Thursday, December 16, 2021

The Danger Section

Hey guess what, it's still December! Hard to tell because it was nearly 70 degrees today, but that's the world we live in. Today I had my work holiday party, which was the first time since the pandemic started that I've been around so many people at one time. It was a little unnerving, but the location was open to the outdoors and it was so, so NORMAL to see people. Do you watch TV shows or movies where people just walk around with no masks on, packed close to each other, and it's just... fine? It's hard to imagine that world, but I hope we can go back there some day.

Last week on a walk I discovered a curious sight. Do you see it? The pan of bread, casually hanging out on top of this stone column? Now, I do frequently encounter abandoned food on this particular route: a stray mandarin on the sidewalk, or an intact egg in the grass. This pan implies intent, however, and I can't figure it out. Perhaps someone is trying to feed the local wildlife, and if so, it's remarkable that bread was still there. Our neighborhood is full of skunks, foxes, racoons, groundhogs, squirrels, and the occasional bald eagle. This sort of thing shouldn't last an hour. Mystery.


Last week I had to go into work, and I took the chance to visit the huge Friends of the Library bookstore close to the office. Although this place is amazing, I have fantasies of volunteering here so I can clean and organize it. There is so much empty shelf space and bins full of uncategorized books. Ahhhh! 


My favorite section is labeled "DANGER". I have struggled in past to name this genre, which includes anyone stranded in the ocean, missions to climb mountains, feats of endurance, and heaps of natural disasters. I love this stuff. Now if someone asks what my favorite types of books are, I will just reply, "Danger."



In my mission to appreciate winter instead of just being annoyed by it, I have been loving the sunsets and dried, seedy grasses. I ran this weekend for the first time since my half marathon, which was 2 months ago. I definitely needed the break. It was freeing to not time myself or care about my pace. I can safely say that despite my love of the concept of ultrarunning (another topic for the Danger section), I will never be an ultrarunner. Mostly because it takes up way too much time. Maybe someday I'll walk really far, and that will be enough.


One morning this week it was below freezing, and I couldn't bring myself to go outside. I know that in Scandinavia or Canada they would laugh at me, but I hate being cold. The problem is my face. My face gets too cold, tenses up, and I have a headache for the rest of the day. Is there a solution to this? Anyway, it worked out because I decided to spend the time painting instead. I have been struggling to fit painting into my days, so it was great to have this option. It seems a little weird to be doing something creative first thing in the morning, but that's a mental block I have to get over.


Excuse the blurry cell phone photo, but lately we have been plagued by crows. A murder, if you will. There are frequently hundreds of them across the street and in the yard, I suspect drawn by the sunflower seeds in the field. While fascinating to watch, they do tend to poop all over everything. Thanks for nothing, crows!

12 comments:

  1. As a Canadian girl, I can tell you that Cold Face is the worst part about being cold. You can dress for everything else, but generally some part of your face is always going to be exposed. I mean, unless you want to walk around blindfolded and unable to breathe. Not laughing at you at all - it's all what you're used to, right? Also, it's minus 25 here this morning, ahhhhhhh.

    I admit I am a bit scared of crows, and the fact that a group is called a murder does nothing to assuage that.

    Sometime in 2020 I watched on TV a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar, the recent one, and it was so weird to see the actors TOUCHING PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. By the time this pandemic is over my brain is just not going to process normal things anymore.

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    1. While I am sad there is not a proven remedy for Cold Face, I am glad I'm not alone! I mean, it's really only a problem until your face freezes, and then you can't feel anything, right?

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  2. It does seem so strange to be talking about the 'normal' of being with others. I want this normal back again.
    That bookstore looks like a wonderful Aladdin's cave.
    Happy weekend x

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    1. It is difficult to find anything in that bookstore, but it does make up for that by being really fun to discover new things in!

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  3. That pan of bread is hilarious. I love discovering things like that - such a note of whimsy!
    I've always enjoyed books that hang out in the "danger" section. I would have typically categorized them as "adventure" but danger sounds even more thrilling! One of my favourite books as teenager was called Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage. It was definitely in the "danger" category. Speaking of which...I haven't read that book in over a decade. I should dig that out and read it to my kids. Though I'm cautious reading my daredevil 7-year-old too many books that give him fodder for dangerous activities, I don't think he's going to charter a boat and sail through northern ice flows anytime soon.
    http://elisabeth-frost.com

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    1. You know, I did check that book out of the library once, but didn't get to it before I had to return it. I will check it out again! LOL well kids these days are pretty good with the Internet, so you never know about his boat-chartering skills.

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  4. I could hardly read more after the food mystery, because I was so intrigued. I was just reading another blogger's post about a food mystery (CJ, at Above The River, and this one involves chicken, and steaks!) So, is this a conspiracy of mysteries, or just crazy random happenstance? Whichever... I am just glad that there are still people blogging, and highlighting the wonders in the world.

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    1. Ok so I had to go check out CJ's food mystery, and it sounded so similar! What is going on?? You're right, I'm glad people feel the need to post on the internet about such important things!

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    2. Thank you... for checking out her post, and for indulging me with contemplating the *important* things in life! You've put a big smile on my face.

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  5. I would love to know what the painting book is you're using in the photo in this post!

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    1. The book is called "Watercolor - The Easy Way" by Sara Berrenson. The step-by-step pictures are so large, which is not the case with most watercolor books. I highly recommend it!

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  6. Oh how intriguing, Natalie said we had the same food mysteries and I saw your comment and came to see your pan of bread. Who is doing this stuff??? I absolutely love the book store, exactly the place I would love to volunteer as well. And how brilliant that there is a section marked 'Danger', just love it.

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