Sorry you're feeling so shitty, Gud. I am glad you're talking to someone, at least.

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.

That's cool. I guess it's time for me to weed, but bleh! I wish I had a yard full of cardboard instead!

Everyone fucks up, sometimes. I think a lot of people have a "perfect" version of themselves that they are not, and they measure against it. That doesn't make you a fuck-up. I know I have a tendency to torture myself about not "overcoming" every day, even though,if I'm being my most honest? I don't care *that* much. It's all cultural baggage that says I've got to be a cheerful, self-effacing hero every day(heh, one out of three ain't bad, right) Real fuck-ups look for someone to blame.

Real fuck-ups look for someone to blame.

e.g. Donald Trump - I think that is a good way to measure it. When you think you are a loser or fuck up compare yourself with the Donald and come to your senses.

Ring bear!!! Yes!!!!!

Teppy, you really should start the ceremony with the first bit from the recipe and then go "ooops, wrong page" and then go into the ceremony.

And I love the ring bear/unicorn. Have a blast!!!

If the whole bear costume is too heavy, maybe she could just wear the arms. Because she has a Constitutional right to them.

I wish I had a yard full of cardboard instead!

The reduction in area to mow makes for a noticeably shorter time spent mowing. It's great! I think I will do some more next year, assuming all goes well with this try.

Not so great, while I was taking a break the guys who were working in my next-door neighbors yard took my yard waste bin (that I was filing with blackberry vines) and put it somewhere not on the street. My neighbors rent that house out and I guess are between tenants so there is no one there for me to ask to get it back. Sigh.

Oh, wow, look at the time. I'd better have some dinner.

Teppy, have a page of Buffista quotes with your ceremony notes. When tears are at hand just think bearing arms to collect yourself.

I suspect that what happened with my own wedding might happen here. When we were writing our vows and planning the ceremony, I cried like a fool. When I read our vows even now I get teary.

But the actual day, when I stepped out the door to walk down the aisle and saw Tim waiting there (who I had seen literally 30 seconds before), I was just all lit up with joy and pretty much beamed through the whole ceremony. No tears whatsoever.

So I'm hoping that when I go to perform our friends' ceremony, I'm just so happy for them (because I *so* am) that I don't lose it.

If I read the chili recipe, *that* will probably keep me from crying.

Aw. I'm sure that's how it will go.

I have eaten a corn dog and am now enjoying a grapefruit beer. I did not know what to expect, but I think I like it. I still have a ton of stuff I should do this evening to be ready for the week. We'll see how that goes.