Both the region, state, and population are drying out hopefully in the next few days. The areas we ventured into and then home again got more than their fair share in the last 48 hours.
I know I feel saturated but that is OK because we had a great time the last two days. As always it’s good to be home also. I’ll post some shots of our overnight stay in the Eastern Shore town of Easton and visit St Michael’s and Tillman Island tomorrow once I edit a few shots where the lens didn’t get wet.
What is your favorite type of weather? – So ask the Daily Writing prompt.
Sunny, about 85-90 degrees with a mild breeze is my type of weather. Gym shorts, maybe a tee shirt, flip flops, or sneakers. I love absorbing the sun. It’s like this energy that sustains me throughout the year.
From the top down on the car for a warm summer morning ride in the country, pulling a beach towel from the trunk and hitting the sands, or just laying on my deck after a hard day’s work.
I love some summer weather. Even the thunderstorms are interesting to watch. I think I have some storm-chaser genes in my blood somewhere.
Unlike today, where it’s in the mid-40s this morning and a flood watch is in effect. So here is to a better tomorrow.
Today was not a day for my creative endeavors, but it was a very productive day. Tons of family planning for trips were made after exhausting searches and coordinating schedules. It’s also tax season so gathering all that info has been almost completed, mostly by my better half but I contributed several things also.
A haircut was squeezed in this morning, some financial planning this evening, and family and friend communications. Two of those were very important because of close friends with ill family members. A good reminder of how precious life is.
This is a packed week and may be a good test for me to see how much creativity I can cram into a few minutes here and there. A few days with grandchildren, a day of automotive and power equipment repairs, bank and financial appointments, some home repairs, and doctor appointments to make.
Taking advantage of time is so important. Like right now I’m multitasking by listening to some music, editing photos, writing a blog, and making a few prints, before getting back to a few chores.
Could it be, nah, don’t tease me, weatherman. What is this string of 60+ degree days next week and SUN you talk about? It’s got me smiling already and it’s a week away but I can’t help myself. I’ve had it with winter and the snow that is still on the ground and night temps in the 20s.
I’m ready to cut loose in so many ways. Warm up the roads and tires for some cruising. To find my shorts and tee shirts and walking/running shoes. To step onto the porch or deck with bare feet and feel the warmth. Hell, I might just peel the shirt off next week and start working on the tan. Hell YEAH.
Because sunshine and warm weather just inspire me to be outside. Plus the faster it warms up the faster my local snowball stand will thaw out, open, and no longer will look like the shot below.
Random Thoughts of the Day
Just when you’re ready to give up, DON’T.
Things take time. Good things take more time usually.
Upbeat music, upbeat thoughts.
Let me go charge those camera batteries before I forget and get caught short tomorrow. Cold takes a toll on them when outside for a while it seems.
To the road crews of the county and state, who keep our streets safe, I say thank you. That is a tough job and one that is very important.
Well as week 7 of retirement comes to an end, I find that time is going even faster than it did when working. I guess that means I’m having a good time. Doesn’t feel like it at times though. Mostly because of logistical chores and tasks.
But those are mostly complete and time for other things will present itself.
Random Thoughts of the Day
Pizza for breakfast isn’t just for the young, we seniors enjoy it also.
Can’t believe it’s been a decade since a friend passed.
Why does communication with some people seem such a chore?
Maybe Trump should put a pair of his new sneakers on. He’s on a run from Justice.
I got outside before sunrise today. Felt good but a little too cool for my liking. I knew it was going to get windy and blow the snow off the trees so I wanted to get out early.
Shots around in Ellicott City and Woodstock this morning.
Random Thoughts of the Day
I have to work on my patience.
No pitchers and catchers reporting in Maryland today.
That fine line between wet feet and dry is the height of your boots.
My back is sending pain signals earlier than usual.
I’m going to admit it, I’m a winter wimp, if there is a choice to go outside for almost anything, and it’s cold I’ll choose to stay in. Especially when it’s really cold like earlier this January. I can hold my own in the summer heat while those around me melt. I just need to make it through a few more weeks and the difficult part of the year will be behind me.
I can’t stay warm in the winter. Anything under 40 degrees is not comfortable outside. I’d prefer it be over 50 which is really my minimum tolerance level.
