I only posted twice on “micro.blog” this year, but what I posted is very important to me and very personal (ie, not something I’d want on Facebook).

I see my primary audience as my nieces and nephews and their descendants. Hopefully, when I pass, these posts will remain available for posterity.

Each year, I question paying the $50 annual basic subscription price. But when I look at the site, I realize how valuable it is for me as a place to record bits of my personal history and as a beacon of the ‘Free Internet’. That is to say, a site not run by a commercial interest or the state.

So, for the same reason I continue to support the EFF and Wikipedia financially, I will continue to support this site.

I’ve voted for a Democrat in every election since Ronald Reagan ran for president.

I like electronic music, such as Teezo Touchdown, Younger Brother, Four Tet, Royskopp, The Chemical Brothers, and Squarepusher.

I like some country music, particularly classics, but also Miranda Lambert.

I drive a Subaru Outback Wilderness. Bring on the rocks.

I’ve been sober for over 10 years.

I own a lot of radios.

I chew sugarless gum.

I used to be a model railroader.

I collect notebooks.

I lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the late 70’s and drove a taxi for most of those years.

This provided me with many opportunities to do drugs.

I smoked pot almost every day from 1976 through 1980. I quit this habit when I moved back to Boston in late 1980.

I did a lot of speed in the years I was a full-time taxi driver. I stopped taking speed when it almost killed me.

I took acid a couple of times in those years. It was always a great experience.

I did Peyote once, and my experience was both mundane and magical. Hard to explain.

I smoked opium once, accepted as a tip from a cab fare in lieu of cash. It tasted of roses and was a heavenly smoke. I understood immediately how people could smoke this endlessly and shrivel up and die and be happy.

PS: I did coke a couple of times in the eighties, and I always enjoyed it.

I want to travel widely. I have the time, the desire, and the resources required to travel, but I have difficulty initiating travel due to my lifelong battle with anxiety disorders. And there are many other things I’d like to do with my life other than isolating myself at home.

Many years ago, I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). At that time, I went through a program at the BU Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, where I learned to apply Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to address these issues. After a few years of trying to use CBT for my anxiety issues, I gave up.

I began pursuing a different course of anxiety treatment: drugs and therapy. I have been following this path for many years. The drugs help suppress my anxiety, and the therapy allows me to better live with it.

I am no longer satisfied with my home isolation, and there are many activities outside of the house that I want to enjoy. Therefore, I am committed to relearning to apply CBT.

An internal battery powers the machine that is Andy.

My battery’s capacity is limited and has slowly decreased throughout my life.

I refill my battery by eating nourishing food and absorbing sunlight.

When my battery is low, I move more carefully and take longer to make decisions.

When I finally deplete my battery, I will be gone.

I live near Boston MA. This morning is overcast, misty, and cool. Gloomy.

The quality of sunlight affects my moods.

On bright, sunny mornings, I have more physical energy.

On bright sunny days, I feel more energized and productive.

On gloomy days like today, I find myself less energized. I move slower. Coffee seems to have fewer positive effects. I find myself spending more time on simple decisions.