And here only the sound of falling leaves.” ……………………………………………………………………………………………Ryokan
“We gotta get out of this place, id it’s the last thing we ever do” …………………Eric Burton
“Every organization is perfectly designed for the results it gets” …………Ode to the Moron N’ Chief…Wubbolding
Is he in jail yet? I cannot believe we have come to this point and still have to brace ourselves to deal with the predictable shenanigans…it never ends……. think how all of this would have seemed like science fiction 15 years ago…forget your political inclinations, your philosophy, your level of patriotism…and just think about what it is like to be looking and listening to this moron………we are talking about the leader of the free world…..HOLY BUCKETS…….two hours to Québec is all I can say….
But enough…. Contrasting this day…. and blocked up after a warped wonderful weekend with Tess and Sloanie here…. we got in some walks early in the week, watched the leaves go away, stick season descend, and have everyone disappear for the duration……still playing Monday music with John in his last days, which has been a gift for all of us…. still trying to keep the Dumpmaster from kidnapping TQ, still trying to keep TQ from adding a last minute wing to the house……but you all have other shit on your mind today……as do i…as do I…..is it ground hog day?
So the game is afoot, ten days and counting…. four sting winds to be lonely. Four string winds to go home……I’m gonna get that ol’ turnpike and I’m gonna aide………
In the mist of all of this and that. Bric and Brak, schlep and schlup, yin and yang…. I think we will let the pictures tell the story, story……it’s a gift, no? the phonebook is her, the phonebook is here……
TQ is considering kidnapping Ivy and spiriting her back to Ohio…the cupboard is running bare, the plants have escaped, the chimney is laid, 20 degrees last night………we really gotta go now, go now, go now……
Check out Kamala on the last Saturday night live opening……. if nothing else, how cool is it to have a president with some sense of humor and the ability to laugh at herself?
Ok- going now……good yontif……speak –easy……Damn the torpedoes……. we’re gonna live out on a rainbow in spite of ourselves……..
“What I wear is pants. What I do is live. How I pray is breathe.” ………………Thomas Merton
“From the power of jumping into the water, the Frog can float” ………………..Torei
“I am happy to have the people I like make money” …………………………….Ferlin’
Every picture tells a story, story…………good ones this week capture the essence and fade of the Autumn her in Da Greens……so staying with The Zen flow…. for now….winding down….tears of a clown…..opulence on the ground, swirling sounds……….goin’ round and round……
First Fall Fade is:
……early Monday morning flight up the 7 to thru the Big town and then onto to the quirky Chaplain Islands for a three nighter
……cottage on the splendid lake……almost one of the Great ones, not quite…..Urine trumps it……20th year in a row for fall celebration….morning birds dazzling in the warm autumn sunlight
……Foliage Peak astounds, as we are almost in stick season in the southern climes……. nature’s glory….an overture to the soul……rock and roll…….smoke da bowl…..
……TRADITION (think Zero Mostel on The Roof)……………………..The Happy Chicken dirt road emporium for the pot pies…….Halls Orchard for a bag of Vermont’s finest…….Hackett’s for THE best cider donuts in creation….how long does it take 2 sane adults to eat dozen a cider donuts?…..thus is trick Zen question……
……Finding a world class Thai restaurant on a small island just short of Canada in a small house with a gaggle of wonderfully displaced Thai woman in the back and a classic Vermonty native-species Reluctant Server up front….Duck to die for
……Roaming the Mystic Dunes at Alburg State Park…and strolling the trails at all six state parks on Island time……all to ourselves……. Papi, TQ, Lucy. Leaves…. REPEAT…….
……. Finding a trail that make you feel like it is 1972 and you are on your own for the first time, somewhere in France…. OR…..that looks le a 1970 album cover with Alvin Lee…..smoooottthhhhh……..
……Discovering local history for the first time…. like the long gone Rutland Railroad line-that ran up thru the Islands in tiny railway bridges and into Quebec for a century…….i hear the train a comin’’- its comin’ round the bend………
……The Dumpmaster and his ADM are in woolens and taking up residence in the Dump-Hump-Warming Shack…..but still rush out for hugs for Stuie…and bugs for Louie……Whoowey…ride me high…..
……Driving over the Andover Pass on a sunny afternoon……a dirt road calling out for a hike to the windy top and the cow communing…. then down to Crazy Chester for box lunch on the green….gazing at the 1850 Public Tomb across at the graveyard …..what do teenager girls do in Chester?
……. Shockingly, in mid-70’s running into nights in the 20s……and the beat goes on……
……. Yankees and Dodgers………GO BLUE…… Kamala vs the Fall of Democracy……. MUST……GO BLUE
………joining the ACLA…. Anti-Covet League of America……wish not, want not……all I need is luv………
……. cleansing, preparing, pruning, storing, readying…………………………soon to be of off se the wizard…. but NOT YET…………..still leaves to be sought out…….
“I wanna live with a cinnamon girl; I could be happy the rest of my life with a cinnamon girl” ………Neil
“It’s never too late to do nothing” ……………………………………………ZEN
“No seed ever see the flower” ………………………………………………Papi
So my friends, a longish and brackish week, with trial, triumph and trauma…. true dat…. slipping into darkness…. reveals the week in short Koans by day…. too little to describe-too much to ignore….really, goin’ up the country, baby where you want to go…gonna make if short, short, short in this cohort….lovin’ the sport….in all its warts…..
Sunday in the park……two hours of pickin’ in the cold and wet for the fulfillment of Cider Haze. Have you ever been really cold and had a hot cider fresh from da press…….and fresh baked cider donut? Speaking of cider donuts….’nuff said………. Roster of band: The Cape Do-It couple, The Cantankerous retired Vet Doc, God ‘s Own Mandolin Player, The Cohunes Man and Ferlin’…such a night…..
