I’ve officially declared this month “Finish-It February.”

Like most people, or at least those of us with ADHD, I have approximately fifty unfinished projects going at any given time. That’s normal, right?! I’ve lived this way for 30-plus years of my adult life, but for some reason, in 2026 it’s suddenly giving me hives. I think it’s the visual clutter of half-done tasks just…existing. Like little corpses of deceased ambition scattered throughout the house.

It’s really nothing all that dramatic. Just dumb things, like the stack of clothes I pulled out of my closet over the holidays that are still living in piles in the upstairs sunroom waiting to be sold. Or the laundry room nail pops I patched and then never painted over, so now it looks like we hired a contractor who quit mid-shift. Tiny things. All of them mocking me.

So this month, I finish. I close tabs. I paint the wall. I list the jeans. I become the person I pretended to be in January.

Pray for Todd.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

San Antonio Sass

While we were in San Antonio last week visiting Trinity University, we popped in to see my 92-year-old grandmother. Physically, she’s slowing down a bit, even though she still hits happy hour twice a week with my aunt Elly (iconic). Mentally, she’s still sharp as ever. Her dry, slightly inappropriate wit is fully intact.

I always joke that she and my mom (who aren’t even on the same side of the family) are the springs from which the crazy you all get to experience flows. I didn’t stand a chance against the generational sarcasm.

MASTER GARDENER UPDATE

Dirty & Exhausted

We are in week five of twelve for Texas Master Gardener training. I’m having a blast and learning a ton about what actually survives in Texas heat (and cold), but I forgot how mentally draining it is to sit in class for hours at a time. Lectures all morning, then a few hours working outside in the training gardens.

Not to mention, it’s in far, far east Dallas County. I leave the house around 7:30 in the morning and get home close to 5:00. Yes, that is rush-hour traffic both ways. And I’m usually filthy, at least one way.

Thank God, dinnertime on Thursdays in our house has always been called “Make It Your Damned Self” night. Everyone fends for themselves. Even the Master Gardener in training.

I’m getting no sympathy from the teens. Claire and Mason just look at me like, “We told you school is hard.”

ADD TO CART

Free Mulch & AI Shopping

First up, something I learned in class that feels like a life hack for suburban dads everywhere. It’s called ChipDrop. They connect tree trimming crews with homeowners who want wood chips for mulch. The crews get a place to dump their chipped wood without paying landfill fees, and you get free mulch. Check it out at getchipdrop.com.

Secondly, I discovered a new feature in the Amazon app called AutoBuy. Apparently, you can go to a product, tap the little Rufus AI icon and then tell it to automatically purchase that item when it drops below a price you set. It’s app only, because of course it is. Here's where you can find more info.​

Technology is wild. I remember when we were impressed if we could get the 12:00 to stop flashing on our VCRs?!

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HIT PLAY

Adele, But Make It Loud

This week’s song is “Set Fire To The Rain” by No Resolve. I know. Hard rock. Who am I?

But I’ve always said you know a song is brilliantly written when it can survive a complete genre makeover. Adele, whom I hold almost as high as Whitney, Dolly and Celine, gave us the original masterpiece. And somehow, this hard-rock version absolutely works.

I don’t even remember where I first heard it. It was playing in the background somewhere, and I was casually singing along before realizing, wait…what is this? Why is this so good?

PS - Lady Gaga did the same thing during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show on Sunday when she turned her power ballad “Die With A Smile” into a salsa.

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READ ALL ABOUT IT

Apparently, We're Beautiful (Duh!)

D Magazine surprised us by including our house in their list of the 120 Most Beautiful Homes in Dallas. Thankfully, it’s based solely on the exterior street views of each house, so there’s no sign of all of the aforementioned corpses of projects past.

​You can see the list here.​

That’s it for this week!

We’re finishing projects, collecting free mulch, surviving school and living in one of Dallas’ most beautiful homes. I’m tired, but grateful for it all.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have jeans to list and walls to paint.

Can't wait to talk to you again soon! In the meantime, always remember…

YOU ARE LOVED!