So a wet, rainy, snowy morning and windy afternoon is a very good reason to stay inside today. But duty calls and a few errands must be run but that will be this afternoon after the flakes stop.
Random Thoughts of the Day
Clearing clutter slightly faster than creating it is the key.
You don’t need to change your location to change your view.
I’m on another roll. Lots done before the noon hour today.
I think I have a creative way of learning portraiture.
Greetings fellow frozen ones. Outdoors on a wintery day again. The cloths are hung again to dry from the snow. The warm and comfy recliner will soon be visited in between working on a few projects in my office.
I was so pleased earlier when some inspiration and time available just happened to pair up and I worked on a book I’ve started and feel good about what I got done. I’ve read where people schedule their writing times and I just find that difficult.
Lots of times when I sit to do the blog and if nothings coming along I’ll get up and walk away and do something else. Most times I’ll get a photo of mine, new/old and that will inspire a blog and off I go. Most of the time it works that way. But writing for a book and a blog I’m discovering are two different things.
In writing for the book and not using images except from my mind so far. And immediately I found that I can’t sit and write some material when I’m down in spirits. I can knock out a blog on my worst day mentally and still keep it positive for the most part. No such thing in writing books I’ve started so far. Then again maybe I’m trying to write the wrong book, when I’m depressed. I’ve never tried writing something dark.
I hope time allows for me to finish a few works. Don’t know if it will amount to a hill of beans but like blogging, it’s become a purpose.
Random Thoughts of the Day
Snow doesn’t look as deep as it is from an inside window as it does outside with a shovel in your hands.
Try to limit disappointment and then move on.
As is typical. The plow comes down the street as I finish shoveling my driveway. That is just fine though, I’m happy with the job they do in this area with snow removal.
If you look and listen hard, it’s easy to figure out where people stand and their priorities. Now taking that information and processing it can be the hard part for a lot of us.
I’m more the walking type unless I’m playing a sport. Running isn’t something I do much of now. My granddaughter likes it when I run up the street beside the car when she is on her way home and she pretends she’s racing me. I run with my son’s dogs when we watch them.
I probably should run more but I’ve already punished this body a lot so I’ll stick with walking at a good pace. Plus I’m still trying to get in optimum shape by just controlling the intake of food. I’ll do a little running for the sake of running next year when at optimum weight.
But there are times in life when you have to pick up the pace. The last two months of 2023 running what is called for at this time. So I will be huffing and puffing from one task to another and adding more and more as time goes by. It may be one of the busiest pre-holiday periods I can remember.
Lately, it feels the busier I am with other responsibilities, the faster I seem to work here. I’ve seen the downside with some poor editing of myself. I haven’t always used current shots and some have been shorter. I don’t want to give this up because in some ways it’s a positive that keeps me on the right track.
So I raise my game and get the running shoes on and off we go.
On New Year’s Day, I’m going to lay back and only move to bring food to my face and press the remote button.
Random Thoughts of the Day
Tired is not a state of mind, it’s a state of being.
There is far too much chocolate in this house.
I sense a few days coming up when I think I’ll fire up the grill.
Have you ever gotten stuck in some decisions and not taken action? I’ve gotten better at decisions over time but I still struggle from time to time. There are a lot of decisions when it comes to retirement. Tons of them are all significant, but no more than some of the ones you make along the way getting there.
Time tells if you made the right decisions in life. I haven’t made all of them right but I guess I’m making more right than wrong because I see some of the wrong ones costing people big time.
Random Thoughts of the Day
Relief is when you get a call about a biopsy and it’s benign. Stress is when you have another one scheduled for the same day you get the news on the previous week’s test. So I’m somewhere between those two.
It was like 30 degrees warmer this time last week. If I didn’t have to go outside today, I wouldn’t.
When you have to think for other people also, it really keeps you on your toes.
Each day I’m thankful I have a warm shower, food in my stomach, and a roof over my head.
A little rough weather headed to our great state of Maryland today and tomorrow. In looking at webcams of Ocean City it appears the winds are already starting to rock that city with about half of them not responding and the others shaking in the wind and blowing sheets of rain.
