So.. I had a rude awakening this morning. I learned that my favorite flowering plant is considered to be an ‘invasive species’ here in Vermont. Every year at this time the paths near the river where we run get covered with beautiful. fragrant pink, purple and white flowers called Dame’s Rocket.

The Rivershore path in particular gets transformed into flowering garden tour…

This morning I ran into our neighbors Joyce and John that Dame’s Rocket is one of those uninvited species that’s supposedly driving out the indigenous species around the river..   I wander what species those are ? These have been around Vermont for the nearly 30 years I’ve been here..  I’ve been thinking about this all day.. somehow it seems to be a metaphor for life.. but I can’t quite make out how.. Maybe labeling a plant invasive’ is simply a matter of us resisting change… clinging to the past somehow.. Maybe we’re all ‘invasive species’.. I suspect that neurotic Jewish engineers from Texas like me were introduced to Vermont accidentally and have virtually taken over our corner of Jonesville.. not as nature intended to be sure.. Maybe all of us European’s that have settled the US are ‘invasive’ .. Certainly we’ve choked out the indigenous species that were doing just fine before we arrived..

OK.. maybe I’m thinking too much about this…   I just hope they let us keep our Damn rockets.. I mean Dame’s rockets. ..

The rest of the day was busy around the house.. We got the pool going.. did some cleaning, cut the grass… etc… I also put in several hours o work.. This past  week I didn’t get much work done.. Memorial day. Sam’s birthday then Gabe’s field trip. I’m feeling quite behind. I still have several more hours of work tonight..

We did take a break around 6 to go catch the tail end of ‘teen fest’ .. It was a big 2 day show at the Fairgrounds for all things teen.. they had vendors set up, a fashion show  and a battle of the bands contest. We went to see our friends Skanky Green compete. They’d made it into the finals !..   We ran into them in the parking lot before the show..

While we waited for the bands to play.. we took a short lap around the exhibits.. There was some cool stuff.. not many folks to see it, though.. We saw our friend Ginger from Bead Crazy,

Dylan and his friends doing custom Graffiti !

… and crazy Tom letting kids shoot incandescent light bulbs with paint guns in order to drive home the point for switching to compact fluorescents. Here he is covered with broken glass !

As soon as the music started we went in to listen. there were 5 bands playing for a $1500 grand prize.  There was a guy selling some cool rave toys..

Skanky Green was the 4th of the bands to play.. the did a great set.. playing 2 original numbers. They got the place really moving..  

We thought they were clearly one of the best 2 bands there.. Alas… the judges thought differently.. They chose an acoustic string band from Harwood and a 7 piece jam band from Mount Abe as the two finalists..   I was sad for the Skanky-men.. and I was so proud of them..

We stopped on the way hoem to get a bite to eat at the Quiznos in Taft’s corners.. two cars ahead of us we saw a car with a ‘Sam Forever’ sticker. It might have been Barry’s… but we wern’t sure.. We stuck a SamStone on it just in case.

OK.. I have to go work now.. this week is going to be very, very busy… and I need to get somewhat prepared..  Happy June everyone.. You too Sam..
-me