Holiday

It's the first time in his life that our son will stay with his grandparents for an entire week. It's also the first time in 16 months that we can take a breather from all the nursing and cleaning.

On the one hand, I'm glad to be able to do whatever I want for a change, without constantly having to interrupt because of nap-time, diaper-changes, bottle-feeding, and reading books; but on the other hand, I sometimes wonder if it was such a good idea to send him away for the week, both for him (he was a little sick) and for his grandparents (they loved to take care of him, but I don't think they realize anymore how much work it is to take care of a toddler).

At the moment, I feel good, relaxed, and free. So perhaps it was a good idea after all.

People and cars

I notice that people in traffic become more and more selfish, rude, impolite, impatient, inept, cocky, ... behind the wheel of a car.

Is it just me, or perhaps just Dendermonde? Or is it a global plague?

It is really astonishing (and not in a good way) to see how few people apply the rules of 'Right of Way'. Either they don't know, or they just don't care.

Perhaps it would be a good thing to force everyone with a driving license to redo their exams every 6 months. I estimate that more than half of them will fail. At least that would make our streets a little safer and driver-friendly.

It's really sad.

Back on kyu track

A few weeks ago, I decided to start practicing go again.

It has been - what? - 3 years since I played it regularly? In my previous life (different home, different job), I knew a few people who played it, and whom I played against at work. There was even a local go-club which I could attend every week.

Now, since I moved to Dendermonde and started my job at Larian Studios, those people are too far away to regularly meet up with. And I've noticed it in my playing skills; I must have dropped 3 or 4 kyu in those last years.

But that's all past now. I've taken up playing again, albeit against GnuGo, the AI opponent. And in something of 2 weeks time, I can again beat it at an equal game (i.e. no handicap).

Household challenges

Until recently I figured that when two people have been together for over 4 years, have been friends for over 8 years, and have successfully (i.e. without any fights or much doubt) lived through the first year of raising a child, any challenge would be easy to overcome.

Apparently, I was not entirely correct. It's very important to think of your wife and kids first, and to talk things out at the earliest opportunity, but lately I have come to the realisation that it's equally important to not stop thinking about yourself.

The trick in keeping a happy family is finding the balance between providing for your loved ones and keeping yourself happy and healthy. But that can be hard sometimes when exhaustion finally catches up with you.

I, for one, am EXTREMELY lucky to have a wife (well, actually a fiancee) who thinks on the same level, whom I can discuss these issues with, and who actually helps me better myself and at the same time allows me to help her better herself.

I'm also EXTREMELY lucky to have a very healthy, very kind, very calm, and very intelligent son, who makes it all worth the trouble.

Hello World, part two

Just in case someone does happen upon this blog, and decides to waste some time, I would like to introduce myself a bit.

I'm a 28-year-old guy, born in Belgium. I've lived here my entire life, in a worry-free and well-supported environment.

I've studied mathematics and science in high school, and went on to computer science in college.

Currently, I work as a game software developer at Larian Studios, where I plan to stay as long as possible.

I have a wonderful girlfriend, with whom I am to marry in a couple of months, and we already have a 15-months-old son.

My hobbies include computers, tabletop roleplaying, go, drawing (only since recently), and listening to music.

So, as you can see, there's absolutely nothing special, unique, or shocking about me. This will be a mediocre blog from an average person.

Hello World

Writer's block.

On my first post.

Typical.

Well, I guess this typifies my blog and my intention with it. I decided to start a blog. Why? No particular reason.

I have already played with the idea of starting a blog of my own several times in the past, but every time I dismissed the idea as 'silly'. "There are billions and billions of blogs out there already", I reasoned, "why would one extra blog make any difference? Probably no one will read it anyway".

And I probably am right.

Nevertheless, I decided to start one anyway. Not for the world, but for me.

So here goes...