oh hello from a new laptop! not just a new-to-me laptop; a NEW SPANKIN NEW laptop. the last time i had a brand new laptop was the white 14″er in 2004. since then, i got a refurb 2009 lappy and then charlie’s old powerbook from 2011. so, over the course of 17 years, i’ve used 3 mac laptops? and they all would probably still work today just fine. but i had some extra cash and it was time to invest. this laptop will do internet work and photoshop just fine.

it’s olympics time, which means it’s time for me to complain about lack of infrastructure for people in the boonies. the olypmics are on network TV and supposed to be “free” to watch, but those of us out in the boondocks can’t get a signal unless we have a 150′ antenna. and getting cable for 2 weeks? dumb. i was super excited for about 5 seconds when NBC was touting their peacock app to watch the olympics, but turns out it’s nothing live: just weird specials and minor highlights after the fact. good grief. i’d PAY for them to offer live olympics somewhere that’s not cable or i have to pay $60 to get (looking at you, youtube TV). throw it on youtube live with ads. i’ll pay $15 to watch on the peacock app. let me just pay you $5 for access on your website. HOW HARD IS IT. this would be FREE if i had a large antenna and i’m offering to throw a nominal amount of money at you instead.

/rant

summer is waning. maybe it’s full summer, though i feel like it hits the full summer right around july 4. bet, we’re about to enter july, which means it’s time to make some pickles! despite about 2″ rain in the past 3 months, i’ve been watering my garden on the daily and my veggies are doing ok. i did not keep up with the tomatoes, so they are just exploding into giant bushes. my pumpkins are doing awesome. the pea plants only got to about about 2″ high before they quit (but i did get some peas out of them). bunnies keep trying to eat my beans. my apple tree only has about 10 apples on it though. i guess it’s good i forgot entirely about the FULL DRAWER of apple butter until about a month ago. i’ll be set for the next year at least.

it’s positively apocalyptic looking outside. between no rain, wildfire smoke pouring in, and the fields of corn already turning brown and shriveling up, it makes me wonder what’s going to happen next. water wars? will MN’s trees start dying off as we move into another biome? ah, climate change. too bad no one saw this coming. here’s a good video from hank green about why we should care about climate change and try to effect change even when it seems hopeless.