Don Kowalewski
Writer. Ad Sales and Marketing. Social Media Content Creator. Aeropress Coffee. Makes the best salsa in the world.
All In on AI
I’m not calling it “SI” unless everyone really starts calling it that.
But I’m all in on AI.
I’m using Gemini (Pro) at work because my company gives me it. I’m using ChatGPT on my iPhone and pushing it to it’s limits on simple tasks. I’m using Gemini on my phone with my personal Gmail …which I also have baked into the dashboard of my new Buick and that’s kinda blowin’ my mind.
The newest edition to my personal AI adventure is Facebook’s Muse.
It’s Q4 and I Have Some Plans
Tomorrow I’ll update the world (aka 4 regular readers) on my status of my New Year’s Resolutions, Mid-Year Resolutions, and Long-Term goals but today, as we start Q4, I’m adding some things to FINISH STRONG!
Why not?
It’s fun to see how much we can accomplish in 90-Days.
So here goes…
- Rehab My Knee: I have a bad habit. When my knee starts hurting, I just “power through”. This happened a couple years ago after my summer vacation where I love hiking in the deep woods. When I was in my mid-40s, I liked to “bound” through the forest. Now? At 53? When I “bound”, I guess you could say, “I’m bound to hurt myself.” And I did. Hopping from a rock to a log I slipped and hurt my knee. Did I relax? Take a day off? A week off? Hell no. And now I’m hurting. Sooooooo it’s back to heat and ice. Heat and ice. Ibuprofen. The other bad habit I have is sitting cross legged – and that’s very hard on the knees. I’ve got weight machines at work, so I’ll do the leg curls and presses. I’ll walk a little slower. I’ll stretch. Last time I did this … I got me knee back to 100%
I Want to Really, Really Learn Stuff
I’ve been thinking about this alot, lately. What do I really know about anything? As most people know, my biggest fear is dementia, memory loss, or developing Alzheimer’s. What I loosely know about it, and from what I’ve seen, those things are marked by completely forgetting things we once knew well. I know, I know … it refers to names of kids or family members, or routine tasks, or not being able to find my way home.
But what I’m also obsessed with is my brain. Exercising it. Memorizing things. Sleeping right. Eating brain food. And above all, learning things.
Sometimes I feel like I don’t know anything.
New Year’s Resolutions after 2/3rds of 2026
For some reason, my New Year’s Resolution Updates are my most-read Blogs. So, OK. Hello to seven of you.
Not only has another month gone by, it’s September 1st and we’re 2/3rds of the way through 2026.
Ahem . . . my 2026 goals. Not exactly crushing them, but I’m ticking some things off my list.
Here’s one thing I did . . . I put my Resolutions into a spreadsheet. This is like organizing your desk and sharpening your pencils when you sit down to do your taxes (aka procrastination), but I think that’s human nature. Because, making the spreadsheet (like actually doing your taxes or balancing your checkbook) forces me to come face to face with my failures. As the kids say, whatevs. Is what it is. The spreadsheet does feel a little like “winning.” It’s a conglomeration (I know fancy words) of New Year’s Resolutions, Lenten Promises and my soon-to-make-me-famous “Resolution A Day”!
The biggest thing I’m missing is (a) look at my list every morning, (b) look at my list every night, (c) track my progress and activities, and (d) execute. Did I say “the biggest thing?” I think I meant to say the four biggest things.
Read MoreGreen Like Me: I’m Gonna Compost
I’m saving the world! You’re welcome.
I’m going green, baby.
Recycling stuff. Composting stuff. Picking things that are sustainable (I think that means “green”) and fully biodegrable if and when I throw it away and, basically, just no plastics (remember I already made that proclamation).
I also know it’s impossible to be completely green, but as they say…
Every little bit, counts.
What Does it Mean to Be Intentional or Live Intentionally?
Without looking it all up again, for me? Being intentional or living intentionally means thinking about my actions, my words, and my decisions so that they align with my values. It means not just meandering through life willy nilly and randomly. It means, in a way, giving every activity I do the ol’ Marie Kondo treatment and “thank” the thing or the activity for making my life better.
