-heavy, a Leatherman is the tool you want...

1st Epic 16-Day Road Trip Across the Southwest & West Coast Planning 4,500 Miles • 67 Hours of Driving • May 2026 After a handful of successful shorter road trips, decided it was time: 1st  true EPIC road trip — from Dallas all the way across the American Southwest, up the California coast, through the Rocky Mountains, and back home. I wanted a journey that blended nature, adventure, and city fun .  I'll continue planning and adjusting as I near May 2026, before setting out on a 16-day adventure (13 nights + 2 buffer nights) covering national parks, beaches, famous cities, and stunning landscapes. Long Term Goal - 30 States by 2028 Eventually, I want to visit as many States accessibly by regular roads and envision breaking it out into a series of multi-week excursions starting with this tour then a Southeast (2027) and Northeast (2028).  If time permits, I'll try for all 48 States, but even just a single epic road trip is awesome. States Visiting (In Driving Order) T...

Thanksgiving Road Trip: Camping, Bricktown, and a Smooth Cruise up I-35 Adventure Creek Ranch - Texas Lido Restaurant - OKC Renaissance Hotel - OKC Bricktown - OKC Bricktown Brewery - OKC Road Trip I-35 1. Adventure Creek Ranch @ Forestburg, TX I kicked off Thanksgiving break with a much-needed escape into the outdoors near Forestburg, Texas, at Adventure Creek Ranch. They have some incredibly creative cabins—everything from Star Wars themes to Hobbit-style hideaways. I spent two nights in their Yellowstone-themed cabin, which turned out to be exactly what I needed to unplug. With barely any cell or internet service, I spent most of my time outside—driving around in a Kawasaki UTV, enjoying the quiet, and embracing the challenge of cooking over a campfire. It took me about 90 minutes to get that first fire going. I made it intentionally difficult by using wet logs and limited tinder—just dry grass and strips of bark from mountain cedar trees—to test my survival skills. Armed only with ...

Smartphone vs. Laptop: Why I’m Rebalancing My Digital Life Introduction: When Did Smartphones Become Our Default Device? At some point, smartphones shifted from being convenient pocket devices to becoming the main way many of us browse, watch, read, and communicate. But while smartphones are incredibly capable, laptops are still better suited for many tasks—yet we often reach for the phone first out of habit. The Everyday Appeal of Smartphones Smartphones have an undeniable advantage: instant convenience . They’re always with us, instantly on, and built around a touchscreen interface that feels fast, intuitive, and effortless. Even though laptops now include touchscreens, the experience still doesn’t match the responsiveness of using an iPhone or other modern smartphone. It’s no surprise that phones dominate our screen time. Mine gets six to eight hours of daily use, while my laptops—despite being over a decade old—barely see action. Why Smartphones Win the Day Ultra-portable:...

Costco Wine Haul for the 2025 Holiday Season Getting Ready for the Holidays I stocked up on a few wines from Costco for the 2025 holiday season—something for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. I love GSM blends from Côtes du Rhône, so I was drawn to the Bordeaux and Priorat options. Costco’s European wines continue to deliver great value compared to California bottles, though Paso Robles is catching up. I’m still not ready to spend $80–100 on Napa Cabs, so the $20–40 range at Costco is perfect. I’ve tried three of the four wines so far, saving the Priorat for Christmas. 2019 Reignac - Bulk Buy This one blew me away. It had everything I love—great aroma, smooth texture with a touch of dryness, and a clean finish. At $30, it rivals far pricier Bordeaux labels. I bought several more and plan to let a few age. 2023 Pauillac - Bulk Buy Another hit. For $20, this is a fantastic deal. I tried it after the Reignac, so I’ll need to revisit it on its own, but I liked it enough t...

Texas Roadhouse Bone-In Ribeye: Their Best Steak I recently tried the bone-in ribeye at Texas Roadhouse after years of ordering their regular steaks — and now I wish I had discovered it sooner.  The flavor and juiciness are on another level. The bone helps keep the steak tender and adds that rich, steakhouse taste I usually only find at higher-end places. At $30.99 for a 20-ounce cut, it’s an incredible deal. You get a big, flavorful steak that easily beats most others on the menu. If you usually stick with the sirloin or boneless ribeye, do yourself a favor and try the bone-in next time — it’s the best steak Texas Roadhouse serves. As I learn more about steaks, the bone-in ribeye is a secondary cut from the larger ribeye subprimal which is from the rib primal, 1-of-8 primal cuts.  The other popular primal is from the loin that yields filet mignon, NY strip, T-Bone and Porterhouse.

Stepping Out of the Box: My First Pair of New Balance 515s Moving Beyond Nike and Adidas For years, I stuck with what I knew: Nike and Adidas. My daily lineup included Air Force 1s, Stan Smiths, Air Jordans, and Nike Milers. But after logging 7–9k steps a day, I started craving something different — something built more for walking comfort than style alone. A Solid Find: New Balance 515 I’d always been curious about New Balance, so when I found the 515 in Navy, Size 10 Wide for $50 (down from $75), I jumped on it. Right away, I noticed a big difference. The uppers felt incredibly light , almost like I wasn’t wearing shoes at all — a huge contrast to the more structured feel of my Nikes and Adidas. That Retro Feel The 515s have a vintage, laid-back style that instantly reminded me of my old Onitsuka Tigers . That mix of suede and mesh, paired with a low-profile silhouette, gives them a nostalgic edge — like a modern update on a classic runner. It’s a subtle throwback that sti...