One more day waiting for the elephant to expose its presence by dropping a load. The day started with treats and a whimsically worded sign "Going Out of Business Party" set up by some wag at the office, possibly myself. Got a big laugh out of everyone. I understand the DOT gang hosted a "Last Supper" potluck. Man I love how we rise or perhaps fall with adversity. Sure beats P'ing & M'ing.
A few more clusters and rumors but hardly any hand wringing observed. Everyone is too busy. Rather like getting ready for vacation and trying to get what is totally essential completed before the proverbial ax falls.
Asked the boy what I would do in my lay off status. He mentioned a porch needing painting and someone to tote that bale and lift that barge to create the patio extension I have been wanting. Momentarily at a loss to think "I must work" in my layoff status - which of course as a State worker I am so unaccustomed. I quickly pointed out that although the labor is cheap, there is little capital available for materials. Whew-dodged that bullet.
Perhaps we should go back to the Silver Lake region to ride the wild sandy buggies. That one sublime moment when we plunge over the hill at 30 mind blowing miles per hour with hands raised, screaming our guts out sounds like a definite cure for something. As a fitting punishment I propose strapping our clueless legislators to the back bumper and letting them feel the grainy soil on their backsides until they agree that fighting like kids in a sandbox can really be painful! As Captain Picard would say "Make it so Ensign".
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
LIKE SOME CHEESE WITH THAT WHINE??
It's official. We have been led astray by the the velvet voiced Karen from Australia and Jill from the good old U S of A. All over the "little" peninsulas due north of Traverse City. Did you know they make WINE up there? Right, we didn't either : ). But Karen our traveling vixen knew and led us to one improbable bucolic setting after another, where we discovered, much to our amazement, that Michigan grows grapes!!! And, and, and, we make nectar from these grapes!!!!
Ooh Ooh just one little taste. I promise I won't buy anymore unless it's something very extraordinary and different. Wrong. Bought from every one. And I am happy. No wait, did not buy at Shady Lane Cellars located in the "spectacular, refurbished cobblestone chicken coop". No doubt the ordure overwhelmed the odor. Did buy a totally appropriate tee shirt proclaiming WINE GODDESS for myself. Slightly less pretentious than the WINE SNOB shirt I contemplated but it just did not fit the boy.
BEL LAGO, BLACK STAR, CHATEAU de LEELANAU, CHATEAU FONTAINE,LEELANAU CELLARS and Gill's Pier & Delicatessen. Don't the names just roll off the tongue? And trust me a little taste (or six or seven) at each delectable stop did not dull this sharp tongued connoisseur (or common sewer) of the grape. I shrewdly swirled, tasted, rolled, spat (swallowed often) and chose with discrimination and class. Price was no object or at least was not objectionable. My designated driver gave up midway through the adventure forcing me to offer him tiny tastes of some wines that were "just too exciting to not try just a little". Or just taking his tastes for him. I am not high, just very happy and charming and possibly more witty than I remember.
As for Jill or Karen or Eleanor, she travels with both Burt or myself as a constant reminder of roads less traveled or newly traveled. Of the sheer lunacy of trying to read a map upside down or sideways and still getting it wrong. She gently, yet insistently reminds us of the next turn and, when we run astray, calmly proclaims "Reconfiguring" sending us in a subtle but gentle loop and putting us back on track. No recriminations, just a clear-eyed guide to the proper path. Rather an analogy for life I think. Thank goodness for the military putting all those little "spies in the sky" to help us locate ourselves.
Ooh Ooh just one little taste. I promise I won't buy anymore unless it's something very extraordinary and different. Wrong. Bought from every one. And I am happy. No wait, did not buy at Shady Lane Cellars located in the "spectacular, refurbished cobblestone chicken coop". No doubt the ordure overwhelmed the odor. Did buy a totally appropriate tee shirt proclaiming WINE GODDESS for myself. Slightly less pretentious than the WINE SNOB shirt I contemplated but it just did not fit the boy.
BEL LAGO, BLACK STAR, CHATEAU de LEELANAU, CHATEAU FONTAINE,LEELANAU CELLARS and Gill's Pier & Delicatessen. Don't the names just roll off the tongue? And trust me a little taste (or six or seven) at each delectable stop did not dull this sharp tongued connoisseur (or common sewer) of the grape. I shrewdly swirled, tasted, rolled, spat (swallowed often) and chose with discrimination and class. Price was no object or at least was not objectionable. My designated driver gave up midway through the adventure forcing me to offer him tiny tastes of some wines that were "just too exciting to not try just a little". Or just taking his tastes for him. I am not high, just very happy and charming and possibly more witty than I remember.
As for Jill or Karen or Eleanor, she travels with both Burt or myself as a constant reminder of roads less traveled or newly traveled. Of the sheer lunacy of trying to read a map upside down or sideways and still getting it wrong. She gently, yet insistently reminds us of the next turn and, when we run astray, calmly proclaims "Reconfiguring" sending us in a subtle but gentle loop and putting us back on track. No recriminations, just a clear-eyed guide to the proper path. Rather an analogy for life I think. Thank goodness for the military putting all those little "spies in the sky" to help us locate ourselves.
STATELY SCENES
3 Days and counting. Well we keep on a'keeping on with the damn elephant in the living room. Shall we blame the legislature? Engler? Big Business? Iraq? Oh wait, it's all those selfish state workers who refuse to quit working. Anyway I guess all of the above.
But no huddled masses and wringing of hands. Offers of "I can't disappoint this group of people", "how do we hold this meeting?" "Is there anything else we can do to help?" Rather humbling to realize that even in the midst of bad news and even less hope, people keep doing the right thing. Might even readjust my naturally cynical view of people. We feel the pain of our brothers and sisters in Michigan and, especially poignant, many Lansing folk have both GM and State worker breadwinners. Especially scary times.
There is actually a slightly inappropriate carnival atmosphere. Rather the way people respond when the disaster actually hits - a level of subdued excitement that the worst really happened and how well can I deal with it. How will I cope? Me, I just think, cool, I can finish a couple of sticky projects that refuse to be tamed amidst the usual work time interruptions and other priorities tugging at my skirts. We will be just fine-whatever happens.
But no huddled masses and wringing of hands. Offers of "I can't disappoint this group of people", "how do we hold this meeting?" "Is there anything else we can do to help?" Rather humbling to realize that even in the midst of bad news and even less hope, people keep doing the right thing. Might even readjust my naturally cynical view of people. We feel the pain of our brothers and sisters in Michigan and, especially poignant, many Lansing folk have both GM and State worker breadwinners. Especially scary times.
There is actually a slightly inappropriate carnival atmosphere. Rather the way people respond when the disaster actually hits - a level of subdued excitement that the worst really happened and how well can I deal with it. How will I cope? Me, I just think, cool, I can finish a couple of sticky projects that refuse to be tamed amidst the usual work time interruptions and other priorities tugging at my skirts. We will be just fine-whatever happens.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
