May was relentless. An overstuffed relay sprinting from one event to the next. Social events, work events, creative events without a breath in between. Right up until I stepped on a plane for a two-week trip to Thailand. The pace didn’t slow as much as I hoped, but it was a different one. A familiar rhythm I had not felt in far too long. Now I’m back, and though I’m battling jet lag, I feel refreshed. I’m optimistic for the next half of the year.

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This month’s playlist:

The Taste of Things

This may be the most romantic movie I have ever watched. The Taste of Things seduces you into presence. It lets the preparation of a dish take up as much time it needs. It lets every sound be heard. It lingers on every expression. It lets the sun dazzle. There is no race. When each scene ends and moves to the next, there is a bit of heartbreak that it did not last longer. Every moment is a treasure.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages

Link’s Awakening is the quintessential Zelda game to me. Oracle of Ages and its counterpart--Oracle of Seasons--are based on that beloved Game Boy game so I’ve enjoyed the experience. Ages falls short of Awakening in a few ways for me: not as mysterious, some mechanics feel gimmicky, or are annoying. But I like it. It’s familiar and new. Comforting.

The Golden Compass

The His Dark Materials books were formative for me. I read them only once. But I gifted a friend The Amber Spyglass and as I wrote a note attempting to explain why it was important to me (and why I was gifting him book three in a trilogy he hadn’t read), I realized it was time to revisit these three books. I’m only partway through The Golden Compass at the moment. It’s like refreshing a memory. I remember enjoying the first book for its imaginative world and being frustrated with The Subtle Knife for taking time away from Lyra. But the real sucker punch was The Amber Spyglass. I wonder how I’ll receive it now.

Bob’s Burgers

Catching up on the seasons I’ve missed. This show doesn’t have a single bad episode. Each a delicious morsel.

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This month I also directed my first music video (now in the midst of editing), collaborated on another photoshoot, and shot way too many rolls of film in Thailand.