Finished reading Dinner in Rome: A History of the World in One Meal by Andreas Viestad: a light overview of food and history, through the lens of a single (large) meal at Rome’s La Carbonara. The lightness is counterbalanced by an excellent bibliography, like A History of the World in Six Glasses (discussed in the bibliography).

Oven guy came to repair the oven again.

Visited Mom (back from South Carolina), then walked over Queen Anne to Pike Place Market: about 14k steps, 7 miles.

Went to the game store for Magic with the dude and Greg and his son. We had a good time; one guy played against me and Greg and the dude in his three rounds.

Mowed the lawn yesterday, first time this year.

Finished reading The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, another murder mystery, though not quite so noir-y as Cahokia Jazz. This one is set in an odd fantasy world, and we’re left with a clear path to more stories starring the protagonist and his brash boss.

Thinking back on it, the book feels somewhat similar to Bridge of Birds.

Took Mom to the airport with her sister and brother-in-law for their trip to the east coast.

Finished reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. This was a harrowing book, written in the early ’90s, about a teenager growing up as the United States is collapsing in 2024. It ended on a slightly hopeful note, and the book’s society is more collapsed than ours, so I guess there’s that.

Content warning: nothing on-screen, but there are plenty of references to rape.

Today’s kitchen victories: crêpes with berry sauce, bœuf Bourguignon, bread, and crème brûlée.

Went to the International District with the family, bringing Mom along and meeting Greg and Jocelyn and their kids. The bambina gave us a little tour, the dude peeled off and explored book stores along the light rail line, and all had a good time.

Finished reading You Deserve a Tech Union by Ethan Marcotte. I’ve needed to pace myself with this, because I keep getting mad about my job and the industry as a whole. Even though the point of the book is to inspire and mobilize unionizing, I’ve ended up disheartened. (This will pass.)

Finished reading Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford, a noir set in the city of Cahokia in an alternate 1922. The story ends up being a bit like one of Le Guin’s (explicitly so), ending up asking whether a utopia is worth the price; in the meantime, it explores cultural identity, racism, and economics, with all the elements of noir (a corrupt establishment, dirty police, a femme fatale, etc.). I loved this, another candidate for book of the year.

Did a little yardening with Meghan, and finally took Christmas things down to the cellar.

Tonight’s kitchen victory: corned beef and roasted cabbage.

Met up with Susannah and friends for an online birthday jigsaw puzzle.