Read MoreHighlights from my 53rd Year
As of the writing of this Blog entry, I’m officially 53-Years and 1-Day old. Yesterday was my birthday. A favorite “thing” I do with my family is “Best and Worst”. We did it for years at dinner. I’d ask everyone … best part of your day? Worst part of your day?
My kids know, now, they better not let a conversation slow down because I’m gonna bust our “Best and Worst”. When they were little, it was the “day”. And my wife and I participated, too, lest you think I only tormented my kids. I liked it as a chance to reflect and think. Show a little gratitude for little things. Look for ways to improve or realize that the “worst part” is often fleeting. Good things and bad things happen in a moment, and we often miss them or dwell on them, respectively.
It backfires sometimes because last night, sitting having dinner with my family, my daughter said, “OK, le’ts do Best Part and Worst Part of Dad.” It spiraled into a celebrity roast, of sorts … not the feel-good moment I was looking for.
A Shaving Tweak – Wash My Face Before I Shave
You would think by the time a man (me) reaches 50-years-old, he would’ve figured out how to shave. Well, like I always say … always room for improvement. The biggest thing is … my neck. It’s nearly always irritated.
I’ve tried various things over the years. Things like Harry’s Razors (cheap) and replacing the blade weekly. I’ve tried all the Harry’s products. I currently use the Gillette Fusion5. I’ve shaved at night. I’ve shaved in the morning. I’ve used a hot towel and pre-shave balm. Cold water shave? Hot water shave? Electric shave. I’ve tried it all.
One of my go-to turn-my-brain-off YouTube Channels is Doctorly – because I’m vain. We’ve discussed this many times. Anyway, they had an episode pop into my algorithm about shaving like a dermatologist. The revelation? Wash my face and neck before I shave. Luke warm water. Just super quick. I use Nivea’s Facewash for Men.
Sometimes a Great Lawn is Just … Luck!
I love my lawn. I love planning it, mowing it, pulling weeds, fertilizing it, reseeding, edging, and walking around barefoot on it. My lawn is something my Dad and I can always talk about. It was his hobby, too. I push my mower and I don’t use the self-propel feature. The blades are sharp. Instead, I push that 50-pound machine for a good workout (yes …it’s on wheels and it’s not like I’m pushing a sled at football practice). My mower is Honda. The blades are sharp because I sharpen them every 10th mowing (I track that in my lawn journal). There’s science behind a good lawn and the timing of fertilizers.
And when someone comes over and says, “wow … look at your lawn ….WOW!” … I beam with pride.
This year (2026), it’s been a very good year to have a lawn in Michigan. It’s been a mix of the perfect amount of well-timed rain, cool temperatures for the entire month of June, and a lack of Canadian wildfires messing with the sunshine and making the rain toxic.
Brand Down and Brand Up (or Something Like That)
I don’t know why Donny Deutsch does the weekly “Brand Up, Brand Down” segment on MS NOW’s Morning Joe, other than have a lengthy, successful career in advertising working for (or owning) an advertising agency, but I could totally fill in for him if he ever has a cold or stage fright.
Oh, ahem. Yes. I watch Morning Joe, and so I’ve revealed a slight glimpse into my political leanings but here’s my justification … I identify with Joe Scarborough. I’m fairly conservative in the way I live my life, but I also have an open mind, believe in fairness, and I’m a smartass. Plus, Morning Joe kinda tells me all my news, with a slanted opinion (an opinion I’m aware of) and fits it all into 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. It repeats the 6a-7a hour, starting at 8. Plus they talk some sports and non-political stuff, and have some interesting guests … like Donny Deutsch.
He does this “Brand Up, Brand Down” and just lists things and has a little commentary. Pretty easy. This morning (watch it here), he gave a “Brand Up” label to adult braces (because it’s actually for better health and not just vanity of a straight smile) and Mike Myers (because he’s making an Austin Powers 4).
2026 Countdowns
Some important dates and I know how hard it is to remember, so here’s some countdown clocks you can reference. I use TickCounter.
