Frame House Upgrades: Big Windows, New Porch, and Apple Trees Planted in Latvia
In mid-April, during our kiddo’s Easter school break, we traveled to Latvia for about 10 days — a trip packed with projects, energy, and transformation. A lot of pre-planning had gone into it before we even arrived: we ordered the windows, sourced the plants, and mapped out the main tasks. Once we landed, it was all about execution — and we got a lot done.One of the most transformative updates was installing our huge 3x3 meter windows. In the end I decided to split them into 1X3X3These oversized panes completely changed the feel of the house — flooding the space with natural light and giving us panoramic views of the land. Now, no matter where you stand, the outdoors feels just a step away…
Week 7 / How I’m Using Covered Calls and Credit Spreads to Pay Off Margin on NVDA Stock
As of May 23, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio stands at $6,888, reflecting a -0.93% week-over-week decline (down $64.48). Year-to-date, we are down -9.33%, as we navigate volatility while optimizing our options income strategy.Rolling NVDA Calls for Controlled UpsideThis week, we rolled our NVDA covered call to the June 27, 2025 expiry, raising the strike to $109. Should NVDA close at or above that level at expiry, the position would yield a maximum profit of around $150. However, we remain focused on retaining the shares rather than letting them be called away. If momentum continues, we’re ready to roll the strike higher to maintain upside exposure and capture premium.Credit Spreads…
Pūre Horticultural Research Station
In mid-April 2025, we took an exciting step toward our vision of a Latvian craft cider brewery by purchasing several Antonovka apple trees and other varieties from the renowned Pūre Horticultural Experimental Station (Latvian: Pūres dārzkopības izmēģinājumu stacija).This wasn’t a random choice. Pūre is one of Latvia’s most respected institutions in plant cultivation and horticultural research. With decades of hands-on experience in the Latvian climate, they offer proven expertise in selecting trees and plants that can thrive through our seasons — cold winters, unpredictable springs, and all.Their staff provided solid recommendations not only for Antonovka, which is famous for its hardiness…
Week 6 / Doing Nothing, Gaining 1.98%: A Covered Call Strategy That Pays
In the world of trading, action often feels like progress. Placing new trades, adjusting positions, chasing setups—these behaviors can give us the illusion of control. But sometimes, the most profitable move is to simply do nothing.As of May 16, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,952, reflecting a 1.98% week-over-week gain (+$134.96). That’s a modest but welcome increase, especially considering that we didn’t place a single new trade this week.Despite this recent uptick, we are still down -7.01% year-to-date, a reminder of the rocky terrain we’ve traversed in 2025. Yet even during this downturn, opportunities for calm, calculated growth remain.This week, there were no…
Samshvilde Canyon Hiking
Our go-to hiking spot in Georgia has always been Birtvisi Canyon. With its striking rock formations, narrow passages, and unbeatable views, it’s a place we return to again and again. But last Sunday, we felt like trying something new.So we picked a place we’d heard about but never explored properly: Samshvilde Canyon.In fact we almost find it few years ago, but turned our car around because the road didn't seem proper. See: Hiking at Birtvisi Canyon. This time we risked bit more. Located not far from the town of Tetritskaro, Samshvilde is known for its quiet trails and historic ruins, including the remains of the ancient Samshvilde Fortress. We packed up for a casual day hike,…
Week 5 / NVDA Rally Forces Covered Call Adjustment: Rolling Up and Out for a Credit
As of May 9, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,818, reflecting another 1.42% week-over-week gain (+$95.42). Despite the recent uptick, we remain down -9.63% year-to-date.Currently, the entire covered call portfolio is allocated to NVDA stock.With NVDA rallying sharply, our May 9 $107 call moved deep in-the-money. Although my initial plan was to let the shares be called away and then re-enter via cash-secured puts, I decided to roll the position up and out for a net credit instead.Unfortunately, weekly expiries offered unattractive premiums, so I rolled into the May 23 expiration:Bought back the May 9 $107 call for $10.62Sold the May 23 $108 call for $11.03Net…
How I Upgraded XTRF on Ubuntu with PostgreSQL 14 (and Fixed Every Broken Dependency)
