Bertrand Russell, How to Grow Old:

An individual human existence should be like a river: small at first, narrowly contained within its banks, and rushing passionately past rocks and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider, the banks recede, the waters flow more quietly, and in the end, without any visible break, they become merged in the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being. The man who, in old age, can see his life in this way, will not suffer from the fear of death, since the things he cares for will continue. And if, with the decay of vitality, weariness increases, the thought of rest will not be unwelcome. I should wish to die while still at work, knowing that others will carry on what I can no longer do and content in the thought that what was possible has been done.

My goodness, this is beautiful.

Fri, 12 Jan 2024

Rick Rubin interviewing Daniel Kaluuya:

DK: The junction nature of London is London. The kind of people coming in and out…

RR: That’s what makes London London, that cycle.

DK: Yeah yeah, it’s the Somalis, it’s the Kosovans, there’s a new wave. Come in, leave, come in. That whole thing about “things are always supposed to stay the same” ... holding onto that is hurting yourself … the place isn’t the thing, it’s the people.

Wed, 3 Jan 2024

For many years I’ve been a happy You Need A Budget customer, and as we head into 2024 it continues to be an important part of my financial strategy. Saving up for emergencies and big expenses, hedging fluctuating categories, checking digital envelopes before making a purchase, and tracking all bank transactions in one place are habits that give me peace of mind and help reduce stress in stressful times.

YNAB is a rare and valuable service that makes responsibility easier and helps me take good care of my family. Sign up with this referral link and we each get a free month.

Sat, 30 Dec 2023

🎄 December 29th. Rainy and warm. Very grateful for holiday vacation time. As Eileen and I drove to pick up the kids from a sleepover we discussed definitions of done for our quarterly goals, then I time-blocked the calendar when I got back to my iPad. Listened to Rick Rubin on Huberman. Revisited Rick’s book The Creative Act and highlighted many sections.

Read a stack of books with my 6yo, including some Elephant and Piggie and a few pages of her new Highlights puzzle book. Finished reading the first Warrior Cats novel because my 11yo insisted. It was a fun read, and fun to discuss with her, though I still have trouble remembering the many characters’ names (which change repeatedly).

Played Ravine with my older girls, a cooperative board game they got for Christmas that involves foraging and crafting for survival after a plane crash. Our party died several times from storms, animals, and poisoned mushrooms, but then we lucked out by finding permanent shelter in a cave.

To finish the day we had a candlelit dinner of pasta/quinoa with family-recipe homemade sauce and opened bottles of Montepulciano and sparkling cider.

Sat, 30 Dec 2023

Rick Rubin, interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger:

RR: When you list the great directors that you worked with, if you think of each of them, would you say there are any qualities that they all shared? What made those people so great, from your perspective?

AS: All of them had vision. When they tell you the movie that they want to do, they will look out into emptiness and tell you of what the movie will be about. And what’s important in this movie, and how you should play the role in this movie, and what they’re trying to get across. So they were visionaries ... all of them had a vision. They had the guts to do it. They didn’t think small, they thought big. And they didn’t listen to the naysayers.

Listened to this yesterday, and it was just what I needed to hear. What an inspiring interview! An early Christmas present from two legends. I appreciate Rick’s deep curiosity and Arnold’s forthright guidance.

Sat, 23 Dec 2023