in ur tree, hangin wif mah homiez

The county fair is in town, which means it is almost in my backyard! We live just a few blocks from the fairgrounds, and we were a bit worried about the noise from the outdoor concerts they hold each year about this time. Last year, we were serenaded with the stylings of Styx on our porch at the old place (domo arigato, free-o concerto), and since that house was five or six blocks farther away from the fair, we were apprehensive.

Turns out the music is only slightly more noticable, and we couldn't even hear it when we shut the door. I did wave an imaginary candle in the air in my yard during REO Speedwagon's "I'm Gonna Keep on Lovin' You," though. We're not close enough to the fair to be affected by parked-up streets or even people walking by, so there was just about no impact.

I say "just about" because we did have some visitors. The carnies parked up the fields behind the fair buildings (on our side of the fairgrounds). A creek runs through those fields, and they are home to lots of critters, who were suddenly displaced. On one night, we not only had a visit from a 'possum, but a family of four raccoons moved in and slept all day in our tree. I asked them politely to vacate the premises, and I got nothing but 'tude:

I believe this is raccoon for "talk to the hand."

They said they were friends of Trevor Chang, our resident and possibly departed raccoon, and our elm tree made for an excellent one-bedroom apartment.

Next year, I'm charging rent.