Please, please don't judge me for the fatal consequences of My Forbidden Love.

I've decided to face facts and to acknowledge that last spring's impulse purchase of a tree peony was, well, one of those sordid mistakes.

I knew I was living on the edge, that he wasn't hardy to my climate zone. I thought I could create a microclimate for him, mulch him well, and we would have many, many happy years together.

It was not to be.

Oh, ALRIGHT, I'll admit it. I saw him, lust filled my heart and I just HAD to have him no matter what the consequences. It was a short relationship, and in retrospect I can see that I Was So Very, Very Wrong For Him, but I will always remember the good times, especially the extravagant blossoms.

For weeks now I've been looking at the place where he should sprout. There are no sprouts. Sometime over the winter of 2002-2003 my tree peony went to The Big Compost Pile In The Sky. If ... if I had only used some self-restraint, if I hadn't picked him up at the garden center, he might still be with us. Oh, the guilt ...

He will be deeply mourned by, um, just me I guess. The Jacob's Ladder in the same flowerbed could care less and is already moving in on the late, lamented tree peony's territory.

Eden, schmeden. A garden is a brutal place.

Moving on with the theme of That Which Does Not Kill Us Only Makes Us Stronger, I guess I should acknowledge that I have had to sweep up the shards of yet another broken dream. Oh, there were some rough moments when I got the news, but I've � I've begun working through the pain.

First, I would like to thank those of my three loyal readers who did not vote for me in this quarter's Diarist.net Awards. I am truly touched that you did your bit towards helping me fulfill my dream of becoming the Susan Lucci of the journalling world.

Alas, It Was Not To Be.

Through some sort of tragic mix-up, The Big Adventure was voted Best Journal and also won the category of Best Comedic Entry.

I've decided to blame it on global warming. It's the only logical explanation for this ungodly turn of events.

One cool thing Weetabix noted was that the majority of the winners (including her) came from our very own Diaryland, here.

Thank you, Andrew, for creating this extraordinary place so that decidedly ungeeky souls such as me can come out to play on the web.

--Marn

Mileage on the Marnometer: 294.92 miles (474.5 kilometers)
Goal for 2003: 500 miles - 804.5 kilometers