(Above: A rainbow in the early hours of August 3, 2026. Un arcoíris en la madrugada del 3 de agosto de 2026.)
8/2/2026: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the low 80s. Mostly cloudy.
A photo of Padre and Indian bison (Gaur) number 7160 at dawn on August 2, 2026. That bovine has a small head. Una foto de mi padre y bisonte indio número 7160 a la madrugada del 2 de agosto de 2026. Ese bovino tiene la cabeza pequeña. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of chicken eggs and beef sausage. It was served with a salad drizzled with a spicy vinaigrette. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos de gallina y salchicha de res. Esto se sirvió acompañado de una ensalada rociada con una vinagreta picante. 
A bluebird on the cloudy afternoon of August 2, 2026. Un azulejo en la tarde y nublada del 2 de agosto de 2026. 
Tonight, we had dinner with my friend Shae. We enjoyed roast lamb, bread topped with goat cheese and hot honey that my friend brought, a green salad, and plenty of good conversation. Esta noche comimos la cena con mi amigo, Shae. Disfrutamos de cordero asado, pan cubierto en queso de cabra y miel picante que nos trajo mi amigo, ensalada verde y mucha buena conversación. 
A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt (there were also some peanuts). Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego (también había algunos cacahuates). 
After having dinner with my friend, Padre, Madre, and I drove a cow up to the barn (in the darkness of night… very difficult) to help her give birth. The calf was too big; it died, but the cow survived. Después de cenar con mi amigo, mi padre, mi madre y yo conducimos una vaca al establo (en la oscuridad de la noche… muy difícil) para ayudarla a parir. El ternero era demasiado grande; murió pero la vaca sobrevivió.
8/3/2026: Today began in the low 70s (drizzly with rainbow) and warmed into the low 80s. Mostly cloudy.
A rainbow in the early hours of August 3, 2026. Un arcoíris en la madrugada del 3 de agosto de 2026. 
To start the lunch on August 3, 2026, we enjoyed a bowl of miso soup garnished with beef, spinach, and avocado. Para comenzar el almuerzo del 3 de agosto de 2026, disfrutamos de una un tazón de sopa de mizo adornado con carne de res, espinaca y aguacate. 
The main course of lunch consisted of a platter of fresh sushi. It was delicious. El plato principal del almuerzo consistía en una bandeja de sushi fresco. Estaba delicioso. 
These are the hamburgers and bacon strips I prepared for dinner on August 3, 2026. Estas son las hamburguesas y los trozos de tocino que preparé para la cena del 3 de agosto de 2026. 
A chiltepín plant with very red berry-like peppers. Una mata de chiltepín con baya-pimientos muy rojos. 
The cloudy afternoon of August 3, 2026. La nublada tarde del 3 de agosto de 2026. 
There are now two plaques in the Master Blend shop. Ahora hay dos placas en la tienda de Master Blend. 
Our dinner consisted of an Indian bison burger topped with cheese and bacon, accompanied by a salad garnished with pickle and tomato. The salad was drizzled with a mustard vinaigrette. Nuestra cena consistía en una hamburguesa de bisonte indio cubierta con queso y tocino y acompañada de una ensalada adornada con pepinillo y tomate. Esa ensalada estaba rociada con una vinagreta de mostaza. 
A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
8/4/2026: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the mid 80s. Mostly cloudy morning followed by a mostly cloudy afternoon.
Many cows grazing in the southeasternmost field of the farm, in the early hours of August 4, 2026. Muchas vacas pastando en el campo al más sureste del rancho, en la madrugada del 4 de agosto de 2026. 
Some “Cat’s Claw Creeper” flowers I found on the morning of August 4, 2026. Algunas flores de “Cat’s Claw Creeper” que encontré en la mañana del 4 de agosto de 2026. 
These are the osso bucos I chose for the dinner of August 4, 2026. Estos son los osobucos que elegí para la cena del 4 de agosto de 2026. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of chicken eggs and boerewors sausage. It was served with a colorful salad made by Padre. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos de gallina con salchicha boerewors. Esto se sirvió acompañado de una ensalada colorida hecha por mi padre. 
After lunch, I browned the ossobuco for dinner. Después de almorzar, doré el osobuco para la cena. 
