This afternoon’s kitchen victory: smoking bacon with Amy and Dave and Meghan.

Went to Mom’s with the family for strawberry shortcake.

Empress of Forever was really good. It took a left turn at chapter 3, then fell into a structure so superficially standard that I didn’t notice the very interesting thing Gladstone was doing until about halfway through. Another book I’ll be thinking about in the next weeks.

The dude got braces today, and he is Not Happy.

Now starting Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone.

Hiked a bit above Paradise with Meghan and a pair of acquaintances.

Tonight’s kitchen victory: trying to decide between the yellow and pink sauces at Big Chickie with Amy and Dave and the family.

This afternoon’s kitchen victory: curing bacon with Amy and Dave and Meghan.

Ritz & Escoffier was fascinating, a little chatty and gossipy but perhaps that’s appropriate for the subject matter. I wasn’t aware how much those two shaped the modern hotel and restaurant businesses.

Tonight’s kitchen victory: a nice pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, skillet-blasted kale, olives, salami, and a lemon vinaigrette.

Current earworm: “A View to a Kill” by Duran Duran.

Lovely day outside. 🌤

Niece and nephew are spending the night while my brother and sister-in-law see Eddie Izzard.

Finished sleeving up the battlebox.

A lot of discussion of rebar around the office this week.