Here is what I want you to know.

After graduation, My Tam made her way down to Arkansas from Cambridge to spend some QT with us. For her first eve, I took her down to look at the swoll river and to drink a beer. It was a rare one-on-one for us.

Ike + ATM

I've never had a passion for making cocktails, but I ended up making a few this year.  My inspiration stems from being unable to afford drinks out.  Here are greyhounds made with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. So pretty.

Move, PLEASE, get out the way! Get out the way!

Matt + Blair got married in Maaaaay!

Blair let me take a big balloon home. I can't tell you how many times I woke up at night in terror thinking there was someone lurking in the bedroom.

ATM won Check, Please!'s NHL playoff brackets. I'm hoping to get a few more people involved for the '15-'16 season.

Instead of the Auditor of State's office, the Administrative Office of the Courts handles my payroll now. We had an introductory meeting and Q&A sesh in the Arkansas Supreme Court courtroom. I've always wanted to go in here, as the building is round, with no corners. COOL! I learnt that the US Supremes ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples here, which is /s HILARIOUS /s because our unfortunately weak-spined state justices were awaiting a ruling from the top court, so they wouldn't have to. There are too many offices and positions filled by folks who will not perform their function and I just throw my hands in the air in frustration because the People voted them in. I suppose we have the system we deserve.

A movie was filmed at the Pulaski County Courthouse. You'd think that it'd be fun, but it was not. I got shushed by the crew on more than one occasion in my office.  Not cool.

Too, it's unnerving to see this outside your office bathroom window.

I so nailed the piña colada! I should probably write down these recipes.

I asked Brittany to bring her new fambly member Oliver over to see if HD would be into it. He was definitely curious. Boy, did I read into that incorrectly.

My work buddy Terry gave me a key to access the courthouse rooftop. Other than our initial walk about, I haven't been up there. I mean, it has potential for big fun, yes?

Keiko + I had a really good lunch at One Eleven at the Capital. They've got this crab cake that is obscenely delicious. Everything is good. Everything. I need to get back there.

My Tam gave us a voucher for Blue Apron meal delivery service. I actually liked it? I can see it's usefulness, but you still have to actually prep & cook stuff. I can see us doing it again or maybe as a gift. That watermelon, feta, arugula salad haunts me, it's so good.

howdy

It wasn't ready for picking before I went on vacation and I came home to it on the ground out back, 75% eaten by some critter.

Peep the hilarious amount of mac n cheese the server gave me. He felt sorry for me because I got a veggie plate (NO MEAT?!) You gotta get a white/brown plate from Luby's from time to time, right? LOL! Carbs stacked on pillars of carbs.

mammatous clouds

So, what we have here is a homemade cucumber vodka + pink lemonade elixir and trust me, it is so refreshing and delightful. Can't wait for the next heat wave, so I can mix a big pitcher to share with Keiko. She's the one who put me on to them, see.

Celebrating General Chang

We went to Memphis A LOT in 2015. On this particular trip, we went to Raiford's, a place that is designed to separate you from your money very quickly.  It's too loud, so bring ear plugs.  Did you see me become very old before your very eyes just now?

I haven't been in a long time. It now appears to be a place where a lot of Ole Miss jag offs go to hook up. :(  ATM + I agreed that we would only go back if we had money to burn AND we were with someone who has never been and really wants to go.  We can only be guides for the uninitiated now.

They still have the light up dance floor, though.

After Raifords - that's right, AFTER. We can still dig deep from time to time! - we went to the Summer Drive-In to enjoy Time Warp Drive-In: FUTURE SHOCK FEST. On the way in, we grabbed a sackful from Krystal Burger. It made me very happy to sit on lawn chairs, eating garbage, inhaling car fumes, and watching Repo Man on the silver screen. I've got to remember to check their schedule for future trips.

Discovering new-to-us neighborhoods in Memphis.

shorty

There's a new drawing feature on chat.

Sapling progress. They don't look like this no more. In fact, they look dead, but they aren't.