Just a little wet here to start the day and I did the storm prep outside yesterday. I hope the weather doesn’t derail plans to see the children today but it’s possible. I don’t want them traveling in high winds and sheets of rain.
Life is a lot like the weather. You really have no control over what it throws at you and when. You might think you can predict it but it always has a surprise for you.
I’m used to getting up early when my back sends me some pain signals. Lots of times I can get back to sleep. Today at 3 am was a bit early and it was the kind that opened my eyes for the rest of the morning at least.
So making the best use of time I headed into the workroom to do a little work with the Dremel tool and hopefully finish a few projects for the kids.
I’m tempted to get out and do a little foul-weather shooting today. I don’t have a good body of work in that area yet.
I really enjoyed cooking dinner last night. I already picked a meal for early next week. I’m looking forward to spending more time in the kitchen and at the grill as the job that pays the bills is more in the rearview mirror.
Random Thoughts of the Day
Welcome to the first day of fall. I hope it’s not an indication of things to come.
No time is going to be lost with this new management in making changes is my first impression.
Wishing one of my best friends good luck today on Kent Island.
One of those days when you wake and charge everything.
I think I’ll take advantage of the hot water we have now and shower just in case we lose power.
Timing is important. I know because I didn’t get the lightning shot I was hoping for below. I know because I’ve missed many shots because of poor timing over the decades. It takes time to get the timing down.
I’m using the tripod more for that heavy Nikon and zoom which makes it more comfortable. And that will come in handy now that we got some warm summer evenings ahead, I’ll be doing some night shooting.
A while back the interface connection on the Nikon to the computer broke. I was bummed because having to send it off to Nikon and the shipping and repair was going to set me back. Then I thought, why not just read the card? The reader device came in today and it works fine and dandy. We are in production again. Not as convenient but workable.
I think it’s funny that time is going to come to an end for another one of my cameras. An old digital Kodak Z812iS which I purchased in 2007. A true workhorse, but when I went to set the date again after charging the battery, I noticed the year stops at 2025. So if I take pictures with it after that it will be as if time had stopped.
I’m trying to get my timing down so I can possibly get 2 posts a day completed.
But first I have to spend some time shooting today. It’s a top priority.
Random Thoughts of the Day
Each time I challenge myself I surprise myself.
I’m tapping my energy reserves way too early in the week.
There is rest and there are naps.
I’ve made a ton of prints from the family vacation. I’d love to bore you all with them but my children are private and I don’t blame them.
It’s going to be a hot one today. Oh yeah, I love it. Put the top down and take an hour’s cruise later.
As was to be expected the cold has gotten my attention. And this coming weekend’s forecast of teens and low 20s will be a wake-up call for all of us. But like I said I want to get out and experience the season and find its charms. Obviously, the weather provides many opportunities to get people and places in very different appearances than any other time of the year.
The holidays get the winter season off to a roaring start. The warmth of family and friends cuts through the season and provides a base for survival. Contact and spirit.
Then the transition from tolerable to intolerable begins in earnest in January. I can hear my friends laughing now at that statement. My desire to venture out into the elements is diminished. My body becomes tense with the chill of getting out of bed in the mornings. Comfort is out of the question with boots, hats, coats, and long pants.
But again, I’m a changed person this year. I started the last week by stepping outside for my break at night. I do that all the time in the other seasons. The still of the night is entertaining and calming at the same time. The quiet compared to the other seasons is quite remarkable.
It’s also amazing what continues to go on regardless of the weather extremes. Deliveries of critical supplies keep coming to stock the shelves at the stores. The garbage continues to be picked up. Power line repairs and other infrastructure work going on. Mail comes, and there is gas at the pumps.
This is a very tough season for those who have to be in the elements. My hat is off to you all. I guess I’ll be joining you for short periods as I try to explore outside in the cold this year. And tomorrow I’ll get a jump on it.
Random Thoughts of the Day
It’s only fitting that I write a post today about the cold when the Green Bay Packers are playing a Monday night game on the Frozen Tundra.
There is only what you are willing to do each day.
When I move my neck some days it sounds like a truck going down a gravel road.
On the good side, I’m loving both of my surgically repaired shoulders. They haven’t felt this good in decades.
