My daily drive

Every morning I commute past Pike Industries on my way to work, and every morning I am greeted by this beautiful sign on Cindy Bushong's lawn- it reads:

NO REDI-MIX CONCRETE PLANT PIKE INDUSTRIES GO AWAY!

It's like a morning cup of coffee, I've come to appreciate it and look forward to it each day. I applaud Cindy for being brave and making such a huge statement. You unite us all and inspire us to create things like this weblog.

But then I drive past Cindy's sign and I encounter Pike's entrance. Their sign is like a cold, lifeless stare. The twin metal gates to their asphalt plant are like the arms of a machine. Recently the machine came back to life, after over a year of non-operation. It was like Pike flipped the switch just to spite us all- attempting to protect themselves from future non-operational arguments, yet giving more weight to the original argument of non-operation.

Some days the machine tries to spit at me, and I find myself behind, or a few cars behind, one of their asphalt dump trucks. They spew toxic fumes and steal my fresh air- forcing me to roll up my windows, or put the air on recycle. Sometimes, but not every time, they feature a helpful warning label - "CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE: DO NOT FOLLOW." Do not follow Pike Industries? I think that label should appear on EVERY one of your trucks, heck, make it your corporate motto- because following you is like following poison. Your concrete plant will likely force us all to not only roll up the windows in our cars, but also force us to close the windows of our homes. You could be stealing our town's fresh air- and for some, you could be stealing their very breath.

So Cindy I join you here, and shout from my rooftop and for all the world and internet to hear: NO REDI-MIX CONCRETE PLANT PIKE INDUSTRIES GO AWAY!