Kalib gets sick and stays home, I take a walk in the cold air and later go on a coffee drive - how much more excitement do you want?
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 4:02AM ;)
I have been very lazy and have yet to dig up any of my winter clothes - if everything hasn't disappeared - or buy new clothing if it has. I was desperate to go on a walk this morning, but with the temperature at -22 (-30 c), I needed some kind of protection.
So I put on an extra sweatshirt, two light jackets and pulled a thin pair of pajama-like cotton pants over my Levi's. In and of themselves, they would not trap much heat, but I reasoned that they would create a layer of air between them and my Levi's and that would be good enough for a relatively short walk. I wouldn't want to be out all day dressed like that, though. Or even for more than just the tiniest while, if there had been a strong wind blowing.
Every single one of my three, good, beaver hats - each worth about $200 - has disappeared, but I found another hat that would do. I had no idea where any gloves were, but my hands are pretty cold-conditioned and I figured that I would be fine if I kept them in my pockets and just pulled them out every now and then to take a picture.
I put on two pairs of socks and then stepped into my regular, kick-around shoes.
As I headed toward the door, I saw these two, engrossed in something going on in Caleb's computer. Little Kalib did not go to daycare today, as he had a bad runny nose, sniffles, and other ailments. Hence, the Kleenix.
On that front, it has now been two weeks since whatever bug struck me, struck me. I hope it was the swine flu, so that I can be done with it. The symptoms read somewhat the same. Probably not, though - that one might still be waiting for me. I am certainly much better than I was two weeks ago, but I remain annoyingly congested and I have a cough that goes away and then comes right back again.
;)
So I walked, and soon I saw a shaft of light falling through the trees, down the road. I could hear a car coming, so I got ready and shot the picture, just as the shadow entered it.
;)
I rounded the corner, walked up the road, then turned around to see what my shadow looked like. I was surprised to see that it was frightened. "Don't shoot!" it shouted silently. "Please! Don't shoot! I have a wife, and kids! And a grandson! Don't shoot! Don't shoot!"
Silly shadow! I didn't even have a gun.
;)
Shortly after I topped the hill and started to head down, a school bus rolled past the end of the road and the way the light looked coming through its window's was amazing. I tried to take a picture, but the pocket camera was just too damned slow.
Sometimes, a school bus will go by and another will soon follow. So, hoping this might happen, I stopped, raised my camera and waited.
After about 15 minutes, none had come. I noticed that my bare fingers were starting to go numb. So I decided to photograph the very next vehicle that came along and call it quits. It was this UPS van. I put my camera back in my pocket, tucked my hands in, too, and headed on, hoping that I might find some moose in the marsh.
;)
I didn't, but even before I got to the marsh, I saw the tracks of a snowshoe hare.
;)
And then two ravens flew over me.
;)
At 4:00 PM, I took my coffee break and here I am, on it, driving down Pittman.
Still on my coffee break, passing by the fire-station. I liked the way it looked, but the damn camera would not focus. Oh well. I took the picture anyway.
Reader Comments (5)
If my hubby walked out the door for a stroll when the temp is -22 and without his gloves, I'd be chewing him royally! Guys who do that need and deserve such. LOL. Nope. We do NOT wish for -22. That's a cold, cold, cold day here. Many winters we will experience something near that, but in a "good" winter, we seldom go below -10. Hope you find your beaver hats..they sound wonderfully warm. I figure if you're gonna wear fur, it needs to be the real thing. None of that faux stuff.
Like WhiteStone, I was thinking that Margie needs to give you a good straightening out. No gloves on -22 degree days? Don't people lose fingers like that? Furthermore, wasn't it you that said, just a few posts back that although you didn't like being cold you loved the cold? Isn't that motivation to go looking for your cold weather clothing?
Jacob looks like a whole different person with his beard. Does he grow it in the winter for warmth?
Hope your little guy feels better. Hope you find your hats. Hope you still have 10 fingers. Hope Margie can talk some sense to you. Gees. I sound like somebody's mother. :^D
By what Whitestone & Debby had to say about your walk, I think that was kinda dangerous? Maybe I would've enjoyed it too? Hee...hee...
I loved the shadow you clicked. I chuckled at your comments that went to well with your shadow!
Oopps...I meant, ' I chuckled at your comments that went too well with your shadow!'
Whitestone - Beaver hats are wonderfully warm. I have never had any parts of my flesh that were covered by beaver hat get cold - even while wandering in real temperatures in the -60's. As for that little jaunt, you must remember that I have spent a great deal of time in cold weather, I know this neighborhood very well and I have a pretty good feel for what I can do and can't do.
Debby - The reason Jacob looks so different is because this is not Jacob, it is Kalib. Again, I was never in the least danger and it is true that I like being in cold, but don't being cold, but I probably have a different definition of what being old is than you do. I could feel the cold, but I never got cold on that walk.
Sandy - Don't worry, I was never in any danger. I know you would have enjoyed it. I do remember how you were shivering when we stopped at that high place in the mountains at night in Otee, where the air felt so good to me after the searing India heat that we had been experiencing down below, so I would have made certain that you were bundled up well against the cold.