Weeknotes: May 18–22, 2026
My attention has been focused elsewhere this week, and what writing I’ve done feels lackluster. I'm not going to force it. Please enjoy this Weeknotes anthology of bullet points, lists, and images.
Monday, May 18 – Friday, May 22
Outside the studio window, a groundhog seeks refuge inside a deep underground warren, which Geoff says continues under his control room. A thunderstorm passes and I mistake its rumble for unexpected sub-bass in the mix.
I order a pizza and am overwhelmed by the relief I feel at not having to cook dinner. Eating the pizza is a pleasure, but making the decision to get it feels almost as satisfying.
The irises are in full bloom, so top-heavy they lay flat out on the driveway. Poor engineering. I should build them a guardrail next year.
A few houses down, my neighbors are smoking cigars on their porch. They tell me they've just been to Albania and Montenegro. I tell them I am on summer break.
On a humid 85° evening, Islay and I visit Parker Mill for her first swim of the year. The wet dog aroma, as she dries herself in the car window, puts me at ease.
K and I see Courtney Barnett play at the Majestic Theater. I didn’t expect her to be such a ripping guitarist. I love a good power trio and Stella Mozgawa is a fantastic drummer.
READING:
The Swimmer, Patrick Barkham’s biography of Roger Deakin, in which he adopts Deakin’s voice and narrates in first person as if it’s actually a memoir. Fascinating. Early on, Deakin refers to television as the “fool’s lantern,” which makes me laugh. I might have to re-read Waterlog after this.
LISTENING:
Magic Tuber Stringband's Heavy Water and Marisa Anderson's The Anthology of UnAmerican Folk Music, both of which I reviewed for AllMusic. Both albums are on Thrill Jockey and address thorny problems using sparse instrumental arrangements. I’m going to see Marisa Anderson play in West Michigan next week, and will also finally rescue my yellow scarf from the Tom Cat Tavern in Three Oaks.
I also listened to Enya, Prefab Sprout, Phil Collins, Genesis Owusu, Carla J. Easton, Julian Lage, and Daði Freyr, among others.
WATCHING:
Top Chef: Season 23, Episode 11. The long-middling Sherry is robbed of Quickfire glory, but rebounds to finally win her first Elimination Challenge. Anthony packs his knives and goes; he was one of my favorites. I'm still enjoying this season, but this episode was just confounding.
Mostly, I worked on my house and yard. I replaced the mailboxes for both apartments as well as the house numbers. I mowed, mulched, and made wall planters out of the old mailboxes. I bought a small arborvitae named “Mr. Bowling Ball,” which should mature into an 30” evergreen sphere. I planted lavender and brought more ferns back from my parents’ house. I painted a modernist portrait of the river on an old printer’s tray. Ever since reading Derek Jarman’s Modern Nature last month, I’ve felt inspired to build a whimsical garden. It’s bringing me such joy.
