So, 2026 has begun. My blog is still alive, more or less, though I admit I wish I had given it more attention. 2026 is here, and the world seems to burn a little hotter with each passing day. Will we make it to 2027? Who knows. 2025 was a pivotal year for me. Things have changed, the biggest shift being the house. Finally, my wife (Iaia) and I managed to buy the apartment we’ve been living in. Sure, we now have a mortgage to shoulder and a laundry list of renovations to tackle, but all in good time: we’ll sort it out, brick by brick. Speaking of Iaia, we have both rediscovered the joy of writing. Early last year, she took a course on crime writing; or rather, a deep dive into the mystery genre across media, from novels to theater and radio. She loved it, and now she is steadily working on a novel of her own. Her enthusiasm was contagious... not the first time she’s been a positive influence on me. I’ve been a little slower to start, but I decided to pick up pen and paper again, returning to the study of narratology. Little by little, I’ve absorbed several fundamental texts (classics I didn't even realize were fundamental until I opened them). For 2026, my resolution is clear: write a sci-fi novel. I’ve decided to attempt a _retelling_ of a book I read in 2025: Dostoevsky’s _The Gambler_. So far, I have the first chapter down, but more importantly, I’ve mapped out the novel's entire structure.  I have other ideas swirling around in my head, but two stand out. The first is a story featuring cats as the protagonists. I’ve written the opening, and it shows promise. The second is a more complex challenge: a serialized novel, similar to a _Web Novel_. I still need to iron out the details. The biggest hurdle is the fear of releasing material publicly without a finished narrative safety net. Yet, that is also what intrigues me most: discovering the characters' fates in real-time, right alongside the readers. I’m considering Medium as the platform for this, though I’m still weighing my options. My hope is that user feedback will help sharpen my writing along the way.  There is one last goal: to stop undervaluing my art. Throughout 2025, I drew constantly, leaning more into black ink and watercolors. Many have told me my sketches are interesting and that I should lean into this passion. In 2026, I’m done hiding these works. I’ve started updating my Instagram and Bluesky profiles more frequently. The goal is to silence my inner critic and simply show my work. Who knows? I might find valuable feedback there, too. Finally, of course, I aim to write more here and on Medium, perhaps to document exactly how these resolutions unfold.