Day 7.025: Exchange!

Another episode from the my-brain-doesn't-work-when-I'm-running-or-does-it desk.

I ran past this place and read the sign:

I thought, "That's an odd turn of phrase."  I was just beginning to think, "I suppose that is actually what happens," when I realised that it didn't say that, it said:

which is less interesting.

It was only as I was writing this, that I realised my brain had just done what it was told:

Day 6.352: Lights, camera, action!

Our other outing yesterday was to drive through the "Holiday Lights in the Park" in Albany.  We all thought they were on rather good form this year - brighter and higher resolution than our memories from previous years - maybe related to the imminent demise of the incandescent bulb.

Here is:

1. A general shot (lights) including - possibly new this year - Mr Potato Head.
2. A shot with some (camera) shake - but a nice accidental effect.
3. Our favourite of the "credits displays with a simple two part (action) animation of the elves dunking the doughnut into the Dunkin' Donuts cup.

There was plenty of action here today as we get the house back from its relatively-relaxed Christmas state ready for a showing in the morning and visitors tomorrow afternoon.  It was pretty much an all-day activity.

Day 6.337: Sweet home...Alabama?

I'm home for the weekend. But Google Maps' generally excellent turn by turn directions seem to have an issue with the Albany turn off the Thruway - it's got that last-thing-on-a-Friday vibe.  Not inappropriately on this occasion.

The audio says:
"Take Exit 'exit 23' for Alabama nine west toward Albany/Troy," and the display shows:

A couple of minutes later, "Alabama nine west" seems to have turned into good old US 9W.

Which is something of a relief because making the trek to Albany is quite far enough - Alabama is rather more than I'd reckoned with.

Day 6.335: Winter tires

I bought winter tires/tyres for my car yesterday - I've thought about it several times but this was the first year I got around to it.

I also used my winter running-tires this morning. Right now the nearest trails to my apartment are sheet ice (from a snow to freezing rain storm at the beginning of the week) with half an inch of snow on top (from yesterday). Not ideal for running, but with a combination of slowing down and the Yaktrax, I managed a four miler this morning.

I like to think that occasionally a fellow Yaktrax aficionado will spot my distinctive footprints. I kept a look out but didn't spot that anyone else who'd passed that way had been wearing any.

Day 6.334: Happy hour, Euro slide & the skeletons

After my walk along the beach on Saturday, I walked back along the street. It was very much out-of-season seaside town. Only one food place was open - it was doing pretty good business, but it was a bit early for me - also, it wasn't the unique British pub.

And the rides (from various continents presumably) were definitely closed to business.

But they were quite photogenic.

Day 6.320: I like these signs (and I cannot lie)

These are from the beach on Saturday.

First, if you go swimming in the woods - you do so at your own risk.

(there was no water in that direction as far as I know).

And then there's this:

And so, after nearly two years absence, we welcome back the feature that says: that was pop pun 122 for title watchers - you other brothers can't deny.

Day 6.306: Mackworth Island

Our other site-seeing trip on Saturday was to circumnavigate Mackworth Island. The island is accessible by road over a causeway and a trail runs all the way around it.

This is a picture from a small 'pier' on the far side of the island from the causeway.

There were little beaches to investigate:

Fairies to build for:

Portland's answer to Fort Boyard to marvel at:

Mirages to squint at (for quite a long time):

And signs that show you that you must tidy up after your dog, no matter how well dressed you (or he) might be:

Day 6.269: Fall - catch - and relax!

After a chore-filled day yesterday, we filled today with - my last fairly-long run before the marathon next Sunday, a trip to church (including collecting Exile #3 from her middle-school group lock-in (sleepover) and a visit to Five Rivers (without play-dating Exile #4) where a very important event occurred:

The first leaf-catch of fall!

Later followed by numbers two and three:

So now I can relax and enjoy the rest of the season.

Day 6.231: So good we're giving it away!

Let me be honest, sometimes I have nothing to write about and all my energy has gone into other activities during the day.

Somehow, at the end of the evening, I have to find something to put in a post here - even if it's a little tenuous.

Sometimes it's good. Sometimes it's...

...not so good. But, it's free and there will be more of it available tomorrow!




By the way, the picture is from our walk on Day 6.175 during our UK trip.

