The Trees at the End of the Parking Lot

Walking out of the gym on Monday afternoon, I was confronted with an awesome sight--the stand of trees at the end of the parking lot were in full autumn color.

In a word--they were magnificent in their seasonal garb.

I snapped a quick picture with my phone camera. I was a little unsteady after playing four hard fought racquetball games--but I was still able to appreciate the color and the beauty there at the end of the lot.

The trees were standing in front of gray, dark clouds--which even without the sunlight to illuminate them made them seem all the more beautiful.

This is the season to notice the changes happening around me. It is much the reverse of springtime--where I notice the new green growth on the trees and then the flowers begin to show themselves. Now, it is the trees as they morph from green to reds and oranges, and yellows that cause me to pause for a moment and appreciate their transformation.

Although like the springtime, the color is only temporary, now is definitely the time to enjoy it.

Take a moment--

It will soon pass if you miss it.

Flu Shots

They say we should get them.

And I did--yesterday, but secretly I wish I hadn't.

My arm hurts where I got the shot. The health care professional told me it would and it was because of the shot, not the person giving it. Some gallows humor I guess.

The price was right--free, and I got to get some time away from my desk to get the shot.

Still, I feel like a Guinea pig. Test driving the shot for millions of others who have yet to get it or decide they need one.

This year they have included the swine flu shot we received separately last year. I'm sure there will be some new flu they haven't thought about which will require a second stick.

I hate needles. I just can't look at them as they penetrate my skin. I'm afraid I'll tense up or something and then bad things will happen.

But I lived through it.

So I guess I recommend the experience.

Monday Musings - October 25, 2010

1. Well, the teams are all set. Isn't it great we are going to have a World Series without the Yankees, Red Sox, or the Phillies? Actually 2006 was the last time this happened with the Cardinals beating the Tigers 4 games to 1.

2. Sports-wise, yesterday was a good day for the family with the Ravens, Steelers, and Redskins all winning. Tonight, however, will be a disaster as either the Giants or the Cowboys will have to lose and there are family members rooting for each team. It is tough when the teams play each other.

3. Eight days until the election--I wonder if there is any hope the news media will run out of gas or things to say before then.

4. Chinese (Brown Marmorated) stink bugs are a real problem. They are everywhere.

5. Isn't it interesting the difference in perspective? The French are on strike because the government wants to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. Here in the U.S. we are yawning as the government is making plans to raise it from 66 to 70. Hmmm.

6. I heard an interesting statement regarding differences between people as it related to the bus scene in Forrest Gump: "we all, deep inside, are hoping that someone will say, 'you can sit here.'"

7. Here is a scary thought. Christmas is just two months away.

8. Today in Elkridge, the sun rises at 7:27 am and sets tonight at 6:14 pm. Total: 10:47. Tomorrow, the total sun time will be two minutes shorter. I hope the Australians are enjoying our sunshine!

9. Mondays are the dividing line between what we want to do and what we need to do to keep enjoying what we want to do.

Late October Reality

The cool wind, almost cold, that blew me through the breezeway at work was a real shock the other day at lunch.

I had not felt a wind that cold in many months--and I was immediately transported back to last winter when the frigid winds blew unchecked across the landscape bringing with them record amounts of snowfall.

I can still see the whiteouts associated with the Snowpocalypse. And feel the chill all the way to my bones.

But have no fear, the NOAA is reporting that this winter should be a more normal 18 inches of snowfall variety, with temperatures a bit warmer.

That will sure be a welcome relief to my beleagured budget when confronted by the astronomic electric bills associated with too much cold and its associated snow.

The cool wind chilled me.

And I stood straighter and squared my shoulders into the wind so that it would not get the best of me.

But I know what is coming.

As Darkness Falls

I was outside the other evening.

It had been a beautiful afternoon. Chris and Makayla and I had taken a long walk to enjoy the afternoon and the clear blue skies as well as the touch of autumn which is beginning to adorn the trees in the neighborhood.

I decided to walk the yards--something that I all too infrequently do just to see how things are doing. I often do small tasks like removing fallen branches and I also determine whether it is time to mow again--which it is by the way.

As I was completing my tour of the yards, I noticed the setting sun was delineating a clear line of light and dark on the trees in the back yard.

It was eerie.

There is was--the dividiing line between day and night, it seemed, clearly drawn on the trees behind my house.

Now I know this was not the famous terminator line. But I could imagine it was, for a minute. The difference between the light and dark was very stark.

Above, in the tree tops it was bright as day and cheerful. Below, it was night. Hard to see and full of unseen unknowns.

The trees are mostly green but the colors of the autumn are creeping into their canopies.

Soon, after the leaves are fallen, the trees will cast ghostly shadows on the lawn instead of providing their ubiquitous shade.

But that is still to come as the seasons continue their inevitable cycling which spawns new life and sees it through to maturity and then starts over again.

For now though--I glimpsed, or I could imagine I glimpsed, the line separating light and darkness as it crept across my lawn and night fell.

The Passion Factor

Passion.

It is a driving force behind success.

When I was younger, I would play games passionately--and I would win. Now, it seems I do not really care if I win or lose--and the passion is gone. I lose a lot more. Which certainly makes one of my grandchildren happy.

A Wikipedia definition of passion:

Passion ( from Latin verb patior meaning to suffer or to endure) is an emotion applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something. The term is also often applied to a lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity or love. Passion can be expressed as a feeling of unusual excitement, enthusiasm or compelling emotion towards a subject, idea, person, or object. A person is said to have a passion for something when he has a strong positive affinity for it. A love for something and a passion for something are often used synonymously.

Passion is the feeling in my gut that tells me I really care about what is happening. That could be something with my family, church, recreation or job.

I am a passionate person.

Sometimes I get blinded by my passion--but

I do best when I am working on that passion because I find that when there is no passion "burning in my belly" I really don't care about the outcome. I become apathetic.

I love working with other passionate people. It makes life fun, even if we disagree because it tells me that they care as much as I do about getting something right.

What am I passionate about?

Well, I'm not going to share--but you can probably guess by reading some of my blog entries.