Monday, Monday: slipped into town and ye olde Price Choppa…for some goods and a sneak attack at the seafood counter for a mess of fried seafood platter (8.99)..while nobody is lookin…slippin’ away to another day….Music folks back with john in garage as he begins to fade more rapidly…….dark days proceeding, but the Circle Will NOT be Broken….
Tubesday- slipped in a quick early morning trip to the spring house for some stretch and lift and a soak…….then, comin’ down the mountain as he comes, as he comes…to Albany INTERNATIONAL for quick fly to Baltimore…have you ever got to TSA and realized you could not find tour license….who let the dogs out…..hoo….hoo….hoo……….ye old Baltimore …Mt Vernon brownstones, with literate, paparazzi, Bangladeshi, makin’ messy…..boutiquey Hotel indigo….with a sitting room in my suite…and a view………………….
Wednesday wobble- went for a run………..led to major limp…all day planning meeting for the 15- years –in the making- blessed training event……how to 7 people get to know each other a whole lot better……sharing massive plates of Ethiopian..…no utensils or napkins…………….sharing each other’s drool laced fingers…face dripping in delight……………………OOHMMMMMM………………..
Thurbish-day- Delivering the gospel to 50 apostles from all over eh country……Families may or not be part of the problem, but they are ALWAYs part of the solution………….pulled Stuart Smalley incantations out of my bag of ticks…..…imagine 50 adults yelling to partners: I’m good enuff, I’m smart enuff…and gosh darn it, people like me…………elevating to a new level of total PC…..or not………beautiful dinner at top of classy Hotel Revival…with skyline and full moon thru picture windows….open bar only so far…took me half hour to limp four blocks back to hotel……getting badder…foreshadowing?
Friday/ MyDay- burst of training mania…….taking home the two day intensive………..many new friends, hugs, kisses, tic tocs together……ding dong, the witch is dead…..blitz to airport…practically crawling to the gate…….landed back at ALB…..TQ messages nowhere to go an X-ray till Monday in our remote kingdom (except ER , of course, which I have pledged to try and never enter again)……found Urgency Carefree open on drive home in Troy….x-rays ….no break….but Got Gout this is, unfortunately, not a same word twice error)…been ignoring symptoms and charging on for weeks………. and now got bad foot rising with moon…. steroids……road are………. sex all night thoughts…..spare-me
Saturday- D-Master gone again….becoming hot bed of rumor mill……the painter of a month ago, stopped by; disgusted with his referral total no follow thru…claims he will take care of it all in the spring….looking at him, we wonder what are odds he is with us till then…TQ planning of send him supplements and kale until painting is done….she also ruminating about stealing Ivy to go home with us….more planting…more home improvements…………………..more amazon gift cards to spend without Papi seeing the bill….drink , drink that swill….tryin’ to not reach overkill….Back on the train with roids, elevation, ice and edibles. (think’ of weed, whites and wine…. give me a sign….and I’ be willin’’….to be movin’)
Back round and round……. it’s the circle game…Papi on the IL…. maybe no jog for a few days…. after brazenly doing 2 miles after I got to B-more and then limping to finish line)
Filled in my absentee ballot with great joy today…are you allowed to black out anyone on there????
Off to the “Islands” for annual fall visit this week for three nights-saying mid-70s, sunny and PEAK…. oh joy….I’m yer boy….I’m your toy……and I don’t want no one but you to love me………………………….I wouldn’t lie….I’m not that kind of guy……………and, away we go
“A leaf falls, Totsu!!! Another leaf falls carried by the wind” ………………….Ransetsu
“You’re real. But, you’re NOT really real” ……………………………………… Da Buddha
“I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now” ………………………Bob Dylan
Well, Cider Daze weekend has finally come-and we are in the midst of it. The Queen has neither been seen nor heard from in a week, as she presides with her Court over The Gala; though I did have several sightings at the festival yesterday as she whizzed by in the royal golf cart. We have been in the midst of a fantastical dry spell, with no rain in over a month; the pond is 4 feet down, our streams are drooling, leaves falling dryly off the trees and crops going to waste-yet now, on the second day of our mount holly extravaganza, we’re expecting a monsoon, just in time for my little pickup group, the Mount Holly Ramble, to play a soaking 40 degree set this afternoon for the moist leaf peeper masses.
The Queen and Sister Jane, who is with us for our traditional weeklong cider daze visit, left before dawn for the rigors of the golf cart and oversight of the Kingdom. We fetched Jane on Wednesday at Hartford, after the usual harrowing trip down the northeast corridor of I-91. Stopped for lunch, for the first time in 20 years, at the now upscale Putney Diner, the once haven for classic diner meals and now semi-yuppified………essentially meaning the price has quadrupled. On Friday, with The Queen missing in action, Jane and I set off for annual Rutland Ramble; starting with the jaunt thru the world’s most elaborate car wash, on to Ramuntos for the 2-slice special, and later completing our successful hat trick by scoring late season Maple Creamees at the joint in West Rutland. In between we did the shopping, which included a minimum of 20 minutes at the self-checkout at da Price Chopper, where neither of us could find the slot to pay with cash, and were practically rolling on the floor before we were rescued by the deaf, dumb and blind kid, who provides oversight to the morons who can’t figure out how to check out by themselves.
