Saturday, September 27, 2008

Got the Travel Bug

These days, of course, airlines don't really serve food on their flights--even on cross-country flights. So on a recent trip from Burlington, Vermont to Seattle, Lauren and I bought a couple ham sandwiches--from a well-known coffee outlet--when we changed planes in Detroit.

The first one tasted pretty good, although the panini or whatever they used for bread was pretty dry.

When hunger returned, somewhere over Montana, we pulled out the second sandwich. But before we could even open the package we noticed it had a passenger: a small, winged insect was moving around in there.

We decided to go hungry.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Shipping Out

David Foster Wallace:
February 21, 1962 – September 12, 2008


"My own terror of appearing sentimental is so strong that I've decided to fight against it, some; but the terror is still there....Do you identify with a distaste/fear about sentimentality? Do you agree that, past a certain line, such distaste can turn everything arch and sneering and too ironic? Or do you have your own set of abstract questions you drive yourself nuts with?"


....In an note to his editor at the New Yorker.

For those unfamiliar with Mr. Wallace and put off, say, by the sheer poundage of "Infinite Jest," please spend an hour or two with his charming and feverish essay about cruise ships. It's marvelous.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Renegade Cows

Renegade Cows

File this under Vermontiana. Some of our local cows got out the other day and had to be herded back to the milking barn. Here they are rounding the corner in front of our house. A couple of guys from the farm followed on foot, running into the woods as needed to herd the girls back onto the road.

This kind of thing is ritualized every year in Brattleboro with the Strolling of the Heifers.

Ah, Vermont.

Friday, September 12, 2008

That Doomed in November Feeling--Again

I try to be optimistic, "hope-y". And mostly I am, because it seems impossible to me that John McCain (and Sarah Palin) could win this election. But then again, people can be amazing. Like the Clinton backers who were so miffed that she didn't get the nomination that they are ready to vote Republican. Or the woman in this audio clip.

First, I have to say she is actually being pretty brave. She is saying these words in a NPR "Race and Politcs" discussion forum with whites, blacks, and latinos, people from her community of York, Pennsylvania. She is white, a widower who grew up on a farm that she describes as free from prejudice.









I'm just astounded. And not. I'm both.

If this is the kind of thing that keeps Obama from getting elected in November, this country is doomed. I mean, feel free to vote based on suitability to run a country. But sheesh. Canada is looking better every day.

Full report here.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Welcome to the New Memory Pebble

Teague

Hola. Welcome to the new home of Memory Pebble. More later!