• June reading update

    June reading update

    My beach book was The Golem and Jinni by Helene Wecker. I picked it up randomly from the library in one of the recommended sections, and something about it piqued my interest. I’m always up for good fantasy (and sci-fi) fiction, so maybe that was it.

    I really enjoyed it. Had no idea that it is a series, so I’ll probably check books 2 and 3 out now too. Highly recommend it if you are into well-written fantasy/adventure tales.

    Here’s a description:

    Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life to serve as a wife for a Polish emigre who then dies at sea on the voyage to America. Chava is left unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York Harbor in 1899.Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire born in the ancient Syrian desert, trapped in an old copper flask, and released in New York City, though still not entirely free. Ahmad and Chava become unlikely friends and soul mates with a mystical connection. Marvelous and compulsively readable, Helene Wecker’s debut novel The Golem and the Jinni weaves strands of Yiddish and Middle Eastern literature, historical fiction and magical fable, into a wondrously inventive and unforgettable tale.

    In terms of other books, I’m midway through The Slip by Lucas Schaefer and am looking to start The Infinity Machine by Sebastian Mallaby and Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant next.

    No comments on June reading update
  • Crackazat, Vince Staples, Boards of Canada, and more of my favorite albums from June 2026

    Crackazat, Vince Staples, Boards of Canada, and more of my favorite albums from June 2026

    My birthday month, Father’s Day, and summer solstice: June is such a great month, and there was lots of good new music too. I also got on some oldies too, like Steve Miller’s Fly Like An Eagle and Melvin Spark’s Spark Plug, both of which are classics. Sunny days are here indeed.

    Crackazat – SUN

    Who is this dude!? What’s with the crazy name? Don’t know, but the music is so damn good.

    Vince Staples – Cry Baby

    When I heard this was a rock concept album (from a hip-hop artist) I was prepared to dislike it but it, uh, rocks. I like it a lot.

    Boards of Canada – Inferno

    I’ve never listened to this band, but it looks like they are well-loved/lauded in the general musicdom. It’s ambient and instrumental and I’m really digging it as a work/morning soundtrack.

    Rosa Brunello – We Are Surging Waters

    Crazy energy, percussion, and horns on this. Great jazz album.

    Family Worship Center – Only Visiting

    Sounds old but it’s new. In a good way.

    Johnny Blue Skies – Mutiny After Midnight

    Johnny Blue Skies aka Sturgill Simpson is my kinda country dude.

    Mabe Fratti and Bill Orcutt – Almost Walking

    This album is incredible.

    Other albums that I’ve been jamming to:

    Remember to support the artists you love, and if you want to peruse some of the previous new music posts from this year, do it!

    🗒 Featured image: Rosa Brunello

    No comments on Crackazat, Vince Staples, Boards of Canada, and more of my favorite albums from June 2026
  • The water heater right of passage

    The water heater right of passage

    img 2528

    I feel like we finally cross a right of passage in home ownership.

    Our water heater split open in the top-floor attic, spilling water through the ceiling in the laundry room and generally inciting a frenzy of panic for 24 hours, after which we are many thousands of dollars poorer and now the owners of a new tankless water heater.

    img 2550
    Back of the water heater split open
    img 2530
    Drain pan also leaked at the drain gasket

    I’ve spoke to several neighbors who have had this same thing happen to them over the years, including a neighbor a few doors down just a couple months ago. I thought it wouldn’t happen to me, but what other outcome would there be really? Proactively replace the water heater, just because? BEFORE it fails? Does anyone really do that? The water heater was 9 years old. It felt like we could get a few more years about it. Seemed like it was running strong and steady. They don’t exactly give you many signals that they are about to burst.

    In retrospect, it seemed like a gamble, and in gambling the house (water heater) always wins.

    Regardless, I think we escaped the worst. The water damage was pretty small (we caught it just as it was starting). A quick trip to Lowes for a shop vac saved us.

    img 2575

    In the end, I’m happy with the new unit and even happier I don’t have 40 gallons of water above my living space anymore that might someday come pouring down on me.

    2 comments on The water heater right of passage

  • Another jalapeño update

    First crop is in, and I fried some up today and put the rest in the freezer to become jalapeño jam in the not-to-distant future. I fried up the most redish ones. Spicy and delicious!

    img 2520
    The first six – got about a dozen total in the first crop
    img 2571
    Seeds in for sure.
    1 comment on Another jalapeño update
  • Running Topsail beach

    Running Topsail beach

    More travel running last week (my favorite kind). This time on Topsail Island beach. I can’t remember the last time I went on a run on a sandy beach. I got out multiple times this week, though, and always with a dip in the ocean after to cool off. Perfection.

    img 2501
    img 2508
    IMG 2500
    No comments on Running Topsail beach
  • img 2493

    Our company this week was this crew of awesome humans.

    IMG 2494

    1 comment on
  • IMG 2439

    Mostly offline for the week kicking off summer. ☀️

    1 comment on
  • IMG 2410 1

    The law of the shoe rack.

    1 comment on