Seems like every time I sit down to write one of these newsletters, it’s on the heels of some calamity that’s derailed my otherwise benign plans for the week. This time, I’m coming to you with a brace wrapped studiously around my right knee, which is in the process of fighting some fluke viral infection that left me essentially bedridden for the past 5 days. I’m on the up and up, finally, but lemme tell you folks: when a doctor says “I think we need to tap your joint,” they’re not talking about a gentle little *boop* on your kneecap. I’m starting to feel like a country western ballad here; my dog died, my knee exploded, my pickup won’t start (actually it’s a Subaru and it’s doing fine, but you get the idea)… who knows what excitement the coming weeks will bring?

In the meantime, though, here’s this week’s excitement: