Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Got my baby back!
Back where it belongs!
For almost a month, I didn't have my little Pri-Pri to drive. On the morning of August 24 this is where the poor dear was:
As I was heading to work (should have ridden the bus that day!) and crossing this intersection a guy ran his red light and bashed in my right front end. So badly that I couldn't even move out of the way. [In the poor guy's defense, the morning sun was very low and in his eyes; you can probably still see that in the photo. Lesson for us all: if you're approaching a lighted intersection and the sun is in your eyes—assume that it's red, not green!]
Given the car's advanced age (it's a 2005) we thought it might be totalled. But with only one return for fixing an ominous front-end noise, it was successfully repaired. (We were rather pleased to see how its value has decreased only a bit since we got it.)
Although an experience like this is far from pleasant, it really went as well as it possibly could have. First off, no one was going really fast and thus no one was hurt. And kudos to the SAPD! They were there in 5 minutes. And the wrecker came shortly thereafter, as I'm sure the disgruntled commuters held up by my stalled baby were happy about (only one of them honked angrily and unsympathetically).
So, while I didn't enjoy having to drive our big klunky van for the past few weeks, all is well that has ended well, and I'm back behind the wheel of my little blue baby. And I only slightly cringe when I pass that intersection.
But I don't blithely assume that all cross traffic will behave as expected all the time. A good lesson to remember.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Two ends of the line
Readers of my Bridges to London blog—once they got over the shock of actually seeing a new post there—recently learned that I've undertaken a new mode of transportation for getting to work these days. Namely, riding the bus.
The activity does remind me of London (which is why I wrote about it there first) but it has given me a new look at my hometown, too. Obviously, I get to look at scenery out the window in a more leisurely fashion when someone else is driving.
But the waits at the bus stops give me a little quiet time to soak in the neighborhood ambiance as well.
The stop near St. Mary's, where I wait in the afternoon, is mercifully shaded. And it has the added attraction of being part of a small "pocket park," one of several in the neighborhood around the university. We (that is, St. Mary's University) are trying to be good citizens and improve the amenities for the folks we share the area with. (And it doesn't hurt that an improved neighborhood environment looks more inviting to prospective students, too.)
On the left is the marker identifying the little parklet by the #90/89 bus stop as being part of what we are calling the St. Mary's Gateway district.
My morning wait, while at a more unadorned stop, has some special significance, too.
Since the bus schedules are skewed in such a way that it would take me more than an hour to get to work if I rode all the way, my always inventive husband suggested I just drive to where I could catch the one bus that wouldn't require transferring. As usual, what a good idea he had! Especially since I found a perfect parking place next to a stop on that line, only about 5 minutes from home.
I park on a nice, wide street in Monte Vista, right next to Laurel Heights Methodist Church, where my daughter happily spent her pre-school days (see above). So I not only found what I have to consider a safe parking place, but one that brings back pleasant memories of the earlier days of parenthood. Plus, I can sit to wait for the bus on the church steps and even be in the shade.
As I sit there, I often see a #90 bus coming the other way. And something else, too, that you might or might not notice in the photo below.
There's a small bunch of flowers and a cross on the median. Do you see it now?
I've used this street as a route to work for many years, even before I had a daughter to drop off at Laurel Heights, and long before I started this bus-riding. I remember one morning first noticing the little memorial, but I can't tell you when that was. Only that it was quite long, perhaps even very long, ago.
Over the years, I've always rather expected the refreshment of the flowers and other decorations to stop, but it never has. The display changes with the seasons—hearts for Valentine's Day, little ghosts (and other Día de los Muertos mementos) for Halloween, a little tree for Christmas.
It's a touching, sad, but still beautiful expression of someone's grief over something terrible that must have happened on this spot, probably late at night, a long time ago. Whoever takes the time and trouble to design and construct these memorial tableaus (and, although it might be a wife, I rather think it's a mother) still misses someone named Oscar very much.
And because she (I'm almost certain it's a she) takes the time to do this, we all can share that grief, at least a little. And be reminded to drive carefully. And be reminded to treasure those we love.
It certainly gives me something to think about while I sit on the church steps, enjoying the morning air, and waiting for my ride.
The activity does remind me of London (which is why I wrote about it there first) but it has given me a new look at my hometown, too. Obviously, I get to look at scenery out the window in a more leisurely fashion when someone else is driving.
But the waits at the bus stops give me a little quiet time to soak in the neighborhood ambiance as well.
The stop near St. Mary's, where I wait in the afternoon, is mercifully shaded. And it has the added attraction of being part of a small "pocket park," one of several in the neighborhood around the university. We (that is, St. Mary's University) are trying to be good citizens and improve the amenities for the folks we share the area with. (And it doesn't hurt that an improved neighborhood environment looks more inviting to prospective students, too.)On the left is the marker identifying the little parklet by the #90/89 bus stop as being part of what we are calling the St. Mary's Gateway district.
My morning wait, while at a more unadorned stop, has some special significance, too.
I park on a nice, wide street in Monte Vista, right next to Laurel Heights Methodist Church, where my daughter happily spent her pre-school days (see above). So I not only found what I have to consider a safe parking place, but one that brings back pleasant memories of the earlier days of parenthood. Plus, I can sit to wait for the bus on the church steps and even be in the shade.
As I sit there, I often see a #90 bus coming the other way. And something else, too, that you might or might not notice in the photo below.
