Facebook continued its decline as part of my overall digital footprint. If it wasn’t for a handful of people I adore there, I wouldn’t visit FB at all. I already have a list of bookmarked accounts I visit to avoid the algorithmic “news” feed. While looking through my friends list for more direct links and I counted 9 people who have passed away and are no longer with us, making my timeline even more depressing that the algorithm could ever achieve on its own. I never pay attention to the Facebook memories they dish up, but there was one this week which reflected my overall mood about my memories on Facebook.
One of my favorite Mountain Goat’s songs really sums up the state of things in the mainstream media that reached my brain this week. “This Year” is a great video, but watching Stephen Colbert and John Darnielle joyously bounce around the stage defiantly declaring we will make it through the year was the nourishment I needed for my soul this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_qkVPZ8DJI&ab_channel=TheLateShowwithStephenColbert
Audrey and I went out for another Lovely's Old Fashioned burger this week. It is such a perfect experience. I could, but probably shouldn’t do it once a week. Afterwards eating we wandered down to the pie shop where Audrey had ordered us a Lemon Meringue and a Mississippi Mud pie. I had the Lemon Meringue. Tart goodness on a summer evening.
We are having rear tire issues on the bike. I think the structural integrity of the rear wheel has been weakened from bombing down the Harlem Hills at 20+ MPH with a 100 pount Rottweiler in the side car. The corners are so much fun, but I can hear the strain it is putting on the bike and tire. It is worth it. It is so worth it. We’ll be taking things slow until the new wheel comes in.
It has been five years since Audrey suggested we go out and meet this Rottweiler puppy. I was skeptical. I really didn’t want to have a dog. I know how much work they can be. But I reluctantly rented a car and drove out to Livermore to meet this dog. I can’t imagine life without her now. She has transformed our lives in ways I could never have imagined.
There are these little struggling rose bushes (I think) down on the corner of the West Side Highway where I take Poppy to pee. I am writing about them to help me remember to brings some water down for them, and possibly some food. They are working real hard in a very hostile space, and I want to help them out.
There are also some little mushroom buddies that are popping up near the little rose bushes. I took pictures of them last year, and curious to compare the pics and their placement to see how the mycelium spreads. They are a beautiful mushroom until the flower, then they get all freaky looking. But that is fine. Some of us are like that.
My head is in some big projects for work. I was able to move the needle on some interesting prototypes for new ways of working with APIs. The work to build my new startup Naftiko is centered around API integrations we are simply calling “capabilities”. Our goal is to align the technical details of using APIs with the business reasons we do this stuff.
Audrey and I just got home from record shopping at our favorite shop in the West Village—Village Revival Records. We added some great jazz to our collection. We are finding that about 75% of our investment in new records is jazz. Having a deep and rich jazz record collection is one of the few things that brings me pure joy right now.
After record shopping we went out to eat at Laliko, a Georgian restaurant in the West Village. We have a Georgian restaurant in our neighborhood. Which very good. But Laliko definitely expanded things for me. Their cheese bread felt more traditional, and less americanized. Their dumplings were simply amazing. The best Eastern European / Western Asian dumplings I’ve had. I’ve been talking about wanting to explore this dumpling realm. And we are. Thankful.
It is hot right now. It is very humid. I am getting used it though. We’ve been here two years now, with this being our third summer in NYC. I’ve always hated humidity. I’m learning to roll with it. I am finding balance with being online and outside. I spend about four hours a day outside on an average, and manage to ride our bike every day. I am also very much enjoying my online work right now. I am grateful for the world I have control over right now. The rest of is leaving me pretty sad though.
Thank You. - Kin Lane
