Electric Syllables

Light in the Dark

Created by Allison C. using OpenAI’s DALL·E image generator in ChatGPT.

Created by Allison C. using WordPress.com’s AI image generator.

Somewhere between firecracker haze and tomato season, July slips past like a summer guest who says they’ll stay a week and somehow leaves after three days. It’s just past the summer solstice, but it always feels like the true middle of summer.

The month began, as it always does in the U.S., with the Americana hum of July Fourth: flags and folding chairs, ice cream that melts too fast, an unruly neighbor setting off questionable backyard fireworks. (One year, they hit a little too close and a firecracker hit my car and stripped the paint down to the frame. But I digress.) Still, I do like the festive way the neighborhood flickers to life with flags, string lights, and sparklers.

There’s a fair amount of sparkle this time of year, in both the literal and figurative sense. Glitter-streaked parades. Shiny lip gloss. The first ripe blueberries. A new summer playlist. People buying lemonade they don’t need just to support a kid with a folding table and a dream. And that one neighbor who owns every type of solar light imaginable.

And now, the fireflies are back.

I try to catch them most nights around 9:00 p.m., a ritual or maybe a check-in. Their rhythm feels older than any holiday. Blinking and bobbing over the grass, they don’t hurry. They’re not trying to get anywhere, exactly. Just present. Spots of warm light and magic.

Decaf, anyone?

This month I’ve also been sampling coffee, especially decaf, now that I’ve scaled back on caffeine. It’s a surprising pleasure, discovering which blends still deliver richness and crema without the crash. Some are smooth and mellow, others unexpectedly bold. There’s something deeply satisfying about finding a decaf that doesn’t feel like a compromise. I’ve started noting favorites: Nespresso Melozio Decaffeinato, and two standouts from Crazy Cups—Decaf Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, and Decaf Chocolate Coconut Dream. Do you have any favorite sources for decaf Nespresso capsules or Keurig cups?

Murder, She Streamed

I wrapped up New Tricks on BritBox, reliable comfort viewing that deteriorated in the later seasons but rallied a few times toward the end, especially with Gerry’s sendoff. Then I hopped aboard The Good Ship Murder, a light-hearted cruise through the Mediterranean that I unexpectedly loved. I’m now waiting for new episodes to drop like tiny towel animals. After that, I switched to Death Valley, which is set in Wales (not, you know, Death Valley), and has a charmingly quirky vibe—sort of in the Queens of Mystery vein. But sometimes the main character’s awkwardness is dialed up so far it crosses from endearing into annoying.

In Other News

Professionally, July’s been a mix of quiet content work and waiting for input and approvals from various stakeholders. Personally, I started cleaning up my blog folder and working on some behind-the-scenes pages (hello to anyone who clicked over from a profile or bio link). I even looked at my analytics and didn’t immediately panic. Baby steps.

And, in a surprise plot twist no one asked for, my closet collapsed. The entire bar and shelf gave up—just let go of the wall like it had finally had enough—at 5:30 a.m. After the initial mess was cleared and the emotional damage assessed, we discovered the previous owner hadn’t used anchors. Naturally. This led to some emergency DIY, followed by the sudden news that the contractors would be arriving the week of August 4. So I’ve moved my vacation accordingly, because apparently I’ll be spending that time knee-deep in drywall dust and existential regret.

No magic there, but after the dust of my life settles, maybe August will have a little sparkle.