Today I learned who wrote “Into each life, some rain must fall” and that was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow from the poem “The Rainy Day”. I was thinking of that line for two reasons. It was raining all Friday night and morning. It’s raining again today. It’s going to rain tomorrow and maybe on Wednesday.
I’m also thinking of some people I’ve been talking to that are fighting cancer. Some holding their own and some not. That is the kind of rain I believe he is speaking of. Something bad and difficult happens to everyone in life. It might not seem like it but that is pretty much the rule I’m thinking.
So I went in search of rain photos I had and I’m woefully out of stock of personal images. The only ones I found that I liked were above at a gas station and below shot of my neighbor’s sunflower patch. So what an opportunity to reverse this limited selection and see what this inspiration and coming days of wetness can bring.
So I got busy thinking of how to illustrate rain. The good old umbrella images I guess. People running with them or rain bouncing off of them. If it were summer I could find a spiderweb with raindrops on it. Maybe droplets in a puddle? Or road spray from cars and trucks. Rain rolling off gutters or running down cars exteriors. Maybe someones pet with a raincoat out for a walk or boots in a puddle.
But these seem so obvious and probably done better than I can so I’m trying to think of something different to represent rain. I’m not sure what it is or if I’ll accomplish it but there will be time to practice it this week it appears. Here is my first shot from this Saturday morning below attempting to do something different. Then again, all of my work seems to have holes in it. Ha Ha.
More Random Thoughts of the Day
I kind of like rain. Don’t get me wrong. I love sunshine and warm temps but I’m not into desert conditions.
I think I hear the grass in the yard starting to wake up.
I’m going to have to write a book of expressions related to trying to stand up or sit down some days.
My new bookcase looks good. Now my goal is to read everything in it.
Yesterday my Daughter and family were on their way to our home when a sheet full of ice flew off the SUV in front of them and crashed through the windshield. Thankfully they weren’t hurt. It was lucky she was in the back seat with the baby because there is where it hit hardest, shattered and caved in the window on the passenger side. My Son in law was hit with glass but is good. Thankfully he maintained control and didn’t crash.
Yes, there is no law in this state (Maryland) that mandates you clean your roof off, but just like masks have the common courtesy for others and clean your car or truck or SUV off before heading out, please. I know it’s a pain in the butt. I know it’s difficult to reach. Stop thinking about it and just make it part of your routine in cleaning the vehicle. I’ve sat here today feeling so blessed that didn’t turn out worse and I will probably think about that for days. Maybe everyone needs to have a loved one’s windshield shattered while driving to get this done. Nah, we’ve already proven there are a lot of people in this world who just don’t give a damn about anyone else but themselves. A nasty and sad element of our society.
Feeling better this fine Sunday so life is good. Of course, that is also true when I’m feeling bad. Like yesterday when I got to see my children but was still in a bit of pain from Friday’s battle with a few inches of frozen tundra. My children and their children are an easy fix for whatever ails me. But what about when I can’t see them and improve my feelings?
I’m doing better at finding those things. The more I do the better I feel. Made them a couple of nice prints and framed them. I started a few other pieces that I need to finish up and give to them and get going on some others. I’ve got a long list of people I’d like to make something for. So I had better get busy and keep at it. Time to do those things are precious so do them right.
Random Thoughts of the Day
I’m really trying to be smarter about eating but knowing now it takes thought and discipline. But it’s a worthwhile goal.
One of my best friends got a new Ford pickup. Now I have a second that can carry my Miata in their truck beds if I need.
I rise too early in the day when I have to work all night.
It feels good to do some reading. I’ve been catching up on some blogs and a book.
I like the days I wake and it just seems like it’s going to be a good day. Mentally refreshed from some good sleep, rising without pain, knowing I don’t have to work today at the job that pays the bills, and having a day with nothing on the schedule except some chores. And after a day of helping watch my granddaughter where I danced, I played, I sang, I teased, I fed, I cleaned and then I picked up. I couldn’t be more relaxed and happy. Nothing like being a kid for a day.
