It’s hard for me to think of my Uncle Mike without picturing a pool cue in his hand. Sure, he had a lot more going on, but rarely did I see him light up as when he would explain to his nieces and nephews the physics behind his favorite trick shots. He was a billiards nerd the way I’m a…nerd, except for him it was actually lucrative, keeping his young kids fed and in diapers when money was tight.

Oh wait, my baby cousin is almost 33? Wait a minute, that makes me…(minus 7…carry the one…) elderly. In that case, congratulations are in order to Emily, Bryce, and my first cousin once removed, Jetty! Side note: it’s never been more appropriate to point out that I drew this in an iPad drawing app called Procreate!

I’m greatly enjoying the epic podcast The Secret History of Hollywood. Actually, it’s less of a podcast and more of an audiobook. You should check it out. I’m just starting part three of the latest series, “Bullets and Blood.” In parts one and two, Cagney emerges as one of the few people in Hollywood with two feet on the ground and a good heart. Some of the best anecdotes in the podcast are of his tussles with the mercenary head of the Warner Brothers Studio, Jack L.

About a year and a half ago my cousin’s multitalented husband was in town as part of the crew for a show at New York’s Bowery Ballroom. I dropped by to say hello, and found myself captivated by the opening act, Julien Baker. As everyone knows, I am a stone cold robot, but on the rare occasions when I want to remind myself what it’s like to love, lose, and have a pulse, I crank up folk rock belted by women half my age, usually starting with this.