Almost everyone who I’ve heard visit Ecuador remarks on how it’s such an underrated country. On top of that, its capital of Quito is even further underrated, as many visitors bypass it on their way to Cotopaxi or the Galapagos. But it offered so much to try and do that it’s worthy of its own attention.
It’s such a gift that we get one story after another after another.
9/5 – Bay Area Bound
9/5 – Meeting Baby Zeke
9/5
9/5
Hi! I’ve got some fun events coming up later this month. Indulge me a little self-promo.
On Friday, I’m playing an improv doubleheader… both halves of the 7PM block at Finest City. First, I’ll be playing with Optimus Rhyme in a freestyle rap improv show. Been a minute since our last one! And in the second half, I’ll be with Watch Party making up a genre movie on the spot.
Then in two weeks… on 9/29 I’ll be the featured speaker at Big Idea Night.
It’s one of my favorite new event series around town, and I’ll be at Little Bird Brewing at 7PM sharing a fresh new chat on storytelling: What I Learned Turning My Life Into a Sitcom.
If you’re in the area, would love to see you turn out for these!
9/17 - Excited to be playing a double header with both these teams tomorrow. If you’re in San Diego, hope to see you at the show…s!
The Forgotten Island had some familiar beats. But hey, those are some of my favorite 2000s movies for a reason.
Add in the whole 90s vibe and yeah, it’s like they personally crafted a Dreamworks film right for my tastes. I appreciate that they actually did their homework on the references and told a story with a lot of heart. Easy glowing review from me.
You probably already know I’m a big fan of improv, and so is Alan Alda. Turns out, he’s been using it as a key to help scientists better share important knowledge with the wider public.
Took me a touch longer to get into the newer Modest Mouse release, but that’s just cause it takes me longer to connect with an album these days. This one still felt like classic Modest Mouse to me.
📘 Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
What a book.
Short enough to finish in one or two sittings, but striking enough to keep you thinking about it over several other sittings.
Follows a millennial couple through their coming of age over mid 2000s social media, their passion for 2010s social activism, their sleek jobs at start ups that allow them to move in and out of European cities, and a sense of falling short of perfection despite it all.
This was a sweet watch! Storylines got choppy at times but it’s basically a biopic and life be like that. The animation alone was worth watching and completely whimsical.
Recently finished John Williams’ Stoner… really liked it but also couldn’t put into words right away why. On the surface it was an extremely simple book that just told the life story of a fairly ordinary guy who finds a career in academia. But I guess it is one of those stories that paints the ordinary as dignified and beautiful if you know how to look at it the right way, and I’m into that.
Trying to step up my documentary game and dove into Shirkers, which I heard a lot of buzz about 8 years ago.
Such a high energy doc about a group of friends in 90s Singapore who pour themselves into making a movie until a shady older collaborator disappears with their footage.
Love the rebel vibes and the tone of this film.
At the end of July, I caught myself thinking… it has been a really long time since I’ve had a normal week.
Normal’s always a relative thing, isn’t it? But this summer was especially unusual. Juggling kids’ school transitions, starting a new role, quick trips, and having my wife in a musical made for some oddly packed weeks.
But in the midst of it, there were a lot of moments.
I want to remember that Sunday night with one last improv show with Metal People, my team of three years. Some of my favorite people to play with! The finale allowed me to take the stage as David Attenborough, Steve Urkel, AND Stephan Urkelle.
I want to remember my wedding anniversary, and probably our weirdest one yet. My wife played a role in 1776 the Musical. The role of Declaration of Independence signer Joseph Hewes, to be specific. Our 11th anniversary fell right on opening weekend, so our anniversary pics from this year will look very strange next to our others.
I want to remember the 2026 World Cup and the way my kids each took to its magic. They each adopted a different team to support because of trips we’ve taken together. Japan for my oldest. The Netherlands and Canada for my twins.
This summer was a strange one.
The previous chapter of my life has emphatically closed, while the next one is in its infancy.
While all the changes had me viewing life from a birds eye view, I found the eclectic, maximalist activities of summer to be grounding.