Of course, that cold really makes the thought of stepping outside the front door rather bleak but I can hear my friend now in my ear “embrace the cold” he will utter and chuckle knowing full well how I loath the season of Winter. He also sent me a picture of him firing up his snowblower knowing I have a shovel to use. He is going to get a penalty shot the next time we are together.
What’s going on – You know the Marvin Gaye tune “What’s Going On.” Shoot I might be dating myself. That was released in 1971. Anyway, I was kind of thinking that the song title must be going on inside my granddaughter’s mind. She is a March baby so the first year of her life 2019-20 was pretty normal. The only mask she saw was in the hospital after being born. Since her birth, nobody wore a mask. Then last March of 2020 and you have everyone wearing a mask.
What’s going on must be the thought racing through her mind this last year.
Is it a fashion statement? Is it because they don’t want to kiss me? Where did PaPa’s beard go? Is everyone a bank robber now? Are we playing doctor or nurse? Is this some kind of new Peke a boo game? Did you just go to the dentist? Are we playing Cowboys and Indians and robbing the stagecoach? Did Tic Tak’s go out of business and everyone has bad breath? Are you hiding a Hitler mustache? Are you sticking out your tongue as I do behind that mask and you just don’t want me to see it? Are you eating something and don’t want to share it with me? I don’t like that I can hear you talk but not see your mouth move. I don’t like this game. Can we go back to before land?
Time to Shovel – I can’t complain too loudly, it’s been almost 2 years since any significant snowfall came. Of course, Mother Nature doesn’t believe in letting my back work into a shoveling session with just a few inches. She is going to throw us a major task. As of this morning 4-8 inches on Sunday and then another 4-8 inches on Monday. With that amount of snow and cold, it’s going to need some planning, pacing myself, and preparation.
Option 1 – wait for it all to melt and admire the beauty in it. Never done that except for dustings. But really I have nothing to go out for the next few days. Groceries were got by my better half last night and there is heat in the house so what more could we want for? – But this is the least likely to happen.
Option 2 – wait for it to finish snowing and then do it all at once. This is the hardest option on the body because you have to shovel it as you would dirt. Only what fits on the shovel and you have to throw it. On the good side, you aren’t out while it’s still snowing. It’s when you see the most neighbors doing the same thing. It’s also the most dangerous and hardest I believe. Especially if it does start to melt and get heavy. This is not an option because my back is already bad and I don’t want a heart attack.
Option 3 – Incremental clearing. Anything in the range of 8-16 inches they are predicting, this is mandatory if you are using a shovel. One it allows the snowplow option. I can walk behind and push and only lift and throw a lot less. I also enjoy this method for a few other reasons. If you’re ever outside when it’s snowing hard it’s the most beautiful sound of almost nothing you have ever heard. You can hear it snow and nothing else. Typically you might find yourself the only one out shoveling in the middle of a blizzard. You look left, you look right, nobody in sight. The 60+-year-old body jumps into the snow and does a snow angel. You lay looking at the sky, catching a snowflake on your tongue. You check to make sure you haven’t broken anything, you get up and start snowplow operations again with a smile. I’m thinking of getting my back brace out for more support and I’m going to remember to bend and lift with the knees because they are still strong. So this is my current plan of action.
Option 3 – Wait for a friend who teases me with pictures of his snowblower to come do my driveway. Fat chance, he traded in his nice big pickup for a fancy SUV. That is another 2 shots for him when I see him next.
Option 4 – Wait for the family to come and help. Well when it snows that much here, nobody much moves and not the distance that they would have to travel. I know they would help in a flash if I asked but they have their own homes to worry about. When we get older I’ll wait for them. Till then I’m the mule.
Option 5 – Sit here and blog and pray it rains instead.
Random Thoughts of the Day
Any day you think you have a rough day at work, think about the nurses and doctors seeing people pass each day and the effect of that on them. It kind of makes everything else pale in comparison, doesn’t it?
It always amazes me how fast an hour goes by, and then a week, and then a month, and so on.
Sometimes I think we are our own worst enemy.
The more I sort through what is important, the thing that comes up most is memories. Old ones and creating new ones.
It was a long night of work. I saw the clouds had moved in and I contemplated just hitting the sack for some zzz’s. I almost said the hell with it. But then I thought, I’ll take a short drive even if there isn’t a good sunrise.