After completing our assigned grocery and Wal-Mart tasks, we headed a home, but stopped to see the masterpiece of a covered bridge, the nearby 1820 covered bridge, recently renovated to its original completely wooden form at a cost of $1.8 million and repair time of two plus years; all absolutely worth it for its beauty and astounding workmanship. We returned home for senior rest period, only to remember, a day late and a dollar short, that The Queen had assigned us to prepare the giant $100 organic, farm fed, Birkenstock shod Plew farm chicken. Amazingly, neither of us really knew how to do this, but Betty Crocker came to rescue via the Internet, and having stuffed the poor bird with anything we can think of that fit the bill of being an “aromatic” (don’t ask), we nervously stuck it in the oven, where it emerged golden brown and cooked to perfection in a feat of historic mind over matter proportion that shocked the already shell- shocked Queen on her arrival.
The Pond is dying.
Still, no paint-man in sight.
In my weekly politically incorrect highlight (though the whole blog od be classified if that way) …..I proclaim GO TRIBE………….amazin’…..
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, this hills are alive with the sound of music, ciderists are pressing, and gaudily attired leaf peepers roam in search of schmaltz from Connecticut and New Jersey. Jane and I both did 2 hour shifts at the cider daze’ merchandise gazebo yesterday, and were blown away by the phenomenal amount of SHIT that people have to have ……………………. Tote bags, insulated cups, hats, calendars and an extraordinary number of gallons of apple cider………………….. Almost tearing down the booth when we could not keep up with the thirsty demand. Likely logged over 1000 guests on our little square yesterday, and Papi withstood a work shift with our local United Nations- Women of the Year- hundred and 50 years married- horse empire- volunteer coordinator, who literally elbowed me out of the way if I stood between her and the cash box, and came within inches of having a stress fried embolism on the spot; in anticipation of which she instructed me to step over her and continue selling cider until my shift, for which we had to pinky shake.
See the attached pictures for a short chronicle of the People of Cider Daze.
From the booth, it was on to the community supper at the Odd Fellows Hall, which was even more chaotic, disorganized and crazed than usual. We survived the usual onslaught of seemingly holocaust-like starved diners, who paid $15.00 a head in the belief that they could have as many helpings as they wished, and be served at a level to be expected at the Waldorf. When I was told there were only 16 more portions, I went out to tell the waiting throngs, still on line for a second seating. I barely escaped been lynched over the murk of Star Lake. Thus, I got out my Ray Donovan baseball bat from the trunk, swinging it wildly, until the famished, hangry-drenched leaf peepers dispersed, only to reappear screaming for supper moments later. In the end, the Odd Fellows (which they most certainly are) decided to feed all at the expense of not having any food left over to feed the exhausted volunteers………. At which point I retrieved the bat once again from the trunk……………………… And thus, we ate.
So, I’m hiding out trying to figure out how I can avoid playing through the monsoon this afternoon, and enjoying the peace and quiet of my secret Blog-world. The Queen and Jane have already left for the day to serve the howling throngs……… Got to go get my big boy pants.
Off this week to Baltimore for my 15 years- i-n development Family-Engaged case plan training with a cohort of selected folks from around the country; my dream project coming to fruition after a decade and a half of toil, to which I owe many thanks to the Casey Foundation for its ongoing and relentless support.
Back at ya next week- same time, same place. Aloha, The Papi-San
“Who knows this morning what will happen tonight?” ………………………Chinese Proverb
“Autumn coming is felt not only in the autumn breeze” ……………………..Hokushi
“Coma, coma, coma, Chameleon” ……………………………………………Boy George
OMG…did I miss a week?……………………..Did you miss the week? Did we all miss the week?……………………….too, too much Juju …nowhere to run, nowhere to hide……. Time has come today……TIME…….
As you might imagine, the birthday six weeks for The Queen has taken up some bandwidth and put me in arrears…in a rears?………..so, the gala had continued since we last spoke unabated, with a trip to Les Left Bank in Weston, for a decent diner in an elegant dining room at haute Paris prices…then back to our fave, The Hub, for the monthly FREE lunch…yes, my friends, there is the free lunch (are you hearing me, Feel?)….a magnificent offering, I might add, in this uniquely renovated old Vermont farmhouse , and then on to the Eastern townships of Quebec, for three days of Franco immersion…you might wonder if we are on the stretch run, yet? Non, mais Non. ….still have a fancy ass diner, two more fall outings and an overnight concert trip to go…..I hear the train a comin’, it’s comin; round the bend, and I ain’t seen the sunlight, since…I don’t know when….
The free lunch was surrounded by an inspired day of roaming the hills with The Southies…..who joined us, and got the place to open up the bar for them , at the free community duffer lunch…and patently drove around in circles with us for several hours…..ah…the leaves…ah, the leaves….
After that, Papi was off for three days to CHITOWN, via the hated drive to Hartford, to find The Bear…..stayed in the River North area and wandered my old haunts from my five year run there a decade ago….and did eventually find the Bear’s Italian Beef shrine……dined outside on a lovely fall night at a traditional Italian family joint, watching the big town crowds stroll by well towards midnight…not Kansas anymore, Dorothea…..got to site visit a 28 million dollar neighborhood community mobilization program deep n the hood, that was beyond awe-inspiring…..art, music, podcasts, science, theater, journalism……all for inner city kids to deter them from the system pipeline….take a moment and google –“Build- Chicago”….a testament to the power of vision and positive regard…and hope, hope, hope…..
Came home long enough to spend a day, wash the clothes, pick up the little woman and the hound…and of course, checked in on the return of the grievous Dumpmaster after his two week absence…spent an hour sitting next to him in front of the garbage compactor to see if he would rise to assist…..which he did not, but offer a profound running commentary for each and every dump patron….thinking maybe this is a job for em next year?
