I installed Linux on my old Macbook Pro.

I have a 2017 15" MacBook Pro in my house. The battery's dying, the keyboard is a bit broken (t’s often turn into tt’s), and it wouldn’t even connect to Wi-Fi until I finally fixed it yesterday.

Then I had the bright idea to install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Linux) on it, since macOS runs painfully slow on this old machine. After about five hours of troubleshooting, I came to the frustrating conclusion: the version of Ubuntu I wanted to use just doesn’t play nice with this MacBook’s Wi-Fi hardware. I’d need to buy a $30 wireless adapter to get reliable internet. Ughhhh…

I don’t regret trying all of that, but I was definitely not having fun for most of it. I managed to get Wi-Fi working on one type of Ubuntu desktop environment (GNOME), but not the one that lets me install a Windows XP theme (XFCE). So I had to choose: working internet or retro aesthetic. At one point, I broke Wi-Fi completely. It wasn’t even an option anymore — and had to fix it all over again. The last 24 hours of my life (when at home) has involved endless Terminal commands, going in circles with half-working, half-outdated instructions online.

What’s next? I have got a MacBook Air from maybe 2011 sitting in Florida. That one might be a better Linux candidate. Apparently, it uses different Wi-Fi hardware that should “just work” with Linux. It also doesn’t have the awful butterfly keyboard, has backlit keys, and retro in a way I love. If I can get that old computer running smoothly on Linux, that’ll be great.

I was going to say I can’t wait to try it out, but Linux made me sleepy.

Listening: Pressure Machine - The Killers

𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓳𝓪𝓷𝓮 ૮꒰˶ᵔ ᗜ ᵔ˶꒱ა

Reflecting on YouTube

Um, wow, what a difference. I spent more time this week editing a YouTube video and only part of Friday on my store and eBay, and I felt so much better about everything. I just really love video editing.

I'm excited about editing this week and creating the next video. I really want to do the best I can possibly do. I want be there for the people who want to watch something there.

For the last video I worked on creating more of a cohesive look throughout the video and matching it up to the sounds and music. I still have a lot to improve, but I feel more and more proud of what I'm creating.

I am also getting nicest, sweetest comments. I am very lucky the internet has delivered my videos to them. (That's how YouTube claims the algorithm works. They deliver videos to audience members they believe will enjoy the video at specific times when they believe the audience member will enjoy them.)

It's easy for me to get into negative thought patterns, anxious and scared thoughts, thinking I'm awful, there's no point, etc. but I need to just keep working on what I love because my work is already a source of comfort for people (according to the feedback they've sent) and will only become more true as I improve.

I've been typing this in the corner of my bedroom where I set up a small IKEA Kallax desk. The window is open. I can hear the wind. If you look out, you can see thousands of windows and lights from the city. I want to remember the calm moments like this. I hope I get more of them because anxiety is loud and I like living without it.

I don't have a lot more to say about that because I got very sleepy this evening, but good sleepy.

Listening: Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Watching: This Super Mario 64 video.

Bargain Hunting

One of the things I spent the most time doing when I was down South for my high school reunion was bargain hunting at Goodwill locations within a reasonable driving distance. 

The good news is, I found some cool things. My favorite find was a Y2K-era beige keyboard at a Goodwill Electronics store where nearly every keyboard is $9.99. The guy at the cash register looked at it then looked at me puzzled and said, “Don’t you want a better one?” but it was such a treasure to me. Then I asked how much and he said two dollars. Lucky for me, he didn't think it looked cool.

before restoration

after restoration

The moon button in the top-right of the keyboard then my iMac goes to sleep. Then I can press the button again for the display to wake up. It is sooo annoying to put an iMac to sleep. If you long-press, the iMac displays a window asking if you'd like to shut it down (along with the other native MacOS options). This is a serious benefit. The PLAY/PAUSE and FFWD/REWIND and LOUDER/QUIETER/MUTE buttons work too. That's more than enough for me. It's life-changing.
The last 10 things I'll say about this keyboard is, it's my second mechanical keyboard ever. I have the 40% Vortex because it has pretty beige retro colors but it is not practical. This keyboard is clicky *and* soft, which is a miracle. Like having the satisfying click but also the softness you can feel when you press all the way down. I didn't know that was even possible. Also my husband is falling asleep to the gentle sounds of an old keyboard typing away, which is likely soothing for him because his brain can work like a computer at times.

The SLEEP button works. Can you believe that? A SLEEP button for an iMac? And with a moon icon? I mean, this is next level. Old tech is giving me new features. I just need to press the moon button in the top-right of the keyboard then my iMac goes to sleep. Then I can press the button again for the display to wake up. It is sooo annoying to put an iMac to sleep. If you long-press, the iMac displays a window asking if you'd like to shut it down (along with the other native MacOS options). This is a serious benefit. The PLAY/PAUSE and FFWD/REWIND and LOUDER/QUIETER/MUTE buttons work too. That's more than enough for me. It's life-changing.