I take a few steps out of my door and wham. A beautiful rainbow. And for a few seconds a double. What a way to start the day. It only lasted a few minutes and I was lucky to grab these before a neighbor saw me and I didn’t want to be rude so I chatted for a bit. But only after a few minutes it was gone.
Photos by Mike Hartley
I did take that ride and it was fun. It’s nice when you can go down the country roads early in the mornings instead of the major highways in and out of the city.
Random Thoughts of the Morning
Time to call an old friend today.
Today was a good reminder to get that camera in my hands.
If it’s raining when I open my eyes in a few hours I’m going back to sleep. Unless I smell bacon cooking.
Ah, the first hint of snow for the season this morning. I like the sound of it hitting the trees. Must be cool because all the paved surfaces are covered. Very pretty actually when it was coming down. I wonder if I can reach down this year and capture some of that joy I had when I was young when it would snow. I hope so, because my attitude towards it hasn’t been that kind as I’ve aged.
I guess it happened when I traded in a sled for a car. So instead of making a path with my feet to the highest elevation, I shovel and then go skidding around for many miles with many dangerous people. Kind of makes that huge hill we went down, that you had to crash off your sled fast at the bottom to prevent going into a creek as a youth seem kind of safe.
Well its nothing really, not even a dusting. Not a real good snow. Those are yet to come I’m sure. I’m hoping I can look forward to the season with more of that youthful anticipation.
I was digging around an old box and ran across these B&W images (hey, I was a teenager and couldn’t always afford color film) and realized it was 40 years ago that these were taken. That was a bad year. Huge impact on the area and economy with hurricane Agnes. Things didn’t get back to normal for many months and in some cases years for some homes and businesses. One of the worst/costliest storms that I can remember. And it was the rain that wouldn’t stop. I know I have more and if I remember I think I did shoot a roll of color. Now where did I put that?
ELLICOTT CITY
Flooded Main Street Ellicott City from Agnes. Photo by Mike Hartley
And the crowds came to see what nature can do. Photo by Mike Hartley
Water eye view of water where it shouldn’t be. Photo by Mike Hartley
COLUMBIA
Lakefront bell tower, nobody was swimming out to ring that. Photo by Mike Hartley
Lake Kittamaqundi reaching out of its banks. Photo by Mike Hartley
Wilde Lake had a new falls. Photo by Mike Hartley
29 south along South Entrance Road. Photo by Mike Hartley
Surfing on Southbound Rt 29. Photo by Mike Hartley
South Entrance with Columbia Tennis barn in the background if I remember correctly. Photo by Mike Hartley
Line on Rt 29 south trying to inch past Columbia. Photo by Mike Hartley
LAUREL
The Homoco gas station off Rt 1 in Laurel. I think those are new cars floating also from the Dodge dealer. Photo by Mike Hartley
Entrance road to Laurel Racetrack. Photo by Mike Hartley
And here I thought it was all water under the bridge. Photo by Mike Hartley
At the PG HoCo line on southbound Rt 1. Photo by Mike Hartley
Random Thoughts for Sunday July 26th 2015
I hope I can share many more Sundays like this one with my children.
I’ve got a good bit of sleep to make up for on Monday.
I can tell losing another 10-15 lbs is going to be a fight.
One year I put my tree out early after the New Year and look, see what happened. Now it stays in the house till there is more green on the carpet than the tree.
Just a dusting says the weatherman.
Photo by Mike Hartley
OK a bit more than a dusting.
Photo by Mike Hartley
OK I will never put my tree out early after New Years.
Photo by Mike Hartley
The northeast and the state of Maryland are wonderful for the change of seasons. You really get a nice mix of each. Yeah sometimes spring or fall is a little short sometimes. But you always get a winter and summer of decent length. The fall and spring are both beautiful times of year visually and emotionally. And I LOVE SUMMER.
Therein lies my problem. I really dislike winter. Yeah there is nothing like being outside in a fresh snow and watching you kids when they were young or old playing in it is something that will warm your heart. But I dislike being cold. I don’t like having to sit and warm up my car. I don’t like having to wear a ton of cloths. I don’t like having to drive with millions of @(%&%$ over long distances to work when most of them have trouble driving in dry weather.