From there it was on to cross the border……though it is certainly not the Trumpsters’ border…Les Quebecois are happy to have is…and our own border guards remain proficient at practicing total intimidation, rudeness and inability to smile …I tried several jokes which came close to landing me on a transport to Mexico…but in the end we crossed back thru the quietest crossing on earth …one border guy was snoring in his chair…and managed to bring Lucy back in without being imprisoned…bit, I digress….ah, Quebec….two hour drive to cross the border and within five minutes, into a French immersion course…no anglais, non anglais……found our lil’ chalet in the forest and started our tour…highlighted by L’Abbay du Lac de Benior….a 200 year- old Huguenot order of Benedictine Monks (the silent types) that is magnificent and fully self-sufficient, set in a valley surrounded by the Laurentian’s range….bought a bag of their orchard grown apples- for three bucks American…dollar is bustling north of the border….wow…wandered around the townships in search of Gamache…..and fining somewhere to eat (Sunday thru Tuesday having become a dining wasteland in our necks of the woods)…but managed to find a spectacular Patisserie for les deserts and French cook at home dinners. Then a Parisian sidewalk café in Sutton pour les dejeuner, in the extraordinary afternoon fall sunlight… even having dinner at golf course (only place open for Monday dinner in a 40 mile radius) …food ok- but with a incredible deck view of the sunset mountains in every direction…all accomplished in mumbled Francais.…oui, merci, bon, tres bon, bien, tres bien…ou est la toilette, Merdi, d ’accord….i think that’s about it, non?
So good, we are considering a return trip Les Quebecois instead of annual trek to Maine coast………….
Still waiting for a painter…….
Pond now down four feet- nor rain in a month- and still 70 plus daily….no climate change here……but really, hard to complain…fuck the grandkids…..let them worry about it………
Finished our meanderings with trip down the northeast 91 corridor to nowhere, Connecticut for our sixth annual Bronx reunion………..which is akin to being on the set of Good fellas…….guns and pasta abound…..but re-connecting with friends of 65 to 70 years (no shit!) …Priceless…two unable to come this year…but we still mythically reminisced of the bygone glories of 1950-60s Bronx life……and all the legends that go with it…pas the braciole…..
Got back in time for our annual showing, in our tiny library, of the Manhattan Shorts Film festival……Mt. Holly is one of several hundred venues around the globe, along with Paris, London, New York, Berlin…and us…………. how weird is that? My vote for this year’s best picture of the ten finalists we saw (we all get a vote- even in Belmont, which crowns the international winner)-was for a four minute film, that was able to show a near-tragic and hilarious and heartfelt story in that amount of time…that is brilliance in my book….I’m gonna work on becoming such a storyteller…imagine reading the Blog in four minutes…….
So on to sister Jane’s annual fall visit this week and Cider Daze, our crazed fall fest, next weekend…..hear the sound of the men working on the ch…aainn gang……and, The Beat Goes On…..
“Whiter than the stones of Stone Mountain- autumn wind.” ………………………………………………………………………………… Basho
“Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone” ………………………………………………………………………………………Alan Watts
“Autumn’s first morning! The bare foot knows it on the newly washed porch” ……………Ishu
Mama said there’d be months like this, there’d be months like this my Mama said. We are in the thick of six weeks of b’day, having now completed half of the BIG-8 of bedazzlements……are we there yet? The Queen is taking it all in stride with a wink and a smile….and, of course, a few extra property makeover tasks…lately focusing on the clearing of yet another area out back to become a NEW (yes, NEW) grassless garden extravaganza of some hybrid ilk…….so been hacking and sawing and digging and…finally……bolt cutting 100 year-old fence….which has revealed the original stone wall….yes, there are stone walls in Vermont (everywhere)…..I was so moved by this unveiling, that I got a broom and swept off the 175 years of old wall detritus….which to my great fortune, nobody saw me doing….or would have had a scarlet F (Flatlander) on my breast for the rest of my days………..
So…how about a week of lists? Ya know, ya LOV that, right…………. wham, bam…………. thank you, m ’am……..
TQ BIG-ASS Birthday Adventures
Sunday was a God-day……78, sunny, puffy clouds, big blue windows behind the stars, yellow mon on the rise, big birds flying across the sky……. took the A-train (The magnificent Route 3o Lake Champlain Valley corridor of Beauty) up to Middlebury for Art (Lucy in alleged service dog mode for entry) (“why is she with you when your wife has the emotional support needs?) (Answer” we are practicing to help her in small increments not be so dam needy”) ……after art and walks it was twilight dinner on the VARANDAH….at the Waybury Inn, which is like eating on the set of the Newhart show (which it was)
Tuesday was High Tea (Really, no shit) at The Hub at Weston…. with us and 50 local blue bloods- we had to take a crash course on speaking in erudite for this, you know the audio books you go to sleep with) and…practice drinking tea with pinky appropriately extended. Jenn was the youngest person there by several decades and I may have been second……the menu was entirely based on The Queens’ (not ours) Cookbook and was carefully curated between each course, as to which reign each offering came from…and ……. we had to wear little Elizabethan hats…… PRETTY COOL…wit Pym’s cup for cocktails (really)
Tonight is Le Dejeuner Au Le Banke au Gauche (they’ll ban me for that spelling) ……at the newest de-riguer offering for southern Vermont…. pied la terrase…………can I still wear shorts and flip flops? After that, we are back on track this week for the Master and Elusive Free Lunch and next weekends’ escape to Quebec
And in between, we fit in a dinner party, with ten guests, almost none of whom we had ever dined with or had in our house before (though The empress was here) ….and included our local Corn-fed, Cornhusker Elder Who May Be The Only College Educated Nebraskan Jew To Go To Vietnam (CCEWMBTOCENJTGTV).……was that Abe Vigoda in our house? Despite no one knowing anyone, we had a splendid dinner. Highlighted by the blueberry cobbler from outer space made and offered by the Once Shicksa- now converted bride of the CCEWMBTOCENJTGTV…………………
Observations of the Week
The Circle Remains Unbroken-as the folk club has taken its weekly muse to the deck of our critically ill longtime member……paying it back or forward, not sure which……but providing a weekly respite from the grief and dying process……. a humbling and highly magical experience
The Dumpmaster can stand at his work-as evidenced by his return to duty and being paired with the again subbing retired town official (won’t go into that nickname again- got a lot of shit for that in last week’s blog…. like responses to the “60 years in the closet” …. ugghhh…did it again)
John Adams was the bomb
Chickenshit, I’m the Best __ ever President, woman really love me, fuck the rest of the world, Pretender n’ Chief is refusing to have another debate with Kamala……No Mas, No Mas……….let’s get this over with and put him out to pasture, please…with an orange jumpsuit, of course…..thinking Attica…..
