Weekly Update #13: Covid But Showing Up Anyway

This week wasn’t flashy, but it was meaningful.

It started with COVID. After a few days of not feeling great, I tested and confirmed it. That knocked out the gym for a bit and forced me to slow down just as I’d been building momentum. Mentally, that’s always frustrating. But instead of spiraling, I tried to treat it like data: rest when needed, work when I could, and keep moving forward.

Midweek brought friction.

Apple rejected Did I Do That? again for a crash I couldn’t replicate. I fought provisioning profiles, simulators, and publishing issues for hours before finally getting a clean archive uploaded. It was one of those “why is this so hard?” stretches, but I stayed with it.

I also wrote a 2,600+ word “Senior Systems Audit” white paper for a potential opportunity. The technical feedback was strong, but the recruiter ultimately pivoted toward a paid “specialist” upsell. Scam vibes confirmed. While that door closed, the exercise of articulating my experience at an executive level was valuable. That part sticks.

Then there was the parking lot fiasco.

After paying $20 cash at a concert lot last week, I received a $92 “fine.” Their story changed multiple times. I escalated calmly, filed complaints with the Colorado Attorney General and the BBB, and ultimately paid a reduced amount to close the loop. Annoying? Absolutely. But I handled it without blowing up. That felt like growth.

And then came Valentine’s Day — my first one single in six years.

Saturday morning hit heavier than expected. On top of that, I had signed up for a singles speed board gaming event an hour away — very much outside my comfort zone.

I almost didn’t go.

But I went anyway.

It turned out to be fun. I didn’t meet anyone my age by the luck of the pairings, but I laughed, played games, and proved to myself that I can walk into a room full of strangers and be fine.

After that, I grabbed ramen at Jinya (outside, in the cold, because of course it was packed), and finished the night watching my all-time favorite movie, Jurassic Park, performed live with a symphony orchestra.

It was a great night.

Not perfect. Not romantic. But great.

Somewhere in the middle of all this, I stepped on the scale and realized I’m officially down 12 pounds and back under 240.

That’s consistency paying off — even in a week with COVID, missed gym sessions, and a few indulgences. Even better, I’ve now had two nights in a row without waking up to pee, which hasn’t happened in years. Between better habits, weight loss, and lower stress, my body feels like it’s stabilizing.

Business-wise, I didn’t make as much progress on SideQuestDeals as I wanted, but I did push through Azure CI/CD issues and get closer to deployment. Momentum doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s just wrestling infrastructure until it behaves.

If there’s a theme for the week, it’s this:

Steady.

Not explosive.
Not glamorous.
But steady.

I showed up to the gym when I could.
I showed up to uncomfortable social situations.
I showed up to frustrating technical problems.
I showed up to my own life.

And that feels like progress.

Next week:

• Push SideQuestDeals closer to launch.

• Keep the weight trending down.

• Get Did I Do That? through Apple review.

• Apply to more senior roles.

• Continue expanding my comfort zone socially.

This week wasn’t about winning.

It was about showing up anyway.