iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Today I learned that if I really try I can fit 22 dino nuggies in my toaster oven.

Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Even though it's forecast to be 95F/35C here tomorrow, it's fall, so that means soup. I made some ramen-style udon with chicken and miso base, sliced chicken, egg, tofu, shiitaki and enoki mushrooms, bok choy, bean sprouts, carrots, and scallions. 🍜 😋

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is my first ever AC game. I've been having a lot of fun with it. So much so that I bought an actual Spanish real coin (currency used in the game). It's from after the "Golden Age of Piracy," but it's been certified as recovered from a shipwreck, which is cool.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Haha, maybe not too far off. 😆 One is definitely gonna make it to the table much more often.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

I'm packing for my annual gaming trip with longtime friends, and I appreciate the dichotomy between the two board games I'm bringing along. 😀

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

A fun couple of days in Glacier National Park.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Howdy from Bannack State Park ghost town. 👻

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Overheard at the grocery store today from an old man frantically searching: "Where the fuck is the goddamn soup?!" We’ve all been there. May you all find your soup today.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

I finally organized my guitar effect pedal boards. I built most (10 of the 12) of these pedals myself from kits. Solder on!

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Made a batch of oatmeal cookies for my family's Christmas Eve get-together. I feel a bit proud whenever I make these cookies because I've fine-tuned the recipe over the years, and people always seem to enjoy them.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

A few musical electronic DIY projects I built over the past couple of days. The analog filter and guitar pedals sound nice (especially the phaser), but I absolutely love playing around with the Elmyra 2 synthesizer. Tons of fun.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Went to a video game convention today. Didn't buy any games, but I just can't resist an artist alley. 😄

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Took me longer than expected, but I'm happy with how this turned out. Paint by numbers with acrylic markers.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

I got all of these from one box of Critical Role 10th Anniversary collectible cards. Marisha Ray and Matt Mercer autographs, a Stained Glass Heroes acetate card, and a gold foil stamped card numbered to 10. Probably the best box of cards I've ever purchased. So psyched!

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Another TwitchCon, another trip to the San Diego Zoo to visit the Galapagos Tortoises.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

The perfect pumpkin is out there somewhere.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

My first LEGO set since I was a kid. It's K-2SO, a memorable Star Wars droid from Rogue One and Andor. It was really fun and satisfying to build, and the end result displays nicely.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

Looking forward to seeing both Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Spinal Tap 2 next weekend for the most incongruent double feature since Barbenheimer. Should we call it Spinal Slayer?

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

I went to the SacAnime anime convention with my daughter today and picked up a couple of fun pieces. Calcifer quilling artwork from artists alley and a mimic eating Frieren fidget toy (it has two clicky keyboard switches activated by pressing down on the top of the mimic).

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my stream, especially in the past few weeks as I worked toward this goal. 🥹🫶

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

It took me over two and a half years, but I finally made it to Twitch Affiliate! Okay, I was only able to make it after Twitch reduced the requirements (which kinda feels like beating a FromSoft boss after a patch nerfed them), but it still feels like a nice accomplishment to me. 😊

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

Chicago hot dog, deep dish pizza, and Ren faire turkey leg. Surely the foods of champions. 😁

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

I've always thought it would be fun to travel at least part of Route 66, so it was cool to see the official start of the highway.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

I finally took a photo of all the sketch cards I've collected. 27 in all, from a bunch of different sets, universes, and artists. Some pulled from packs, some from repacks, and some purchased individually.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Meet Spatz. When my daughter was 6 she asked for a kitten. I told her she could get one when she turned 12 because then she'd be old enough to take care of it. She never forgot. Her birthday is a few weeks away, but we let her get one a little early so they can spend time together over summer break.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Maybe all parks should have ziplines.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

The Elden Ring board game finally hits the table! And all I had to do was schlep this behemoth on an airplane to play with some out-of-town friends. 😁

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

We received a kind note from an anonymous neighbor regarding our little free library.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

The memory that comes to mind with Brian Wilson's passing is spending the night at my cousin's house and listening to Sloop John B on repeat as we fell asleep. We were 11 years old. He introduced me to Nirvana's Nevermind, and I introduced him to Pet Sounds. A core memory for me. RIP Brian Wilson.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

You make a convincing argument, but have you considered LABUBU?

