Oliver’s first weekend away soccer tournament has brought us to Blacksburg, Virginia and the campus of Virginia Tech. Beautiful day.

I finished ironing my shirts for the week and wanted to test the recording quality in the walk-in closet off our bedroom, so here’s a short monologue about the Coaching for Leaders podcast and new Inkwell feed reader.

Transcript

I worked in my Duke office yesterday and asked a friend if he was in his Durham office and free for lunch. He was WFH in Raleigh but made the drive anyway. Made me feel so special. Later, he sent link to his splendid essay, from a series he’s writing about Ecclesiastes: Precedented Days.

After my sauna sweat, I sat on the deck and finished reading the short but good The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson 📚

Still reading The Wayfinder: A Novel by Adam Johnson.📚 The other night, I liked this sentence about an old tattooist from Samoa:

This night, he dream-inked not the usual wave crests or tuna fins, but the disorderly and dangerous tentacles of the feke octopus.

Today, watcing a Europa League game, I admired the geometric tattoo on a player’s arm.

Pep band giving this sunny day in Carrboro extra energy.

Went with Erin to see Project Hail Mary I’d read the book and was eager to see this. It did not disappoint. Beautiful movie, powerful sound and soundtrack.🍿

I read about the rains on Oahu and the danger to the Wahiawa dam, which lead me to looking at a map of the island and reminiscing about the many hikes I did during my two years in Honolulu, and from there I found the Hiking Trails on Oahu site.

At the Sunday early pick-up soccer game, I left the pitch after just 30 minutes, my left calf with bruises, 2 kicks from opposing players. I was making good passes today. Enjoyed the time with the guys, even if it was shorter than usual. Rainbow above passing raincloud was a nice touch.

Spring means the rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) are first to show their delicate flowers on the side of the hill below our house.

This week’s episode of Coaching for Leaders was quite good. It was about setting high standards and giving high support to younger colleagues. Even helped me understand my response to recent perceived threat to my status and respect.

Just approved a design and paid the printer. Can’t wait to see the letterpress result from Hoban Cards. Product will be something I use in the year ahead to send my thanks to family, friends, and even strangers.

Our family text thread was filled with glee yesterday when we realized that family friend (and my one-time summer intern) Brian K. Vaughan is co-writer of the next Dune movie. Such a talent. My favorite still is his Pride of Baghdad comic book.

Earlier this week, a friend hosted me for dinner and music. Blew my mind to hear records played on a great sound system. Taught me a new lesson about listening. Blog post: Blown Away

Earlier this week, a friend hosted me for dinner and music. Blew my mind to hear records played on a great sound system. Taught me a new lesson about listening. Blog post: Blown Away

At the Hoover Dam today. Infrastructure that powers nearby Las Vegas, which was a blaze of light and music and casino clamor last night.

Rain through the night, and drizzling still when we hit the muddy Lee Pass Trail in the Kolog Canyons section of Zion National Park. Even shrouded in clouds, the massive stone walls were stunning.

Great way to spend my birthday, hiking in Utah’s Snow Canyon State Park. Alas, did not see the Mojave Desert tortoise but there was plenty of splendor all around.