Ahhh...construction

For the last few weeks, the street where I live has been closed - torn up completely while the city replaces pipes. My bus stop has been moved 5 blocks further away, getting in and out of my driveway is an offroad adventure, rusty water spurts out of my faucets and everything at street level is covered in a fine layer dust. And I couldn't be happier.

Yes, it's true. After years of complaining about Madison's two seasons - winter and construction - I have seen the light. You see, my street is typically a busy, one-way thoroughfare through Madison's East Side. In the summer months when most people are opening their windows at night to let in the cool air, I'm busting out the white noise machines to let me sleep through the street noise. But not this summer, my friends. This summer my busy street has been transformed into a lazy backwater. Neighbors linger on porches in the evenings, chatting. Mountain bikers careen down the street, practicing their mountain-biking moves. By 10:00 pm, it's as quiet on Gorham Street as country lane, and I drift into a long, peaceful night's snooze, window opened wide, to be awakened at 6 am by - get this - birds. Birds! Bliss. [Disclaimer: I'm just as likely to be woken by the greyhound]

Alas, all good things come to an end and so will this construction project. Work is slated to be complete by August 19th. I'm praying for delays!