FUNNYACCENT

Run and Wind

I made three attempts to run since the temperature nosedive to between 25F-30F degree. I failed miserably. I was aware I could easily get hurt running in cold weather than say running in 60F degree, but I was hoping I could at least run a couple of miles. The cold was one thing, but the sharp as needle wind was brutal. The temp was easily dropped to single digit when the wind was sharp and furious.

After fifteen minutes, I gave up.

According to weather forecasters this weekend will nice and warm of mid 30's. I'll take it.

Selftalk

Wait a minute!!! What happen to the rest of November?

We are already on the seventh day of December, hello!!!!!!

What?

I beg your pardon?

What?

The dialogue took place in my head while I was writing a Christmas card to a friend.

Still Fall

After Sandy left, I keep forgeting that we are still in autumn because the temperature these days rarely gets to mid 60's let alone to high 60's. This time last year I was still wearing light jacket with short sleeves shirt underneath. Last year, in mid November Rohana and I merayap all over the city with only long sleeve Road Runner running shirt on our backs, and I didn't wear hat at all.

Now, everytime I go out I am in long winter boots, winter jacket and a hat!!!. And the winter is not even here yet.

Grateful

I went out for a walk a day after Sandy left. It was 8:15 a.m and my neighborhood was so quiet that I never thought this place would this quiet before. Although I live not far from the beach, but I am grateful that no serious damges that I could see with my naked eyes as I stood outside the building. The only visible sign that I knew was  broken twigs on the ground and a few fallen branches which the custodians were already started to clear them away.

 As NYC and New Jersey were hit hard by Sandy and they are still cleaning up the mess, I am grateful that Massachusetts, except for power outage throughout Northeast  which was restored mostly by Wenensday, Boston was spared from the devastation.

 

Crispy Fall

Two weeks ago when I was skyping with my lovely sister, KakNgah, I told her the  leaves on most of the trees were still green. Of course between then and now that I'm writing this entry color of the leaves have changed. Everyday when I ride my bike to work and ride home, I pass some parts of the city have more trees than other, I notice the changes but when I ride on the busy streets especially during rush hours, all my senses are focus on the traffic.
Anyho, this morning, I started 30 minutes early because I want to take time to feast my eyes. These trees are in my neigborhood, and every year I see the transformation of the leaves from grreen to orange, or yellow or red, but I never get tired of seeing the beauty of the transformation. Like magic.

We are magic too I guess because we change, we get rid our bad habits, negative mentality and develop a better habits,, a positive attitude.

What if we don't change? What if we continue to be the same person year after year?

Bookcovers

I like to think myself as a person who practices Don't judge a book by its cover down to the bone. But, like I say, it is what I think. Doing it is another story. Not easy, I am telling you.

The other day, I was walking my bike down Washington Street in  when my internal  booklust radar alerted me that I was a few feet away from West Street where Brattle Book Store is located.  As any booklust, bookworms, booklovers, bookwhores, booksluts or any fancy names they like to refer themselves to normally  do,  take a turn and head to the books!!! 

After I locked bike at the nearest coral I could find, I lengthened my steps toward the bookshelves

outside the store first. It is the best place to get the cheapest book with only $1.00. Certain books will get downgraded within two weeks from $5:00 cases down to $3:00. And finally down to $1:00 case. time.

There were a few times (hmmm...actually many times) I got duped by my penchant to fall for the bookcovers. This time it happened again. I pulled out a softcover book from a $3:00 bookcase. As soon as I held the book in my hand I already had the feeling that the book would be mine. I gently slide my hand over the cover. Looked at magnificent  pictures of the fish on the cover.  With the fish alone on the cover the book already fetched 80% selling power. Pictures of fish, frogs, mushrooms, mermaids and seashells on the book cover have always hypnotized me.

I turned on the back page to read the blurb of the book. Aahhhh... characters seeking their palce in the world.

I was right about the book. It was enjoyable reading. Surprises and mystery that kept me turning back the pages trying to put things together. Nikolski held its power over me like some books I had read in the past. I found myself slowing the pace I got the last two chapters. I did not want to finish the book. I wanted to find out who was Joyce's mother? Did Noah, Joyce and the bookstore owner ever learned that they are distantly related?

Half way of the book, it struck me the pictures of fish on the cover was also about three misfits characters who wondered long enough and finally ended in the same city were 'fishing' their identity and place in the world. No wonder I fell in love with the story.

Whack In the Head

It is out of whack when you get up one morning, look outside your window, than look at your calendar, walk up to the window again and look outside your window and you saw 95% of the leaves on the trees outside your window are still green.

My Oak Tree

There is a wide courtyard between a building I live and the next building. Three big and tall oak trees grow in this courtyard. On heavy snow days, I love to sit near the window with a cup of hot chocolat in my hand and watch the branches collecting the snow.  Very soon, the dark gray branches turned into all white.

When it rains, if I sit still and listen carefully I could hear the rain water fall on the branches and leaves. During the warm weather, the kids from the opposite building always leave their toys out in the yard when it rains. The green and red tricyle lay upside down with one of the trainng wheels missing, a doll stroller,  a plastic samurai hat,  and bits and odds scatter under the trees. 

When the rain stops and the sun comes out, and nobody comes out to claim the toys after a couple of days , the development custodians collect the toys when they clean the yard and dump the toys in dumpster.

A few days later the same kids have the new toys in the yard.

At the beginning of summer I notice oak trees have the luscious and greenest leaves compare to other times. And on breezy day the leaves move gently between them that creates familiar sound that reminds of my childhood times. The long gone times.

On a breazy days, I like to stroll under the trees and let the earth, leaves and wood scents wash  all my senses as I head to the subway station. It is a good feeling to have when I walk pass the oak tree perimeter.