Weekly Journal 6.22.26

Reading

In my hurry to download a new book for a beach vacation, I picked Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I'm vaguely aware that this book and movie became cultural touchstones when they were released, and miraculously the ending has not been spoiled for me. Somehow I'm predisposed to be critical of the writing, I guess because as a mystery novel it represents "genre fiction." So far I've found only nitpicks, but overall it's the kind of book where I'm more interested in discovering the plot developments than savoring the prose.

Watching

On a recommendation from a friend, I started Black Monday on Netflix. It's a Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg joint, but marginally lighter on the crude humor than I expected, which is a good thing. And it stars Don Cheadle and Andrew Rannells! It's something my husband can get into as well ... not that we often find ourselves on the same couch at the same time.

Cooking

Not just me this week—the best meal was a joint effort with my husband and another couple we rented a vacation house with at the coast. The guys grilled a big steelhead trout filet, and the ladies made a salad with veggies from both of our gardens back home. I cooked a few scallops for good measure. Everything tastes better near the ocean, especially after a sunny afternoon spent on the beach.

Doing

We visited the beach during a relatively low tide, so I wandered away to climb rocks and look at the tidepools. I found no starfish, but plenty of anemones and an unidentified juvenile fish.

Listening

I need to listen to The Beaches more, and turn up the volume next time.