Day 6.193: Christmas melon giant owl in the desert..?

Sometimes the only question is, "Why?"  Sometimes I wonder if it's best not to know.

Day 6.188: Double helix

Here's the answer to mystery #1 from Day 6.185.

While I was running I managed to put the following observations together and get to the right answer:

• Very long sequence of colours.
• Apparently random order of stripes.
• Four colours used.
• I was in Cambridge!

Of course, the big model of DNA at the end of the decorated section of cycle path didn't hurt (but I did work it out before I saw that - really!).

It is, apparently, a part of the human genome - a single gene which has a function in repairing other mutated genes.

Day 6.183: Beer and planes

Exile #2, the girls, my Dad and I spent the middle of the day at The Imperial War Museum Duxford. It was the day before an airshow and there was a lot of activity on the ground and in the air. 

This not-yet-open beer purveyor caught my eye:

Later, I joined my Dad's regular Friday-evening pub gathering where I drank some Wherry - CAMRA's Supreme Champion Beer of Britain for 1996 - very good indeed but you have to hand it to Spitfire's advertising and product placement when you notice their stall as a one of its namesake WW2 fighter planes soars overhead!

Day 6.149: Carry-in carry-out

We were invited to a "sweet sixteen" birthday party for twin girls today. This rite of passage does not really have an equivalent in the UK, but I'm not sure that this excellent party - in a state park pavilion with Dinosaur BBQ catering - was quite representative of the form, but it was certainly in character with the birthday girls.

We played a bit of badminton:

Exile #3's serve was particularly notable:



as was the location of the warnings to take your waste away with you after using the facilities:

A quick search revealed that I'd noted a similar juxtaposition before!

Day 6.118: What's wrong with these pictures?

Two mysteries from work today.

1. How did my keyboard come to look like this?  Yes - that is really just an unedited photo of it. It's surprising that I'd never noticed until today - having been using it for many months.
   

2. What is the possible use for a "Men/Women w/ "Rest Room" Sliding Panel sign?  It's pretty clear that you can slide the "Rest Room" piece so that it either reads "Men - Rest Room" or "Rest Room - Women".  I'll clarify for my non-US readers that Rest Room is a euphemism for Toilet (which is in itself effectively a euphemism, but let's leave it there).
   
   I am at a loss to think of a way in which this could ever be useful or a good idea.  Maybe one of you can (but you'll need to persuade me)?
   

Please let me know if you can make any sense of them!

Day 6.109: Hare field, Haar haus and Herr Doktor

Hare, Haar, Herr - is that all I photographed with my phone in Germany?

No, but it wasn't hard to pluck this many out.

Day 6.089: L'eau - an answer!

After the mystery sign of Day 6.085, I was excited to see another similar one the next day - this time with some explanatory text.

Finally we would know - is it about bicycles (Exile #3's guess), the scales of justice (mine), movable picnic tables (Dad), clackers (A)?

I moved closer to see what it said...

Hmmm - perhaps it would remain a mystery - albeit one now possibly related to swimming pools.

Except, wait - what's that below the sign...?

Ah - the same pipework as before - as noticed by Tall Guy - and could those "balls" actually be water outlets positioned at the same jaunty angle as the real ones?  I believe we have a winner - Montreal's unique fire hydrant signage!

Day 6.085: En Montreal

The day got off to an inauspicious start when my morning run was in fairly heavy, settling snow.

Our plans to visit the Botanical Gardens were put on hold until tomorrow and instead we headed to the old port area - in particular to visit the Montreal Science Centre.

What we saw inside is once again, more than I can do justice to, so here are some photos from our out-and-about time.

The bottom right picture shows that there was still quite a lot of ice left in the port.  The top left picture shows an extraordinary development.  I thought I'd never seen anything like it, but I was wrong.

Somewhere, we saw this sign, but it's in French so we don't understand it!

Do you?  And no, I don't mean the one that says, "Welcome!"

Day 6.078: Now that's a movie!

I was surprised to see that the car next to mine on my train journey up to Seoul as I was preparing to leave Korea had the following sign on the door:

The sign made it clear I shouldn't open the door, so I didn't.  Surely it couldn't really be a cinema?

Apparently, yes it was!