802 Online Archives

Yes, I'm obsessed with the love affair between my housemate's cat and my neurotic little chihuahua mix. Also obsessed with my new digital camera.

Lucy loves Dilly!

Just got off the phone with Vermont's esteemed Senator Pat Leahy. I interviewed him for a story I'm writing about Clear Path International , a VT-based land mine and bomb accident survivor's group that operates in Southeast Asia.

Toward the end of our conversation, I said, "Senator, I saw an article yesterday that mentioned you being sworn in by Vice President Dick Cheney."

"Yeah," he said, "Being sworn in is better than being sworn at."

I just got a call from a coffeeshop entreprenuer (who would rather I didn't release her name just yet) who told me that she and a business partner have been negotiating with the landlord who owns the Hanson Block (home of the newly relocated Casey Family Services). They plan to open their quirky, London Underground-themed cafe in May.

This is big news.

Of course, I talked her ear off about how important it is to offer free wi-fi — which is cheap and extremely useful for people like me. And told her how excited I am at the prospect of walking to my satellite office every day rather than driving 10 minutes like I do to Speeder and Earl's on Pine Street. I think she got the message. Too soon to tell, though.

If they don't offer wi-fi, I'm still going to Speeder's.

Hear that? I will drive 10 minutes to drink coffee and use free wi-fi rather than support a Winooski business. Yes, internet access really is that important.

fyi — Word on the street is that the landlord is asking a bundle for that space, no surprise given that once the redevelopment's done, Winooski's downtown could turn into a less-sprawly version of Williston's Maple Tree Place. I hope these jive java mamas can pay their pricey rent in the absence of much parking. Reconstruction of Main Street, right outside their doors, will also being this spring. Not the most auspicious beginning.

At long last, Seven Days has a new website. Looks good, I think, though Don is still working out the kinks. Anybody have any feedback?

Two new noteworthy features: an archive (starting more or less with this issue — previous issues coming soon!) and the addition of scene@, one of my favorite parts of the paper. It's a short column in the front of the calendar section that is often witty and artful. Especially (ahem) when I write it.

Yes, this is my first blog post in a month. I've been busy. As of right now, I'm more or less a one-woman show at the Eagle. I have a couple ad designers (who may or may not meet their deadlines), a guy who does the layout, a few columnists, a photograper who takes a few pictures each month, an accountant, and me.

Wait, you say, that sounds like more than one person! Well, yeah, it does. Ok, so maybe I'm being overly dramatic. My point is that I have to coordinate the efforts of every one of these folks, and I'm selling all the ads, and I'm the editor and I'm the only reporter and I'm not getting paid. Wah, wah, wah, come to my pity party, it's a 24-hour affair.

Seriously, though, it's a lot of work, and I don't really have time for it. I'm hoping to make a deal that'll lessen my work load, and maybe give me a monthly stipend. Stay tuned for details.

I guess this is why nobody wants to publish community newspapers anymore.