The problem with pushing the envelope is sometimes the envelope breaks. Last week, ours exploded. I’m still picking up the pieces, but it looks like things are finally under control. I could go a long time without having another two weeks at work like the last two weeks, thank you very much.

Spycars on parade, preparing to capture the 8-Track Gorilla. It was Athfest this weekend, and the hills were alive with the sound of music. Things didn’t work out for me this year, and I missed it all.

…the entire fleet of Spy Cars takes to the road in a very special Spy Car Parade. It begins at the Lyndon House Arts Center and will proceed (more or less) down Jackson Street, then onto West Washington Street and back up West Clayton Street. (Whether or not the cars, led by artist Brian Smith, will at that time be continuing their ever-vigilant mission to capture the 8-Track Gorilla has not been disclosed. But the Gorilla will be performing that same night at Tasty World, so be sure to keep an eye out for any suspicious spy activity.)

I’m having a gathering at our house tomorrow. Food, croquet, horseshoes, fire, chicken petting, the works. Starts when people get there in the afternoon and lasts until people leave. If you’re in the area, stop by.

I was at par going into the sixteenth hole, but then the course got tricky and I finished with a +5. I love a good game of miniature golf.

Last night I had the joy of being told “We’ve seen your work, and really liked it, and would like to pay you a healthy sum of money to work with us.” So in October I’ll be directing William Inge’s Bus Stop in a near-by town. They’re not paying me enough to buy the farm, but it’s a mighty good start.

Maybe the government will help me buy the farm.

My hat, it has three corners. Three corners has my hat. And if it had not three corners, it would not be my hat. When I was but small, Iliked that little ditty. I like hats, but I’ve never had a three-cornered one. My hat collection is currently very small, and it doesn’t include any balloon hats, which is a pity, really.

Who knew the The World Adult Kickball Association had player trading cards? Who knew there was a World Adult Kickball Association? Thanks, RandomWalks

Before dinner last night I harvested a bumper crop of Boletus appendiculatus the recent rains had coaxed out of our yard. These are close relatives of the Italian porcini mushroom, and are considered among the most tasty of wild mushrooms. I saw plenty of them last year, but didn’t eat. I’ve read up on them all year long, though, and have put them at the top of the “to hunt for” list. I deep fried them in a small pan of melted butter until they were about half as big as they started and put them atop a pasta with tomato-alfredo sauce. Mmmm-mmmm-good! (Before collecting these or any other mushrooms yourself, know what you’re doing. The visual differences between gastronomical heaven and hell are often sleight.)

It was nice to see the girl from that record store in town get national recognition.