And whiskers on kittens.....

In lieu of my usual rambling, half-baked essay, today I'm going to indulge in one of those random-list blogs. Why? Because, I'm feeling oh-soooo-lazy this morning. I couldn't come up with a clever metaphor to save my very soul. If in fact it needed saving in the first place. And so.....

Nitro Vista presents:
"The Things I'm Digging At The Moment List for May 23, 2008"
(in no particular order)

1. Peanut cilantro pesto from Middlebury Hills Cooperative Farm, Barneveld, WI

Available from the Thursday Farmer's Market in beautiful downtown Podunky, this stuff is more addictive than heroin; er, so they tell me, anyway. My culinary guilty pleasure of the spring. Try it over rice noodles with a little grilled chicken, fresh peas, and crumbled feta cheese. Your family will think you are a kitchen GOD (or Goddess). It's also a cheaper addiction than heroin, but just barely, at $4.50 per 4 oz. jar.

2. Lee Marvin & Burt Lancaster in "The Professionals" (1966)

I've never been a big fan of Westerns, but this one is a beaut. I took a flyer on a totally random Netflix recommendation, and thank them profusely for providing me with this gem. Great acting, great plot twists, and beautiful cinematography. Sure, there's a lot of shootin' and ridin', but there's a whole lot more. Pure old-school primal escapism. This one gets the coveted 4-1/2 Legos on the vaunted Vista rating scale.

3. The fact that the Green Bay Packers pre-training camp workouts are receiving more local sports coverage than any sport actually conducting its season at the moment. (What baseball? What Indy 500? Go Pack, Go!)

Football is year round in Wisconsin. And I don't have a problem with that.

4. Cool music in surprising places

I walked into 'World of Variety,' our local everything-but-meat general store yesterday to hear Ryan Adams' "Gold" playing from speakers that usually provide generic background muzak. I was so impressed, I bought scotch tape and a Gatorade. A simple thank you from a simple man.

Add this to the Townes Van Zandt overheard at the coffee house, and it was a good week for background music in Podunky.

5. Writing snarling, sarcastic letters-to-the-editor of the local newspaper

Papa Bear sounds off on his favorite whipping boys, the inept village board, in this week's Podunky paper. During my past incarnation as a staff writer for said rag, I was sworn to keep my opinions in check in the name of objective journalism. Now, as a mere occasional contributor, I can fire away with impunity. Reignited, and it feels so good.....

I continue to piss off the old guard, but honest-to-God: those folks are big fucking idiots.

6. Michael Perry

Wisconsin born, bred, and based, humorist Mike Perry is one damned fine (and funny) writer. If you've never read one of his books, well, it's your loss. As my local readers (all three of you) know, he's kind of a hero of mine. I figure since I'm too old to emulate astronauts or Brett Favre or the like, a real-live published writer who also revels in the joy and heartache of small town 'Sconsin living keeps me dreaming those big dreams.

7. Memorial Day Weekend

Because it's the semi-official start of summer.

Right?

Enjoy your long weekend, folks. And go, Danica.