I think I’ve been living too much in the future and possible futures. Anticipating, worrying, forecasting. Reviewing the month, I’ve spent my time well. Building relationships. Sharing meals. Watching movies. Ran a half marathon. Been encouraged. Given encouragement. Practiced listening and asking questions. But between these moments--moments I am mercifully fully present for--I’m dominated by rumination and fret. I think I understand a small part of Paul Atreides’ affliction of seeing all of humanity’s potential histories laid before him. Low-grade torture.

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This month’s playlist:

Blue Prince

I respect this randomized puzzle box. It’s a delight to gradually discover how to play the game, and trilling to glimpse the secrets waiting to be discovered. Nearly every element in the game harbors more than meets the eye.

But I doubt I’ll finish it. The randomized elements of the game will eventually erode my patience. I think the combination of puzzler and roguelike is clever, innovative, and well-executed. However, I already have little patience for puzzle games. Add in RNG that can foil completing a solution, and you have a recipe for me to drop a game quick.

I like it! It’s not for me.

The Telling

Continually impressed by how Le Guin developes such a rich, alien culture and immerses us in that worldview to such a degree we begin to think in those patterns. And then, when we come up for air, we know exactly what she’s talking about on our world.

Not my favorite of hers. But a valuable tale nonetheless.

The Elephant Man

I’ve done it. I’ve seen every Lynch feature film. But I can’t say I liked The Elephant Man. The movie is good, likely great. But it made me profoundly sad. Lynch is fearless depicting the evils of humanity without subtext, and equally fearless in depicting us attempting to be better. It was hard for me to watch. The degree of exploitation, both conscious and unconscious. Pseudo-heroes grappling with their ulterior motives and potential villainy. Hope being given, then taken away. We behave as animals. This is our greatest temptation.

Jungle

New work-focus music.

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This month I’ve also celebrated Hot Dog Week, continued to collaborate creatively with the artists in my life, and been moved to tears by multiple works of art.