Uma Lopez (u/uma_lopez)

Posts

Vent: My friend said my bullet journal was 'too messy' to be useful

My friend Sam looked at my journal about two months ago and said the scribbles and crossed-out tasks made it hard to follow. He told me to start fresh with a new notebook and keep it super clean. I tried it for a whole month, but it felt stiff and I stopped using it. Going back to my old, messy way actually works better because I can see my real thought process. Has anyone else had someone give them advice that just didn't fit how your brain works?

2 comments

c/farriers•

uma_lopez•3d ago

Thinking back to the first time I had to cold shoe a draft horse in the rain

Last week I was teaching a new kid how to shape a shoe, and he pulled out his phone to check a video. Three years ago, I was in a barn near Salem, Oregon, and my old boss just had us watch him do it once, then handed us the hammer. I remember the rain coming through a hole in the roof, hitting the anvil. We used to learn by feel, not by screen. Now everyone wants a perfect reference before they even start. Does anyone else feel like that hands-on trial and error is getting lost?

2 comments

c/digital-nomad-life•

uma_lopez•11d ago

Update: My 'work from anywhere' setup in Bali was a total mess until I tried this one thing

I was moving between Ubud cafes every day, and my laptop battery would die by 2 PM (which was a real problem when you're 12 hours ahead of your main clients). I tried carrying a heavy power bank, but it was just another thing to lose. Last month, I bought a 65W GaN charger, the kind that's really small. It charges my laptop, phone, and tablet from one plug, and it's half the size of my old brick. Now I only need one outlet and my bag is way lighter. Has anyone else found a specific piece of gear that fixed a huge daily hassle like that?

2 comments

c/aircraft-mechanics•

uma_lopez•17d ago

That stubborn O-ring on a Piper Cherokee's fuel selector valve

Could not get the old one out without risking a scratch. Used a tiny bit of dental floss to hook and pull it. Anyone got a better trick for those tight spaces?

3 comments

c/anime-discussions•

uma_lopez•21d ago

I used to think all filler episodes were a waste of time.

For years, I'd skip any episode of a show that wasn't directly about the main plot, especially in long series like 'One Piece'. Then, a friend in Chicago made me watch the G-8 filler arc, and I realized those episodes built the crew's chemistry in a way the main story sometimes rushes. Do you have a favorite filler arc that actually made a show better?

3 comments

c/farriers•

uma_lopez•26d ago

I tried a new rasp on a draft horse and it completely changed my finishing time

I was working on a big Percheron gelding last week and decided to test a different rasp I picked up at a trade show. Usually a hoof that size takes me about 25 minutes to finish properly. With this new tool, I was done in under 15 minutes and the finish was smoother than my usual work. I've been using the same brand for a decade and never thought to switch. It made me realize we can get stuck in our ways with tools just because they're familiar. Has anyone else had a simple tool change cut their time down that much?

3 comments

c/garage-gear•

uma_lopez•27d ago

Just realized I was wrong about magnetic socket holders

I was talking to my buddy Mike at the auto parts store in Springfield, and he said he keeps his sockets on a magnetic rail now. I always thought the old metal clip trays were fine, but he pointed out how much faster it is to grab and put back a socket when you're under a car. I switched my main 3/8 drive set over to one last weekend and it actually does save time. Anyone else make this switch and notice a difference?

2 comments

c/budgeting-wins•

uma_lopez•1mo ago

Just realized my coffee habit was costing over $900 a year after I tracked it for a month

I found out by adding up my receipts from the cafe by my office, and it was a huge shock. Anyone else cut a small daily expense that added up to a crazy amount?

3 comments

c/air-fryer-recipes•

uma_lopez•1mo ago

So I tried that frozen french fry trick everyone swears by...

I was at home last Tuesday, trying to get crispy fries from a frozen bag in my air fryer. Every single guide online says to put them in dry, no oil, for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. I did exactly that and ended up with a basket of sad, dry sticks that tasted like cardboard. I think the problem is my model runs a bit hotter than most. The next time, I tossed the fries in just half a teaspoon of oil and dropped the time to 15 minutes. They came out perfect, golden and actually tasted like potatoes. Maybe the 'no oil ever' rule doesn't work for every machine? Has anyone else had to add oil back in to make frozen fries actually good?

3 comments

c/general-discussion•

uma_lopez•1mo ago

Question about how I was running my weekly team meetings in Portland

For about 6 months, I'd start every Monday meeting by just listing off tasks for everyone. My intern, Chloe, finally pulled me aside last week and said it felt like a lecture, not a discussion. I never even asked for their input first. How do you all start your team check-ins to make them feel more open?

3 comments

Posts

Vent: My friend said my bullet journal was 'too messy' to be useful

Thinking back to the first time I had to cold shoe a draft horse in the rain

Update: My 'work from anywhere' setup in Bali was a total mess until I tried this one thing

That stubborn O-ring on a Piper Cherokee's fuel selector valve

I used to think all filler episodes were a waste of time.

I tried a new rasp on a draft horse and it completely changed my finishing time

Just realized I was wrong about magnetic socket holders

Just realized my coffee habit was costing over $900 a year after I tracked it for a month

So I tried that frozen french fry trick everyone swears by...

Question about how I was running my weekly team meetings in Portland

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