Finished Reading: A Paradise Built In Hell, by Rebecca Solnit. 📚

Somewhere between the ominous sounding title and the heartwarming stories of people helping others, you find yourself truly asking “what kind of person am I in the face of disaster?”

Watched: The Bad Batch, s1. 📺

There were a lot of clichés and common tropes (team of misfits helps child with “something special” about them, especially prevalent after The Mandalorian). But overall not a bad watch.

a picture of the poem, written on a typewriter. Click the image to take you to a post that includes both the image and the text.

Thankful for a low-key Halloween, with time to stop and evaluate the things that have been taking up space in my mind. Picked up a bag of candy just in case we get visitors (later). Happy Halloween everyone! 🎃

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The first three episodes of Invasion (2021) are extremely slo-paced which, by itself isn’t bad. But the way some of the characters treat others is hard to watch. Looking at you school bully. Also you, shitty husband/dad. 📺

a picture of the poem, written on a typewriter. Click the picture to take you to a post that incliudes the words and the picture.

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I’m not keen on electric typewriters but, this poem by Charles Bukowski speaks to me. 📝

Acapulco (2021) is a light-hearted watch. I like all of the characters, and I love that we’re getting to see stories through Mexican voices (storytellers). 📺

a picture of the poem, written on a typewriter. Click the picture to take you to a post where the poem is written out.

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Watched Luca (2021). 🎥

Cute and good-hearted movie.

Finished reading: In Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki 📚

I enjoyed every word of this one.

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Finished Reading Monstress, Vol. 6: The Vow. 📚

The continued work of Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda still takes my breath away. Takeda’s art is something I like to take my time with; there’s so much in every frame. Liu’s storytelling is great; the tension build up is masterful.

Wishing I didn’t do the NYT Sunday crossword last night (when it first became available) rather than wait until today. Nice to be able to dig up a puzzle from the archives, though. 🧩

Finished reading: Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang 📚

Reframe the way you think about rest, then you might move it up in your list of priorities. It’s been “de-valued” for far too long.

Day 11: Hygge 📷

a black and white picture of a cat curled into a ball, with her eyes covered by a paw, napping.

Demonstrated as only a cat can.

a picture of a poem, written on a typewriter

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Day 10: Bridges 📷

a picture of Hetch Hetchy dam, in Yosemite National Park. Pedestrians can walk across the top of the dam, lie a bridge, to a tunnel, which then leads to hiking trails.

Day 9: Safe 📷

a picture of a rocky trail heading uphill

Be safe on those rocky trails, both uphill and coming back again (downhill)!

Day 8: Twilight 📷

a picture taken atr twilight, with dark clouds in the sky and a pink-red glos on the horizon where the sun has passed. In the foreground you can make out a quiet neighborhood street, with a park on the far side.

a picture of the poem, written on a typewriter

Pushing through the dark clouds
The sun rays announce, they’re here.
With them, comes not warmth
but light, the light we need
today. The light needed
For so many things to move
Grow, continue.
I shall continue.
I shall grow.
I shall move.

Day 7: Spice 📷

a picture of a spoonful of Lao Gan Ma's chili crisp, resting on a cutting board

I use an (almost) embarrassing amount of Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp, regularly.

a picture of the poem, written on a typewriter

Dry hands wring themselves
dry wit, too.
We are anxious, on edge
body tense, only the balls of
our feet touching the ground
even while seated.
Shoulders tight
jaw holding the stress
The cool morning air provides
respite when inhaled
But this body has forgotten how
to release.

Day 6: Street 📷

a black and white picture of a busy street in San Francisco. There are three lanes of cars stopped, and facing forward. The sidewalk, to the far left of the frame, has pedestrians moving to and from.

Been revisiting some old photos for a possible (printed!) photo book, and decided to re-edit this one (from 2006) for today’s theme.