My kids eat like kids. In other words, they’re ~selective~ in ways I just odn’t get.
In an effort to get my kids to broaden their tastes, I’ve tried letting them take the lead in planning meals and preparing some dinners. The hypothesis is that you’ll appreciate the meal much more when you’ve had a hand in making it.
My four year old decided he wanted to start by cooking up some tricolor rotoni, but it worked out.
Our oldest is at the age where each summer, we’ll need to figure out how to cobble ten weeks worth of *stuff* to keep him occupied while we work. Ideally enriching, educational *stuff*. Between four weeks of summer school, a church camp here, a music camp there, a family trip, and a week or two of just having him at home during work hours and seeing what happens… I think eclectic is our new normal.
While the summers will be more bizarre, the school year will at least be a lot more stable. Our twins wrapped up their time in daycare. We’ve been giving a large portion of our income to this daycare center for the past six years. With each packed lunchbox and tuition withdrawal, I’ve kept thinking… this is all about to get much simpler. And cheaper!
This summer marked a pretty big shift in our parenting rhythms.
I remember how much more grown up my oldest started to appear after starting school. The dwindling weeks of daycare was a big reminder of how much bigger all my kids were getting. The last vestiges of the toddler stage flipped by. Those toddler years were so chaotic but rewarding.
And now, something new.
Not that I needed the reminder of how quickly things have been changing lately.
All the big changes have made me better appreciate the simpler windows of light and simplicity. That is to say, the World Cup was very well-timed.
Despite the extensively documented corruption of FIFA, all the drama with the US playing host while at war against a participating country, and lots of other scandals, there’s still something aspirational about the tournament that persists.
The idea that people can be more curious about another country’s midfield than its military. The way a committed Conogolese fan has gotten people to learn about Patrice Lumumba. The way competing fans make each other smile with their Viking rowing and tartan.
I took my six year old to a friendly match that was played locally, between Colombia and Jordan. My ulterior motives were to get him hyped on the sport, maybe inspiring more outside play. But I’d be lying if I said that building a bracket and wearing jerseys all summer didn’t feed my inner child.
While much of the world came here, I did a lot less travel than I typically do during the summer. We scored one little family trip to the Central Coast, and a very fast sprint to El Salvador.
The pupusas live up to the hype. The horchata de morro deserves more hype.
The main attraction for me? Seeing some baby hawksbill turtles.
And then at night, going out to café and seeing a good crowd there gathered to watch the World Cup quarterfinals. From my little corner of the internet, it seemed like the world had turned on Argentina this year. But not so in El Salvador. The albiceleste jerseys were everywhere.
On a quiet week in July, I got lunch with a former co-worker. We had a lot to catch up on.
In the first half of the year, I ended a longtime job and started a new endeavor.
I ended my run with two improv teams and began playing with another.
Then there’s the whole school transition my kids are undergoing.
These are pretty significant areas of my life that have changed all at once.
So many longtime colleagues are now former colleagues. Teammates are now former teammates. And while friendship goes on, the reformatting of my life is a lot to keep up with.
One other change happened this summer. One of my favorite restaurants in town shut down suddenly. A Detroit pizza joint. It was as simple and as sudden as their lease being canceled. This felt so trivial compared to all the other changes in my life, but it was enough to make me stop and say, “you too?” to a pizza shop storefront.
One chapter was closing pretty definitively. And it was a chapter I loved.
On a far more serious note, I also spent lots of time visiting one of my closest family members in the hospital as her health, at 93 years old, took a downturn.
While in some ways, it fit the pattern of more unwelcome change, it also reinforced my appreciation for the “normal” times. For the lightness of life’s in-between spaces. Helping a four year old scoop pasta. Driving to LA with my mom. Sampling pupusas.
New chapters are just beginning, and those will have their share of ordinary simple things.
As always, I want to appreciate them as they unfold.
I want to remember that the tentpoles of your life aren’t permanent, and to not rush any season.
I want to remember to slow down the things I’m able to.
I want to remember that it’s really such a gift.
