What I’ve been reading, watching, making, and otherwise doing for the past month!
May was a bad month.
We both had some significantly negative things happen with our jobs (his much worse than mine, though I’m not really comfortable discussing the details here), a family member died and there was some intrafamilial conflict related to that (again, this is obviously not the place for details), and then the kitten had to spend a weekend at the animal hospital (he’s better now).
I keep reminding myself that things could have been so much worse. I also cannot do much to change the situation; I can just do my best to endure it… but to be honest, I’ve spent most of the time in a deep funk.
Books + Media | Arts + Crafts | Food + Health
Books + Media
Finished
Books
- Audiobook – Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather, 1927
- Audiobook – Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin, 1953
- Audiobook – The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, 1969
- Book – Chronicle of the Narváez Expedition by Cabeza de Vaca, 1542
- Book – The Mind Electric: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains by Pria Anand, 2025
Media
- Movie – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, et al., 2016
- TV series – Andor starring Denise Gough, Diego Luna, Genevieve O’Reilly, Stellan Skarsgård, et al., 2022–2025
- TV series – Black Sails starring Luke Arnold, Toby Stephens, et al. 2014–2017
In progress
Media
- TV limited series – The Residence starring Uzo Aduba, 2025
- Podcast – The Dinner Plan hosted by Maggie Hoffman, 2024–TBD
Reviewed
- The Mind Electric: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains by Pria Anand (Nonfiction, print ARC)
Arts + Crafts
Nope.
Food + Health
Finished
Cooking
I’ve been sharing more about this hobby on a separate blog/newsletter — Eats + Makes
Dining + Drinks
- Wine tasting project – Wine Folly by Madeline Puckette, 2015
- Côtes du Rhône “Halos de Jupiter” from Famille Gassier; France, Côtes du Rhône, Caissargues
- Gewürztraminer “Tradition” from Lucien Albrecht; France, Alsace
- Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie from Famille Bougrier Château du Jaunay; France, Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine, Le Landreau
- Pinot Gris from Kudos; Oregon, Willamette Valley
- Soave from Allegrini Villa Cavarena; Italy, Veneto, Verona
- Voignier from Diamante Doble Vineyard + Six Harts Vineyard via Becker Vineyards; Texas, High Plains
I will write a little more about these in the near future on the Wine Project Page.
- Dined out — Torchys’ Tacos in Houston
Fitness
- Walking, 13.25 hours (38.75 miles)
- Strength training, 2 hours
- The Conqueror “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” series, “The Klingon Code” section — 38.75 total miles
It’s that time of year again — too hot to spend much enjoyable + safe time outdoors. I’ve started going back to the gym again just this past week; I’m starting a new strength training regimen and also trying to get in a few miles on the treadmill most days. It isn’t as satisfying as walking around a park looking for interesting birds, but it is certainly more enjoyable than heat stroke.
In progress
Cooking
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis, 2023
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Dining In by Alison Roman, 2017
- Cookbook cook-thru project – The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science by J. Kenji López-Alt, 2015
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Methodist Morsels by the Cookbook Committee of the First United Methodist Church of Lamesa, Texas, 1983
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Pirate’s Pantry by the Junior League of Lake Charles, Louisiana, 1976
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Cook’s Illustrated All-Time Best French Recipes, […] Hot and Spicy Recipes, […] Side Dish Recipes special eds., 2018
- Magazine clippings cook-thru project
Dining + Drinks
- Wine tasting project – Wine Folly by Madeline Puckette, 2015
Fitness
- The Conqueror “Star Trek: The Next Generation” series, “The Klingon Code” section
- The Conqueror “Conquer 2025” annual challenge
How was your month? Tell me if you’ve read, made, or done anything particularly interesting!
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