Time for a Sno-Bliz

Mmm.



That hit the spot.

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Dog Days

Oh, he was sleeping alright.  Like a lush in the late morning sun.

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Back on the Bayou

Sighting the gray-blue expanse of Lake Pontchartrain through scattered clouds, I stowed my book and gazed out the window.

I-10 appeared, a tiny causeway lifeline connecting New Orleans with the mainland.  It lay like a double thread across great expanses of green punctuated by darker green cypresses, crisscrossed with canals.

But then the green stopped.  The water ceased at a solid line on the rapidly approaching horizon.  And the city, the outermost extent of the New Orleans metro area, confronted the swamp in a clear and defiant front.

It was strange how familiar, how cozy it felt to return.  And not at all strange how sticky the air felt as I left the terminal, squished into the back of a classmate's car between a dog kennel and the door, my legs up on a stack of stuff.  The city's heart appeared gradually on the horizon, the Superdome loomed at last.

St. Charles was quite as I ran uptown.  The egrets in their Audubon island rookery seemed like a cloud had alighted in the oaks for the evening, their brethren still high above, like a Bierstadt panorama in rash of pale orange and purples amidst the scattering slate gray.  The sluggish waters of the park are now fully sealed in green.  The darkness under the live oaks slipped out and overcame the park.

The vines have grown higher on the house since I departed two weeks ago, the insect choir outside in the gathering dark has hit a higher pitch.

My car, too, groans a little louder than usual, its power steering out of whack.  I only hope I can make it across the ferry tomorrow as I begin my work with the judge across the river.

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State Street and A Summer Dream

Somebody get me an accordion.

The Farmer's Market is in full swing here in downtown Madison, and I had a sudden urge to get out an instrument and do some busking once again.  Cheese and zucchini bread made a nice breakfast in the perfect weather as the crowds circled the Square to sounds of fiddlers, washboard, drums, and bluegrass.

It's been one languorous summer dream here in Madison for the past two days.  Gentle breezes, warmth without humidity, and a parade of wonderful surprise encounters with old friends, neighbors, classmates, and relatives amidst backyard barbecues, pitchers on the Terrace, and fireworks.  A classic chance meetup at the Plaza made for quite the Kodak moment in the back pool room - bloggers, politicos, old classmates, and veteran newspapermen, a surprise barback, and some strangers who, to my bewilderment, recognized me as "Ryan Servais' cousin."  There were former co-workers and dorm floormates from Memorial Union to the Comeback Inn, from under the old diamond pattern ceiling at Mickie's Dairy Bar to here at the computer station at Michaelangelo's Coffeeshop atop State Street.

The places and patterns of life in Madison remain largely familiar and the same.  Although a few things have changed - the venerable Mellow Yellow house in the Greenbush has been razed.  The high water has Brittingham Bay looking completely weed/algae free for the first time ever since I've known of it.  And new shops are trickling onto the State Street corner of the Capitol Square.

What a relaxing, rejuvenating weekend in a beautiful summery town.

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A summer invitation from LIB

We know you're out there. We know you have opinions, ideas, and experiences. And that you wouldn't mind sharing them.

Please do!

If you would like to do some guest blogging here at Letters in Bottles this summer - even just a single post, let us know by contacting us at the e-mail addresses on the sidebar.

Tell us something interesting about your corner of the world. Or share your take on the latest development in the presidential race or world affairs. Review a book, a beer, a movie, an album, a state or national park, a concert, a blog, a new building, a restaurant. Interview someone or share a unique photo or drawing.

We'd love to hear your ideas.

Cordially yours,

LIB

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Magnolias in Bloom

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Summer Reading List

What's on your list this summer?

I'm halfway through Faulkner's trying "Absalom, Absalom," and tentatively I'm looking at Greenspan's autobiography, The Great Gatsby (somehow not read in high school), a Brian Greene book, and possibly Toobin's "The Nine" - which I've heard is worth a read from friends.

Any additional suggestions?

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