Weekend Wrap 5/10/2026

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

Testament never lost it. No, not every album is a complete winner. But every album is so much better than some of the crap released by other, more popular US thrash metal bands. Testament never lost the metal edge. They started heavy and kept it rolling.

But they were also plagued by some really, really bad 1980s production. Their first four albums are bangers, but hindered by truly terrible production. In 2024, we got remasters of The Legacy and The New Order. 2026 brings the remaster of Practice What You Preach.

It is a welcome addition. It sounds much better: more vital, more vibrant. And it reminds us that Testament has been kicking ass since day one. I am loving listening to this album anew, and hope that 1990s Souls of Black gets the same.

Games

Vampire Survivors was a breath of fresh air when it was released a few years ago. It was the first "Bullet Heaven" game I played, and I continue to love playing it to this day.

Well, now we have Vampire Crawlers, a combination deck builder, rogue-like, and dungeon crawler. And it is a ton of fun. I played a lot over the past week and find myself thinking about getting back to it when I can. Much more accessible, quick to get in and out, and bite-sized than Diablo IV, it is the perfect game for my busy life.

Books

Murderbot is back, and Platform Decay was another satisfying entry into the series. It continues some of the threads that Martha Wells has been building (with reports she is planning one, final Murderbot book), and continues the existential crisis that Murderbot is going through.

What makes these so effective and enjoyable is the opportunity to see the insanity of being human through this Sec Unit, which, in some cases, to its chagrin, is becoming more human. It is a quick read, but well worth it to anyone who has enjoyed the previous entries.

Refinement

I'll keep this brief: I am really liking the daily note. It is clicking with me and, at least right now, I see this being an essential part of my day and system going forward. More to come.

Quote of the week

Changing how we think about others changes how we see them, how we behave toward them, and ultimately the quality of our relationships with them.Beyond Belief by Nir Eyal and Julie Li

The world wants us to be at each other's throats. Division is the goal. Keep us divided, and we don't pay attention to the ways we are being taken advantage of.

But we can control that. We can decide how we view each other. We can be more forgiving, more trusting, and more open with each other. Will that allow us to be hurt? Yep, sure will, every once in a while. But the alternative is far more bleak: We isolate even more than we already are.

Area of improvement

I am drained. Mentally. Emotionally. Physically.

So, in the midst of that, my goal is to keep moving forward. No big steps. Just trying to make small daily progress.

Wrapping up

I have a lot of balls in the air. Carrying too much water.

I will need to let some things go. Change a little. To favor other projects. I will be continuing to write here regularly, but posts may tighten up a bit as I focus on getting ready for and beginning to write my next novel. I've been talking about it for long enough.

Time to start the real work, not just think about the work.