"Always Kansas" is the title of a particularly gloomy Fred Eaglesmith song ("It's always Kansas, that's where I always break down..."), but this piece owes much of its inspiration to Edward Hopper, no beacon of cheerfulness himself. I like the device Hopper uses in his painting "House By A Railroad", where the berm of the railroad bed separates the viewer from the subject matter. As they say, a good thief tips his hat, and I steal from him fairly often, so thanks, Edward, I appreciate it.