Productive Days

Today I moved two major pieces of paper at work, cleared two hundred points and became a level four local guide with Google Maps, did two a day walking, progressed in my current eviction negotiation, and managed to touch all elements of the daily practice.  I like to think of that as a pretty productive day.

Anacostia Waterfront Evening

I managed to catch up a little with an previous boss of mine, and I saw the beginning of the closing of the day on the Anacostia River. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I'll bet it will be exciting.

Independence Day 2016

Today was a productive day.  In addition to getting the daily practice knocked out on a schedule that didn't cause too much difficulty, I got to see a good fireworks display, participated in some grilling of burgers and dogs in spite of the rain, and put in another good day of miles out on the trail.

Fireworks - Annapolis, MD

The perennial fireworks display in Annapolis, MD reminded me once again that trying to capture photos of these sparkling flowers is really beyond my technical and artistic capability.  The photo above is the best of probably fifty or so that I took during the display. The lesson repeated, once again, is that I should probably stay in the moment instead of wasting the experience trying to capture some pixels of the moment. C'est la vie...but if I'm writing the same sad tale again next year, I'll consider it a failure.

The miles I put in were good miles, and I covered a loop around Spa Creek in Annapolis that took me past places that I had not trod past before.  I completed the location of the three Little Free Libraries in the immediate walking distance, and I've even managed to get photos and locations of the quaint little boxes added to the main database of Google Maps. My interest in these little boxes of surprise titles probably deserves it's own posting (if I haven't already done one), so I'll suffice it to say I consider getting these three libraries mapped is an accomplishment that I take some pride in completing.

The walk took me past some old standby locations, and I enjoyed seeing Ego Alley in downtown Annapolis in a relatively serene state before the comings and goings that surely happened later in the day.

Ego Alley - Annapolis, MD

Even the mouth of Spa Creek between Annapolis and Eastport exhibited more activity than the high dollar moorings downtown. A couple of fishermen were just weighing anchor as I crossed over the Eastport Bridge.

Mouth of Spa Creek - Annapolis, MD

It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but the steeple at St. Mary's is showing some new scaffolding.  That makes two picturesque landmarks along my usual training routes that are getting a makeover to the detriment of contemporary photography.  I suppose it's just another example of how the illusion of stability is fractured into the reality of constant churn and change if you bother to really observe what's going on all the time.

Today was a productive and fulfilling day.  We'll see what tomorrow may unmask, but as always, I'm looking forward to facing it with a sense of optimistic adventure.

Today Was a Bit Hectic, but Productive

Putting a few miles under the feet, clearing up work as I head off to Kentucky for a running event, packing up, cooking dinner, and in general getting things ready to go has been a bit hectic.  That said, I got everything done that I'd hoped (for the most part), and I even got to witness the waning of the sun this evening.

You've seen a similar view before, but since every moment is it's own act of creation, you haven't seen this exact view before.  You also won't ever see it again.

Sunset on the Anacostia River

Early this morning, the man I frequently encounter in the vicinity of the Folger Shakespeare Library walking his pair of brindle greyhounds was just leaving his house a block or two away from where I normally see him and greet him in the mornings.  I was across the street looking across, and he must have recognized me because he waved.  I waved back, and I'll note that it really feels good to be recognized and acknowledged...even with only a wave.

I have heard Walt Whitman quoted as saying, "Once you have been identified, you are saved."  I can't find a reference to this alleged quote, but nevertheless, it strikes me as holding a measure of truth.  This morning, that fleeting recognition and acknowledging a bond formed on the cobblestones in the early morning, felt like a slice of salvation had visited.  It was a hectic, but also, a very productive day.