Weekend Wrap 10/05/2025
Each weekend, I like to pause, reflect, and look back on the past week. This isn't a deep dive or grand reflection—just a quick review of a handful of things that brought me joy, made me think, or challenged me.
Music
I became aware of Raphael Weinroth-Browne via the Angry Metal Guy blog, my go-to for music recommendations. It was a review of his solo album Worlds Within that caught my attention. Why was a solo cello album being reviewed on a metal blog?
Because it freaking rules, and music fans don't care what the genre is.
Oh, also, he's been playing with progressive metal/rock band Leprous for years now.
I love Worlds Within, and love the live version even more. There is a vitality to Raphael's cello playing that sucks me in. He has a number of other singles available, but it wasn't until this past Friday that we were blessed with a full follow-up. Enter Lifeblood.
I am entranced. Moving, beautiful, powerful, mysterious... I could go on. Let me just say, this album is a joy. I have only had a couple of days, but it has completely dominated since then. I have listened to nothing else, and feel the desire to listen to nothing else currently.
It is that good.
Movies
Did I recently watch Thunderbolts*?
No, I did not.
But it is my favorite movie I've seen this year, and Aubrey and I decided to watch it for our upcoming episode of Generations. She hasn't had a chance to see it yet (preoccupied with things like, oh, a wedding), and this felt like the perfect opportunity for her to watch, and me to rewatch.
I fell hard for the Marvel movies. Then the Marvel movies themselves fell. I'm not nearly as down on them as a lot of people, and I still enjoyed many of them since Endgame, but none really felt vital. None felt like they really had any meaning.
Thunderbolts* changed that. It has such a heart to it, and bucks so many of the trends of recent movies. Something about it feels special to me.
If you haven't watched it, forget any nasty taste you may have about the MCU (Secret Invasion just about had me swearing them off for the rest of my life) and give it a try.
Also, Florence Pugh. Good lord, she can act.
New Gear
It's been a couple of years since I upgraded. My battery life was telling me it was time.
I upgraded to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max. And I have been very happy with both devices. The battery life is wonderful. My iPhone 15 Pro Max basically lived on some type of charger so that it would be ready to go when I wasn't near one. And my first-generation Ultra was barely making it through the day anymore.
I use both my watch and my phone all day. My phone is in my office or the OR, playing music all day, and is something I use regularly for photos, videos, and my calendar and task management lives there. The watch is the logical extension of all of that, and something I can have with me even when my phone isn't.
I honestly rely on both of these all day, every day. And I am loving the new versions.
Quote of the week
I recently started reading The Daily Stoic. I am taking it one day at a time, one entry per day.
The more I have learned about Stoicism, the more I realize how misunderstood by most people. I always thought it was about becoming an emotionless being of logic. You know, a real-life Spock.
The truth is so far from that, and so much more complex.
I am really enjoying diving into the philosophy of the Stoics on a daily basis. Taking it slowly allows me to think about and process each day. This quote resonated with me this past week. Not because it is a new idea. We've all heard variations of it over the years.
But because it was a reminder that I need to control myself better in order to accept what I can't control. I think we often get hung up on the accepting part of this idea and forget that controlling the self is the key to being able to accept.
Time to work on that self-control
What didn't work
I have loved my AirPods Pro 2. I use them every day. They aren't the best-sounding headphones I have, but they are the most comfortable. The noise cancelling is impressive, the transparency and adaptive modes are almost magical.
I use them so much, the battery isn't what it used to be. And I get odd glitches when they are trying to EQ and adjust the sound, depending on what mode I am in.
So I was very excited when Apple announced the AirPods Pro 3—better noise cancelling, better sound, better fit.
They ticked all the boxes.
Then I put them in my ears.
They are nowhere near as comfortable for me. They feel like they are going to fall out far too easily. Different-sized ear tips didn't help with either.
Yes, the noise cancelling is impressive. Even more so. Yes, they have better sound. And they aren't bad.
They just don't feel like the upgrade I'd hoped for. The jury is still out, but I still find myself grabbing the 2s over the 3s.
Wrapping up
I'm still working on my habits. I've been reading Save the Cat. I am brainstorming more for the upcoming novel.
But I have also been working on my video skills. I'd love it if you would check out the YouTube channel and subscribe, share, and like/comment. I feel like the newsletter and the videos reinforce each other, and I hope you'll find the same.
I'm having fun learning new skills and just, well, practicing.