Then there are the holiday drivers. Which is a majority of the population which check their brains at the door before going out but shove a half-dozen extra doses of bad attitude in their coats in place of good judgement and common courtesy. It is the true strength of human character to maintain patience, kindness, openness and cheer in this area sometime.
Then the New Year comes and all of a sudden everyone in January is depressed spending too much and from gaining so much weight the last 2 months they spend all kinds of money they no longer have on gyms and weight loss programs that last for a few times to a few months but ultimately fail.
Yeah, the schedule tries to pick us up with a few meaningless holidays and occasions like Presidents day and Valentines day but they aren’t crap. The only good thing about February is that its short and if you’re in New Orleans for Mardi Gras for Fat Tuesday. Other than that its a frozen wasteland.
March is a transition month that teases you with a nice day and then freezes your ass off the next.
So forgive me when I go off on my winter observations, it will begin a period where I may slip from my normal positive messages to some outright rants about the season of dread, winter.
May it be a mild one and everyone be safe and happy as possible.
I have to learn to embrace this season. It is far from one of my favorites. And as a famous quote goes (My Favorite Winter Activity, is going back INSIDE). It’s like a monochrome season. I dread travel in it and I hate being cold and the body aches that come with it. But this season will be different in one way. My daughter was pretty insistent that I get a snow blower. Hell, I’m not even 60 yet and they think I need more power tools. But given the demise of one of our best friends this past winter it’s the SMART move. Don’t be too proud to admit that you’re not the young person you once were. And even if you are young, take it easy with the shoveling this winter.
Took these on Rt 15 north of Frederick MD on my way to see my daughter who was in college at the time.
In Contrast to today’s Wonderful Skies, I found ones that weren’t so beautiful one summer here in Howard County.
Some weather shots up by the Howard County fairgrounds. Put these in sequence. I’ve got to do more storm photos. Nature is so impressive. Sorry about the slight shake on the 7th photo down. That boomer was very close and the shock wave got me. Should have had a tripod set up. Live and learn.
Waves of could’s Photo by Mike Hartley
Waves cresting Photo by Mike Hartley
What is that opening? Photo by Mike Hartley
Powerful lightning stroke. Photo by Mike Hartley
Seems like the waves are back and what is that opening up in the right corner? Photo by Mike Hartley
Yeah, that looks like clearing, maybe it moving away. Photo by Mike Hartley
Wow now that was impressive. Almost like the sky opened up for that stroke. Photo by Mike Hartley
Oh, back to the ominous look. Photo by Mike Hartley
Time to flee before another strike on my head. Plus, I’m getting wet. Photo by Mike Hartley
OK, how bout a big hand for all those men and women out in this mess cutting trees, restoring power, directing traffic, attending to accidents and towing your car to the garage. To those making the deliveries like food to your stores and your daily paper in your driveway at the worst part of the storm. At least mine was there fairly bright and early. So if you were outside you must have been moving because anything that wasn’t, wasn’t.
Wish I had a full day to shoot instead of just a few minutes. Enjoyed the ice, didn’t break anything on the slipping and sliding. But man, I’m sure Howard County General was hopping today with broken this and sprained that and busted butts. Also hats off to those people staffing our doctors offices (my wife included) who are there to treat our wounded behinds.
Schools closed again. The young’ins will be going to class all summer. For the most part this morning people were driving respectfully. But as the traction got better on the main roads people were ready to bogie where some were still being very conservative.
Hats off to BG&E for keeping my power on. Well except for one 3-5 minute period early this morning. Take the time to send those guys a note of thanks. Better yet, when you see one in your neighborhood or around it fixing things offer them a warm or cold beverage depending on the season.
I was really looking forward to this Friday because I had the day off my regular job and was going to really pound away at improving this site and working with my new camera. But with the number of limbs down outside I think I’ll be firing up the chainsaw.
I went outside this morning, when I guess the ice was the heaviest. It sounded as some Goliath type creature was walking through the woods behind us. Limbs and whole trees were falling at what seemed to be a huge rate.
Later today I’ll try to post some warmer images to see if we can turn this winter around and be done with it despite what the groundhog said the other day.