Thursday Things

Skipped a few weeks so there’s a bit more than usual this time.

What and Where I’m Drinking

Overall I’m not drinking much at all - 1 or 2 nights a week at the most, and I feel better for it. I’m two weeks into an intense weight training program and trying to reduce my body fat percentage from about 15% to 8%. Wish me luck.

• Tried the beers Flower In the Kettle and Oathbreaker at Wayfinder Beer, one of my new favorite spots in downtown Portland. Close to Guardian Games and a solid menu.
• Tried the beer Altbier at Verde Cocina Café, with beer being the highlight (16 oz can!). Food was bland.

What I’m Playing

• Matthew was home for about 32 hours total and Julie and I played Small World with him. Big hit and fit into about a 2 hour window.
• We also played Ninety-Nine while at the aforementioned Wayfinder Bar.
• Julie and I dropped by our friend Chuck’s game night to play Honshu. Lite, city building fun.

What I’m Reading

• Via audio I read D-Day: The Battle for Normandy my favorite-so-far telling of this story.
• Found some good stuff in The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age, particularly the concept of a tour of duty.
• I suspect Ray Dalio, author of Principles, is a major asshole but there’s no doubt he gets results. There are some tough-to-stomach lessons in this book regarding self evaluation and truth and it is worth the read.

What I’m Watching

• Julie and I watched First they killed my father on Netflix. We both read the book and wanted to see this. Worth it.
• On the other hand, the third movie in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam trilogy Heaven and Earth was a waste of time. Book was OK, movie awful.
• We went to a free preview of Goodbye Christopher Robin and enjoyed it.
• Right now we are working our way through The Man in the High Castle on Amazon. I like how they take their time revealing what the true nature of this alternate reality is. Fun show.

What I’m Listening To

• Jazz Friday: Joey Alexander’s Joey. Monk. Live! – This is the sort of stuff I listen to when I’m writing.
• First Listen: William Patrick Corgan, ‘Ogilala’ – If you like his voice, and I do, this will sound pleasing.

What I’m Contemplating

• ‘I could live simpler’: Floods and fires make Americans rethink their love affair with stuff
• Escaping e-mail hell
• If you think financial independence is about money, you’ve completely missed the point
• The Economics of the Office: Why Do We Still Commute?
• 26 time-management tricks I wish I’d known at 20
• When Your Shitty Health Insurance Doubles in Price