In the blink of an eye

I have written previously about slowing down a bit and taking a more concise look around. It helps appreciate what is out there. Here’s some of the sights and colors from some recent pedaling.

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The Unbearable Breakfast Sandwich of Being

These are fractious times. Sometimes, you need to manifest some control your spiritual orientation.

On this Saturday, this is how i set my ship on the right foot.

It is a simple thing, made really well. It possesses some magical powers if done and consumed right. I snagged a coffee and an orange juice and let the goodness wash over and slow things down a bit.

I opened up Twitter to see a bunch of MAGA types that I don’t follow screaming about investigating the Biden family, the injustice of the charges against the former President, the need to charge previous presidents and presidential candidate, the “weaponization” (a personal favorite) of various departments of the government to do things they don’t approve of, Dr. Fauci, how horrible any gun control might be and pretty much anything that might interfere with life as they want it to be. It’s ironic that all these congressional acolytes have time for all this tweeting when you think they would be more concerned with actual congressional business. You would think that would be more demanding and not leave so much time for social media. And perhaps, you’d think that would matter to the buffoons, er, voters who put these people in place to start with.

But, it is a complex world. As I sit in a window seat with my breakfast, I observe a young couple pull their car so close to the next one that that driver is boxed in. The couple ignored all the space involved to get their Saturday supplies from the bakery across the street,

Anyhoo, here’s where I sit. There is a lot of belly aching on the political party front, a lot of people screaming impeach so much I can’t help but wonder if they really know what the word means.

Government is a simple thing, I mean I look to it to solid healthcare, some nice roads and infrastructure, world class education, good social services, and a safety net for those less fortunate. You know, all the stuff that we pay taxes for. Not subsidies and tax breaks for the rich. I look to them to protect social security as I have been paying into it since I was 15,

Instead, two legislators in Tennessee have been removed from their jobs for, trying to do their jobs and actually represent their constituents. That is nuts that can be the case and if they can lose their jobs, why are Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Lauren Bobert, Marjorie Taylor Green, Lindsay Graham and many others employed? I have no problem with their not being a fan of the current president, but do a job, have an agenda other than just opposing the other guys. Rand Paul wants to fight Anthony Fauci. I don’t get why. Covid was a series of unknowns. The good doctor passed advice, recommendations, but he didn’t close anything. Different companies, agencies and municipalities did that on their own. Rand also forgets this started under a GOP administration. An administration that was only republican because its candidate thought only they would be stupid enough to follow so unquestionably. Give the Dork a L’Orange credit, he was right about that one.

Yet, the speaker of the house is one of his major lapdogs and seems to think acting tough on Twitter is successfully convincing us that he is a tough, stand up guy.

None of these fools seem to remember/care that they are in public service jobs. There is a shameless lust for power, but no agenda, no idea, no concept as to what to do and the idea of actually helping citizenry isn’t even in the conversation. We are just in the business of wrecking one another

It’s like they’ve never had a good bagel sandwich

The Storm That Ate Christmas

Still playing at a theater near you, dispensing with marking myself safe from the snowstorm in Buffalo, and opting for annoyed. Can you mark yourself annoyed? I’m going to set precedent.

The multi-day, multi-foot deep snow storm that ate Christmas (most of which is still in my driveway) is a study in wisdom and foolishness and tragedy. Anything with a body count immediately loses access to terms like beauty and clinches like Winter Wonderland. When more than 20 people have died, aphorisms don’t cut it.

I questioned my own wisdom on the first night of the storm. A loss in power put a premature end of the work day and I was offered safe haven a block away where there was heat and light. With a vision line of about 20 feet at best, it was the longest short walk I’ve ever taken, like a chapter from a Jack London story. It was quite surreal to hear nothing but the wind and see little but snow bent on bodily assault. That assault would continue for the next 30 hours and upwards of 4 feet of new fallen snow, Despite that less than informed choice, I made it and had a good warm seat to watch the storm pummel the area from a fourth floor vista.

Watching the wind and snow blow about had the same effect of gazing at a campfire. What are you watching? Who knows, but you don’t want to miss it when it reveals itself. Buildings would fade from view like they never existed and then suddenly reappearing like the silhouetted monoliths they are, coming in and out of focus only being 50 to 60 feet away from the window I was gazing on them from.

When all was calm, the return trip was a little less Call of the Wild and a little more obstacle laden, better stretch before you pull something odyssey. The intense varying winds carved some interesting temporary snow architecture and the result was a random pattern of cars and SUVS in a variety of abstract positions as if a child tossed their matchbox cars in the air and the snowbound pattern was result.

I don’t know who built Hoak’s restaurant south of the city, but he or she did good work

But that all worked out, despite been not one of my better initial choices upon leaving my darkened house. It was heartwarming to read of the rescue of the theater worker in North Buffalo as that is how we should be looking out for another. I’m glad he was found and getting the necessary care toward recovery. It is also great that the bus of Korean tourists found safety in something they have never experienced before. It’s heartbreaking how many others didn’t fare was well.

I don’t really get the folks who want to compare “what storm was worse” as that doesn’t matter or the people going to facebook to get the best streets to get to a destination. I’d call the destination than try to cruise in lousy conditions with anecdotal testimony, but that is just me. I would however listen to the driving ban.

My actual driveway underscored that I have no choice in the matter. See below.

The peak there is about five feet high.

My personal hero so far is the guy whose job is to clear the sidewalks of the nursing home next to mine. He has set down the way to do it through sheer consistent pluck. He’ has been out there each day of the storm and as a result, there is pavement around the property. Unlike some leaders he didn’t blame residents, he focused on the task. If only that example would inspire say, building owners like, well, mine.

As I write this the landlord did send two guys with a snowblower to carve out the sidewalks at least, I applaud the attempt, but 12 year old me running Dad’s snowblower for the first time in winter 1976 got better results. Maybe they needed my dad to stare them into straight lines as it worked when I did that stuff.

Our neighbor to the North

Sometimes provides a great view of the south

Forced fresh air

Is a good thing. It seems like summer weather really clocked out on right at the end of its shift. So far, the biggest adjustment is wearing pants as opposed to shorts on a bike ride.

The views are still worthy.

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Ride, Captain, Ride

When you have been cooped up all day inside on a great looking outside day, sometimes you just have to steal a little. You might see some cool stuff if you make haste. With a related question, if you do make haste, what do you keep it in? Anyway, fresh air to sooth the office drone’s soul.

Hints of fall in the trees

Sky piloting

I took part in Buffalo’s Sky Ride for the first time last year. Ignoring a fear of heights to get a new perspective was a real thrill so signing up for another go was automatic.

Bicycle views

The things you can see when not behind the proverbial wheel

Pedalin’

The world gets a little more tangible with handlebars in place of a steering wheel. I’m a casual rider (jeans allowed as those tight lycra outfits ain’t for this guy)

Go ride, you might see something

Handlebar imagery

Took the holiday eve and joined a bike gang to pedal around our fair city. It is always good for my twisted view to see stuff from the open air. It helps my outlook to be a part of something bigger that me and a pedal trip around the city is a favorite mode of centering.

Good looks and had I been in the car, might have missed them