World Dairy Expo

I'm writing this from beautiful Madison, Wisconsin, where I've just presented at the Wisconsin Council of Teachers of English. The first thing the cab driver said when I got into the cab yesterday at the airport was, "Are you here for the World Dairy Expo?" Unfortunately, I had to say no, and unfortunately I haven't had time to visit the expo. But I did walk up and down State Street yesterday, and went in all the used book stores and think I even got a book that I've wanted that is no longer in print. And a novelizaton from the old Ben Casey TV series. I had to stop, because I only have a tiny suitcase with me and a laptop bag. I also found all kinds of posters and prints and calendars and even a refrigerator magnet with Harry Langdon. I also found some buttons that said "Jesus was a community organizer. Pilate was a governor." Every time I went anywhere on campus, there were people asking passersby if they were registered to vote "at the address where you are currently living." I got back to my room last night early enough to watch some of the vice presidential debate, but I soon fell asleep and was only awakened about 2:00 a.m. when apparently the bars were closing, and a steady (or actually unsteady) parade of young men and women went down the street. What awakened me was their singing. It seemed like they frequently broke into song as they went down the street. When I went to the window, I also saw a couple in the midst of what appeared to be a heated argument. She came to a complete stop, and he came back to talk to her, putting his arms on her shoulders. After a few moments, she unfolded her arms, and they walked off together, huddling together to keep warm.