Upgrading an XTRF instance—especially one that has aged alongside older OS and database stacks—is never a walk in the park. In this article, I’ll walk you through the real-world path I took, upgrading from Ubuntu 18.04 all the way to 22.04, aligning PostgreSQL to a supported version, and overcoming the nuanced issues involved in deploying XTRF on Jboss. Most importantly, I’ll highlight how AI—specifically ChatGPT—helped me tackle the hard problems, including log file analysis and patching .war deployments.XTRF is a popular Translation management system we use at our Translation company in TbilisiOur system was running on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS with PostgreSQL 11, which shipped by default with…
David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia and Georgian-Jewish Relations
Tbilisi is a city full of hidden corners, rich history, and quiet treasures, one of which I recently discovered: the David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia and Georgian-Jewish Relations.Over the years, I've gradually learned that Georgia has a deeply rooted Jewish presence. There's even a Jewish Quarter in Tbilisi, which I came across during my many walks through the city's charming old streets. Historically, Jewish communities have lived in Georgia for centuries — a fact that, at first, surprised me. My curiosity about this history grew even stronger after meeting a Georgian Jew during a visit to Israel, a moment that further highlighted the global and interconnected nature…
Week 4 / NVDA Covered Call Strategy: Earning $83 This Week To Pay of Margin Debt
As of May 2, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,722, reflecting another strong 4.85% week-over-week gain. However, we still remain down -11.61% year-to-date. Our covered call portfolio at the moment is centered around NVDA stock exclusively. As of today our covered call position was in the money and, I decided to roll forward this position, Here is the trade setup:Bought back the May 2 $107 call for $7.75Sold the May 9 $107 call for $8.59Premium collected: $0.83 per shareBreak-even: $104.29I initially wanted to roll this position up and away, but since it was already deep in the money, doing so would have required either choosing a different expiry or…
Postcards from Marseille
It’s been nearly two years since our last trip to Marseille, a sun-drenched jewel on France’s southern coast that left an indelible mark on our memories. That summer of 2023, we set out to explore the city’s vibrant beaches and winding old town, arriving and departing through the bustling hub of Marseille St. Charles train station. As I sit down to write this, the sights, sounds, and scents of that journey come flooding back—postcards from a city that effortlessly blends grit, charm, and Mediterranean allure.Our adventure began at Marseille St. Charles, a grand station perched atop a hill, its wide steps offering a sweeping view of the city sprawling toward the sea. The station itself…
Fish Market near Gori
This Fish Market is located about 2 kilometers outside Gori, right off the Tbilisi highway, that we hit up at the end of March 2025. Me and a few friends drove over from Kabitskhevi because someone swore the smoked fish there was worth it. Spoiler: they weren’t wrong.The place isn’t hard to spot—just a little setup with a fish farm, a small shop, and a restaurant tucked in there too. We didn’t wander in by accident; we came straight for it. The shop was packed with good stuff: smoked fish that smelled amazing, jars of salmon caviar, some local nuts, and—get this—frozen octopus. I don’t even know where they got that, but we bought it anyway.The smoked fish was the main draw. Tasted fresh,…
Week 3 / How Weekly Covered Calls Are Funding Our NVDA Position
As of April 25, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,411, reflecting another strong 9.76% week-over-week gain. However, it still remains down -15.87% year-to-date. Our covered call portfolio at the moment is centered around one stock only - NVDA. I'm selling 1 covered call only, with average buy price at $118.22 (using margin), while thanks to premiums collected in previous weeks, our current break-even price is $106.53On April 25, our covered call position was slightly in the money and, I decided to roll up and away this covered call position:Here is the trade setup:Bought back the April 25 $106 call for $2.12Sold the May 02 $107 call for $3.54Premium collected: $1.…
Plage des Catalans: A Shrinking Memory in Marseille
Plage des Catalans, a sandy crescent tucked along Marseille’s coastline, holds a special place in my travel tapestry. I first visited this beach in the summer of 2003, a carefree stop during my early adventures in the city. Back then, it felt like a haven—close to the bustling port yet offering a slice of Mediterranean calm. When I returned 20 years later, in the summer of 2023, I was taken aback by how small it seemed. Had my memory inflated its size, or had something changed? I stood there, puzzled, wondering if I’d mixed up the location or if real estate projects had nibbled away at its edges. Over two decades, it seems the developers have claimed their share, shrinking what once…
Week 2 / Covered Call Portfolio Update: $146 in Premium, 11.9% Week Over Week Growth