It was made by COMPAQ which no longer exists, first of all. It has these Y2K buttons along the top like a dedicated email button. (Too bad I accidentally rubbed off some of the icon paint during cleaning. I learned my lesson.) The keys are incredibly satisfying to press down. It just feels like quality. The overall look is in this vintage tech beige that I wish they still made things in. The keyboard is just new enough to have a USB plug-in into the computer. 

Whoever used it previously literally never wiped it. They just kept using it every day, over and over again. How else would you get such a consistent blend of dirt across the keys? 

After I cleaned the whole thing with isopropyl alcohol (and probably accidentally breathed in too much), the keyboard looked immaculate. (After using isopropyl alcohol to clean a large number of retro tech items the past couple of weeks, I admit I need to find a more ventilated area to work on these restoration projects.)

I can’t wait to plug it into my iMac. (Edit: I have now plugged it into my iMac and it's perfect. Typing on this old but sturdy keyboard and updating my Blogspot while wearing my Pokémon Crystal Version t-shirt. I know.) 

best thing in my wardrobe

I also found two working Nintendo Wii consoles for $24.99 each. One to keep as a backup at home because it also plays GameCube games and in fact has the same hardware as a GameCube. (After disassembling 2 GameCube’s several times in one day, I’ve learned GameCube’s are monetarily costly to fix). And one to maybe sell in the future. 

My conspiracy theory is, as GameCube’s continue to break down and are difficult to refurbish at a reasonable price, they will increase in price and Wii’s will be more in demand as they are allegedly easier to fix and simpler overall.

GameCube’s were only $25 when I was in college about 11-15 years ago. Now I can find a Wii at a Goodwill for $25. Now GameCube’s are $100-200+. Maybe Wii’s will get up there too. Just don’t tell anyone else, because then they’ll know our secret. 

If you have a working GameCube right now, I’d recommend buying yourself a working Wii just in case the GameCube breaks. Much cheaper than buying a new and working (or refurbished) GameCube later when they are more expensive, only to realize the GameCube laser or capacitors will fail once again. 

I also like bargain hunting online but it’s been tough. You have to really look in unexpected places. I’ve found some amazing Japanese Seiko watches in astonishingly good condition. (Seiko is like the Toyota/Honda of cars.) But it takes a lot of time. 

I also found some very cute Y2K Coach items that will be up on our eBay some time in the next week along with other items from around my room in Florida. I made a vaporwave logo for the account that I'm pretty proud of, especially since it only took about 5 minutes to do. But I have to owe that to YouTube because I never would've had any vision and brand direction for it had I not spent the entire previous year trying to figure out my vision and brand direction.

It's nearly impossible to find bargain items in New York, but I guess it's possible. Maybe if we find and sell really cool t-shirts. I'm not sure. But I'll think about it.

I really need to fix the GameCube (or at least attempt to) one last time, then edit two new YouTube videos. Hopefully they won't be boring. I injured my back so as long as that's not stopping me, I'll be working.

Talk to you soon. Please come back. I'll miss you.

Listening: Fire Emblem: Blazing Blade - Theme Song

LLC: Feelings About the First 2 Months & 2025 Strategy

I have been working long hours every day since I left my corporate job. These hours haven’t produced much revenue so far, but the revenue I have produced in the first two months has been the most rewarding money I’ve ever earned. There is something beautiful about making money doing what I actually want to do. It’s far from sustainable. Maybe it can cover the matcha lattes I’ve loved this year. Or a few grocery store trips. But I initially set out to earn $1 outside of a corporate job, and I far exceeded that expectation. That’s got to count for something.  

What am I doing with the money? My plan is, 1. Putting it back into the business and if I succeed, 2. Saving money in case I have kids one day and they need to go to college.

I thought it might be fun to write about what I'm working on short-term and long-term. Also, I want to keep a record of how I feel right now about each part of what I'm working on and how I think I'll feel about it later. Especially because the list gets larger every few weeks. At some point soon, I need to focus my effort on one or two things, max.

YouTube (increase hours in 2025)

This is what I set out to do, with an interest in the future in editing videos more prolifically or even for a movie one day. As I learn more about movies, it feels more like something I might want to be a part of but only in a limited way. I wouldn't want that to take over my life. I would like to make one feature film some day. And editing YouTube is very very different, but it still gets me editing. I feel amazing when I'm editing videos, and often feel terrible when I'm not editing videos. There's something about the dance of mixing together videos and music and timing it, thinking of the colors that work and when, that keeps me interested. 