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Haha, awesome! True, they have the lucky touch!

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Opened a box of Skybox Masterpieces Monster Edition cards with my daughter. She likes monsters and mythology. It's a fun, creepy set. We even got a card autographed by the artist.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I keep trying to save a box or two of sports cards to open on my birthday stream, but I inevitably open them early. I opened a box of basketball cards yesterday and finally hit my first ever 1 of 1. I was so excited. I wish I'd waited to open it on stream so others could've heard the sound I made. 😆

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

After over two years of waiting, it's finally here! The Elden Ring board game I backed on Kickstarter. It's 23 pounds of Elden Ring. 😄

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

I've been saving a few sports card boxes to open on a birthday stream in a couple of months. But I'm just gonna open them today because I'm sad and I need a fix because I'm a degen. 🫠 Nobody wants to watch that mess anyway. 😆

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Things have been a bit rough lately, so it was a wonderful surprise to receive a package in the mail from a friend today. Especially since it contained handmade crafts and artwork! These little crochet blob guys are adorable, and I love the painting too. Thank you so much, Dale! 🫶

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

I'm really enjoying Avowed. I've played many games by Obsidian Entertainment, and although it's still too soon to tell, this might end up being one of my favorites. It's a smooth, fun, and back-to-basics fantasy RPG, and it's my current comfort game.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Waiting for the ballet to start, with my Valentine (my daughter because my wife isn't feeling well). It’s the world premiere of this version of Romeo & Juliet.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

I can't partake in the Elden Ring Nightreign network test because it's console only, but I'm intrigued about the game. Even though it seems to deemphasize my favorite part of Elden Ring, the exploration, it looks fun, and I respect that they're trying something different.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Organizing my sports card collection while watching the WWE Royal Rumble. If 10-year-old me could see me now. Living the dream! 😆

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Okay, damn, now I can see why Balatro is so addictive. I played for the first time last night, had some beginner's luck that took me to the final boss on my very first run, and I've been chasing that high ever since.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Don't sleep on Castlevania: Nocturne, y'all. It's very, very good. Satisfying sequel to the original, and I hope they keep making more.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

I completed all of the circuit boards for the analog synthesizer keyboard (Sequential Pro-One clone) I've been working on. It was a lot of work to get to this point, but there's still plenty of work to go before it's done.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

I recently started ripping sports card packs, and this is my first "case hit." That it's one of the best rookies in his class is icing on the cake. Also, I'm a sucker for clear acetate cards. 🤌 So, the sports cards gambling addiction continues. 🫠 😆

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

My wife always reads in bed before we go to sleep. Last night she started The Silmarillion. I've always meant to read that but never got around to it, so I told her jokingly that I can't believe she's going to read a Tolkien book before I do. So she started to read it out loud to me. 🥹 🥰

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

I'm probably going to look back in bewilderment at the stupidity of some of my behavior over the past couple of years, but I'm glad to finally be moving on from unhealthy habits I formed while dealing with difficult personal issues. I had my doubts, but 2025 is feeling better already.

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

I had fun at an anime convention today with my daughter and came home with some gaming-related stuff. Since the new Indiana Jones game was my favorite of 2024, I figured I should get Troy Baker's autograph. The quote is from the game and says, "Do you have any idea how old that was?"

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

One of my New Year's resolutions is to focus more time on tabletop game design. Here's a sneak peek at a location card from my work-in-progress game called "Expedition to the Shrouded Isles."

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Mono Opti @monoopti.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

I opened more sports card packs and pulled some pretty cool cards. I didn't stream this, so I guess it's a YouTube exclusive. 😁 This will likely be my last video for a while as I focus on other projects. Thank you to everyone who supported me over my past 2 years of streaming. youtu.be/TbtbCgAVroo

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Ripping more sports cards packs: NFL, NBA, MLB. Donruss Optic, Absolute, Obsidian, Allen & Ginter

YouTube video by Mono Opti

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