Approaching the equinox

At noon today the annual Fremont Solstice Parade will go forth. It is a very chilly morning for the nude bicyclists to be out and about, but of course they will prevail, having overcome banning in previous years. Not escaping the banning this year was a group who participated in last year's parade: P.U.R.E. This stands for People Enduring Real Experiences; I think that's right.
Last year they had a float drawn by guys with hooks pierced through their chests, some in very sensitive-looking areas, i.e., nipples. Evidently outraged parents had to shield their children's eyes, which, I guess, I could comprehend, but some people wailed that it brought up unwanted memories of childhood abuse! Geeze - I personally am a socially tolerant person, but I could understand conservative and/or right wingnuts shaking their heads over that bit. Typical Seattle overreaction. At any rate, P.U.R.E.'s float has been shunned this year, which seems absurd. Of course, I do think their MO is absurd: They say there are no more outlets for men to pursue rites of passage, or ones they don't want to partake in, such as blowing up animals with assault rifles or wasting fuel by watching NASCAR races. One female participant claimed that, since she had a chronic illness, these sorts of excruciating piercings made her feel she could endure her existence. That actually makes more sense to me than the manhood-proving bullshit. Ah well. We seem to have the luxury to suffer.
We went out into our yard; we mowed, we whacked, we yanked weeds, we did all but cut swathes with machetes. Good grief. How can so much vegetation emerge from such a small area?!
Dinner, with champagne.