It takes, on average, about 18 months, to find a person willing to start painting your house…and only after 17 no shows….I found a crumpled up note with a phone number on the road and called the number on it to see if was a heavenly sent painter…….
Vermonty Shit
The Greens become less so in September
No-one really knows what makes it a good or bad foliage year…. too cold/too hot…. too dry/too wet……. not enough Bernie sightings in home state…poor sales of Birkenstocks and /or Subaru’s…maybe it is random???!!??/
If you head out at 5 pm and look for a dirt road to walk on …. you will see G_D……money back guarantee….
Apple Cider Donuts……’nuff aid
THE POND essentially disappears after not a drop of rain for a month
Pot luck dinners almost always wind up with an abundance of one food genre…. often dessert…. but can also result in everyone bringing a SPREAD (open for interpretation of category)
A badly sharpened chain for the saw is almost like sitting through a formal Passover Seder before you can eat
How can a town with 640 people have three fine dining establishments and a noted atge tatter?
Do blue bloods actually still wear those little hats anymore?
People are VERY friendly when it is 72 degrees and sunny every day
Signs, signs everywhere a sign…do this…don’t do that…can’t you read the sign………
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to THE QUEEN…………… …Long live The Queen………………
“Master your instrument, Master the music, and then forget all that Bullsh*t……and just play”….Charlie Parker
“Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da…Da-Da………DA, DA, DA……’…you say it’s your birthday” …You Know Who!!
“Out of intense complexities, simplicities emerge” ………………………Winston Churchill
Oh…. what a beautiful morning…………………………. Perfect for the start of The Queen’s birthday month…. Feel and Mo just hit the road after a splendido overnight to kick off the birthday celebration……… on their to two (TUTU? weeks in Maine, and started their journey with their annual visit, they took us out for Jenn’s birthday to the magnificently decadent Homestyle Hostel in Ludlow.……………. For previously unheard of libations and the grand gastronomy…………. we are all still feeling like we are carrying the weight of the dinner 12 hours later………
So, with the game afoot for six weeks of birthday activities to get started with today, The Blog will need to feature assorted random thoughts……….
Let’s talk about the immensely popular text response trend of “Loved, Liked, Laughed, Questioned”, as an apparently necessary time saving mechanism for our very busy daily lives……………. Firstly, I have finally acclimated to learning how to interpret both mimes and the cute little letters like LOL, TTYL, OMG…. which took me years………and now we have these nutcake responses……such as “Liked” to my text of “cannot talk toady, attending a friend’s funeral OR, “Loved” to “feeling sick, going to the doctor” OR “Laughed “to “I’m really worried about our democracy” ……well you get the drift…SO, what the F___…I may be a luddite………………but OMG…. REALLY? /??//
TQ and sister Jane had a wonderful week of not eating or drinking much of anything at an all- inclusive in Cancun (Best customers ever for the resort’s bottom line)…and I got the week of cat care…my one goal to keep Gracie alive for the week…..not dying on my watch…which requires multiple pills daily, cleaning up her projectile vomiting before she re-heats it, and sitting with her for nine required feedings a cay so he might deign to eat …this is TRAUMA….The Trailer Masseuse came over to help a few times, and was a but paralyzed to not hurt her…so we freaked together…then …The Empress came over, grabbed her, told us both to suck it up and shut up, and jammed her pill down her throat…MORE Trauma…no mas…no mas…MORE TRAUMA…
BOTTOM LINE….al six pounds of GRACIE MAY LIVES!!!!!!!!!
And how about TQ The Terrorist…busted coming and going by customs for “RANDOM” bag checks and “special persons of interest” boarding…. did not appear very likely to make it home…and managed to arrive near midnight Friday…after 13 hours of travel….to Albany International (they fly to Montreal?) ….
AND…………. Birthday month is now Birthday SIX WEEKS…….
Can Sam Spade be alive? Check out bizarre new show on Netflix with the retired gumshoe played by Clive Owen (Bogey he is not!) ….
Does Papi like being home alone?……total engagement in dirt road/leaf peeping obsession with walks with Lucy…and peak late day autumn light time……Oh….DA LITE….OH, DA LITE….Livin’ on sponge cake, watchin’ the sun bake…..in one week I had dinners of fried fish platter (twice), franks and beans, leftover tuna casserole, and some breakfast for dinner at 10 pm omelet concoction…………and watched 65 hours of baseball…..all of which may have compensated for cat feedings, medicines and litter boxes….one day i went to Rutland and forgot to come back……If only there was a nearby White Castle….that would be PERFECT…..