Photo: Browned osso buco covered with the sauce and vegetables before baking. Foto: Osobuco dorado cubierto con la salsa y los vegetales antes de hornearlo. 
Dinner: Wagyu osso buco (#7226) accompanied by a green salad and a piece of toast topped with goat cheese. La cena: osobuco de wagyu #7226 acompañado de una ensalada verde y una tostada cubierta con queso de cabra. 
The dessert consisted of a bowl of chopped apple, Greek yogurt, cinnamon, and salt. El postre consistía en un tazón de manzana picada, yogur griego, canela y sal.
8/5/2026: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the high 80s. Mostly sunny (and surprisingly cool) morning.
The brilliant dawn of August 5, 2026. El brillante amanecer del 5 de agosto de 2026. 
Photo: Some labels I designed for the eggs sold at the Master Blend store. Foto: Algunas etiquetas que diseñé para los huevos que se venden en la tienda de Master Blend. 
A photo of me before going to the harvest facility to get a lot of beef. Una foto mía antes de ir al matadero para conseguir mucha carne de res. 
The rib steak on the left was from a Rubia Gallega steer (4066), and the rib steak on the right was from a Wagyu cow (820). El chuletón de la izquierda era de un novillo Rubia Gallega (4066) y el chuletón de la derecha era de una vaca Wagyu (820). 
Lunch consisted of Italian (Rubia Gallega) beef sausages accompanied by shrimp and pickles. These were served over a green salad drizzled with a mustard vinaigrette. El almuerzo consistía en salchichas italianas de res (Rubia Gallega) acompañadas de camarones y pepinillos. Estos se sirvieron sobre una ensalada verde rociada con una vinagreta de mostaza. 
The center field on the cloudy afternoon of August 5, 2026. El campo central en la tarde nublada del 5 de agosto de 2026. 
The dinner consisted of half a Rubia Gallega ribeye steak and half a Wagyu ribeye steak. These steaks were reverse-seared and accompanied by a green salad and half a potato. Additionally, there was a horn of red wine to drink. La cena consistía en un medio chuletón de rubia gallega y un medio chuletón de wagyu. Estos bistecs estaban dorados al revés y acompañados de una ensalada verde y una media patata. Además, había un cuerno de vino tinto para beber 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with salt and cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con sal y canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
8/6/2026: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the mid 80s. Partly sunny morning.
The dawn of August 6, 2026, seen from center field. El amanecer del 6 de agosto de 2026, visto desde el campo central. 
The early morning of August 6, 2026, viewed from the ranch’s southernmost field. La madrugada del 6 de agosto de 2026, visto desde el campo más al sureste del rancho. 
On the morning of August 6, 2026, I organized a large amount of beef. En la mañana del 6 de agosto de 2026, organicé mucha carne de res. 
For lunch, Padre and I ate leftover osso buco over a green salad. Para almorzar, mi padre y yo comimos sobras de osobuco sobre una ensalada verde. 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego. 
The cloudy afternoon of August 6, 2026 La nublada tarde del 6 de agosto de 2026 
A photo of the new Master Blend ‘winner’s plaque’ and the new Rubia Gallega beef that I took for our shop’s social media. Una foto de la nueva ‘placa de ganador’ de Master Blend y la nueva carne de res Rubia Gallega que tomé para las redes sociales de nuestra tienda. 
This afternoon, Mrs. Weber brought us some eggs to sell in the store. Esta tarde la señora Weber nos trajo algunos huevos para vender en la tienda. 
The new sign I drew for the Master Blend shop. El nuevo letrero que dibujé para la tienda de Master Blend. 
The dinner consisted of a Rubia Gallega hamburger patty. It was served with a salad drizzled with homemade barbecue sauce and topped with goat cheese. La cena consistía en un bistec de hamburguesa de rubia gallega. Esto se sirvió acompañado de una ensalada rociada con salsa barbacoa casera y cubierta con queso de cabra.
8/7/2026: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the mid 80s. Sunny morning.
On the morning of August 7, 2026, I arranged another order of beef. En la mañana del 7 de agosto de 2026, organicé otro pedido de carne de res. 
Photo: Virginia Creeper vines, in front of the grain room. Foto: Enredaderas llamadas Virginia Creeper, frente al cuarto de grano. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of chicken eggs and leftover ribeye steak. It was served with a salad prepared by Padre. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos de gallina y chuletón sobrante. Esto se sirvió acompañado de una ensalada preparada por mi padre. 
