The rain that had been predicted for this weekend held off long enough for the warmer temperatures to offer us an opportunity to do some gardening.

This was the first bit of gardening that we’ve done for the year and it consisted of a clean up of dead leaves and grasses.

Everyone was having a great time (the wine on the windowsill helped):

Until The Girl found this:

After years of little niggly problems costing tons of money to fix and then recurring, I finally had enough. From getting rear-ended the second day after I got the car, to having my emblems stolen, to parts wearing out excessively fast (and only being able to purchase them from a dealership), I said, “enough”.

The recession makes buying something like a new car quite a dream. I chose a sage green 2009 Subaru Forester, traded in the jalopy, switched plates, and won’t look back.

I will not buy another BMW.

As The Vapors sang:

I’m turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so
I’m turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so

Never having seen the movie or read the book, I was completely unfamiliar with this story. I loved it.

I think this production is on the move across North America. If it comes to a town near you, go and see it.

Although the cast is all black, the basic themes really have nothing to do with race. It’s all about growing up and making the best of what life god has given you. It’s about living through physical and emotional hardship — through oppression — and finding happiness within yourself.

Throughout our lives, The Girl and I both have come to know how hard it is to break away from the ways of our parents, yet we both know how important it is to do that and find your own way when their ways impede you. This show brought our pasts back to life.

Without discussing the show much afterwards, we both know the meaning it had for each of us.