Speaking of late night and Albany airport pickups……let home with Lucy at around 8 pm Friday….and had found not much one for dining/time killing……but this one weird little Italian joint, Giuseppe’s, up on hill that we regularly pass, and wonder about , on the 7 in nowhere land……was open till midnight….not shockingly, turned out to be more dive than classic road hose….but hey, you play the cards you are dealt…..so had a nice dinner actually, including a piece of chicken parm that was clearly one whole chicken..…which I ate all of (pattern?)… …a nice Chianti (fave beans anyone) …and when it came the time to pay discovered it was cash only…. NOT…. So gave the owner my meager $20 so waitress could get tip and could pay at least part of my tab and they insisted I skip the rst….no worries…so, although we have learned there is clearly no FREE Lunch…there is, apparently, free dinner…but, oh the SHAME…. SHAME…. time to ill…. Catskill….
And Saturday, The Dumpmaster was absent along with ADM…. replaced by the Murmuring- Never Look At You, Been-In- The- Closet –for- 60 years- Retired Town Treasurer (MNLAYBITCFSYRTT)- who actually stood up when cars arrived with trash and recycling……. which The Dumpmaster never does……fortunately TDM was gone for the week, and not gone to meet his maker…WHEW……
And The Pond…best late season ever……starting to look like Monet’s’ Giverny…No?
So- good for you? Good for me! Got to go see a man about a horse…. upward, onward…Today’s b’day events: art in Middlebury and dinner at the Waybury Inn (filming spot for the last Newhart show) …much more B’day to come, which you no doubt will wait for reporting of with baited breath…as will we…and The Queen goes on……80 and sunny……
“You are not allowed to travel at night, but you must arrive by daybreak” ……………………… ZEN
“Life does not worry about Life. Only the mind does that” …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Mooji
“Don’t remind me of my failures, I have not forgotten them” ………………………………………………………………………………………………………Jackson Browne
Well, it’s been a longish week, starting with the end of Labor Day weekend, thru the determined march of change of season…………………… Into the feel of autumn’s quietude, and now facing a week of relative solitude, catch-up duties, full freedom of time and place………. the cat goes away………. Leaving mice -boy to play…………………………
Left the metropolis of Albany this morning in 75° sunshine……… to reach mountain gloom in early afternoon, creaking out at a chilly 5 5 and heading down………………… made for a cuddle and couch nap with Lucy-lou and various unwanted cats crawling on me.……………… After depositing The Queen at the Airport pre-dawn for a weeklong jaunt in Cancun, with Sister Jane……………………. guessing warmer there than here……
Left behind with the honey-dew, two needy cats whom I usually try to ignore, but for whom I need to play Florence Nightingale for coming week…. And see who survives……… But, generally…might be a rest time for Papi……so aiming for short and sweet on the blog front for this edition…….
Spent Monday, Labor Day, checking out Vermont’s newest dispensary, down in Chester, which despite neon lights and caviar, was nothing special……………………. But there was free lunch……. Returning from that, we finally tracked down Norm, the elusive paint –meister, to talk about more house painting without our taking on that full-time obligation again……………………… He was excited to see us, proclaimed having painted our house many times, and was eager to come take a look……………… Which he soon did, offering us great closure on this giant project, but he said he could start immediately and finish very soon for a quite reasonable price……………………. He showed up the next day, fully emulating one of the dwarfs from the hobbit, with his elfin wife……. only to let us know that he was not there to paint…. but…. that his wife had experienced great trauma with her parents (we need to know this why?) which we learned was Old George who occasionally has mowed for us……. and whom, they could not be around……. ever…. even for a minute…………………… So painting job out…………. How hard can it be to find someone to paint your house…………………. Apparently a rhetorical question here on The Mount……………………… Talk about deflating…………………
Mountain tradespeople……………………………. Can’t live with them……. Can’t live without ‘em……
Is there anything better than late afternoon autumnal light?
My self-image to the contrary………………………… I have become a huge fan of The Price Chopper…no shit….
And, what’s not to like about spending an afternoon on Rutland’s miracle mile for the weekly take the wagon to town-shop till you drop…………………………………. A little spaceship car wash………………………… A little Birkenstock at the Co-op, a quick stop at Ramuntos……………. a few catch up calls as I mosey along in the autumn sunshine………………. Oh, give me a home- where the buffalo roam……….
TQ was unable to hook in her favorite contractors for a variety of must do, before she leaves…. projects …………….so Papi quit working on Friday and got out the recalcitrant chainsaw, the circular and the Zaw….and the big –ass hybrid nail-screws and tackled the we-0have-to get-this dome last minute list ………………
So, Saturday completed the work week, dropped off the hound, let his Dumpmaster –self hug TQ goodbye and headed down the 7 to Albany- town for the night, to get The Queen off to the Tropics on the Sunday dawn-ish flight………………………… spent the night at the Marriott…which, as it turned out, was just what the Dr. ordered…………………… Bumped to a top floor suite in loyalty- royalty status (they know A Queen when they see one) ………………… We arrived there for a rainy Saturday afternoon and never left the room……………………. Napping, watched a movie, got a bit tipsy…. and ordering what may have been the best delivery Mediterranean takeout food in history for in room dining………………was it really that good…………. or you know, you know………………but, it was damn good………………….
Then the alarm goes off 4:00 AM, then the front desk calls 10 minutes later for the 4:30 shuttle ride …………. And then the moron calls again at 4:28 after she has left the room……………. Rousing an unhappy sleeping…. Recouped for a bit more Z’s, got out for a brisk run, hit the mediocre breakfast buffet……………. and hit the road………………. Picking up Lucy at the Masseuse trailer and arriving home to the crazed cats……………
And now, Papi done in……. now it’s time to say goodbye to all out family…. M…I…C …see ya real soon……………K…E…Y………why, because we love you…….
