Hello again! 👋

It's been almost a year since my last update so thought I'd reintroduce myself.

I'm Chris, also known as Diego's dad in the preschool community. I'm a tax technology senior manager at a public accounting firm with one too many hobbies, all related to technology in one way or another, and a scattered online presence. I find many things interesting, as shown by my media empire below, and this newsletter is to share what's new, things I'm into and things I'm looking forward to.

My blogs include:

• https://www.itschrishuerta.com - my personal blog and the home of this newsletter
• https://evchris.com - my blog about all things EV
• https://new2dad.com - my blog about being a new, millennial dad
• https://houstondad.blog - if you're trying to find things with the kiddos in Houston, I have your back here
• https://pkmforaccountants.com - for my accounting friends that are also into personal knowledge management

You can always respond to this email if you have thoughts, feedback, questions or ideas. Thanks to those that have subscribed and if you like it here, forward to a friend 😊

Onto the updates!

What’s new?

• I've been doing a lot of thinking and planning lately, but not much doing. It seems to be a recurring phase I go through.
• We almost bought a house—twice! It's been a roller coaster, but while we're looking, we're not in a rush. It's hard not to jump at the first few options we see, though.
• I want to create a course. I’m unsure about the topic, platform, or approach, but I believe I have valuable insights on various subjects like tax technology, productivity in the workplace, and consumer tech that people would pay for. I'd love to hear any thoughts on how to get started!
• We bought a Rivian! It replaced our Tesla Model Y in August, and we've been exploring Texas in it. I've been sharing more about the experience on EV Chris.

What I’m into

• I recently downloaded the Zen Browser, a new offering from Firefox that I’m really enjoying for its simplicity. While I love the Arc Browser, I like to change things up when my browsing habits feel stale.
• iOS 18.1 has been released, and it’s one of the bigger updates that promises something new. The most noticeable feature is summarized notifications, which, while debatable in terms of usefulness, can be quite amusing.
• I signed up for the wait-list for ChatGPT Search and got access! I’m loving it; it combines typical ChatGPT search results with relevant links.
• The new Mac Mini is tempting! It features the new M4 chip, making it incredibly fast. Plus, its compact size makes it a great addition to any desk.
• The episode of Decoder where Nilay and David just talk about enterprise software. This episode in particular really spoke to me and validating the fact that I am a software junkie. I love apps and downloading new software that solves common problems differently is riveting. Of course, that all simmers down, but then the new app comes out and there I go again.

What I'm looking forward to

• An EV road trip to Big Bend National Park! It’s Texas’s largest national park and quite far from me. I discovered Stardust Big Bend, which offers awesome A-Frames with EV chargers.
• The Thanksgiving and Christmas break is approaching. This is when work slows down for me, giving me time and energy to invest back into my blogs.

👨‍💼Corporate Corner

• I don’t often discuss my day job, but I had an exciting week! I was a speaker at Vertex Exchange, a tax technology conference. My firm won the Top Accounting and Consulting Firm Award, and I presented on tax software APIs to over 90 attendees. Definitely a highlight of the year!
• AI has been a hot topic lately, and while much of it is vaporware, I’ve been enjoying exploring its practical applications at work. I see plenty of use cases that result in significant savings, and I have a few opportunities to build something cool enabled by AI.

📝Productivity HQ

• My free read-it-later app, Omnivore, is shutting down. I’m bummed since I moved all my reading there after realizing my Readwise subscription had expired. Now I’m on the lookout for a new app. Let me know what your recommendations are!
• I came across a post by Joan Westburg on how she replaced Notion with Reminders, Numbers, and Notes. I didn’t fully abandon Notion, but I have reorganized how I use Reminders, which has been helpful.

💻Tech I‘m enjoying

What would a post from me be without some gadgets? Here’s what I’m currently digging:

• New AirPods: iOS 18 introduced new hearing aid features, and to be honest, I’ve been using them this way for years at loud concerts and most recently, at Monster Jam. AirPods are one of the most convenient gadgets I've owned, and it's great to see them become more helpful for those who need hearing assistance.
• A Peak Design Loop Case for my new iPhone 16 Pro. It's one of the higher quality cases I've purchased and it has a loop on the that makes it easy to hold.
• Office chairs count as tech, right? I need to replace the chair my wife bought on sale at TJ Maxx with an actual office chair. I went with the Branch Ergonomic Chair. It compares favorably to the Autonomous ErgoChair Pro we have in the office, minus the headrest, but at a more affordable price.

📰New posts on the sites

🍫🖊️Junk Drawer

• Diego is in his third dinosaur phase, so we've been watching Prehistoric Planet on Apple TV+. The legendary David Attenborough narrates it, and Hans Zimmer composed the soundtrack, making for an immersive experience. It’s funny how kids’ minds work; now Diego asks for the Nanuqsaurus song during car rides, and it’s a catchy tune!
• Have you heard of a mega backdoor Roth? I’ve been researching it and trying to determine if it’s worth pursuing and if it’s even an option for me. As a finance enthusiast, I’m excited to learn more about these concepts, even if they make me a bit nervous to apply what I’ve learned.
• For fellow EV enthusiasts, Electrify Expo is happening in Austin next week! It should be a fun opportunity to see and test all things electric.

Signing off ✌️

What are your favorite newsletters? I’ve realized that one of my struggles with this one is finding my rhythm, which likely comes down to how I organize things. I want to share a lot but also respect your time. If you have any favorite newsletters, I’d love to hear about them—what made you subscribe, and what keeps you engaged? Please reply to this email with your thoughts!

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing from you!