JULY 16, 2010

FIVE CORNERS UPDATE      
It was wild. I was waiting at the Essex Junction Five Corners Light this morning with nothing to do. Suddenly, this giant balloon floated over my car and stopped.
The balloon guy in the basket yelled down: "Hey, aren't you sick of waiting for that stupid light."
I leaned out the window and yelled, " Normally, no. But today I forgot to bring a movie or some books."
He then asked me if I wanted a ride and I nodded my consent.
Before I knew it he had lowered two adjacent G-613 tungsten steel car clamps and attached them to my frame. In less than a minute I was rising up over the red light, waving goodbye to all my pals at the intersection.
Up through the clouds we soared until we reached a special cloud where all the runaway balloons go. Millions of balloons moved gently to the ethereal whisperings of the stratospheric breezes. Each of the balloons had an inexact facial feature, yet it was not indistinct. I felt like I had seen these balloons before, but could not understand how or remember when.
Suddenly, I woke up and I was back at the Five Corners, spewing ob-noxious fumes along with approximately. 36 other vehicle owners. Had I really been dreaming? I don't know. Maybe never will.

JULY 10, 2010. TOMORROW IS JULY 11.

FIVE CORNERS UPDATE

Crazy Friday at the Essex Junction Five Corners.
All sorts of tourists idling away, probably wondering when the gosh darn light was going to change.

I knew better. After I crept up to my waiting place in line, I placed the beast in park, got out and strolled over to the brand new Essex Junction Farmer's Market.

What a great time I had. First, I grabbed a quick cold one from Murray's Tavern, just to cool off a bit. Then, feeling famished, I sampled veggies and sweets from the vendors. Finally, I stopped into the Brownell Library and read, cover to cover, the latest (maybe it's not his latest, 2009) from Michael Pollan, entitled 'Food Rules', which was hilarious and startling all at once. Here's three gems from the book:
" Don't eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk."
" Eat animals that have themselves eaten well."
" It's not food if it's called by the same name in every language. (Think Big Mac, Cheetos, or Pringles.)

Anyway, when I arrived back at the Five Corners, I sensed that my lane was up next. I slipped into my vehicle, the light turned green, and I was on my way. A well spent couple of hours. Ahhh.

YOU ARE RIGHT! IT IS JULY 3, 2010

MERWIN THE MAGNIFICENT (OUR BRAND NEW POET LAUREATE)

Separation

by W. S. Merwin

Your absence has gone through me   

Like thread through a needle.

Everything I do is stitched with its color.

 

FIVE CORNERS UPDATE
Gardening day at the Essex Junction Five Corners light today. I put the car in park, got out, ran to Depot Home and Garden and purchased some sunflower seeds. Got back to the intersection and planted them on a grassy strip near the Quik Mart. Me and my fellow idlers were able to watch the sunflowers grow to about six feet before the light changed! It was a beautiful experience.