Back on the train now………………. Diners, Drives and Dive-ins…. we had it all, we had it all……………
“A school of trout passed by: the color of the water” ……………………………Buson
“I find myself still softly searching for my Delinquent Palaces— “………………Emily Dickinson
“Well, never mind, we are ugly, but we have the music.” ………………………..Leonard
Well, I’m again a day late and a dollar short, which I was reminded of moments ago by Sister Jane, who was wondering what the hell happened to Blog Sunday. Not much of excuse, but it’s been a long Labor Day weekend, with much to do and see.
Fall is clearly in the air; wet grass morning dew, lower clouds, days in the high seventies with nights in the low forties, brilliant late afternoon light casting everything in an impressionist glow……… And all around the Red Maples beginning to change……………… The game is afoot.
The Queen took off this week to the Islands, such as they are, for three days with The Retired Empress of GE. Whilst they frolicked on bikes around the shores of Lake Champlain, Papi tended to the Workaday Willie life, keeping any embers at The Manse, and assuming the burden of care for the very needy cats.
Started the week on Monday night with Folk Club on the deck of the Empresses house, in order to include her ex, John, a longtime musical partner, now at home with hospice in the last stages of life. Since he can no longer come, we took the jam to him; a magical night on their magnificent deck with the million-dollar view, right up to the sunset. John was able to play along with one hand on his percussion, and seemed the most joyful since he became ill………. A great joy was had by all.
On Tuesday, continued the Grief Tour, inviting both the Erstwhile Russian Spy and The Self-Proclaimed Trophy Wife, both of whom are mourning lost spouses, down to The Hub at Weston, for the spectacular monthly FREE community gourmet lunch…………………………………… which, alas, had been canceled without notice as we arrived to a dark dining room. Being in the middle of nowhere, that led us to a disappointing repast of weenies and Creamees at Mildred’s Dairy Bar at the ubiquitous Vermont Country Store. Thus, I am ready to proclaim there is no Free Lunch……… (tho, are going to try again today and the grand opening of the Chester dispensary)
Lucy and I got out this week for multiple glorious late afternoon sunlight, dirt road walks extravaganzas…… This is it!!!!!
I have taken on a new bestie, with my long-term acquaintance, and God’s Own Mandolin Player, who has recently taken to calling me multiple times each week just to “Check-in” ………………. He has decided that I am his “musical inspiration”, which is not only semi-unbelievable, but a big-ass cross to bear, as I am hardly my own musical inspiration……………………
We have again come to money time at Okemo, where while waiting for the onslaught of leaf peepers, I remain typically the only human being in the magnificent workout facility, pool and hot tub………. My own little Garden of Eden…………….
Have I mentioned that our adopted little daily visiting friend, Ivy, is being evicted from up the road with her struggling father, Dennis, having to move to points unknown…. We’re hiding the information from Lucy, but beginning to grieve nonetheless………
And, daughter Tess, once my struggling child, was presented with an annual employee recognition award by giant Nationwide Insurance…………. What a long strange trip it’s been…… She is also considering taking up golfing, which you can see by this photo, which would be stranger yet.
Hot town, summer in the city……………………. Spent hours roaming around the metropolis of Rutland, with weekly shopping day on Thursday……………………. Up and down the monotonous miracle mile………………. Three different grocery stores in search of the elusive Bob’s Red Mill thick cut……. A Queen necessity………… though almost nothing new has been built or opened in Rutland in the last decade, we now have the giant state of the art spaceship car wash………………. The USA Today claims it to be one of the best places to work in America…. really, no shit………… And which is offering unlimited, washes for a month for $5.00……………………… even though I hate car washes, just could not pass up such a deal?
Friday night we ventured north on Route Seven up to tiny hamlet of Pittsford, for a performance of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra string quartet for a sunset serenade……………… We had nabbed eight free tickets, but in the end all dropped out (including both of the free lunch despondents- possibly no longer trusting any of my free offerings) ………. We were joined by the elusive Masseuse in the Trailer, in a rare public outing for her………………………… the magnificent show took place at the 200-year-old Pittsford Farm homestead………………. Surrounded by mountains on a gorgeous autumn night as the sun set in the distance to the sounds of Bach (and Lennon) ………
People clearly have trouble making commitments in The Greens………………. Possibly the mountain way?…………………………. But on the other side there are events like this with the majesty of nature, highly evolved kids, honored Elders and an array of mutts………… beauty is beauty……
After Fridays’ glory, Saturday was a bust………………………. After we have hung out with the Dumpmaster, the Assistant DM and the Growling Dwarf from Down the Hill, having their usual Saturday morning summit Dump, which requires a minimum of 45 minutes’ investment……. And then stopped at the Empresses house to do a quick drop-off, but became a Hospice visit……………………. All of which resulted in late day rain and another……………Yes, another missed free lunch at a Ludlow Fest……………………………….
Sunday was our annual trek to the Calvin Coolidge Homestead, for the annual Folk and Blues festival, an extraordinary event in a brilliant setting, of the best of Vermont Culture……… Highlighted this year by a local legend Rick Reddington and his Tough Love band…………………. The perfect day in a perfect place……………………… With a family of four toddlers lying by us, and finding that Lucy was the perfect size for them to wrestle with…………. Music from as far away as Madagascar, with what might be the most mellow concert crowd in history……………. What a day…
We completed the week with an outside dinner, just down the road in Cuttingsville, at the Rooster, facing the wonderful old cemetery as the sun sets and the air chills……. And on into Belmont for one of our towns’ most unusual in yearly events……… whence our little library becomes a 1940s Harlem speakeasy Cabaret for one night………. With local celebrities Joe and Alexis, now well into their seventies, continuing to provide brilliant takes on the Gershwin, Berlin, and Cole Porter song books on standup bass and classic torch- siren vocals……………… white tablecloths, candlelit and flower strewn tables transport back to a time……. These folks are music royalty, even learning that Alexis’ mother sang with the Gene Krupa Band in the 40s and 50s…holy buckets……
And that, my friends, is certainly enough………………… So happy trails to you until we meet again……
“The flowers fall for all our yearning; weeds grow, regardless of our dislike” ……………ZEN
“AH…The uguisu pooped on the rice cakes on the verandah?” ………………………Are You Kidding?
