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The which I am, of course.
I left around 3:40, 3:45 to go for a walk. The rain and snow had stopped, and I figured now was my chance to do the photography I'd meant to do earlier. I'd meant to go to some neighborhoods and do it there but I just figured I'd do main town today - no need to drive, and fun besides. So I walked up the street and the length of main street from the McDonald's to 99W at the far end, taking pictures (actually, I stopped just short of 99 W, at the crossing before). Then I crossed the street and came back. Highlights:
On the way out, I paused to let a couple cars turn into a side street I was about to cross. It's actually harder to get in a left turn there than to cross that street, and that was their opening; there were quite a few cars just behind it. So that delayed me enough that the 10 or 15-car train cut me off, and I wasn't at all sorry 'bout that. More photographs, but only one of the train: as it first came into view. After that I just stood there on the sidewalk, 10 feet shy of the tracks, and listened to the train, felt the train, the basso rumble of its passing in the air and thrumming up through the soles of my feet until it felt stronger in my body than my own heartbeat, the wind following the train and tugging strands of my hair free from under my hood.
There wasn't much on the train, a lot of empty cars, it looked like. Looked like log-cars, maybe going back. When it passed, I crossed the tracks and continued on. Stopped by the creek. On the way back on the other side of the road, I only got a few shots, and then I put my camera away. First, my hands were starting to get stiff from the cold, and I took that to mean it was time to jam them up the opposing sleeves and warm 'em up. Not doable with camera in hand. And second, it had started to rain/snow/rain (it was one or the other, depending on its mood). Absolutely gorgeous, but not my camera's best weather. Glad I got the case I did; it protected it nicely. Also glad it was not trying to do an impression of a violent storm, but rather a light-but-steady shower.
As I got nearer home, I smelled woodsmoke. More images from my childhood, to go with trains and snows, cameras and creeks: there's a day-care center opposite our townhouses. The house next to it had a nicely-smoking chimney and the air for the block and in our parking lot smelled of woodsmoke, very like at home - pine or fir, I think. Sharp, and pleasant. The house next to it had the garage door half-up and was whining with the sounds of a power saw and various other tools as I walked past.
That just felt good. And then stepping into the warmth of home, feeling my cheeks and forehead, ears and hands and arms and feet warm back up. Hot cheese on a bread (microwaved, not fried, but oh well). The fresh-cold scent of snow or icy rain, a scent I can't compare to anything else, clinging a bit to my hair and my clothes.
I was out there...45 minutes or so. Admittedly, it was a casual stroll with many stops. But I feel good, not worn out; and if it's not the recommended style of exercising, it probably still helps. Today is a good day.
I left around 3:40, 3:45 to go for a walk. The rain and snow had stopped, and I figured now was my chance to do the photography I'd meant to do earlier. I'd meant to go to some neighborhoods and do it there but I just figured I'd do main town today - no need to drive, and fun besides. So I walked up the street and the length of main street from the McDonald's to 99W at the far end, taking pictures (actually, I stopped just short of 99 W, at the crossing before). Then I crossed the street and came back. Highlights:
On the way out, I paused to let a couple cars turn into a side street I was about to cross. It's actually harder to get in a left turn there than to cross that street, and that was their opening; there were quite a few cars just behind it. So that delayed me enough that the 10 or 15-car train cut me off, and I wasn't at all sorry 'bout that. More photographs, but only one of the train: as it first came into view. After that I just stood there on the sidewalk, 10 feet shy of the tracks, and listened to the train, felt the train, the basso rumble of its passing in the air and thrumming up through the soles of my feet until it felt stronger in my body than my own heartbeat, the wind following the train and tugging strands of my hair free from under my hood.
There wasn't much on the train, a lot of empty cars, it looked like. Looked like log-cars, maybe going back. When it passed, I crossed the tracks and continued on. Stopped by the creek. On the way back on the other side of the road, I only got a few shots, and then I put my camera away. First, my hands were starting to get stiff from the cold, and I took that to mean it was time to jam them up the opposing sleeves and warm 'em up. Not doable with camera in hand. And second, it had started to rain/snow/rain (it was one or the other, depending on its mood). Absolutely gorgeous, but not my camera's best weather. Glad I got the case I did; it protected it nicely. Also glad it was not trying to do an impression of a violent storm, but rather a light-but-steady shower.
As I got nearer home, I smelled woodsmoke. More images from my childhood, to go with trains and snows, cameras and creeks: there's a day-care center opposite our townhouses. The house next to it had a nicely-smoking chimney and the air for the block and in our parking lot smelled of woodsmoke, very like at home - pine or fir, I think. Sharp, and pleasant. The house next to it had the garage door half-up and was whining with the sounds of a power saw and various other tools as I walked past.
That just felt good. And then stepping into the warmth of home, feeling my cheeks and forehead, ears and hands and arms and feet warm back up. Hot cheese on a bread (microwaved, not fried, but oh well). The fresh-cold scent of snow or icy rain, a scent I can't compare to anything else, clinging a bit to my hair and my clothes.
I was out there...45 minutes or so. Admittedly, it was a casual stroll with many stops. But I feel good, not worn out; and if it's not the recommended style of exercising, it probably still helps. Today is a good day.
