While cruising the overwhelmingly massive burst of new suburban sprawl southeast of denver, I encountered what was easily my largest and effort-free dumpster dive yet: An entire trashbag filled with nothing but large prepackaged sandwiches and salads.

I made hurry. Not wanting to attract any attention amidst the mid-morning yawn of the shopping complex, I slung the entire 30 pound bag over my shoulder, walked directly across the parking lot, deposited the load into Tobias's passenger seat, and drove away.

I ripped it open at a stoplight and examined my loot. Amazing. They were still chilled. I carelessly pulled open one of the sandwich packages and big off a big chunk, all while maintaining pique awareness of my environment.

It was delicious. I munched as I ate, also opening and nibbling at the crisp, cool salad.

As I mindlessly threaded my way through endless sprawl, an idea sprung to mind. But much gas would be spent, circles and spirals would transpire under the razor wire, and the sun rise high in the sky, before the dream would became a reality.

...

East down East Colfax. East down East Colfax. East down East Colfax. East down East Colfax. East down East Colfax. ....

The blue neon glided along, speeding and slowing as traffic allowed -- sometimes SLAMMING the breaks to a halt in the middle of a gas station entryway where a possible pedestrian, or group of pedestrians, had been spotted.

The blasting of the beautifully brash finnish opera music out the windows would rapidly soften -- or sometimes disappear completely -- and the driver would either shout out the window, open the door (occassionally into the flow of oncoming traffic which would then weave around -- but nothing ever came without a clear sign or warning WELL in advance.)

"Would you like a free sandwich? Would you like a free salad? Would you like another? One for your friend too?"

Packages would be tossed, handed, or otherwise transferred into the possession of any passing person who wanted one or more.

Less than an instant later, the car would be back on the road, looking for any hungry souls upon whom the load could be lightened.

Before anyone could even tell what had happened, the mission was over, the car was winding its way down, and the harshness of the "Real World" had already reasserted control.

But the spark was there. The spark was there. Just for an instant. That's all it takes. One tiny, tiny little spark in a fresh pile of kindling.

Alright, so as we found out while camping in the rain last Saturday, sometimes it can take many tries before you get what you want. But eventually, we did have a campfire to warm our wet bodies -- a fire that continued to burn and simmer throughout the night.

This is all I wish for. Nothing more.

...

I was SO INSPIRED this morning when I heard Amy Goodman herself gleefully announce -- from the Pacifica Broadcast Studios in New York -- that a kGNU radio station in BOULDER, COLORADO had finally acquired a license to transmit to the ENTIRE DENVER METRO area. It was only one of the many news blurbs. But it caught my attention, and I was glued to the radio for the rest of the show, and on afterwards...

The transmitter will start broadcasting Sunday. This will be so cool.

Now when I talk about Democracy Now to my friend who lives farther south, I can now tell him that he can listen too. And I can listen in my car when I'm away from Boulder. 1390 AM. YEAH!

I can just feel the energy in the air. GO KGNU!

Gotta get back to work soon. I LOVE THIS DAY!!!!!