“Ooh, Baby, Baby…. It’s a Wild World” …………………………………………………………………………………………………Cat Stevens
Well, it’s been a quiet week at The Mount; the week of recovery and renewal……………………… And very, VERY quiet. After an incredible six weeks of house painting, trekking across the country for a visit to the heartland, the exotica of Band Week and then a week of granddaughters………………………… It was time to turn off and tune out…………………………………. Still, here are my ruminations on late August in The Greens:
This week’s Fun Vermont Fact: there is still an original living Von Trapp family member hanging out up Stowe way…………………………… At the Trapp Family Lodge…………………. where the Sound of Music remains vibrant………………………… Sadly, no Julie Andrews…………………………………….
My ZEN observation of the week: “there was nothing about this turnoff that suggested this” ………………
Mid-August in Vermont means 75 degree day’s journey into 35° nights……………………… And sneaking peeks at the start of our Leafy Glory…………………………… More to come…….
After a certain age the role of Death and Dying becomes stunningly more prominent……………………………… We lost one acquaintance here our first nine years of living here…………………………… Over the last three, we have had four people pass, two friends losetheir spouse, and regularly seen to have people in Hospice……………………… Aging is not for Wussies, my friends……………
Sunday’s are often highlight days for us- meandering drives, dirt road walks and search for adventure……… Last week the drive was down the western slopes to little Putney………. A walk on the great Rail Trails system, lunch on the ground, the drive up the Route 30 Falcons Cliffs corridor……………… Abandoned buildings and factories tell us stories of times and lives gone by………………. Listen closely and you can hear the shadows………………………….
Have you ever considered the number of abandoned campuses in this country………………………? Last week we came upon the beauty and serenity of the late Green Mountain college in Poultney…… abandoned five years ago for not meeting the threshold of economic viability…………………………. It now sits as a magnificent post monument to education, thriving community and ideals……………………………… But let’s be real, how many homeless people could be housed on these campuses……………how many events that could help the community thrive could be happening…………………. Use the empty, fill the void……
This Sunday, we wandered east to Chester and Bellows Falls (then donning our masks to slip over to the Land of Live FREE or Die -for cheap alcohol purchase) ………………………. stopped at a giant Estate sale, (Does an “Estate Sale” by title, increase prices by 50% over plain old yard and garage sales?) ………. On to a dirt road hike at the Andover Road Pass …………………………. That produced the latest entry in the Queens effort to fulfill her palatial dreams via scavenging…………………. This, producing a new rule that all outings need be accompanied by the collection a flat river rocks……… Which could lead to reaching appropriate accumulation and become a true Vermonty stone wall right in our front yard………………………………… Further pushing our Flatlander-ness to the distant past……
We seem to lately have made inroads into inclusion with the hirsute fifth local in- crowd, such as it is………………………… But with regular invitations to a ménage of community gatherings…………. Most of which The Queen attends…………………………… And for which the Papi routinely hides………. Though the weekly Monday night music has recently become quite improvisational…………. Sending the traditional Folkies scampering for the exits………………… While the cats are away……….
How about Bernie?………………………. 81 years of fire and brimstone………………………… And then, the Obama royalty………………………………. What a party………………………. The most restored my faith in the potential of our democracy has been in some time…………… And where in the world has this Kamala been………………………. Taking my breath away at the moment……………. What a novel idea that we might have dignity at our helm.………. And that the Complainer N’ Chief may be more likely to wear an orange jumpsuit then to take up space at the Oval………………………………………. please don’t bury me in that cold, cold ground…………. I’d rather that you cut me up, and pass me all around…………
In my search to replace my late point and shoot camera, I took it this week down to Trader Ricks’ House of Bizarre, in West Rutland………………………………………. At which you can buy the remnants of every attic, basement, garage and self-storage unit for the entire Northeast United States……………………… That is, if you can make it down one of the aisles without being crushed by ancient trombones, shovels, axes or un-sheathed swords……………………………. And all forms of 30 year defunct electronics…………… But no point and shoot……….
Thursday was catch up shopping day ……………………………… So into Rutland for the Miracle Mile and shop till we drop………………………………… Sneaking in a visit to Ernie’s Hand Carved for a lo-cal pastrami and corned beef combo……………………. Followed by some local donuts…………………… On the way home, scored a single remaining tickets to Weston playhouse (you can always find ONE ticket…………………………. Since The Queen was busy with her Court, took myself out for the solo theater outing and the magnificence of The Porch on Windy Hill…………… the premier of a wonderful new play, focusing on the post-Covid hate experiences of Asian Americans, but set in the heart of Appalachian town…………………… and with an extraordinary threesome of musicians creating brilliant old timey Americana music ……………………. Quite a contrast, scoring big both dramatically and musically………. A rare feat…… 20 dark- road minutes there and 20 home…… Allowing for an almost Broadway experience…. With free parking……………….
Headed up on Saturday night to Lake Nineveh to play music for a gathering of the elite…………. At a small private beach to which we would not usually be welcomed…………. But music is the ultimate remover of barriers……………………. Maybe we need a better sound system at the border……………. C’mon people now, smile on your brother….
And that my friends, is most certainly enough…………………… Without doubt for you and beyond doubt……. for me………
Keep coming back……………………………… It works if you work it……………………………Papi
