Yikes, it’s been a while since I last wrote here and gave you all an update. I want to be honest with you all... it’s been super difficult, and continues to be even now that I finally managed to put the time aside to write here.

I wanted to avoid to write anything too personal here since summer, and I think I will for once just write about things not too project related.

My laptop has been degrading over the past few years and it finally depressed me enough. I am actually typing this on a new keyboard that I bought — my laptop now inside my desk, hooked up to a screen. Heck, I even bought a new mouse.

It feels like I have to learn to type all over again. The mouse is fantastic and the keyboard is nice also (because it works). Not so great is that I have to type on a 2K monitor that has a terrible colour profile. Everything is blurry. Yet, it avoids me having to use my keyboard on my laptop — which is around a $1000 to repair. Yikes.

I love my laptop a lot. It still runs great, minus the keyboard and Touch Bar. I miss it already!

However, this whole experience of degrading hardware has left a sour taste in my mouth — especially for Apple. And you know, right now, even after many months... and if not for many years since Steve has passed away... it’s the system I use the most. It still feels right, even though there are other options out there.

Heck, I tried Ubuntu and installed Omakub on it — many things just clicked for me. There might be something there for me. However, right now, I don’t have the means to explore. In a way I am here, I have what I have, and I need to work with it. It’s not perfect. In fact, exploring other avenues, it shows me just how tightly everything is integrated with the Apple ecosystem. I’d love to get a Framework laptop, but there are things tying me to the Apple ecosystem that just don’t make it feasible right now.

I’m a minimalist at the core, even though sometimes it feels like chaos.

I miss typing on my laptop, I really do. It’s a 2018 Intel MacBook Pro and I love it a lot. It still delivers, minus the keyboard and battery — and I think this was still peak Apple. Apple make great hardware, I’m not gonna deny it.

I was super close in throwing in the towel with a lot of things. The summer certainly didn’t plan out as I wanted — even if I had super low expectations and goals.

We’re also on a new school schedule and that has really thrown a spanner into a lot of things. I am thankful that I have a choice of my work hours, even if I’ve been a little unreliable with some of my client work — however I am so grateful that over the years I have made such great relationships and that I can be open about a lot of things.

I want to thank Manton, David, Michael and Raoul for sticking with me. You know that I always go above and beyond no matter how shit my day might be. I am here for you, as always!

OK, I think I’ll keep it at that for now.

Also, want to thank you the folks asking me to return to Mastodon (ActivityPub) over the past months. Maybe one day, but that day is not today. You can find me on Micro.blog and X.

Thank you all for following me and I hope to have a better update the next time we meet here. Now that I have a keyboard that works! That screen is terrible though!

— Vincent