There are so many streaks that I need multiple posts to track all of them. Part 1
Blogging (1412-day streak)
My blogs have taken a slight turn for the better. I did a lot of college research, as my oldest will be applying to colleges next year. I did less about myself and my streaks or projects, but I get more enjoyment from helping others than seeing myself succeed. I want my blog to help others, even if it is only me helping my child; at least I have some research I can show them.
The weekly blog posts challenge me to find new things to learn and discover.
Verdict: Keep using my blog as I want
Journaling (1404-day streak)
It is a good way to force myself to remember what I did the day before and if it was beneficial. I will have days when I can’t think about what I did and realize I may be in a slump. I am also genuinely surprised at what I remember from the previous day’s journals. I don’t know if anyone will ever read these, but making lasting memories doesn’t take long.
Verdict: continue to remember
Video Games (1830-day streak)
My Magic gaming has not declined. For at least 90% of my runs this year, I was playing games of magic while running. Whether on the treadmill while watching a magic streamer or outside on the trails with a phone in my hand. I am making magic happen. I have improved significantly as a player, and I am at least mediocre, but I could do well at an FNM session. In the recent set, I won trophies in Quick Draft 8/13 times. I am smurfing, so the competition isn’t the best, but I am starting to understand deck building and timing of plays better.
Magic Arena isn’t the only game I’ve been playing. I have been playing plenty of classic video games. I beat Demon’s Souls and have been playing Dave the Diver and some Madden/College Football after Christmas.
Verdict: I’m a gamer. I play games.
Playing an Instrument (1686-day streak)
2024 was the year of the Cheers Theme Song. After 2023, I decided I should play the songs that I wanted. I took the time to figure out how to read sheet music and transpose it to MIDI. I was able to do this for The Office Theme as well, but I just recently started playing that. I never played Cheers as well as I had hoped I could. There was a finger arrangement that I couldn’t get to work, but I worked hard.
I don’t know what 2025 holds as I am still struggling with The Office, and I find myself practicing my keys on an app instead of learning the song.
Verdict: Have fun with the piano
Shaving (2559-day streak)
I’ve reached the part of my life where the hair on my face grows faster than the hair on my head. If I wait until the afternoon to shave (which I rarely do), I can see little white stubble appearing. It’s in spots, but I know it is there. I am a little curious to see it all grown out, but I also know that it is splotchy in most areas besides the chin, and I expect to be disappointed.
Verdict: Shave every day
Teeth Care (2921-day streak)
I successfully failed myself. I said I had to go to a dentist in 2024… or else. Well… I didn’t!
However, I did start tracking brushing my teeth twice a day. I learned that the best time to brush your teeth is actually before bed. I had been brushing in the morning or after breakfast. I decided that I should be brushing at both times. I did not keep a perfect streak all year but was successful almost completely and currently have a streak of over 100 days.
Verdict: See a dentist in 2025
Writing Code (1612-day streak)
I started working on an existing Magic: the Gathering app that people use when drafting. I took ownership of the app after discovering the previous maintainer hadn’t updated it since 2023. I even implemented a feature using Google Cloud Functions.
I didn’t get my WarningTrack app ready for production. However, I worked more on my movie trivia app and got that in a good place, thanks largely in part to Claude and Google AI Studio. The advancements in AI coding assistants were massive in 2024.
With the AI assistants, I believe I can finally launch one of my apps in an app store in 2025.
Verdict: Release anything
Coming Next Week
No Caffeine. Sobriety. Reading. Vitamins. Meditation. Food Tracking
