My paintbrush is different, but I still create art.
For years, I never considered myself an artist, at least not in the traditional sense.
I don't have a paintbrush.
I don't know how to draw.
I don't produce original works of music or sculpt anything with my hands.
The world would agree that I am by no means a traditional artist.
But if art is considered the expression of creativity... well, that changes things.
Creativity fuels my ideas, and for over a decade these ideas have been put onto a canvas. Tech tools, processes, and communication bring these ideas to life. Every day I am creatively positioning, researching, marketing, increasing revenues, and forming new connections.
And thanks to the internet, my art is experienced on a global scale.
Visiting family hasn't been easy for anyone in the past year or so due to COVID. So, when family visits do come about, we really value them.
This recent trip we have taken to Michigan and Connecticut has a different feel to it than the same trips we made at the end of last year. We are now vaccinated, so the worry of traveling isnât there (at least not on the same level). We could also do a bit more than before because of being vaccinated, but overall it was much of the same.
I think 2021 will be a year of unraveling and âtesting the watersâ globally. It wonât be life as before quite yet, probably not for a couple more years assuming all goes to plan with global vaccination efforts.
Lorena and I plan to make family trips the priority this year, followed by a few personal travel destinations. Places like MI, CT, CA, Mexico, and Germany. I am beyond excited to add these trips into our routine.
It took some time, but it finally happened. Lorena and I have received the vaccine. What a year has been, amiright?
Remember the beginning of COVID? Back when it was this mysterious illness from overseas? Back when we could actually count the number of people total that had it in the U.S.?
Over the past year Lorena and I were both fortunate that no one in our family died from the illness. Her uncle got it, and my grandma did in her nursing home. Both of them got through it. In fact, my grandma didn't even show any symptoms.
There was so much we didn't know, but over time it became evident that the danger was very real.
I rememember chuckling when Lorena insisted that I wear gloves when in public. Yet not too long after that I was wearing both gloves and a mask whenever going outside. It was the new normal.
Truth be told, we have gotten used to living during the pandemic. We have a routine. But we also were being vigilant about how we could get the vaccine. At a certain point survival instincts couldn't be ignored anymore.
We are now vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. I personally feel the same as before. I plan on still being cautious (wearing masks... the gloves have long been a thing of the past).
It will be interesting to see the world slowly unravel from all of this. As far as I can tell, COVID vaccines will probably be a regular thing for the foreseeable future. But not all bad has come from this on a personal level. Something I plan on reflecting on in the near future.
For now, Lorena and I rest a little easier knowing that we have made it through the toughest part.
Something new and excited has happened the past couple weeks: Lorena and I are starting to make travel plans!
A couple of weeks ago, we got our first shot for the COVID vaccine. It's a weird feeling in many ways because while we are still living life as we always have for the past year, we can actually start to make plans for traveling.
To be fair, we did travel during the holidays last year to visit family. While the experience wasn't bad on the airplanes, it was a bit stressful at times. Well, that will no longer be the case. Of course, we still plan to do all the proper COVID things like wearing masks, sanitizing our seats and hands, and keeping our distance. But it will be from a place of confidence.
Initially our travel plans will be confined to the United States. But as soon as we can we'll be heading off to Mexico to visit her family. I have yet to go with her, and I can't wait!
I am old enough to know that I am still young. Time is not lost on me anymore. In fact, quite the opposite.
I have reached the age where I am not just coasting through the years of my life, but instead looking at both the years behind and ahead of me. And I clearly see how much more life there is to live!
I try to live with intent. I refuse to look back 30 years from now and wonder: âWhere did that time go?â
No. I won't take this greatest gift for granted.
Time is all we have. We have so little, yet we live like it will always be there.
Time slips away when you're distracted. It sneaks out the door when you let life happen to you rather than making life happen.
This is my self-reminder to keep living with passion, intention, and direction... and to laugh along the way.
It's done! The wedding venue is booked, and we are working towards our May 31st, 2021 wedding date. đ
The Winfield Inn (the original venue we wanted) dropped the ball. We tried to book them but they are so incredibly unresponsive that we just moved onto another one. I called on a Saturday to follow-up on an email I sent to the coordinator. She answered the phone and told me that they handle that stuff during weekdays, and that she would see it on Monday.
So yeah... they lost us as potential customers. Funny thing is, if she would have just been a little nicer then probably we would still be booking with them.
Doesn't matter though because I am actually more excited about the new venue, the South Congress Hotel!
The modern, urban design is really cool. So many great spots for pictures that include the city in the background. It also has indoor and outdoor spaces available for pre-ceremony, ceremony, cocktails, and reception.
Their micro-wedding packages are all-inclusive and cover items like flowers, food, cakes, set-up, takedown, sound, and more. Zero hassle.
It's that time again! Time to get a new car, and the research phase is part of the fun!
My dad and brother love cars. Me? I really like them, but I think I love the research process more than what's under the hood. And just as cars have gotten better over the years, so too have the research options.
YouTube is the best for car shopping. My favorite channels:
There are countless others that I have watched as well. I have literally spent hours upon hours these past few months watching reviews (there are just so many options).
I have really enjoyed my time with my BMW 330i GT, but I'm moving away from BMW. Their design language in today's models is... weird. Not very âBMWâ. They are going through a phase it seems. Plus, they have this new subscription pricing for everything which feels very unnecessary (such as for heated seats...wtf).
I think I've narrowed it down to a Mercedes or Lexus, but the model... well, I'm not sure yet. Something sporty seems fun, but I also like to be comfortable as I'm not a pure sports car kind of person. I'm also leaning towards a sedan. I know that Lorena has a slight preference for SUVs. I could be persuaded to a small-sized SUV... and if anyone can persuade me of something, it's her. đ
In any event, I have a nice list of cars that need a test drive!
Lorena and I are getting married, but are so frustrated that we have not been able to set a date thanks to COVID.
We downsized the Austin (legal) wedding so that it would be a âmicro-weddingâ. Only immediate family will be coming. Or so we thought...
We were inclined to have the wedding sooner in 2021, but my parents were uneasy about travel without a vaccine. So we pushed it out. Now my brother (who lives in Germany) is unsure he can travel for a late spring wedding since Europe has a different timeline. They are currently behind in distribution apparently, and they have more border regulations which could make his return challenging after his visit.
So, do we move forward with a date or postpone again? It's like we are unable to plan something that we are so excited about â and that's really starting to weigh on us. We have the religious ceremony in Mexico to look forward to, and at that time my brother would be able to come (hopefully), in addition to my sister-in-law and nephews.
Honestly, I say letâs just do it and then later in Mexico everyone will be able to attend. Besides, at the end of the day itâs about us.
Lorena and I looked at a wedding venue today for our Austin wedding, and it looks like a good option.
This one is going to be on the smaller side, with just close (immediate) family. Even without COVID this would be smaller than the event in Mexico, but the pandemic is tightening our numbers a bit more, for sure.
The Winfield Inn is located about 30 miles south of downtown Austin. It's really accessible and the property is really pretty (though when we visited it was still showing some wear and tear from the snow storm a few weeks back). Still, it looks like a great backdrop for our micro-wedding.
We first became interested in this location because they offered micro-wedding packages (events for under 25 guests), and well, that's what we're interested in for this legal ceremony. It also makes it a bit easier to plan since the package comes with ceremony location, dinner, wine, cake, table setup and takedown. We just need to find a photographer, florist, a little music, and someone to administer the ceremony.
So while it's not yet set it stone, this venue is looking like it'll be the one.
