It was as though a shade had been pulled across the sky.
Shortly after noon I had been looking out of my office window at a navy blue sky dotted with cotton ball clouds. Just fifteen minutes later the sky was slate gray. All trace of sunshine was gone.
How could the day have changed from one extreme to the other so quickly? The energy I had been feeling at the prospect of getting outdoors for lunch fled as quickly as the day had changed. Suddenly there was nothing I needed more than a twenty minute power nap.
With nothing but gray and wet in the forecast for the immediate future, perhaps that nap would need to me more than twenty minutes. I thought back to the other night when I had pulled the blankets over my head and mumbled to Motivated Mom, "Wake me when it's seventy degrees outside."
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Morning Shimmer
I'm definitely not a morning person, so when I looked out the window this morning to see water where air should have been I chalked it up to a particularly sluggish start.
An attempt to rub the last vestiges of sleep from eyes did nothing to change the view. Scratching the back of my head, I squinted in an attempt to bring the world into focus - and realized it really was damp enough outside to support aquatic life.
The cars in the driveway reflected a flat, silvery light; the film of frozen moisture making it look like the cars had been shrink wrapped with Mylar. Even the very air shimmered as the sun made a vain attempt to cut through the mist.
A shoulder twitching shiver ran through me at the thought of walking out into the damp cold. The morning agenda was definitely going to be limited to a hot breakfast and several extra cups of steaming tea.
An attempt to rub the last vestiges of sleep from eyes did nothing to change the view. Scratching the back of my head, I squinted in an attempt to bring the world into focus - and realized it really was damp enough outside to support aquatic life.
The cars in the driveway reflected a flat, silvery light; the film of frozen moisture making it look like the cars had been shrink wrapped with Mylar. Even the very air shimmered as the sun made a vain attempt to cut through the mist.
A shoulder twitching shiver ran through me at the thought of walking out into the damp cold. The morning agenda was definitely going to be limited to a hot breakfast and several extra cups of steaming tea.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Green Green Grass of Home
After having to contend with snow in the northern end of the state yesterday and this morning, it was great to return to the greener southern climes.
Many around here would say the grass is more of a brown color at this time of year, but compared to 12 inches of white stuff, it's green - green I tell you!
Next to the golden glow of summer sun, green is the color or warmth. Lush vegetation, trees full of leaf, lawns in need of mowing - all of these scream WARM.
...And limes. Limes with their green color are a key component of those frozen concoctions we love to sip when the mercury rises in the thermometer.
Speaking of frozen concoctions - I see it's five o'clock here.
Think summer!
Many around here would say the grass is more of a brown color at this time of year, but compared to 12 inches of white stuff, it's green - green I tell you!
Next to the golden glow of summer sun, green is the color or warmth. Lush vegetation, trees full of leaf, lawns in need of mowing - all of these scream WARM.
...And limes. Limes with their green color are a key component of those frozen concoctions we love to sip when the mercury rises in the thermometer.
Speaking of frozen concoctions - I see it's five o'clock here.
Think summer!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Snow Gets in the Way
The thing about snow is... it gets in the way. That's why so many of us grumble about the white stuff.
Sure a pouring rain can leave us damp and uncomfortable, but with the benefit of a poncho or umbrella we can still go about our business. Splashing through a puddle is inconvenient, but the puddle doesn't need to be moved out of the way.
Having to dig a path to our cars, having to dig our cars out, having to dig our way to the mailbox, all of this is more than inconvenient - it's an additional chore none of us need in an already too busy world.
I fail to understand why civilization ever expanded beyond a narrow equatorial belt.
Sure a pouring rain can leave us damp and uncomfortable, but with the benefit of a poncho or umbrella we can still go about our business. Splashing through a puddle is inconvenient, but the puddle doesn't need to be moved out of the way.
Having to dig a path to our cars, having to dig our cars out, having to dig our way to the mailbox, all of this is more than inconvenient - it's an additional chore none of us need in an already too busy world.