This was probably the highlight of my time in New Zealand– the glowworm caves were legitimately breathtaking. I love how these guys are actually the larvae of a fungus gnat species. That’s a lot of unflattering nouns in a row, but they’re actually gorgeous… good work to whoever rebranded the fungus gnats as ‘glowworms.’
Farmer. Poet. Prophet.
Wendell Berry lived a long and fruitful life, but his passing still comes at a sore time.
Loved this man’s voice, his ability to be the most peaceful contrarian, to speak for the soil with firmness and example.
Not a bad time to reread his works and to be like the fox.
Deforestation has been one of the most widespread global issues for a while now, and it’s an issue I started tracking real closely about a decade ago. How have things changed since?
As a traveler, I tend to stay away from crowds, landmarks, and the most obvious attractions, but every now and then, there are exceptions. There are the times when it’s understandable why crowds have formed there and it makes perfect sense to join them.
In an age where overtourism plagues most of Europe’s iconic cities, there aren’t many exceptions, but personally? I’d put the Vatican on that short list.
The line that spills out across St. Peter’s square is almost always a long one. But once you’ve made it inside? That experience is something else.
You’re greeted with the ornate artwork that extends in every direction.
The smells take over.
The prayer candles add to the effect.
One thing I appreciate about Catholicism is the way it integrates faith with tangible, embodied things. It makes sense that the Vatican is multi sensory.
I don’t think you need to be Catholic, or even religious, to find something awe inspiring about a walkthrough of the Vatican. I paused to remember some loved ones who passed on and felt a very deep gratitude to be there,
While some people made their way through, with sights set on the most famous images… the Sistine Chapel… the spiral staircase… I loved the cathedral corners that felt dark and tucked away. It was a bit like being embraced by the reverence of people passing through over centuries.
When I first showed up at the Vatican, it wasn’t so much the length of line that intimidated me.
It was more so that it meant having to be out in the Italian sun with no shade in the middle of summer.
I had already swung by one of the small souvenir and snack shops that line the streets where Rome transitions into the Vatican. I was quite proud of myself for having used enough of my Italian to make small talk with the nun who was running the shop.
The small talk?
The weather. The disgustingly scorching weather.
But it’s not every day that you’re right at the sight of such a marvel, so I decided to just deal with it. A few friends and I staked out our place in line.
There was a guy just in front of us who seemed properly excited to be there. He delightfully asked a group of nuns if he could take his picture with them. I wasn’t sure if this was a common ask or an awkward one. Perhaps both. I know St. Peter’s Square is a big tourist destination and all… but well, the nuns are on the job.
Perhaps it was such a common ask that it doesn’t phase them anymore, or perhaps it’s because this guy simply looked like the most eager and jolly tourist that they obliged.
He turned to me and handed me his camera, and asked if I could take the photo.
He then looked at me and declaratively stated: I will take one of you.
We traded positions. I included myself amongst the nuns.
He took the photo, and then we really started to mix groups, rearranging our friends amidst the nuns for a few different takes.
He introduced himself as Habib from Turkey, though these days he was living in Sweden. He was a frequent traveler, religiously ambiguous, and full of energy.
I mentioned that just a few months before I happened to spend time in Turkey.
We spent a large part of that day together.
Habib and I connected on Facebook. I was able to keep up with his travels around Europe and the Middle East.
Three years went by.
I found myself spending another summer in Europe.
I was going between different countries, connecting the dots between all the places where I had friends who could offer me a couch.
And at this point, the road dropped me off in Denmark.
I decided to send Habib a message, to check if he was currently next door.
He was.
I navigated the bus system, crossing the bridge from Copenhagen over to Malmö, from there working my way to the central plaza.
Several cafes lined the path and I scanned for the one that best resembled Habib’s description. They all kind of looked alike. Fortunately, there was no mistaking Habib. He occupied a table at one of the cafes, and his larger than life presence made it known that I found the spot.
Habib! I waved my arm and he responded warmly. He offered to pay for an iced coffee and sandwich and noted that even though it was a short reunion in Sweden, he was still a Turk and would be treating a guest accordingly.
He then beckoned me to walk with him. Habib’s walking tour of Malmö.
