June 2024 Journal
Hi friends,
I’m SO late with this, but let's recap June!
Summer is in full swing. We’ve got three fans and two window AC units running at all times to combat the heat and the boys are sleeping for 75% of the day. Otherwise, we’ve got summer blockbusters, golden hour drinks, dance parties, and long bike rides to the beach.
It is without a doubt my favorite time of the year.
01 Friends and Family:
I started the month ringing in my 26th trip around the sun. Robbie planned the most special night for me, recreating our second date when we went camping outside of Aspen. He set up my tent and our fireplace for a cozy evening of movies, games, and s’mores.
June 15th was a big day. I got up at the crack of dawn for a race out in Castaic Lake. I got home in the early afternoon, was able to rest up for a few hours, and then, we started getting ready for CHARLI XCX! We bought these tickets months before and after playing BRAT on repeat all week, we were ready to dance the night away. Charli put on a show and a half and I can confidently say it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. If anyone is selling SWEAT tour tickets, let me know immediately.
I ended the month with a bang. On Friday the 29th, Madeline and I bounced around WeHo and on Saturday the 30th, we went to Zack Fox’s DJ set in the Arts District. I have not gone out on B2b nights in years, but for my girl, it was well worth it. I may have had TOO much fun because I awoke with a horrid headache that Sunday, but Robbie and I bought a kiddie pool for the backyard and spent the day playing with the boys outside.
02 Workout Update:
Not much to report! Just triathlon training. Read more, here.
03 Dedicated Creative Time:
I released my THIRD print collection, “Endings, Beginnings” on Darkroom on June 9th. I am so proud of these photos and the story they tell. I feel very privileged to photograph things that inspire me, package up my favorites, and share them with friends and family in a way that feels authentic to me. My art is a chronicle of life, telling stories about the places I’ve encountered and the memories attached to them. I hope that my deep respect for them always shines through.
In other news, I am working on two new multimedia journals. Nothing to share yet on this front, but I was so proud of the Trans Catalina Trail video that I wanted to use a similar format to capture the story of my triathlon training process and my summer hiking adventures. I might start sharing interim videos on my Instagram as I have a ways to go before completing these projects, so stay tuned!
04 Music:
I’m going to share a content round-up with my favorite songs from the past few weeks alongside a track and album ranking now that we’ve crossed the halfway mark of 2024.
But for now, here are my favorite albums from June and my top three songs from each:
BRAT by Charli xcx – Sympathy is a knife, Girl, so confusing, Guess, and legit every single song on the album
The Learning of Urgency by Kasbo – Alive, Carry Your Name, and Resenären
Lived Here For A While by Good Looks – If It’s Gone, Day of Judgement, and Self-destructor
The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams – Blowing Smoke, Let It Happen, and I Knew It, I Know You
Seven Swans by Sufjan Stevens – In the Devil’s Territory, Sister, I Went Dancing With My Sister
05 Media:
I watched SO many movies in June, here are my favorites – be sure to follow along on Letterboxd:
5-star films:
Arrival: This is my favorite movie of all time. I think about it every day. It is perfect. AND! Amy Adams was ROBBED of an Oscar nomination. That’s all.
La La Land: Ok it is time for me to reveal that I had never seen La La Land. I had watched the first hour of this movie maybe three or four times and just never got around to finishing it. What a mistake that was because this movie is literal gold. I get why this film is such a crowd-pleaser and also, why it ruined so many people’s lives! I walked away from the film, teary-eyed of course, but also with a deep appreciation for how Damien Chazelle captured the love Mia and Sebastian have for one another. It distills the complexity of love between two artists with equally big dreams and aptly highlights that the runway to success is never the same. I love the journey we go on with these characters and how their respect for one another evolves with time.
4-star films:
Hit Man: Just a lot of fun. Glen Powell is a powerhouse.
Edge of Seventeen: One of the best coming-of-age movies in recent memory and one of my forever comfort movies.
Inside Out 2: I loved how they expanded the world of Inside Out. It’s a resonant film for adults and children alike that delivers a message without pushing the envelope.
How To Blow Up A Pipeline: This movie is CRAZY! It had been on my list for some time and I am glad I finally got around to it. I thought the story was going to singularly focus on the actual scheme, and while those scenes are riveting, the quiet moments that weave the characters together left a lasting mark. I so appreciate and am inspired by the way Daniel Goldhaber, the director and co-writer, entwined stories about environmental justice into the narrative as their inclusion added such richness to their shared passion.
Super 8: A nostalgic classic. I will always adore this film, it reminds me of summers from my childhood. And, might I add, the Duffer Brothers definitely got the idea for Stranger Things from this film because the similarities are uncanny.
Bikeriders: I GET WHY EVERYONE LOVES AUSTIN BUTLER NOW! Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, and Jodie Comer give incredible performances. I was so pleased with the visuals, the costuming, the way the story unfolds, and the witty writing. It was truly a joy to watch and has easily become one of my favorite biopics.
I Used To Be Funny: Probably the biggest surprise of the year for me. This movie brought me to tears in one scene and then immediately hit me with the most hilarious line delivery not even a few seconds later. Rachel Sennott is outstanding. I truthfully did not know she had it in her to deliver such an emotionally charged performance while still retaining every aspect of why we love her.
Honorable mention for my 3.5-star films:
Of An Age
Kinds of Kindness
Am I OK?
Here are a few pics from the month:
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Talk soon!
Love always,
Rod