Say “Cheese”
The cheese face. My granddaughter has a great smile — until you utter, “say cheese” and get the “cheese face.” As I looked at the photo this evening I realized I’m feeling the way she looks — ugh, give me a break. I don’t want to grin and bear it. Just want a little time to unwind.
With that in mind I’ll roll the Vespa scooter out of the garage and go for a ride. As soon as it stops raining. Maybe Wednesday will be nice. Some time on the road should fix what ails me.
Until then I’ll grin and keep moving.
Steve, you and I clearly occupy parallel universes. As you say, time and a good ride usually help to clear the fog. It’s also raining here in Hampshire UK and it matches my mood, dammit. Still, a brisk session in my cardiac rehab exercise class should bring some clarity (and a lot of sweat).
I hope that life’s still being kind to you and yours. Your blogs still brighten my day and long may that remain so.
Ride safe.
Keith
I wonder if prehistoric man’s moods were affected by the weather? I have a mixed relationship with weather, especially the categories most may label “foul.” Could be my photographic appreciation of the unusual light that comes with it.
Cardiac rehab was one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. It keeps things bright and clear — the exercise, activity and diet it prescribed.
Hope things brighten for you Keith!
I lived in the the Midlands…2 year 2 months and 9 days.
Between the rain and abbreviated daylight, Pubs make perfect sense…and why the British were early world explorers. Cheers.
I knew something was missing. Great to read another post Steve. Brent
With 87 days until I retire my professional life is intensifying. I’ve come to the conclusion that I will have to leave with some critical things left unfinished. Gaining that knowledge has kept me away from Scooter in the Sticks and the scooter…
I finally got one of the bikes out of the garage since the blizzard melted. I’m much happier from the experience.
Makes a big difference. Snowed here again today. Dropping toward 30F over night. Want to ride tomorrow but ugh, I just don’t want to brave another cold morning on the Vespa…
Children and cameras, she is learning early grandpa (sorry) has a camera…
Best to not be happy, then he’ll give me something nice.
As to the weather: farmers like to complain about everything however especially, the weather, Mind wait five minutes and the topic of conversation and the weather will change…
You leaving projects unfinished is similar to planting a field with crops; you know that as night follows day the crops will grow, however you Steve will not be there to
see the results of said planting. I understand completely; pangs of remorse almost.
Retirement shall be strangely odd, maybe you and Kim take off for somewhere away from the dogs and home for a few days right after June 30, anywhere. Just to get away; then three or four days later, return home; it will seems like a vacation from the start of a life-long vacation.
Emma lives in a screen sheltered world. Seeing herself, or anyone else, on the iphone is mesmerizing. We’ve not fallen into the “what have you brought me grandpa?” routine. yet.
I can’t get my head around life after work. I have plenty of plans and goals and dreams. But everything feels surreal. And scary. Perhaps a few warm, sunny days will fix all that.
No exactly a Vanna White like smile in delivery. Have her work on that.
Paul
Will do.
She’s got the “get that thing out of my face” look down pretty well. Only 87 days to go plus the year or two to move out of your office… I’m still not done with that…
No emeritus status for staff at Penn State. I’ll be handed my hat at the end of June. Hopefully my replacement will be onboard before that. I’ll evaporate into remote spaces as we work through the transition. Exciting times.
Nice little essay, goes well with the little one’s ‘smile’.
Thanks David. A stretch to just post something. Crazy busy these days.
I’ve had to duck a lot of fog and rain, but I’ve manage to ride, mainly to get stuff done.
Of course, I’ve had to do much of this at night, in large part on account of Trains Running Badly. Twice in two weeks, I’ve been waylaid by derailments in New York’s Penn Station, making the going slow getting into Gotham, and slower getting out. And, twice this month, I found myself getting off the train in the wee hours, the station parking lot wrapped in fog and drizzle, nearly empty save for a few cars scattered here and there…and Melody, all misted up but otherwise stalwart and ready to ride.
But riding in fog during the day is one thing: put the sun on the other side of the planet and it gets more than a bit eerie, even if it’s so late that I’m practically the only vehicle on the road. When in the face of London-class fog, nothing is quite what it seems. Helmet visor mists up; eyeglasses mist up. I notch my speed down from 40 to 25mph and lift up my visor to hopefully see where I’m going a tad better. It works…until the rain starts, and then turns to…sleet? Damn it all, it’s April! This stuff is stinging my face; it’s a good thing I wear glasses full-time, otherwise I’m sure I’d have put out an eye here.
But something put me in a nicer mood today: On my way from a gig in Park Slope Brooklyn, I came across a man and his young daughter coming from the local library, getting set to head home on a somewhat-tattered GTS 250. I had to stop and chat, starting with “That’s the best way to get around.” The father smiled and agreed heartily, saying he’s loved his GTS from the day he bought it seven years ago city-borne slings n’ arrows and all. I said it looked like his daughter enjoyed riding along as well, and she nodded her helmeted head quite enthusiastically. I wasn’t riding today (Sig. Other drove into town with stuff of her own to do), but I got my vicarious bit of Vespa-ing in anyhow. 🙂
Fog at night in Gotham — that’s a mixed bag of otherworldly visions and just plain danger. Or so it seems from my easy chair in central Pennsylvania.
Isn’t it great meeting other Vespa riders? They’re different from all other riders — scooters or motorcycles — in my experience. Doesn’t happen that often so it remains a treat to meet a like minded spirit.
Be careful out there. Hope for finer weather soon.
I remember when I retired and moved out of my office for good. As I recall I had a full pickup truck load of crap that I had accumulated at my office over the years. At home I put together a new office. I bought a computer armoire and now my entire office is in this armoire. I can close the doors and it looks like a small cabinet off to one side of my living room. It’s almost a stealth office, and my family calls it my “office box”.
I don’t keep much paper so my total haul of stuff will probably fit in two cardboard boxes. I have the mountain of crap at my home office. I hope I can pair down to the stealth office you describe!