Well, the mulch is raked even, and the lawn is about half mowed. I thought I'd clip som blackberry vines out of the rose bush on the side of the house, and after 45 minutes of that it is not very close to being done. I think I'm gonna have to abandon that for today and finish the lawn.

Is the mulch over the cardboard? How's that going?

I would pay actual dollars to see the video of you officiating using the black bean chili ceremony as written.

Totally!

"I now pronounce you simmered until tender. You may now be served with lime wedges and sour cream."

"You may nom the bride."

For real, though, in the ceremony they wrote, instead of "You may kiss the bride," they wrote "TIME FOR MAKEOUTS!" They are 100% serious. This is why they're our besties.

The rest of the ceremony makes me cry, though.

The wedding is in the groom's mom's backyard, SUPER casual (the groom is wearing shorts and a teal button-down shirt). He has 2 daughters who are 13-ish and 10, I think. One of the girls is the ring bearer, and she said she wants to wear a bear costume so she can be the ring BEAR. But they decided that might be too hot in a backyard in Ohio in August, so she's compromising by wearing her footie pajamas that's a unicorn complete with horn, and she's carrying the rings on the horn.

I cannot WAIT for this wedding. There will also be a pinata.

The devastation to Ellicott City is sinking in. I mean, I have faith my salon will prevail in new digs.They already have spaces in other nearby salons arranged so no appointments to be missed, should be able to secure most of their stuff once the building is stabilized (the first floor didn't flood, just had the foundation knocked from it...) but Main Street is a disaster. It's a lovely little town and I've patronized so many businesses down there on my every two-month trips. To think of so many gone, Uhg. Caplans, though it no longer held my favorite antique store, one of my favorite spaces, gutted. The newly opened vintage shop in the old bank, 6' of water in the first floor vault.

And I was just there last week, but because it was so miserably hot, didn't venture in to my usual haunts. Bah.

Across white/hispanic/black distinguished demographics, Clinton polls 10 points higher with women vs. men.

Not super-impressed with my gender here.

Well, it's been a super-crappy weekend to follow up crappy week. I go on vacation for three days on Wednesday during which we are taking a family trip. Last family trip, I just fucked up and fucked up, pissing off my wife and ruining it for everyone. I expect this trip to go as well though I've tried to avoid the pitfalls from the last one. I hate being me, I hate being a loser, I hate being a fuck-up, I hate never achieving anything, and I hate feeling miserable and feeling like there's no hope. So far seeing a therapist hasn't seemed to do anything but cost me money.

um, you JUST wrote a book, amirite? THAT is an achievement. You have a house, right? more than one car? a job? 2 DAMN fine kids. I AM JUST SAYING!

what were the issues last vacation?

Unrelated

I got 3 new Pokemon over dinner. Where we went was a Pokespot and they had just put out a lure. YAY!

{{{Gud}}} I'm sorry you are having such a hard time.

That wedding sounds like it will be incredible, Tep!

Yes, Jesse, mulch over cardboard. The cardboard is definitely getting softer and none of my extremely hardy and forceful weeds have forced their way up through the cardboard and mulch, so I think it's going well. Another month or so before I try to plant anything.