The digging machine

~ Veselin ~ Leave a comment

The municipality is building a new subway line near me. I wanted to see how they put in the giant tunnel digging machine. Kept going to the construction site during my daily walks, hoping to see something.

However, it seems like it’s delivered in pieces and assembled inside the hole. Won’t see the big thing without a drone. But I saw one fragment.

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

~ Veselin ~ 9 Comments
Daily writing prompt
When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?
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I certainly felt more grown up in my teenage years than in my forties. I’m not shy of playing football, chess, or uno. I read and collect gamebooks. However, if we try to be serious, maybe around 31.

I likely truly felt like a grown up when I faced life-altering uncertainty. One needs to crash, burn, and learn how to admire the beauty of life despite the temporary nature of everything. Needs to learn hot to be kind even in situations that do not inspire kindness. To appreciate the past, not only the future. That type of growth doesn’t happen overnight, it requires time, good examples by other people, books, and inspiration.

I don’t think that was quite possible before my 30s. I felt immortal back then.

Son of a Liche by J. Zachary Pike

~ Veselin ~ Leave a comment

Gorm Ingerson and his crew will fight a Liche, a super-powerful undead wizard who uses Marketing to scare and defeat his living enemies.

I was prepared for a bloodthirsty fantasy because the first part was one. Yet, the second part was not that. You have an actual character and relationship development here, with some of the heroes transforming quite a bit. There are funny moments. Zombies with feelings. Skeletons with goals. The downside is that the POVs change so smoothly that you never know what you’re currently reading. I found that annoying and remove one start because of it.

Overall, this was a better book than part 1. I may read part 3 as well.

Rated it 4/5 on Goodreads

What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?

~ Veselin ~ 14 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?
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Good job to whoever came up with this writing prompt! I have two candidates.

  • Buying my first computer. I knew I wanted one ever since I was 7, so I began saving my pocket cash. The world changed—communism fell, the world moved from 8086 to the 8088XT, 286, 386, 486, and eventually the Pentium. By the time I finished high school, I had saved just enough for about half a computer. With a little help from my family, I finally managed to buy one. I met all kinds of characters along the way, wrote two books that never saw the light of day, and worked part-time jobs. Learned Basic and math. It felt almost like a journey out of The Lord of the Rings, culminating in that moment when I disposed of my savings at the mountain of Doom to get a shiny new K5 computer—only to realize I didn’t know how to use it.
  • Overcoming panic attacks. That one took more than 8 years and involved the Sermon, two therapists, many books, a deep research on the subject of thinking errors, and some bad luck. I could also write a book about it but it would be grossly incompetent. Maybe a blog post one day. Also, with panic attacks, there’s no guarantee they’re gone for good.

I’m now after 10k steps/day average over the course of a year and climbing Vihren in 2025.

Blackberries

~ Veselin ~ 6 Comments

Found this in Sofia. First time I see anything resembling blackberries in my area.

I spent years of my childhood in Stara Zagora where blackberries are common. I liked the blackberry jam my grandmother made.