I guess Malmö is known for being one of the roughest parts of Sweden, but I don’t know if that’s saying much given Sweden’s general pleasantness.
The core of its city had some classic Scandinavian charm, at least. Habib took me by the city library and the nearby shops which all had a storybook trim and aesthetic to them.
We continued to walk along the water, passing a block of uniform, square buildings. Then, rising out from them, was a skyscraper. White like these grids, but towering over them and twisting.
The Turning Torso. An architectural oddity.
I asked Habib about some of his recent trips. He had glowing things to say about Beirut, the people, the nightlife. In turn, I shared that I had recently enjoyed my stops in Norway and Morocco.
What’s a spot you’re dying to go to? I asked. Somewhere you’ve never been.
Confidently, he responded. Jerusalem! Who knows who has the right idea about God. But we know most of those ideas cross paths in Jerusalem.
Habib’s religious curiosity. Unchanged since the summer at the Vatican.
He shifted to talking about how much he enjoys living in Malmö. It works well as a homebase. It gives him easy access to the rest of the world, and working in Sweden presents a good opportunity to fuel his travels.
I want to live in a city with soul! He declared.
It got me thinking how many cities qualify for that. What cities feel more alive than the sum of its people.
There’s a good bit of data out now on making small talk with strangers, and its a bit of a paradox.
There’s a very real discomfort that typically comes with these interactions. Psychologically, it makes a lot of sense why people enter public spaces in do-not-disturb mode.
But, the reward for moving past that discomfort is actually pretty high.
Even after fairly short and surface level interactions, people leave those conversations feeling a lot better. They usually feel better about themselves, about what just happened, and about the world at large.
There’s not a significant amount of data on how often this leads to having someone to host you on a future trip, but I’ll contribute some anecdotal evidence and say, it’s happened to me more than a couple times.
At the very least, I’ll say that knowing how to talk to strangers is a pretty underrated skill these days.
But those who invest in it are opening all kinds of doors for a very interesting life to come find them.
I love a good national park. Places like the U.S., Costa Rica, and Australia show how investing in a good national parks system can drive tourism related jobs while protecting large areas of land and biodiversity. But they also get complicated, as I’ve seen unfold in many parts of the world.
📍La Iglesia de La Compañia de Jesus
🇪🇨 Quito, Ecuador
If you really like gold, you’re gonna love it in here.
This place was put up in a bout of one-upmanship during the 16th Century. The Jesuits got the last lick in over the Franciscans, Dominicans, and Augustinians, but may have had to take a couple liberties over the whole vow of poverty thing. Today it still makes for a mind boggling spot to explore, accessible from the heart of Quito.
When you wrote two of the century’s biggest hits in a single afternoon, yet your greatest hits also included mailing books to kids for decades, funding scientific advancements, and making Siskel and Ebert experience magic… what a life.
Luang Prabang has to be one of the coziest spots I’ve visited while still feeling full of adventure. Lots of people I came across noted that it’s what the big hubs in Thailand used to feel like before they grew to accommodate more tourism. Luang Prabang has a little bit of everything- food, nature, temples… save this for whenever you’re in Southeast Asia.
Meet the duo from Gaza that has rescued enough books from destroyed schools to create a library.
We don’t appreciate bats enough. 🦇
A friend recently asked some people if they have a life’s mission statement, similar to how an organization would have a mission statement.
I’ve gotten in the habit of trying to remind myself often that it’s all a front.
I’ve helped a number of organizations craft their mission statements, and so that phrase doesn’t quite pass the test. It’s not quite self-explanatory, nor does it explain what I do. But it is a reminder I try to keep front and center in my life.
It’s a reminder to try and keep my eyes on the real thing. Because it’s easy to get distracted by a bunch of other things.
it’s all a front.
In our lives, hopefully we’ll get to do a lot of cool things. We’ll wear different hats, get some fun opportunities, and carry different job titles. I think I’ve been really privileged for most of my life. I’ve pursued the intersection of what sounds fun and what seems meaningful, and as a result, I’ve never really had a dull job.
