I was walking around the yard one day last week, taking photos of our newly blooming flora, when this plant caught my eye.
No way, I thought to myself. Can’t be. But it sure looks like marijuana, doesn’t it? This is on a “wild” section of our property with bleeding hearts, ferns, and other random plants – not Tara’s garden, but stuff Dick planted years ago.
Come to think of it, the guy was suffering from a bunch of health problems. It wouldn’t shock me if he’d decided to cultivate a little cannabis to alleviate his pain. Or, you know, maybe he just liked to get high. No judgment here!
But alas, when I Google Lens’d that sucker, I learned that Dick was not secretly a pothead. If he’s got a fondness for anything, it’s the state of Ohio.
Probably for the better. Marijuana in all forms, recreational and medical, is still illegal in Wisconsin. Every single neighboring state has legalized the stuff, and I know for a fact people drive across the Illinois border to surreptitiously get their 420 fix, so that’s a whole bunch of tax revenue that could help with roads, schools, etc. down the drain.
(Don’t ask me how I know this.)
Our governor keeps pushing for full legalization of recreational marijuana, but the Republican legislature – which unfortunately holds a majority in both chambers, thanks in large part to intense gerrymandering – shoots it down each and every time.
Drives me crazy, but it’s par for the course. At least they haven’t outlawed recreational cheese consumption. That would be a bridge too far.
Speaking of our governor, I got to meet our governor this week! Well, kind of. I was in the same room as Tony Evers, and he made direct eye contact with me.
“Must be the cologne I dabbed on this morning,” I told Tara.
“Can confirm it’s irresistible,” she replied.
(I don’t normally wear cologne, but when the governor is coming to your workplace for a meet-and-greet, you make an exception.)
For the record, I could have met him, as he was shaking hands and posing for selfies with other CheeseGov employees. I sort of regret not sticking around. But he was absolutely mobbed and I probably would have turned into a gushing fanboy (he’s a great governor!) and embarrassed myself, so I felt it best to leave the room with my dignity intact. During the Q&A session, there were two questions I was tempted to ask:
- What bribes will you accept to run for a third term?
- Supper club or Friday fish fry?
Fun questions though they were, after another employee asked, What steps are you taking to ensure AI doesn’t negatively impact Wisconsin’s natural resources?, I figured mine would have been viewed as frivolous softballs.
I hope he does run for a third term though. Wisconsin needs Tony!
It’s been a pretty good visit with my parents so far. (Not that so far implies their visit is about to turn bad or anything!) I took Thursday and Friday off to use up some of that excess PTO I’ve accumulated. The weather hasn’t exactly cooperated – it was windy and hot on Monday, then cool and rainy off and on ever since – but that hasn’t stopped us from getting out and doing things. My dad is disappointed because he hasn’t had a chance to play bags (corn hole) yet, but given that he usually kicks my ass, is it wrong that I secretly hope the gloominess continues?
Yesterday, we drove to Drumlin Ridge Winery, a family-owned operation in Waunakee, to partake in a little wine tasting.
Wine is a very big deal to my folks. I like it too, even though I gravitate more toward cocktails. Drumlin Ridge’s speciality is an Old Fashioned, an Orange Muscat fortified with a touch of Brandy, which they claim resembles a Wisconsin Old Fashioned. I didn’t really pick up on that, but all the wines we tasted were pretty good and it was a beautiful setting. Perfectly cozy on a damp and dreary early afternoon.
Today, we ventured into Madison to grab lunch at my favorite brewpub, the Great Dane, and then walked around Henry Vilas Zoo. My folks love caged animals almost as much as wine! Most of them were lazing the afternoon away, with the exception of one very curious meerkat.
Now we’re home enjoying happy hours (yes, plural) and awaiting a pizza delivery.
Inside, because it just started raining again.
Mark My Words 
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