Cabin disco ball

This summer I spent a lot of time riding with my friend Aaron. On our rides in Waitsfield and Waterbury we talked about all kinds of stuff. He was going through a bunch of personal stuff and change in living situation, in his case getting back to his own place that he was building. He kept promising that as soon as his house was ready, we would have a mudslide, wood stove and disco ball night. That night finally came.

His place is off the grid, no electric service, no running water. Like staying in a backwoods cabin, but so close to Sugarbush that we could hear the snowguns. He doctored the mudslides so I could drink ‘em (no coffee = no kaluha for me) and set around the woodstove catching up with new and old friends.
Woke up to this face, a few inches of fresh snow and bluebird skies. Murphy is a flood foster, her house was ruined in the flood and Tab’s been fostering her since early September while her people attempt to rebuild their house.
Speaking of the flood, Waterbury is still messed up. Yes, most people are rebuilding and getting back into their houses, but the town isn’t the same without the 1200 people that worked in the flooded state complex. There used to be insane traffic stretching through town at the end of the day, now you can just walk across the street without waiting for the light because there is no traffic. Businesses are empty and things are tough.

The sympbolic Phoenix of Waterbury

This weekend was the River of Light parade, organized by the art teacher at the elementary school. The kids made lanterns to carry and artists collaborated on large, elaborate lanterns and everyone marched through the town to the sounds of Sambutacada. I walked with Keiran and a lot of friends. There were spectators lining the streets and it just seemed great to see the town alive again, even for just one night.

From the trenches of the parade

Dragon lantern

Heading out of town for a couple of days for work. This should be the last one until the new year. Believe it or not, I’m ready to stay in one place for a few weeks.