no more nights in this weed and thorn infested meadow

there are apparently two kinds of men in the cities, and thanks to city ordinances they all own lawnmowers so you can tell them apart.

there's the kind that will weed, pick up sticks and rocks and then mow the grass

and there's the kind that views the lawnmower as an indestructible force that solves all yard-related problems and will use it to plow through things big and small and if it grows back will mow it again.

my neighbor (and step-father-in-law) is the first type, and a master gardener.

I am decidedly the second type and because of that difference I get the feeling his hopes that he's going to show me proper yard maintenance, care for small engines and other bits of patronly wisdom have been dashed and instead he shakes his head at me like he just caught me using the flat side of a crescent wrench to pound in a screw.