I enjoy reading monthly updates from people I follow (via RSS), they’re always so interesting. So I figured I’d try writing my own. It’ll be good to 1) get me into a regular writing cadence (I want to write more, here and elsewhere, this year), and 2) maybe someone will find mine interesting (jk I don’t think people read this blog). Anyways, let’s give this a try!

general

As hinted at in my last rcntly, we spent a week in Prague at the beginning of October. It was a lovely trip, Prague is a devastatingly beautiful city. I’ve plans to write a recap of the trip (with more words and pictures), but it’s not yet ready at time of publication.

Now that the weather is cooling off, I’m getting back into running. The summer is better for biking, I can handle the heat a lot better on my bike. Now that the weather is cooling and the winds are picking up and biting, biking becomes less of a desirable activity; and inversely running becomes more of a desirable activity. It’s not about bundling, but for me running is harder, so I build up more body heat, and with different routes and slower pace I handle the cooler temperatures much better. And running is fun! I’ve been sticking to 5ks down Navy Pier for now as I build up my running legs again, and then who knows

  • maybe I can extend and do some longer runs.

using

On the running front, I retired my HOKA Skyflows and replaced them with a pair of Adidas ADIZERO EVO SLs (that’s a mouthful). They are easily the lightest and fastest running shoes I’ve ever owned, but are still classed as daily trainers. I’m 4 runs in and really enjoying them. I’m still hella slow, but the lightness and bounciness is much appreciated1.

Sadly, I left my ereader (Kobo) in the seat back pocket2 on our final flight of the Prague trip (CPH –> ORD). So when we got back I dusted off my old Kindle (from 2015 or 2017??), jailbroke it like a good hacker and set it free. As far as I can tell to read Libby books from the library I still need to use the built in reading app, but I do have KOReader installed and still need to configure that. I do think I will get another Kobo Libra Colour at some point, because I really like the physical buttons to change pages. Also, while ereader technology hasn’t changed that much in 10 years, the screen refresh rates have improved and that makes a massive difference in terms of quality of life.

I did go scorched earth on my nvim config like I threatened last month. I rebuilt it from scratch, using the new native nvim package manager. 225 lines of config, 15 plugins, single file. So far so good. I also updated my old vim config a bit, and have been using that on and off as well. I think overall nvim might be the better choice for longevity and plugin options (I don’t want too many, but some are quite handy), but I’m enjoying plain vim. Either way, I’m going for a smaller, simpler config that’s snappy and gets out of me way. Modal editing is a given.

reading

I had a lot of books going this month, and am finishing them all at right about the same time, coincidentally at the end of the month. Theo of Golden for book club (it was… alright), Orbital by Samantha Harvey (beautiful writing, not much happened), and The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman (The Os-man is a delight). I feel I have a much less focused reading plan this year compared to last. Which has been kind of nice, but I also feel a bit adrift and have ended up reading some books that I picked off my list at random that I didn’t enjoy as much in the moment as I thought I might. Live and learn, and maybe that’s something to take into account for next year.

watching

Ludwig Series 2 is out, and we’re half way through it. David Mitchell is a treasure as usual, but I feel the overall series arc isn’t as good as the first. Still really enjoying it, though.

We finished Series 3 of The Marlow Murder Club and the Marble Hall Murders. Both good, cosy, murder-y.

It will soon be time to start watching Christmas-y movies again. I’ll have to resurrect our list of favorite films and start working our way through them.

listening

Deafheaven released their EP Working in the Fields of the Bomb at the beginning of the month, and it is by far the heaviest thing they’ve done to date. Full on black metal. Heavy. It good.

  1. I am not well versed in reviewing running shoes. ↩

  2. I’ve also always wanted to say that. Not that I want to lose anything, but it makes me sound like a seasoned traveler or summat. ↩