I was out for a jog, and popped into a local community garden where I'd never been inside the gates. Walked in noticed a path, decided to do the loop. "Most people when they come in here, they say hello". Turns out, another guy was there, a regular (I presume), emerging from behind a wall of foliage.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Just checking things out! I've never been in before. How's it going?"
"I'm closing up soon. Just asking, next time, be neighborly."
I appreciate what he's going for, but ya gotta give me a chance! :(
On a weekday morning local playgrounds in NYC, usually fenced off from the rest of a park, feel like airport lounges. Semi-private area just for those who meet some qualification. Kinda nice to have some mild separation from genpop? Also better than airport lounges in my experience.
Note to self: one thing that makes early parenthood easier is wearing a shirt with a pocket. Easy place to stick a bottle or dangle a pacifier or a tuck burp cloth or etc..
I'm finding it's helpful to think of myself as a "growing parent". It's so easy to get tunnel-vision in the moment and just try to power through everything and keep pushing on to the next task. But it's in the occasional moment of rest and quiet, if I take advantage of it, that everything I'm learning consolidates and distills and solidifies. Naps! Daily miracles!
A few times lately I've been using Codex from my phone to do some basic blog infra updates while I've got the baby asleep in the other arm. It's fun! Dictate a few ideas and let it rip, wake up to changes.
Books
The Hard Way. Progress has slowed way down, but it's still a keeper.
Running
My weekly mileage is about half of what it was before becoming a parent, but I'm very happy it's been so consistent-ish, even if less adventurous. I didn't expect to be so steady so early. Grateful for the reliable outlet.
Around the Web
You Are No Longer Invited to Dinner.
What happened to the working-class husband?
Was Anglo-Saxon England really wealthy?
The Pope supports the artists!
Music
Jeff Redd, Down Low.
Ghost, 2 Big to Rig. I love Ghost!
Two from Ólafur Arnalds: with Talos, A Dawning; and Island Songs.
Two from Bitchin Bajas: Inland See and Isle Peaks.
Ciara, Yes Pack EP.
The Marian Consort, The Illyria Consort, Adriatic Voyage: Seventeenth-century Music from Venice to Dalmatia.
Utopia Ensemble, The Musical Universe of Andreas Pevernage. I'd never heard of Pevernage before, a minor Flemish renaissance composer, I suppose, but a good example of how it pays to go deeper.
Duo Mignarda, The Delights of Solitaryness: The Lute Songs of John Dowland. Great album! Really liked "The Lowest Trees Have Tops" (a setting of Edward Dyer's "A Modest Love").
Movies
Thelma. Loved it. After falling for a phone scam, an old lady goes on a revenge tour. It's funny and clever and deeply empathetic and sweet. Love the heightening and dramatizing of routine daily challenges to bring the tension. And we see Tom Cruise's impact! This will make my year-end favorites list.
TV
WandaVision, s1e5. Feel like my heart is gonna get broken any minute now?
Neagley, s1e6. I understand the revenge instinct, and it can make for satisfying TV, but like in Reacher, the callousness about and eagerness for just killing off villains makes me uncomfortable!