YouTube is pretty hard to do often, though. I think people can get burned out really easily. Sometimes pouring 10-50 hours into a short video that isn't commercial enough to get attention on the internet can be very disheartening. I feel okay about it. At first I obsessively checked my YouTube Studio app where they post statistics. After a while I stopped doing that so often and focused more on what my next video will be and used the app more to respond to comments.

I still remember when I first started last year. Most of the views were from myself. And a lot of videos resulted in zero comments or just one. Just one comment seemed like the most exciting thing in the world. Now I think I've met enough people on YouTube who genuinely like seeing the content and even feel comforted by it, which is a beautiful blessing. So I'm not as worried about the numbers now, but the numbers get you paid, so I am concerned.

I put a lot more effort into editing and writing my watch videos. If I can channel that level of intensity and effort into videos of other topics, I might be able to keep this a variety channel. I have to because there is no way for me to talk about watches in every video, anyway. I have never wanted to make a channel centered around one type of material object. My first and core goal has always been to just connect with people and show them I am there for them. And that can take on different forms.

I need to write slightly more commercial titles and create more commercial thumbnails, so I'm trying to find the balance where it feels like me and maybe it's a bit funny but it's still going to evoke enough curiosity for someone to click on it.

The last month or so I feel like I didn't put as much time into YouTube as I wanted, but I think it's my favorite thing. Going forward I need to make sure I spend at least half of each week on it. I just notice my happiness improve a lot when I'm creating videos.

I don't like being visually present in a lot of my video time, but my audience seems to prefer it. I think that's fair because otherwise it doesn't feel like they're hanging out with me. I've become more accepting of my face and my voice but it's taken time. I feel cringey when I see it everywhere on my channel, but I really don't get many views when my thumbnail doesn't include my face or when I don't use a lot of my face during the length of the video.

I know a lot of people who grow their presence online need to post on subreddits that allow self-promotion, niche places that would appreciate their content, wherever that may be. I haven't gotten to the point where I feel comfortable doing that, but I need to remember spending one day a week "marketing" myself is probably important. Maybe I can group that with responding to comments so I know I'm just being genuine and talking to people. But as I go about my life, I have found that I don't enjoy the "marketing" aspect of things at all.

Online Store (decrease hours in 2025)

I wanted to just make something beautiful for the YouTube channel instead of a merch store. I did. But I need to scale back on how much time I put into this. It doesn't make me happy to do every day, but I love to have a store. I have had a lot of fun packaging things up for happy customers. Now that it's running on its own and I just need to add the occasional item, I think I can scale back my hours on this. But on that marketing day of the week, I still need to send out emails to people.

I also created an Instagram for the store but I highly doubt I will put much time into it. I need to force myself to post there once a week, but I shouldn't feel any pressure to post more than that if I don’t enjoy Instagram.

eBay (decrease hours in 2025)

We have an eBay store selling things from our house. It isn't an official business thing at all. But I wanted to note it because it's really fun and much easier to run than the store. Because eBay is one big search engine and you can post auctions, inventory moves faster. The eBay fee is really high, unfortunately. I keep forgetting about that. So you need to hold onto your things for years to viably make money on them. Or you can post things at higher prices with a Make Offer option for the customer and just see what happens.

I enjoy cleaning old things or finding clean old things from Goodwill and random stores from around the South. It's just not a viable full-time job because of how slow things are. But I would like to get better at it or even have a real store on there one day.

Because it's not a very profitable path, I need to probably scale back on this too. If I can find items with higher margins, I can keep the hours I’m putting in now.

This blog! (increase hours in 2025)

Oh, I love blogging. I really miss it. This blog is from 2006 and it's a miracle it's still up. I have never been able to get ads running on it. Maybe one day. I'll try my best to keep it minimal if I do.

Twitch (occasional evenings)

This happens some evenings but it isn't my absolutely favorite thing in the world. I would rather play video games on a CRT and not be connected to the internet. Gaming has always been more of my time to relax than to be online. I wish I could stream more because it's really fun to talk to people live, but I have very little energy to do it on days when I’m talking to myself. I want to make sure I come back to this. Maybe when my YouTube is bigger and more people have questions I can answer live. The times I have streamed with people chatting (with me and also with each other) have been incredibly fun.

Approximate May 2025 Plan

So now I think I have a rough schedule. I never stick to schedules but this gives me a guideline.

Monday: Learning day for YouTube / Script writing or filming

Tuesday: Script writing or filming

Wednesday: Editing

Thursday: Editing

Friday: Marketing on Reddit?, blogging on Blogspot, style tips for store customers, Instagram photos on personal account or online store (Blogging is there because I need to put something that I actually like but it’ll happen throughout the week)

Saturday/Sunday: Rest or Editing

Listening: number one girl by ROSÉ