I Know Why the Caged Cricket Sings

Pete's been brown-bagging as of late. Today: Black olive tapenade and sharp cheddar on a ciabatta, and a zucchini and carrot salad with a wildcatted horseradish mustard, black pepper, and orange juice dressing. But a break in the depressing weather forced Pete to fly the coop for a Watermelon Sorbet--refreshing, but still haven't found a flavor that matches their pumpkin pie ice cream--from the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. and nest in Columbus Park (whose daily scene Pete briefly documented here previously) while watching the cherry blossoms float like feathers in the air and listen to the birds--caged and uncaged--sing their spring songs. Pete loves parks. Pete also thinks American's should come up with creative ways to use parks the way people in other countries do. For example, in China, people bring their caged birds and caged crickets(!) and hang the cages from the trees; and in Korea, there are outlets in the ground so people (mostly old men) can plug in their portable karaoke--translation: empty orchestra--machines. Pete did once attend an illegal dance party in a rose garden--the DJ plugged in a boom box and Pete and friends shook to "Paul's Boutique" all night long, well, until the cops showed up, so Pete is doing his part.