There's a small bunch of flowers and a cross on the median. Do you see it now?I've used this street as a route to work for many years, even before I had a daughter to drop off at Laurel Heights, and long before I started this bus-riding. I remember one morning first noticing the little memorial, but I can't tell you when that was. Only that it was quite long, perhaps even very long, ago.
Over the years, I've always rather expected the refreshment of the flowers and other decorations to stop, but it never has. The display changes with the seasons—hearts for Valentine's Day, little ghosts (and other Día de los Muertos mementos) for Halloween, a little tree for Christmas.
It's a touching, sad, but still beautiful expression of someone's grief over something terrible that must have happened on this spot, probably late at night, a long time ago. Whoever takes the time and trouble to design and construct these memorial tableaus (and, although it might be a wife, I rather think it's a mother) still misses someone named Oscar very much.
And because she (I'm almost certain it's a she) takes the time to do this, we all can share that grief, at least a little. And be reminded to drive carefully. And be reminded to treasure those we love.
It certainly gives me something to think about while I sit on the church steps, enjoying the morning air, and waiting for my ride.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
"Cold" Front!
Please forgive my preoccupation with temperatures and the weather. It's just a by-product of our incredible heat-and-parched-ness-wave. We've had—maybe—one or two days of less than 
100° weather since we returned from Colorado. And many of those 100+ were in the neighborhood of 105+. And those few degrees do, believe me, make a difference.
So we've been very excited about the forecast for the upcoming week. Not only highs only in the low 90's, but overnight lows dipping into the 60's! This is huge! [using the favorite adjective of purple sports prose]
And in spite of the fact that last night didn't get that cool, the brisk north winds that are bringing us this boon have made it feel very, very nice this morning.
So nice, in fact, that we did the [almost] unthinkable! Note in the picture below the OFF position of the a/c thermostat!
Yes! Windows are open, as you can see above and below:
Now, according to the paper this morning, we have tropical storm Lee to thank, at least partially, for this unseasonable treat (we usually don't open windows until October!). Something about the low and circular winds to our east pulling our winds from the north.
Unfortunately, we won't be getting any of Lee's moisture. But we can be thankful for small pleasures, weather-wise, this summer. Like a fall-ish morning for Labor Day!
I have not been doing much of blog-worth interest lately. [Can't you tell from the subject of today's post?!]
But I haven't been idle. I've started scanning slides from our 1996 trip to Europe (Germany, Austria, and Italy). I'm on the third of five 100-slide boxes and it's been such fun to revive these memories. I thought I'd give you a preview here of what I hope will eventually be a new set of webpages.
On the left is a picture of Hal and Sally at a ruined castle on the Rhein. We'd just taken a cruise along the famous river and would soon be heading back to our friends' house near Mainz.
At the beginning of the trip, we wrangled a 5-hour layover in Paris, which was just enough time for us to see the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. Here's a shot of Sally and me on a Paris street, navigating our path to these attractions. (It was hot, there, too, as I recall, although probably not 105, and we had trouble finding bottled water! The kids were not impressed with Paris.)
And here are Henry and I near Neuschwanstein, in Bavaria, which is about as far as I've gotten in my scanning. [Leave it to Henry: not many people get sunburned in Germany!]
The castle appearing, somewhat blurrily, in the background is Schwangau, which is actually the main, lived-in castle in the area. Neuschwanstein, the famous "Sleeping Beauty" castle, is really no more than a [very elaborate and expensive] stage set.
Auf Wiedersehen!
100° weather since we returned from Colorado. And many of those 100+ were in the neighborhood of 105+. And those few degrees do, believe me, make a difference.
So we've been very excited about the forecast for the upcoming week. Not only highs only in the low 90's, but overnight lows dipping into the 60's! This is huge! [using the favorite adjective of purple sports prose]
And in spite of the fact that last night didn't get that cool, the brisk north winds that are bringing us this boon have made it feel very, very nice this morning.
So nice, in fact, that we did the [almost] unthinkable! Note in the picture below the OFF position of the a/c thermostat!
Yes! Windows are open, as you can see above and below:
Now, according to the paper this morning, we have tropical storm Lee to thank, at least partially, for this unseasonable treat (we usually don't open windows until October!). Something about the low and circular winds to our east pulling our winds from the north.
Unfortunately, we won't be getting any of Lee's moisture. But we can be thankful for small pleasures, weather-wise, this summer. Like a fall-ish morning for Labor Day!
I have not been doing much of blog-worth interest lately. [Can't you tell from the subject of today's post?!]
But I haven't been idle. I've started scanning slides from our 1996 trip to Europe (Germany, Austria, and Italy). I'm on the third of five 100-slide boxes and it's been such fun to revive these memories. I thought I'd give you a preview here of what I hope will eventually be a new set of webpages.
On the left is a picture of Hal and Sally at a ruined castle on the Rhein. We'd just taken a cruise along the famous river and would soon be heading back to our friends' house near Mainz.
At the beginning of the trip, we wrangled a 5-hour layover in Paris, which was just enough time for us to see the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. Here's a shot of Sally and me on a Paris street, navigating our path to these attractions. (It was hot, there, too, as I recall, although probably not 105, and we had trouble finding bottled water! The kids were not impressed with Paris.)
And here are Henry and I near Neuschwanstein, in Bavaria, which is about as far as I've gotten in my scanning. [Leave it to Henry: not many people get sunburned in Germany!]
The castle appearing, somewhat blurrily, in the background is Schwangau, which is actually the main, lived-in castle in the area. Neuschwanstein, the famous "Sleeping Beauty" castle, is really no more than a [very elaborate and expensive] stage set.
Auf Wiedersehen!
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