a running account, updated as it changes
9 October 2026 · Gulf Coast, Florida, USA
Why does tragedy exist? Because you are full of rage. Why are you full of rage? Because you are full of grief.
- Anne Carson, Grief Lessons: Four Plays by Euripides
Reading
Heart the Lover by Lily King
King is clever. She is masterful. I remember enjoying Writers & Lovers, but this book, the prequel and the sequel, I love so much: jumping back in time to when your whole life is ahead of you, settling into the joys of literature, traveling to Paris for a stint, and enduring tender realities of adulthood and great loves. Go spend time with these authentically flawed and vulnerable characters.
Listening
How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University by Theo Baker
Accountability is grossly lacking these days. Perhaps it always has been. Another recent hybrid memoir, Lulu Miller's Why Fish Don't Exist, delves into David Starr Jordan, Stanford's first president, a eugenicist mired in scandal and suspicion. While Baker's youth is palpable, he strikes the right balance of humility for a 20-something-year-old publishing his memoir. He has a story to tell, and his reporting is powerful and timely. Well done, Theo.
Growing
Cilantro
With temperatures already cooling, a refresh of the herb garden is in order. Repot the mint; refresh the soil for oregano, thyme, and parsley. Out with the basil. In with new cilantro, which will thrive through Florida's mild winter rather than bolting through the humid summer.
Creating
Pesto
With the last of this season's basil, I'm making pesto for dinner and freezing the rest. Following a low FODMAP diet makes store-bought pesto nearly impossible. These frozen portions will be convenient and appreciated in the months ahead.
Learning
Anne Carson: poet, essayist, novelist, classicist
Anne Carson won the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2026. I have not yet read anything by the Canadian writer, who learned Latin and Greek in high school and blends poetry and ancient translations in her essays and novels. Madeline Miller first piqued my curiosity in Greek mythology, and I devoured Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey this summer. Carson appears exactly on brand for my interests. I cannot wait to discover her myself.
Working
Training AI models
A few months in, I'm enjoying the analysis, writing, and editing. What an interesting time to be at the forefront of this rapidly changing technology. See LinkedIn ↗ for more on my professional career.