Weekend Wrap 3/29/3036

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

Look, new music from Neurosis is a tough act to follow. The chance that any album this year dethrones An Undying Love for a Burning World from my top spot is infinitesimally small.

Still, other good music has been, and will be, released. Ensis from The Holeum is one of those albums. It is an extremely solid slab of meaty, moody, doomy, melodic post-death metal.

There is atmosphere for days, the songs carry weight, but in following in the footsteps of other post masters, they deftly balance the heaviness with moments of quiet musical introspection. I've struggled to give anything the time it deserves, other than Neurosis. But The Holeum has earned multiple spins in the time since it dropped.

Games

While traveling, I took my Steam Deck with me. Blue Prince had been on my radar since it generated a ton of buzz last year, but I hadn't sat down with it. Until this past week.

Blue Prince requires your attention. You have a house to explore, and every door you open, three new room blueprints (get it?) are drawn. Your goal is to reach and unlock the hidden room. Puzzles, locked doors, and limited numbers of rooms you can go through all block your path. You won't make it the first time (or second, third, fourth, etc.). You are building up knowledge and understanding of the house and the puzzles therein.

Once you have no more rooms that you can add, or you run out of steps, that's it. Time to call it a day and come back tomorrow.

It is an intriguing game. Quiet, contemplative, and something new. I am enjoying it.

Books

There isn't too much to say, but I continue to cruise through Dungeon Crawler Carl. The Butcher's Masquerade is book 5, and continues to up the stakes, both in and out of the dungeon.

I expect I will be done with this series (as released) in the next few weeks. It has been a fun ride, though it does feel disposable. Sometimes that is what we need: something to entertain and then move on from.

And while it certainly won't rank at the top of any of my lists of favorite books, I have zero regrets and look forward to the next book coming out in May.

Movies

I consider myself an Andy Weir hipster. I purchased The Martian when it was a self-published Kindle book, before it blew up. So I've been following his writing for a while.

Project Hail Mary was a welcome book after the (slight) disappointment that was Artemis. And the movie is another winner as well. Understandably easing up (a LOT) on the science parts of the novel, it still creates a strong sense of mystery, and most importantly, has a ton of heart.

We all enjoyed the movie, and it is an easy recommendation.

Refinement

Last week, I had more time than normal to get some writing done. Didn't have the chance to work on too many other projects, but the writing went well, and that meant I actually did use my dashboard.

As the first quarter of the year comes to a close, I will be sharing my plans for the next month's refinement this coming week. I'll just say that the theme has been working, and giving me some time and space to be flexible.

Quote of the week

I wrote earlier this week about the importance of suffering. A life without suffering knows no true joy and satisfaction. That opposition is essential. We must not run from or avoid suffering at all costs.

Rather, we should understand its role in our development as fully actualized people. It is a powerful teacher, and should be treated as such. That doesn't mean we turn into rage monsters, "helping" others suffer. That's just being a jerk.

But when it enters our lives — and it certainly will — we should see it for what it is: a powerful catalyst in our lives. Find the lesson in it. Find new strength in it. And look around you for others who are in it as well. Be there for them. Lift them. Support them. Everyone is suffering at some point.

Be a light in their darkness. You'll need it too. Sooner than you'd hope.

Area of improvement

My workouts have, again, suffered in the past few weeks. I need to get back on top of things. I know I need it. I know all the good regular exercise provides. I just haven't been meeting my own expectations.

That is my focus for the week: get back at it with my workouts. I have a plan. I have the tools.

This week, I have to make it happen.

Wrapping up

It was great to be away last week. In the past, I have felt great trepidation and hesitance when it came time to get back to work. Lately, I have felt much less of that.

There is still so much wrong with how things are at work. But those are out of my control. All I can do is enjoy the work and the people I work with.

And I do enjoy both of those.