My work has taken me on months-long road trips to support North Korean refugees, journalistic assignments to cover oil drilling in Guyana, and expeditions to discover the wonders of Ethiopia’s church forests. Along the way, I’d like to think the work I’ve done has helped people by making problems and solutions more visible and driving attention to those creating change.
When the work we do is fun and meaningful, it becomes easy for us to throw a lot of ourselves into that work.
I think there’s a healthy way to do this. To work in a way where you feel like being your truest self produces the best result. To feel like you don’t have to shut down parts of who you are to fit a role.
At the same time, it’s easy to think of all the unhealthy ways to lose oneself in the work. Fun and meaningful work can lead to seeking one’s source of validation from a role. It can create a sense of having to prove yourself worthy of the role, or for ego to take over the steering wheel.
I’ve experienced both ends of this spectrum which is why I remind myself that it’s all a front.
Fictional businesses are frequently used to hide illegal transactions. Cash-heavy businesses like laundromats or nail salons can be an effective cover for masking financial transfers tied to drugs, wildlife products, or even human trafficking. Calling something a “front” probably conjures up images of Al Capone and Prohibition-era gangsters using retail services as a shield. Of course this is nothing new. For over 1,000 years spanning multiple dynasties, Chinese merchants would illegally trade salt by burying it with other products.
There’s a pawn shop I pass by in my neighborhood on a weekly basis. I’ve seen the inside of their store countless times. A bunch of cases full of collectibles, firearms, or… collectible firearms. What I’ve never seen in there is a customer. Is there a business beneath the business?
Anyways, I’ve started to think that we should maybe approach our lives and work like there’s a business behind the business.
When you listen to very wise people at a late stage in their life, they often start to sound alike. Especially the spiritual leaders. They speak more vigorously about how the point of it all is for us to love each other.
It might sound basic, but that’s kind of the point. Something foundational should sound basic.
Love and be loved.
Yeah, we might get our own ways this overlaps with our paths. In my case, that often comes through creating experiences that help people marvel at our differences and celebrate the things we share. But in the end, it’s in service of loving each other.
I often find myself surrounded by conflicting ideologies around work.
As an American, I live in a setting that gives work an elevated level of importance. There’s been a lot said about how one of our first questions when meeting someone new is typically, “what do you do?” It’s a habit you don’t see as much in other cultural settings. I remember when I lived in Argentina, how surprised many of my local friends were at the frequency at which American families skipped having family dinners with everyone together.
You also see this tendency of asking kids what they want to do when they grow up as soon as they’re somewhat able to have a conversation.
In a society shaped by purchasing power, consumerism, and trade, it’s not the biggest surprise that work becomes a very consuming thing. People find their identity in their work. And this is after a lot of progress and labor movements to set boundaries around the work week, working conditions, and so on.
Things are changing, however, and the change is most visible among people just a bit younger than myself. Here you’ll find people who know that the answer to “what’s your dream job” is “I don’t dream of labor.”
You’ll find people who switch workplaces year-by-year, doing away with the norm of decades at a single spot.
You’ll find people who see through the exploitative practices at most businesses, who resist by decentering the importance of work in their lives.
While it’s not always the most pragmatic orientation, there’s so much we can learn from it.
My take on work, along with whatever other activities end up filling our calendars is simple. They can be excellent vehicles for us to love other people.
I recently watched Company Retreat, the follow up to Jury Duty, as a show that is basically a season-long Punk’d segment. A number of hired actors stage a workplace retreat for a hired temp who thinks its a real thing. In addition to being brilliantly casted, it did remind me of the very real relationships that form whenever you find yourself working towards a task with a group.
Our jobs, our hobbies, our assignments will put us in proximity with other people who we’ll be spending a lot of time with. You’ll want to do your job well, of course. What you get out of an experience is often related to how much you’re willing to dive in. But don’t let the fancy titles, the shiny responsibilities, or the big accomplishments ever take away from the main event.
Your path will cross with others you get to love. Everything else… it’s all a front.
Trying to go outside my usual comfort zone of drawing people by trying out some of my favorite destinations but keeping it my style.
