Fortnightly Dispatch No. 12 — Dispatched

Issue No. 12 is now out in the world.

Highlights include: A visual diary of our trip to San Francisco to celebrate the wedding of our friends Frank & Celeste, A piece from the NYT in praise of over-stuffed bookshelves, a video that may get you thinking about this truth: If we don’t use analog materials, then they’ll eventually go away … and the usual round-up of “notes and photos.”

I hope you consider subscribing and following along HERE.

The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles

Fortnightly Dispatch No. 09 – Dispatched

Issue No. 09 is now out in the world.

Highlights include: What it means to have enough, how to find all things interesting, Austin Kleon on “Comfort Work,” interview with Jonathan Smallwood on daydreaming, a lesson from Earnest Hemingway on why you should plan your weekend, and a round-up of photos from the past few months in the Journal section.

I hope you consider subscribing and following along HERE.

Mission San Juan Capistrano
Kai | Mission San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

Safe Harbor is a State of Mind

“‘Safe Harbor’ is a state of mind… it’s the place – in reality or metaphor – to which one goes in times of trouble or worry. It can be a friendship, marriage, church, garden, beach, poem, prayer, or song.”

~ Luanne Rice (American Novelist)

Photo: Handheld with my Apple iPhone, @ Dana Point Harbor on the evening of the Holiday Boat Parade. A wonderful evening.

A Moment – Kayaking Lake St Clair

Two quotes come to mind as I reflect on our family time kayaking Lake St. Clair on a recent trip to Michigan.

“Fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man.”

“My little boy yesterday … my friend today … my son forever.”

kayaking Lake St Clair

The Boba Chronicles (1)

Hi everyone…Boba here…Dad has granted me access to his blog and I’ll be sharing my adventures…finally some worthwhile ‘notes and photos’ here! … today was a good day, but not without some ‘trickery’ … Mom got me all ready for a walk this morning but something seemed a bit suspicious…once my harness was all secure, I lurched out the front door, ready to head to the park for some frolicking…I look to my right and see our neighbor dog Luna headed in the same direction…fun, we’re both park bound! … but something in her canine eyes tells me all is not quite ‘normal’ …sure enough, one glance to my right and there it is…the mobile dog grooming truck! … ahh, the bait and switch … I succumb… frankly, this is much better than the strip mall grooming venue … and, on the bright side, this grooming session will be accompanied with numerous treats once I tuck my tail between my legs and show the grooming lady my scared-puppy-eyes expressions…my final thought for the day: yeah, I was overdue for a trim, I just wish Mom and Dad would have considered a day when it’s not below 50 degrees F in Southern California … I’ll be staying inside on the couch most of the day! … check out my nails!

Boba the Pitbull Dachshund showing off her newly trimmed nails

Read: Lessons by Ian McEwan

The focus on piano lessons is what initially drew me to this book. I “read” Lessons via Audible over the course of a few weeks, with many of those listening sessions happening late at night (alongside some bouts of insomnia). I really like the style of Ian McEwan’s writing, and this book delivered on that front. I also liked the story arc (is that a word) of this book, as it navigated many different historical timeframes and events (fall of the Berlin wall, Cuban Missile Crisis, Covid pandemic, etc). Roland, the main character/protagonist, is relatable in certain ways, and I’d say the parts of the book that stood out the most for me were those that delved into struggles with his inner demons combined with his perspectives and realizations across the different seasons of life.

Lessons by Ian McEwan
“Lessons” by Ian McEwan

Summary

Instead of reading notes (which are more suited for non-fiction) I’ll instead share my “summary” in a few paragraphs:

Overall, McEwan’s “Lessons” is a captivating novel that explores the depths of human despair and identity. The story follows an unexpected friendship between two people, a young boy and his eccentric piano teacher, that slowly unravels as secrets of their past come to light. The story unfolds across all seasons of life for the main characters, with many twists and turns (which mostly kept my interest). The compelling narrative conveys complex emotions of love, loss, guilt and shame.

A powerful combination of realism in the characters’ interactions is punctuated with sharp wit makes for an evocative read/listen. As I followed along with Roland’s journey, I was also brought face-to-face with many of my own innermost thoughts and emotions.

As with most McEwan books I’ve read, this one too evoked emotions like sorrow and pain alongside joy and pleasure – a testament to how good writing can capture both heart and mind.

Read reviews or buy this book on Amazon