I have an update on my garden of horrors. As mentioned in my previous piece, I had a spider move into my garden. Well it turns out that my wife’s fear of spiders became overwhelmed by her endless curiosity. Pictures of the baby spiders is what really got her going. After her deep dive, I now know that it is a Dark Fishing Spider and it is going to hang out until all of her babies are big enough to ramble on. They also hunt based on vibrations and any pest that moves in is officially fucked.

The spider… her name is Charlotte

Speaking of getting fucked, I have this buddy of mine who is having serious issues with a business partner. I don’t even know what I can do for him, but he is obviously stressed out by the situation. It isn’t as if he’s not smart enough to go off on his own, but he is currently a partner in a more recognizable brand that doesn’t need to start from zero, so he is invested in the whole thing. Anyway, it’s a boring story about trying to buy somebody out and getting carrots dangled in exchange. I’m more concerned about homeboy’s emotional well-being.

I am indebted to his father, and checking in feels like the least I can do. He was a lovable rogue and a man that is entitled to his own essay in the near future. I am looking forward to telling some stories about one of the most ridiculous people I have ever met. He was Mr. Krabs personified, both the good and the bad. One thing is for sure, my buddy’s dad was always entertaining. His son certainly inherited his showmanship.

My friend is now in California, his dad is no longer with us, and the whole universe of people that came together with the man’s star dispersed when he left us.

California is awesome. That being said, I didn’t understand just what a natural obstacle truly was until going up and over the Sierra Nevadas for the first time. My wife and I got stuck when one of the routes closed because of the snow. We had to wait a couple of hours for some guy to drive out and reopen the gate. The craziest thing, though, is the grade of the roads. I’ve been through the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and they’re no joke, but my fucking brakepads started smoking in the Sierra Nevadas due to the steepness. Thankfully, my wife and I stashed money for one major repair, and we hung out in lovely Gardnerville, Nevada while the local Tires Plus fixed our poor car back up. Nevada is amazing.

My wife and I both enjoy traveling, but lately, we have been getting itchy feet and are thinking about leaving entirely. It is a multiyear thing, as we have our business going here at the moment. When the time comes, we could move operations though. This is a level of personal freedom that as children neither one of us thought we would ever have. It’s scary in a weird way to have options. I have no attachment to where we are at. I just need to be in Springfield, Massachusetts every couple of years. I have few local friends and no family at all. My wife is a child of divorce and lived as a transient for many years. She is ready to put down roots somewhere, and we actually can.

We have both grown so much in the eleven years that we have been together, and, one thing is clear. We have both reached a new stage in our lives as well as our life together and a big shakeup may just be the end game. As long as I have room for a shitty screen house so I can feel like Twain in his writing gazebo I’ll be good to go.

Do drugs, give hugs,

JTC