The properties of light

Last night on my way home from work I stopped at the grocery store. From there I was struggling back down the hill with my heavy bags, wondering how easy it is to dislocate a shoulder, and whether I should figure out a better way to carry the heaviest bag, when I looked up.

In front of me was a huge construction site, basically a big hole in the ground with cranes in it. Beyond that was another construction site, the building standing, but with no filling, no walls, just concrete and ropes of steel holding the whole structure together. Beyond that was the spire of one of the many churches in our neighbourhood. (All Souls's I think - click here for an image of it - http://www.travelphotobase.com/f/DC16/DCS59.HTM) It was a classic DC scene - actually, probaby a classic city scene, but what made me stare was the frozen moment of light on all these structures.

The hole in front of me, and the cranes in it, were in shadow, and their ugliness hidden in the passed light of dusk. The almost-building behind it was shining, the leftover sunlight from the day was reflecting off all the metal in the structure, it made the whole building into a crosshatch of bright light and dark holes. The church spire was swathed in a low hanging cloud, stretched out like a duvet. The top of the cloud was white, the center was grey and stormy and the bottom of the cloud, the part that was snuggled around the spire was red and orange and yellow and all the colours in between.

I didn't think about my groceries again till I got home.

winter crisp

Today is one of those days for feeling semtimental and reflective. Walking to work was cold. My face was cold but the rest of me was snuggled into my fabulous winter coat. Cold, crisp air blowing my hair out of my face, and the sun shining down on my squinting eyelids. This is the best kind of winter day, it is just refreshing and not depresssing.

I got into the office and everyone is in a good mood, sleepy, but happy to see everyone else, happy to have someone else to share the early morning dark of the office with. We commune in the kitchen, the bright lights and smell of coffee assisting in our grunting waking up. Everyone's hands are busy, there's toast in the toaster oven and naturally there is someone standing with the fridge door open looking inside but really only seeing their crumpled, warm bed that they left behind. My tea is sweet and milky and everyone telling banal stories from the night before is soothing. We all scatter down the hallway to stare blankly at the computor. Do people who get in at ten have the same half hour of coming-to, or do they walk into work brains fired and ready to start the day?

I don't really want to let go of the warm fuzzies this morning. BBC2 is helping, "the magic numbers" is excellent early morning assistance.

Life is Cruel

Earlier today I was sent a link by someone who loves me very much. It took me about two hours before I had time to open the link.

http://www.johnpauljonesarena.com/event_details.asp?id=27

Eric Clapton is playing in Virginia! For a shining, sparkling moment I was ecstatic. Then I looked at the date, he is playing in Virginia Tomorrow. Tomorrow, Tomorrow. I feel like the opposite of orphan Annie.

There is no way I can go. Even were there tickets available, which would be a miracle in itself, I can't dump work tomorrow. We have funders coming in, I have to be here.

Like I said, Life is cruel.