There's No Place Like The Rut

We've just arrived back in Rutland after four weeks away. Some things have changed (Connick's has a stall at the Rutland Farmers' Market, hooray) and some things have remained the same (the mall is still devoid of any character whatsoever).

The one thing that remains refreshingly the same is the Rut's ability to make us laugh via the random things that we see on one given day. We kid you not, our first day back in The Rut, we snapped the following:

1. A bra strewn on the sidewalk on Woodstock Avenue

Out for an afternoon stroll, the four members of our walking party had a laugh out loud moment when we walked past a bra on the sidewalk (hey, we'll readily admit small things amuse small minds). We were a little way away from the closest laundromat so we don't think this fell out of someone's laundry bag. We hope it was a little spring fling and nothing nefarious.

2. A fire next door to Applebee's

After a few drinks at the Downtown Tavern we headed to Applebee's for a very late dinner and were somewhat shocked to see what appeared to be a raging fire next door. No one was panicking so we quizzed our server who just shrugged his shoulders and said 'oh, that's our neighbors, they light fires all the time'. Fair enough, it was a pretty cold night for May.

3. A woman carrying an open laptop while crossing South Main Street with her family

Not sure why you would need to have your laptop open while out on a walk (she's behind the girl with the giant purple ball). Random GPS application? Hell, we have no idea, we just love the entire photo - from the giant ball to the laptop to the dog straining to get off its leash.

It's great to be home! There really is no place like the Rut.

Do You Recognize These Men?

By night they're known as the rockin' and oddly named trio Bogo Guppy. By day this trio rock and rolls in an entirely different fashion.

Our friend Butternut dragged us out last Friday night and despite Rut Girl's persistent flu, she abated, intrigued by the fact that Butternut told us her favorite bus driver plays in the band.

Imagine our surprise when we arrived at the Downtown Tavern and spied a man that looked very familiar to us.

Yes, turns out Butternut's favorite bus driver is Rut Girl's least favorite driver. Regular readers of The Rut will probably remember Rut Girl's encounter with Ross earlier in the month when he declared The Bus would go on strike after voters declined ongoing funding.

You can revisit that delightful ride here.......on the plus side for Ross we did discover he rescued a kitten last year, so we're open to giving him another chance.

So raging and ranting Ross Vumbaco spends his days driving The Bus but he's not the only band member renowned for his day job.

The carving Ken Marisseau, who sings and plays the guitar, is head of Killington Resort's Ski School and has quite a rock and roll past, having played in ski school bands for an eternity.

The swinging Chris Cornelius, who sings and plays the bass, is Rutland's own Dr Feelgood and gets pulses racing at his local clinic. Well actually, maybe not. According to some of the reviews we found online, Dr Cornelius may have gone to the same customer service school as Ross. Maybe the pair should give up their day jobs!

The band entertained the appreciative crowd at the Downtown Tavern with sets of covers including Alien Ant Farm's version of Smooth Criminal, which they dedicated to the late Corey Haim.

It took a while but eventually patrons followed one Guppy Groupie's impassioned plea to join her (we think she might be Ross' wife) and grooved the night away. We particularly like the man doing the two beer fist pump.