MERRY CHRISTMAS

A very MERRY CHRISTMAS

to all those I miss!

No need to worry about me though...

I am warm and happy in a winter wonderland.

you gotta know the rules to break em

For evidence of my total immersion into a new culture, (you may have noticed) my grammar has taken a turn for the worse. Not to worry: it is purely intentional.

As an English major I firmly believe that you gotta know the rules to break em. Anyway I am far more interested in dialect than “proper diction.” The regional dialect of Vermont first took my interest upon meeting Shook back in Baxter, and has kept me laughing ever since.

Earlier this week I drove upta Williston (Shook’s hometown) to do some shopping. Williston Liquidation Center is comparable to Maine’s store Marden’s (not quite as good though). Basically they sell a bit of everything at up to 70% off retail – I ended up buying lycopene, a sweater, and some Ritz crackers.

I had myself a good chuckle when I came across the following items and I hope you will too!

hiking in the snow

I have so far found running to be impossible in the cold, but I do enjoy

hiking in the snow.

Ned took me up the side of South Mountain (yep! they got one too) located just south of Bristol.

We went up the west-facing, steep side, visible to the right in this picture taken from Mountain Street, where the Tellings live.

Here we are standin under a frozen waterfall!

On a very clear day, looking west from here you can see New York’s Adirondack Mountains across the Champlain Valley.

On this day we could see only their outline in the distant clouds.

GRN PL8

Looking around a parking lot in Bristol, you will see almost exclusively
green plates.

the scene today at Shaw's

with Deer Leap mountain behind

Vermonters do not often leave the state, and they freely admit that they do not like others to come visit.

Leaf Peepers invade during the Fall, getting on everyone’s nerves by driving slowly and carefully through the unfamiliar, dangerous roads and offending the locals with Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut license plates. I missed witnessing this phenomenon by showing up after the leaves fell, but I frequently hear all about those unwelcome flatlanders from my new friends here (on a related note...I guess Arizona is far enough away to seem exotic rather than invasive?).

it's okay...winter has its own appeal.

The App Gap: Speed Limit 40mph.

One thing I’ve noticed here is that the posted speed limits tend to actually represent the maximum safe speed.


In Arizona and other places I’ve driven, I estimate that 15 mph over the speed limit is reasonably safe. That isn’t to say that I always travel at 15 over, but it wouldn’t put my life in danger. In Vermont, however, I sometimes have trouble even achieving the speed limit. All the roads are windy through the characteristic hills and valleys, and most follow a river side by side. As a new driver accustomed to travelling in a straight line on “one o’ them roads where you’re goin the same direction as the guy next to you,” with Arizona plates it is difficult to act like you know what you are doing… particularly in inclement weather. I got passed all the time during my first few weeks here.






I must give myself some credit, though: I’ve learned a lot from navigating these curves. I would even say the experience has given me a new appreciation for my sporty little BM’r, especially with brand new studded snow tires and green plates of my own...

sure looks good chillin at home in Lincoln don't she? photo December 2