The Walking Man by Jiro Taniguchi
The epitome of "restful", this graphic novel is chapter after chapter of a nameless guy (the walking man) going for a walk, often with his loveable dog (Snowy), and occasionally met or welcomed back by his wife (I call her walking wife). The plots are tiny and low-stakes, which is ideal for when one needs respite in a frantic world. Sometimes, I'll pull it off the shelf and leave it near my bed or on the ottoman in the living room, reading a chapter a day for a week or two as a peaceful in-between. The Expanded Edition has a few stories at the end that aren't 'walking man' stories, but I like Taniguchi's other works as well so I appreciate the extras. Apparently, there was a TV series of this book on Japanese television. I haven't seen it, but it's probably boringly perfect.
A&F Brass Releasable Key Ring
My keys were a minor annoyance -- they were bulky in my pocket, occasionally fell off their keyring, and were frustrating to separate -- so when I walked into a little select shop near downtown Los Angeles and saw this object, I chose to buy it. It's eminently functional, addressing all of the tiny problems above, and also a little bit beautiful. Because I imagine 'reccers would appreciate it (I'm not sure, I'm new here), here's a tiny bit of background: This key ring is made by A & F, an enduring Japanese outdoor supply company founded by Akatsu Takao in 1973. The keyring can be found at several select shops in North America (The Good Liver in Los Angeles and SORT in Vancouver, to name two) at quite a markup. Just for fun, I found it on the A&F website (in Japanese), where it's available in delightful colors: https://aandfstore.com/products/008000129
Espresso for here
Most days I make coffee at home, but once in a while it's a true pleasure to visit coffee shops with a welcoming ambiance and skillful baristas and enjoy a delicious espresso in a proper cup* while reading an interesting article or book, or just vibing with the space. This espresso is from How's It Going to End (HIGTE) in Montrose (Glendale, CA) where they know how to do it. * - Not those stinkin' paper cups.
Getting your portrait drawn by a kid
This is me as envisioned by my daughter (age 4) for Fathers Day 2026. 10/10, no notes.
