No writing happened over the weekend, and I’m fine with that. We were on the move, first to Menlo Park, where we saw the English Beat at a cool little theater called the Guild.

My expectations were low, as the Beat are now one of those nostalgia acts with one original member. Fortunately that one is Dave Wakeling, the main singer and songwriter. The songs held up, the band sounded great, and Dave looked genuinely happy to be there. A good time was had by all.

Saturday it was breakfast with the mother-in-law, then we headed up to Richmond for a 60th bday party featuring delicious Wagyu beef, mushroom Wellington, and a bottle of 1954 Barolo (which came out a bizarre brown color but was quite drinkable). Yesterday was a drive-home-and-recover day.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled anxiety.

The Times headlines this weekend were all about how the Democrats are losing black and brown voters, which — given That Fucking Guy’s recent forays into full-blown racism and nativism — is a bit of a head-scratcher. I am trying, really trying, not to pay attention to the polls. We know they’re full of shit but there they are, in your face, telling you things you don’t want to hear. They’re like little dogs yapping at you out of a car window as you walk by that scare you for a second even though they weigh like three pounds.

I keep telling myself that we, as a people, are smarter than that. I mean, aren’t we? Can’t the average American walk and chew gum at the same time? Don’t they recognize flagrant insanity when they see it?

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before but: Politics aside, just out of pure self-preservation, don’t people want to avoid having an obvious lunatic in charge of nuclear weapons? Don’t they value their lives? DON’T THEY HAVE THE GOOD SENSE THAT GOD GAVE A GOPHER?

Phew, I got a bit worked up there for a second. All better now. I probably shouldn’t have nuclear weapons either. I’m going to yoga class now.