Last weekend we made gumbo. Today, pralines. Rounding out the repertoire from my New Orleans side of the family. I’ve been making the oyster dressing for family holidays for a good while now, and I’ve got a decent handle on red beans & rice. These treats used to be reserved for special occasions, or the summer vacations down to Louisiana. Now as an adult, good reminder that I can… just cook them? Whenever I want?
Had breakfast with a friend this morning and reflected on how nice it is to learn about all the small little tidbits – grad school progress, the new hobby, work challenges, reflections from a recent trip – the collection of small facts (for me) that make their life their life. It’s nice to have a rooting interest in other people’s lives.
Sometimes reading my Kindle in the dark in bed feels like a very primal experience. Like being near a campfire, calm and quiet, safety and interest nearby, darkness surrounding.
Art
Wooden face mask from the Bembe region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. #49, oil on canvas by Cy Thao. Portrait of Tah-Bo-Ho-Ya, oil on panel by Elbridge Ayer Burbank. Stokrozen quilt by by Ans Schipper-Vermeiren.
Books
The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV. Steadily chipping away, and really enjoying it. So much of progress and coalition-building(/-ruining) can depend on quirks of personality, temperament, reputation.
Running
Much lighter week. Wish I’d spent a bit more time stretching or cross-training or the like, but glad I took a lil’ break.
Around the Web
Frank Chimero took a sabbatical. “There’s a pressure to have noticeable outcomes to life choices like this. I made space, and after 3 months, all I have is a more internalized sense of that space.”
“Asking for help in a way that ppl actually want to help is the number one skill it’s literally the most important skill”.
The Four Players That Span the Entire History of the NBA.
Moderation is not overrated. “One of my rules of internet discourse is that whenever I see people talking about how something is not a “silver bullet” or a “panacea,” I know I’ll need to take the rest with a grain of salt.”
“The death rate from heat in Europe is almost twice the death rate from guns in America”. Not good!
Music
Joe Hsaishi Conducts. Maybe the first time The Desert Music has really clicked for me.
While I’ve been reading The Eagle and the Hart, decided to put on some late 1300s/early 1400s music to keep the mood going. Can’t say I deeply connected with any particular works in these collections, but they’re all great, and a good reminder of how much talent you con find in any niche you care to look into:
- Gothic Voices, Echoes of an Old Hall
- Pro Cantione Antiqua, Ars Brittanica: Old Hall Manuscript, Madrigals, & Lute Songs.
Mozart, Piano Concertos Nos. 9 in E-Flat Major, KV271 “Jenamy” & 12 in A Major, KV414/3585P, Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Major, KV211. The second movement of KV414 stole the show for me.
Disasterpeace, It Follows OST, after watching the movie last week.
Radiohead, Hail to the Thief, (Live Recordings 2003–2009). I’ll take the studio recordings over these, but reliable as always.
Movies
Goodbye, Dragon Inn. Quiet, observant mood-piece, rainy night at a movie theatre during its final screening.
The Invitation (2015). Third viewing. I really like this movie. (The first time I saw it), I liked for plot/suspense reasons. The second time, I appreciated but felt like I was missing something. This time, I connected much more on an emotional/character level. Repeat viewings can pay off!
KPop Demon Hunters. It’s fun! I like how the animation style borrows from manga and such in more expressive moments. Also interesting that the fight scenes are largely “something to do”, and presented as artificially high stakes – we know the heroes are going to survive, so let’s just make it look cool and keep the story going. I know nothing about the musical scene, so I’ll spend some time with the soundtrack, and I think I’ll line up a deep-dive into K-pop in general later on.
TV
Line of Duty, s2e3–5. I love how quickly this show moves along. There’s not a lot of meditative artistry or glamour. Just the facts, and messy people, and turning the screws a little tighter. Great interrogation scenes recently.
Words of Wisdom
“Skills expand the effectiveness of your kit but they don’t substitute for its essential components. The best system is one where gear and training are aligned, with neither one of them overcompensating for the other.”
Mark Larson 