Telling You Today: February 4, 2025
Hi everyone, sorry if you just subscribed because this one is kind of a bummer. Also, my first send was plagued by DNS issues that had me marked as phishing, so you can look at that one here if you want!
Friends,
Yesterday I found out my colleague Matthew died over the weekend. Matthew had been at the library since the nineties in various technology-related roles, and for decades was as close to essential as one could be to an institution, maintaining the functioning of our website, integrated library system (the system that underlies our catalog), and so much more. We'd worked together since my department, the Digital Content Team, formed eight years ago. He was the archetypal soft-hearted grouch – brooking no bullshit but often going out of his way to help or perform some thankless task. At his core were maintenance and care – not unlike the library itself.
After hearing the news, I was in a daze and left work early. I ran into this pro-immigrant, anti-Trump/ICE protest on the way home.
I was pretty overwhelmed by both the spectacle and my grief and frankly had to leave to stop from bawling. Clare cooked dinner and we watched Jurassic Park, which was somehow exactly what I needed.
Walk Report, 2-2-25: 90065 Project Fill
Birdy is moving a slower these days, and I was nervous setting out with her this time as I wondered if I'd have to turn back. But she trotted along admirably and we clocked over 8 miles, including some significant fill on the back of Mt. Washington.
We saw some foam, drying in the sun opposite the foam store.
I didn't take a lot of pictures on this walk, but I was enjoying just being observant. I saw many birds, a coyote, and I just sat in the shade and watched some leaves move in the wind. I desperately needed to spend some time in that manner. It was fortifying.
For context, I'm walking every street and path in 90065 (my home zip code). My only stipulation is to leave and return home on foot (no biking/driving to a walk). Of course I've walked heavily in this area for years before starting to record anything, but these are the totals I've logged using GPS:
Distance: 245.6 mi
Time: 91h 44m
Ascent: 21,714 ft
Here’s my progress, the blue polygon is 90065:
Recs
Garbage Day explains Musk's Coup pretty well
A new LA Podcast !!!
That's it, I'm happy that some more friends joined. Feel free to write back! I think I've fixed the reply-to email.
Neale