A very small lizard on a gate. Una lagartija muy pequeña en una puerta. 
The slightly rainy afternoon of August 7, 2026. La tarde un poco lluviosa del 7 de agosto de 2026. 
A yellow mushroom, grass (“wavy-leaf basket grass”), and aloe. Un hongo amarillo, hierba (“wavy-leaf basket grass”) y aloe. 
This is the pistachio ice cream I enjoyed during the Arthur Murray studio practice party on the night of August 7, 2026. Este es el helado de pistacho que disfruté durante la fiesta de práctica del estudio Arthur Murray la noche del 7 de 8 de 2026. 
Upon returning home, I enjoyed two slices of pizza made by Padre and two red apples sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Al regresar a casa, disfruté de dos rebanadas de pizza hechas por mi padre y dos manzanas rojas espolvoreadas con canela y acompañadas de una cucharada de yogur griego.
8/8/2026: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the low 90s.
The lunch on August 8, 2026, consisted of boerewors sausage, shrimp, and pickles on a green salad. El almuerzo del 8 de agosto de 2026 consistía en salchicha boerewors, camarones y pepinillos sobre una ensalada verde. 
The dessert: a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. El postre: una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego. 
The cloudy afternoon of August 8, 2026. La tarde nublada del 8 de agosto de 2026. 
A photo of Padre petting Myra. Una foto de mi papá acariciando a su mascota, Myra. 
Dinner consisted of a green salad topped with a sautéed mixture of ground beef and sweet potato. There was also cottage cheese, avocado, and homemade barbecue sauce. La cena consistía en una ensalada verde cubierta con una mezcla frita de carne de res molida y batata. Además, había requesón, aguacate y salsa barbacoa casera.
Final Note: In the week of May 24, 2026, there was mention of a second trip to Puerto Vallarta to visit Alexia. Things did not go as expected, and that trip will not be taking place. I originally thought that cancellation of the trip went against my values of ‘exploring with courage’. However, while I was writing 1-4 this morning, I realized that the past 2.5 months since May 24, 2026 have been an exploration in their own right.
Much was learned – some enjoyable and some not – and just because I am not adventuring to Puerto Vallarta does not mean I am not adventuring at all. Dancing continues to remain a fantastic outlet for exploration and learning; writing is similar; and Master Blend continues to be a fount of eccentric tasks. For example, in this coming week, I ship a pair of very large and very stinky bison horns to some fine customers down in Miami. Their intended use is a mystery that only time will reveal.
Yes, I still desire (possibly learned or biological or most likely a combination of both) a woman to share this interesting life with, but now and always? The exploration and the adventures continue. With all that written, here’s a fitting epigraph from Grimorzak’s Chapter 3 in Book 2 – TLB:
Some biologs, through a common logic-wrought paradox, believe that, in the presence of Creation, there must be a Creator. They then go on to say that Creation is His [capitalized out of respect for their often personified and patriarchal system], but, without Creation, the Creator can neither achieve nor maintain His namesake. Only a few seem to understand that it is the Act which produces both.
But how was the Act initiated? How did it or does it come about? Did the Act ever actually begin or end? Or is it an eternal process spanning in both directions along the perceived timeline? We Rakshanah have determined that we can never reach a definite conclusion in this regard so long as we are part of the Act and unable to observe it from an external vantage. Thus, continued pursuit of the topic has been deemed unproductive, unnecessary, and all but prohibited.
Biologs, on the other hand; they persist with such names as Creator and Creation. They persist when, as the Iconoclast was ever-keen to mention, such terminology will forever afflict their understanding of the Act with erroneous expectations, just as our own ages-old terminology ever-hampers the finest of our corporeal and aetheric sciences. The biologs persist in spite of their poor nomenclatures; they persist in spite of their lifespans being so impossibly short that they can never hope to understand; they persist even while so many of them – even children – are aware of these numerous blaring quandaries.
... and mad as it may all be, I admire them for it. Any exploration, even when misguided, is infinitely more likely to lead to revelation and entelechy than no exploration at all.
- from Reflections on Biolog Belief, written by and preserved within the archives of High Physic Pliok.