September 2023
YOUR NINTH BULLETIN FROM BART
When was the last time you were in a cave? Me? It was only about 2-3 weeks ago. I’ve been in at least 5, which is apparently a lot of caves. I’ve toured Seneca Caverns in Bellevue, Ohio numerous times so if you count those then my cave count is more like idk, 10?
(Me in the Howe Caverns, Schoharie New York)
Touring caves is one of the most interesting things one can do in terms of Americana-tourist trap-road trip-Clark Griswold-vacation-time waste-fun. I highly recommend it! Most were discovered in the 19th century; you get an incredible story about some dipshit farmer or teenager falling in a hole only do discover an incredible system of caverns below the earth. There is something macabre and romantic about the whole ordeal. At the very least when visiting, you’ll have a performance by a passionate, local guide who is highly likely to be a current or former, attention grabbing, theater kid. That alone is worth the time spent underground. If you’re lucky you can take an underground boat ride like we did last month, or have an unexpected, moving, spiritual moment like I did in a private cave in a rural part of the outskirts of Mexico City back in 2019.
Touring a cave is both entertaining and educational. When I toured Mammoth Cave in Kentucky back in the 90s the tour guide made the following joke and I think of it at least once a year:
(Referring to when a stalactite that meets a stalagmite and they grow together)
We call ‘em columns down here, because in Kentucky? We sleep on pillars.
My goal for Bart Bulletin has always been to share with you my passions and encourage you to discover something you hadn’t considered before. (Sorry for all the country music, I guess!) Spelunking is apparently my passion, and I encourage you to cast away claustrophobia and enter a cave of your very own. If you do please let me know.
Listening
I Wanted to write something about the road trip I took with my dad where we listened to the new album: August and Everything After. I think I’ll write that for myself but you should listen to it this month. On September 14th it turns 30 years old. It’s one of the first albums I had a strong affinity for.
Reading
I can’t remember why I wanted to share this one but I felt better after reading it!
Writing this bulletin is a vibe.
Let’s all watch Women’s Professional Sports! In fact the newsletter that Just Women’s Sports puts out is short, sweet, highly readable. There is always an interesting fact to share with a fellow sports fan. I recommend!
Eating
If you’re into the concept of “girl dinner” I recommend packing yourself an adult lunchable for lunch. Mine includes one of those genius half sleeves of Ritz crackers, a few slices of Ham Style cut into small bits, mustard or hummus. A packet of olives from my friend Joe.
And these- if you like Lara bars the Good n Gather version are comparable and are all I eat.
This Delighted Me
“She wouldn’t promote my rock album.” Now this is royal behavior!
Note to self: watch clips of top ten lists from the 90s on YouTube.
And within the porch, a little more Removed beyond the evening chill, The father sat, and told them tales Of wrecks in the great September gales, Of pirates coasting the Spanish Main, And ships that never came back again, The chance and change of a sailor's life, Want and plenty, rest and strife, His roving fancy, like the wind, That nothing can stay and nothing can bind