I don't like ignoring it. I feel like there's an ocean between world views. But I don't much like talking about it either, because I think it's very much a delusion, and telling people I love that I think they're delusional isn't productive. It's hurtful. I'm having a terribly hard time resolving this without alienating anyone. I probably just did.

I don't find people not believing insulting, just one of the many differences. I can love and respect people who disagree with me.

It's not at all the same thing, but I have a very hard time knowing that people I know are smart and thoughtful smoke, drink heavily, or use drugs. More comparable, probably is the conflict I have with people that I know and love who do not see all humans as equal and don't even see their stated beliefs in those terms.

I have to ignore A LOT to make being in my family tolerable.

I have to ignore A LOT to make being in my family tolerable.

You are a rare sane (and solvent) island in an ocean of dysfunction.

Thanks! I hope my kids continue this trend.

I spent the rapture gardening, which is always cathartic. I planted a bunch of organics to replace the plants that went to shit after our weird cold snap: peppermint, chocolate mint (which I had never seen before and smells amazing), italian parsley, sweet basil, and I repotted the surviving sage.

For flowers I did red and purple petunias and orange impatiens. I also put in a big aloe plant. I trimmed back the rose bush I planted last summer and counted 11 new buds. I also trimmed the icelandic poppies and weeded the front yard. I hate weeding.

Then I made supper: barbecue chicken, and BLT pasta salad with tomatoes, cucumber, chives, and bacon crumbles.

I'm starting garlic chives and green onions from seed, tomorrow morning. I never thought of myself as much of a gardener, but there it is.

I love herb gardens.

I talked to Owen's teacher yesterday. They're finishing year end reading assessments. To be at grade level, Owen needed to be at 18. He scored at 44. And the only reason she didn't keep going is that the subject matter of the next set of reading was about 8th graders writing essays.

I think our summer project is going to be learning computer programming.

Ooooh, chocolate mint! I should plant some of that.

Jilli, it's making the whole balcony smell sweet and minty and sort of creamy. It's amazing. I have no idea what to do with it. I was thinking it might be nice to add a few leaves to iced coffee.

For the record, I'm agreeing entirely with Allyson and have never been brave enough to say it.

Anyone who wants some frakking mint can come and harvest mine. Take it all; in two days it'll all be back again. The delightfully fragrant stuff just WILL NOT DIE. It is a zombie plant.

I am cackling in glee over Owen's reading prowess.