I fail to understand why civilization ever expanded beyond a narrow equatorial belt.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Huntin' Down Cold
The weather here has been such that EVERYBODY talks about the cold. Even folks who normally profess to enjoy the cold are making derogatory comments. I've noticed in conversations that Cold seems to have taken on a life of it's own.
Joe's car didn't start. Not because of low temperatures. Cold prevented Joe's car from starting.
The water main on Ginny's street broke. Not because of low temperatures. Cold made the pipe break.
Billy headed off to school with wet hair and his hat froze to his head. Not because of low temperatures. Cold caused the hat to freeze to Billy's head.
If Cold was smart, Cold would get out of town before angry folks start rounding up a posse. Cold won't stand a chance against a platoon of angry citizens armed with propane heaters and heat guns.
Joe's car didn't start. Not because of low temperatures. Cold prevented Joe's car from starting.
The water main on Ginny's street broke. Not because of low temperatures. Cold made the pipe break.
Billy headed off to school with wet hair and his hat froze to his head. Not because of low temperatures. Cold caused the hat to freeze to Billy's head.
If Cold was smart, Cold would get out of town before angry folks start rounding up a posse. Cold won't stand a chance against a platoon of angry citizens armed with propane heaters and heat guns.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Turbocharged Possum
There was no hesitation on the part of the possum despite being illuminated by the headlights of my car.
The little critter had probably thought it had a clear shot across the winding two lane road... Until I steered my car around the bend just as the possum was reaching the double yellow center line.
With never a thought about changing direction, the possum ramped up from a double to triple time pace. Nose and tail touching the road like a slot car with a pin engaged in the track, the possum's legs were a blur of frantic energy. I could easily imagine the animal muttering oh crap, oh crap, oh crap as my car rolled ever closer.
A slight turn to the left on my part, coupled by a last second kick in of the possum's built in turbocharger (otherwise known as PANIC) led to the ugly critter reaching safety in the brush along the side of the road.
I can picture him now, quietly hanging from the branch of a fallen tree and boasting to his offspring how he was certain he'd outpace the car right from the start.
The little critter had probably thought it had a clear shot across the winding two lane road... Until I steered my car around the bend just as the possum was reaching the double yellow center line.
With never a thought about changing direction, the possum ramped up from a double to triple time pace. Nose and tail touching the road like a slot car with a pin engaged in the track, the possum's legs were a blur of frantic energy. I could easily imagine the animal muttering oh crap, oh crap, oh crap as my car rolled ever closer.
A slight turn to the left on my part, coupled by a last second kick in of the possum's built in turbocharger (otherwise known as PANIC) led to the ugly critter reaching safety in the brush along the side of the road.
I can picture him now, quietly hanging from the branch of a fallen tree and boasting to his offspring how he was certain he'd outpace the car right from the start.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Hotel Sleepless
The slam of a door. Muffled voices. The slam of a door. Laughter. Water running in pipes. A toothbrush being knocked on a sink. The slam of a door. The voice of a woman calling for a companion to wait.
I've always known that a hotel is not a place to get a good night's sleep. I had hoped the bottle of champagne I had shared would allow me to block the ever present sounds of other travelers. Such was not the case.
When a door slammed for the fifth time, I threw back the crisp sheets, padded over to the window, and pulled back the drapery. The clock in front of a nearby bank showed the time to be 2:45. The roads were empty. Nothing moved outside the hotel.
And yet within the walls of the ten story structure from which I stared, people prowled in search of.....
What? I wondered. Certainly not sleep.
I've always known that a hotel is not a place to get a good night's sleep. I had hoped the bottle of champagne I had shared would allow me to block the ever present sounds of other travelers. Such was not the case.
When a door slammed for the fifth time, I threw back the crisp sheets, padded over to the window, and pulled back the drapery. The clock in front of a nearby bank showed the time to be 2:45. The roads were empty. Nothing moved outside the hotel.
And yet within the walls of the ten story structure from which I stared, people prowled in search of.....
What? I wondered. Certainly not sleep.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)