Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Early Dismissal

Yes, I rode to work today.

And . . .

We had early dismissal at 3:00 pm. This gave me an opportunity to ride a bit rather than come straight home.

It still surprises me how I can see something on my usual commute route for the first time. How many times have I gone by this tree and not noticed it dancing?

There is still a little color hanging on in Tower Grove Park.

Shortly after the Park I took some streets I travel less if at all.

I discovered this little Orthodox Church. I may have to visit it on a Sunday. It is really tiny.


At a stoplight next to a bus stop a guy yelled at me, "Ain't you cold?" I lifted the face-shield of my modular helmet so he could see my face and yelled back, "It could be worse, I could be waiting for a bus." He laughed and laughed. He thought that was pretty funny. It was a long light. Not only did I have time to put back down my face-shield I was able to sneak a photo.

He does look cold doesn't he?

On another street, I saw a couple of cement geese all dressed for the weather. There was a woman my age helping, I would later find out, her mother out of a car in front of the house with the geese. I believe I've mentioned before the dressing up of cement geese is something my mother, may her memory be a blessing, used to do. I normally don't take photos of cement geese, but I couldn't resist stopping and asking the elder if they were her geese. My question was greeted with the most wonderful smile. "Yes, they are," She said. I told her about my mother dressing them for the seasons and the other woman said, "So does Mom." When I asked if I could take a photo of the her geese the woman said, "Of course, you can."

And I did.

Later I saw some interesting vehicles.

One was a child's toy probably washed down the River during the recent storm.

The other . . .

I suspect is an adult's toy.

Truthfully, although we had early dismissal, I didn't get home all that much earlier then I usually do.

  • 19F/-7C and clear for the ride in.
  • 27F/-3C and still clear for the homeward ride about.

12 comments:

  1. Wonderful post. Lots to look at and think about. I love the little Russian? Orthodox church.

    Those happy brief encounters with strangers are always special. I bet your exchange with him will be part of his Thanksgiving banter!

    Happy Thanksgiving, Keith.

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    1. Martha,
      I was busy over the weekend with moving an elder into assisted living and am just know getting to respond to comments. I looked the little Church up and it is a Russian Orthodox Church. It has a wonderful feel about it.

      One of the reasons I like wearing a modular helmet is I can expose my whole face to someone I interact with. With a fullface helmet all I am is a nose and a mouth.

      I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving with lots of appreciative furry friends.

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  2. That first tree is really neat. Dancing limbs, so graceful.

    I have been taking the bus to work since hubby has needed the car with our frost weather and roads. I can tell you, yes, it would have been warmer in my heated gear.

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    1. Brandy,
      The tree! It is the Shiva dancer of trees isn't it? And to think I rode past the tree for years and never noticed it. What a rich world it is.

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  3. Keith, we don't have cement geese, and if we did, it's unlikely we would dress them. I'm guessing it's a very local custom I'd love to learn more about.

    Happy thanksgiving to you and your family and best wishes for the coming year.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Hmmm... seems I'm all thumbs with html, here goes again, here's the answer to the spruced (up) goose: click here

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    3. David,
      My Mother was a doll collector. She liked to dress things. I really thought it was from before the 90's, but then again, I'm surprised at how long ago the 90's are now. Oh well, :^)

      Thanks for the link.

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  4. He looks colder than you sounded....very nice Keith.

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    1. I'm sure he was colder than I was. It was a very nice moment. Like Martha, I love these moments with strangers that happen so very often when I'm riding the Symba.

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  5. Outfits on cement geese were all the rage here in the 1990s. I used to have one too and every flea market you'd go to some one was selling "goose clothes"!

    I donated my goose clothes to a neighbor when my goose fell over and her head snapped off!

    Occasionally you still see a bedecked goose on a porch around here.

    Hard core, I guess!

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    1. There are a number of cement geese still being dressed around here. They particularly tend to wear St. Louis Cardinals gear come baseball season.

      Sounds like your goose got stoned and lost his head :^) or, something like that.

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