As of April 17, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio is valued at $5,841.36, reflecting a strong 11.92% week-over-week gain. However, it remains down -23.42% year-to-date. Despite ongoing market volatility and macroeconomic headwinds, I’m doubling down on a focused strategy centered around selling covered calls on NVDA stock to stabilize returns and drive long-term growth.Our average buy price for NVDA stock is $118.22 (using margin), though thanks to premiums collected in previous weeks, our actual break-even price was significantly lower at $107.98.On April 16, the day before our existing options expiry, I decided to roll up and away this covered call position:Bought back the April…
From Paris to Marseille by High Speed Ouigo Train
Traveling from Paris to Marseille is a rite of passage for anyone craving the thrill of France’s high-speed rails. Twenty years ago, in the summer of 2003, I first made the 900-kilometer journey by TGV, marveling as the countryside blurred past in just three hours. That memory—of speed, comfort, and the promise of Marseille—stuck with me. So, during our latest trip to France in the summer of 2023, I suggested we relive it. This time, we snagged cheap tickets on Ouigo, the budget-friendly arm of TGV, and set off from Gare de Lyon.We arrived early at the iconic station, where I did my best to navigate conversations with the French personnel—my rusty language skills put to the test.…
Gladius Jiu Jitsu Club in Tbilisi
For the past few years, we have been proud members of the Gladius Jiu Jitsu Club in Tbilisi, Georgia. It all started when we decided to enroll our then 4-year-old daughter in their kids’ jiu jitsu program. What began as a way to channel our little one’s boundless energy has turned into a rewarding journey that we’ve stuck with ever since. At the heart of our experience is our coach, Mr. Giorgi, a truly remarkable individual. Not only is he a highly skilled martial artist with a deep understanding of jiu jitsu, but he’s also a genuinely great guy who makes every session enjoyable. What’s fascinating about Mr. Giorgi is that he balances his passion for teaching martial arts with a…
Week 1 / How I'm Generating Options Premium with NVDA Covered Calls
As of April 10, 2025, the value of our covered call stock portfolio stood at $5,219.50, reflecting a -28.65% decrease year-to-date. Despite the broader market volatility and economic headwinds, I'm doubling down on a focused strategy to stabilize and grow the portfolio.This week I was managing a covered call on NVIDIA. Currently we are holding 100 shares of NVDA, acquired at an average buy price of $118.22 (using margin), though due to previously collected option premiums, our effective break-even point was already $109.31.The core rationale? NVDA’s dominant position in AI, data centers, and gaming graphics continues to give it long-term upside. Concentrating our capital and covered calls…
Aix-en-Provence station
Aix-en-Provence railway station is one of two serving the city of Aix-en-Provence in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of southeastern France. The other station, served by long-distance high-speed TGV trains on the LGV Méditerranée line, is Aix-en-Provence TGV, and lies about 12 km southwest of the city centre.Amodest yet charming stop on the TGV line, sits just outside the picturesque Provençal town it’s named after. Unlike the grand hubs of Paris or Marseille, this station feels quieter, more intimate, with its sleek modern design and a backdrop of rolling hills. It’s a junction for travelers heading across southern France, offering a brief pause amid the region’s sunlit beauty. For me,…
How To Fix Overexposed video after Adobe Premiere Pro Export
While working on my latest short documentary about our travels in India, I ran into a frustrating issue: after exporting the final video, it was completely overexposed and unwatchable. The scene of us visiting the Taj Mahal was adorable—except the Taj Mahal itself was barely visible, washed out in a sea of bright white.After spending hours trying to figure out what went wrong, I finally stumbled upon a surprisingly simple solution.The footage was shot using an iPhone and a DJI Mavic Air drone in 4KTaj Mahal scene after default exportTaj Mahal scene fixedSolution:Turns out it has somehow related to shooting in HDR format, you can individually adjust settings for scenes from the bin in the…
Jvari monastery, Shio-Mghvime & Kavtiskhevi
With spring kicking into high gear, we hit the road last weekend for a mix of adventure and downtime. First up, we swung by Jvari and Shi-Mghvime monasteries—two spots that vibe with history and quiet beauty. Then, we kicked back at Kavtiskhevi resort, soaking in the calm. Things got wilder at Gori’s fish market, where, believe it or not, someone snagged an octopus. To cap it off, we torched some old papers—call it a symbolic reset. Want the full scoop? Go watch it now!