July 14 – More heat, the ESPYS, and pool party

It’s been the kind of week where the days feel unending and the is almost an excess of time. I was born in summer and I luxuriate in that strange moment in the afternoon/evening where time seems to suspend itself, and you realize the day is almost too long. I’m aware the days are actually becoming shorter, but it doesn’t seem so this time of year.

Southern California has had a prolonged heatwave paired with an excess of smog and bad air quality. This limits my outdoor activities, but I did manage to get in a few hikes between my lifting days. The chaparral foothills are dry and dusty. The creeks are down to mere trickles. I struggled a bit on one of my usual trails, I think due to the bad air. Most of the rest of the week I spent indoors with the AC going.

At the last minute, I got a call from a regular client of mine to photograph the ESPYS afterparty at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, on of my favorite LA historical establishments. The party was fun, a little chaotic as big events tend to be, and I ran into a few old friends that I didn’t know would be there. This is where I remind myself of how lucky I am that I still get to do this as my job. Afterwards, I snuck into the lobby to see the classic old ceiling and atmosphere.

The heat seems to have calmed a little bit. Off in the distance, I can still see smoke from a few wildfires. I have a lot of hope for my home state, and believe that we can pull through many future fire seasons as climate change worsens. What choice do we have?

On Saturday, my family had a pool party for my twin baby cousins turning 7. It was just us, cooking, playing in the pool. The kids continued to play wildly in the pool long after we were all worn out. Later, I came home and realized that someone tried to assassinate the former President. I’m grateful for those few hours I was unaware. I try to leave my underlying sense of dread about what is to come over the next few months off of this space, but I must acknowledge it. Again, I’m sure just about no one reads these words I write every week, but this blog is for an audience of myself primarily. I hope to look back in a year and feel at least somewhat more at ease about where our country is headed.