Happy new year!! 🎉
I’m sitting on the couch in the apartment we recently moved into, enjoying freshly baked cookies. This month has been as turbulent as the last, but thankfully, things have calmed down over time. The first few hours of my birthday were spent in the emergency room (ER) of the General Hospital after blood clots were found in my girlfriend’s lungs. We were caught off guard when the nurse informed us she had arranged for us to be taken to the ER directly from the screening facility. For a brief moment, we didn’t know if she would be leaving the hospital with me that night or staying for much longer. We had underestimated how unfamiliar we were with the healthcare system here. My girlfriend was prescribed medication for blood clots based on vague measurements rather than a solid blood test—there simply wasn’t enough prior medical data available about her. In that moment, I was terrified our lack of understanding could lead to a severe outcome. More about that drama here.
Amid this personal upheaval, I was also trying to find my footing at my new job at Valence. In my second week, I had the chance to flex my consulting skills by supporting a team of two working on a proof-of-concept product. As is typical in startups, this setup didn’t last long, and soon, a new team was announced.
Valence collaborates closely with DNAstack, a company focused on genome research products. For now, our team’s focus is on fixing bugs and developing small features for these products. We’ve already completed our first week, and it kicked off really well. I think the session I prepared and facilitated played a significant role in setting the tone. Participation was high, and my colleagues were eager to share and discuss ideas. With the collective experience on the team, I’m confident we can handle anything that comes our way.
That said, my imposter syndrome was pretty strong that week. The introduction to DNAstack’s services felt overwhelming, with too many applications to run, each needing to be configured. It’s a mountain of unfamiliar code that demands understanding. In my view, the onboarding process could benefit from a Makefile to standardize and simplify the setup. Luckily, my colleague Chris had the same idea, and I’m excited to work on a script that will handle everything with a single command.
Coming back to my birthday, the day turned out pretty enjoyable despite its dramatic start. I stumbled upon some mulled wine at the LCBO, and friends came over to share it with cake and great conversation. It was the perfect way to unwind and celebrate.
As for gifts, I treated myself to another board game for my collection. Friends who played with me regularly at Hamburg’s “Würfel und Zucker” board game café know how long I’ve been searching for a particular game to complete my collection. After countless failed attempts to find it in Europe, I finally tracked down a single copy on Amazon in the U.S. It’s now on its way to me, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
So, how do I fill the waiting time? The days between the holidays are perfect for catching up on inspiring talks from the 38C3 conference, which, as always, delivers amazing content. It’s incredible how this event seems to outdo itself every year. Besides that, my list of ideas for blog posts is growing, and there are still plenty of TV shows to binge and games to explore.
As the year comes to a close, I wish everyone a fantastic start to the new year and all the best for 2025. See you soon!
📚🎧 Reading
Making it so
Patrick Stewart’s memoir, Making It So, has become my go-to book for a quick read before bed. I’ve just reached the part where he recounts his role in Dune. If memory serves, he played Gurney Halleck—a character that introduced me to the Dune universe.
This movie holds a special place in my heart. It was my first encounter with the franchise, sparking a fascination that eventually led me to the strategy game Dune 2000. Both the film and the game left a lasting impression on me, cementing my love for this expansive and intricate sci-fi world.
The body keeps the score
I’ve finally finished The Body Keeps the Score, and it feels like a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders. This book often brought me to tears—not because the content was especially difficult to read, but because it felt deeply relatable.
The author shares an array of therapeutic methods he’s used over the years: one-on-one conversations, yoga, Freeing Emotions Technique, neurofeedback training, and three-dimensional role play in group therapy sessions. Among these, the stories about neurofeedback training and role plays moved me the most.
In neurofeedback training, patients learn to produce specific brainwave patterns in targeted areas of the brain. This helps them reconnect with themselves or overcome certain behaviors. The stories of patients benefiting from this technique were inspiring, and it left me curious to try it myself to see its effects firsthand.
The three-dimensional role play is equally fascinating. In this method, a “concrete reality” of the patient’s inner world is created. Actors represent different aspects of the patient: the ideal self and the real self. The patient directs these actors, choosing where they stand and how they interact, effectively creating a physical representation of their mental state. Conversations are then held with each actor, and a witness offers observations on the patient’s reactions—free of judgment. This exercise creates profound insights into how the patient views themselves and their relationships.
This book not only offered me a window into the incredible potential of therapeutic techniques but also left me contemplating how these approaches could deepen my own self-awareness and emotional connection.
What's next?
The next book in the pipeline is still "Building a second brain" by Tiago Forte but I have some time at my hands so I was thinking about giving “Zero to Production: Rust” another try. Yet after finishing the “Body keeps the score” I am longing for some light food for my brain. One of this could be “Oaths of Damnation”. The story focuses on a space marine chapter of the other kind. It's best not to plan to much for the days between the years. I don't want to feel bad when I didn't do everything.
🎮 Video Games
Balatro
The game got featured on this years game of the year awards and nearly won. It didn't capture my attention till that point but I saw it's being reduced in the steam winter sale so why not gift a little something to myself. A choice I regret now as the game absolutely deserved that award. My time for other activities is quickly swindling because of that damn game. I beat the game with the first red deck following a tip I learned from the “Balatro University” on Youtube. My winning strategy was a mix of focusing on Flush picks and transforming all cards suites to spade. Similar to Thronfall the moment I finished the game with one deck my interest swindled to my luck. :D
Warhammer: Rogue Trader
If I am not playing Balatro or one of the winter sales or humble bundle choice game then my time belongs to this interactive book. I finally finished the first chapter and now embark onto the Koronus Expanse. There are heretics to slay, planets to “free” (put under new management), pillage or colonize and xenos also want to have a chat. As for now I am playing as a Ironclad character always trying to do the right thing for the people of the empire but I see myself switching to a play style befitting that of a rogue trader.