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Ruffled Feathers
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Snowzilla Blizzard Photos in Maryland
The Blizzard of 2016, dubbed Snowzilla, as seen from my front door Saturday afternoon.
LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD FROM THE FRONT DOOR. SOMEONE TRIED TO SHOVEL A PATH EARLIER, BUT DRIFTING SNOW HAS MOSTLY FILLED IT IN.
SNOW DRIFTS AT THE SIDE OF CARS.
SNOW BUMPER-HIGH, EVEN ON AN SUV. SOME SMALLER CARS HAVE SNOW DRIFTED UP OVER THE HOOD. THERE’S A SIDEWALK BEHIND THAT LINE OF CARS, BURIED SOMEWHERE UNDER THE SNOW. IN THE LEFT CORNER, WIND CREATED A POINTY CAP ON TOP OF A FLAT TRASH CAN.
THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN FROM A KNEELING POSITION, THE CAMERA ABOUT 3 FEET HIGH. IT’S THE PILE OF SNOW TO THE RIGHT OF THE ENTRANCE. SOME OF IT IS SNOW SHOVELED FROM IN FRONT OF THE DOOR, WITH DRIFTING ON TOP.
Photos in Gaithersburg, MD, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2:30 p.m. All photos by Bernard John Hayden. Permission granted to reproduce, with credit to the photographer and/or blog.
— John
Change And Construction Is A Constant In Montgomery
A CONSTRUCTION CRANE TOWERS OVER A BUILDING IN PROGRESS IN THE HEART OF ROCKVILLE.
Back in the day, the symbol of change was the bulldozer. When the suburbs were being created in the 1950s and 1960s, one was never far from the sight or sound of bulldozers grading the land for construction of single-family houses on quarter-acre lots.
Fast-forward to 2014, and the symbol of change is more often the construction crane. Single-family houses — mostly for the high-end market — are still constructed in Montgomery County, but that’s no longer the most common form of construction. More often, you see multifamily housing. The garden-apartment style of multifamily has been replaced by four-story buildings, and the trend is to go higher and denser.
We seem to have general agreement in Montgomery County in favor of tall development, rather than sprawl development. “Smart Growth” is the catchphrase. The profiles of some communities — Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Rockville — have been redefined by high-rise construction. We’re not talking skyscrapers, but that time may come.
For a more in-depth look at change and economic development issues in Montgomery County, please see my post today in David Lublin’s TheSeventhState political blog under the title, “Contemplating Life Inside An Economic Engine.”
— John Hayden (BJohnHayden@icloud.com)
Selfie Culture vs. Reality
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“Here’s the irony: Selfie culture doesn’t enhance the self but degrades it. When we turn the lens of life on ourselves, we create the illusion that we should focus only on what’s best for us.”
— That quote from Rev. Galen Guengerich, All Souls Unitarian Church, NYC. And this:
“The image of a self-made, self-reliant and self-centered individual is a lie, and a pernicious one at that. We are utterly dependent upon the people and the world around us.”
— Also Rev. Guengerich. Both quotes from an essay in todays Washington Post, page B2.
Just something to think about. — John
Snow Photos From Winter Storm Janus
Light traffic, late afternoon of Winter Storm Janus. One car and one bicycle.
And snowplows, lots of snowplows.
HOW DEEP? ANKLE DEEP, OR MORE. (John Hayden photo)
SNOW — DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DRIVE IN WEATHER LIKE THIS?
ABSTRACT ART, TIRE TRACKS IN SNOW
LIGHTS ON, NOBODY’S HOME. McDONALD’S CLOSED, LATE AFTERNOON OF WINTER STORM JANUS
ICY, UNDER THAT NICE, WHITE SNOW
SNOWSCAPE, WINTER STORM JANUS
PARKING LOT, LATE AFTERNOON, WINTER STORM JANUS
SLUSH VARIES, LANE TO LANE, CLOPPER ROAD, GAITHERSBURG
DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY MY OWN CAR, UNDERNEATH THE SNOW
WIPERS UP SO THEY WON’T FREEZE TO WINDSHIELD
DREAMING ABOUT FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE IN WINTER. (John Hayden photo)
HA! I’M NO FOOL. I’M HAPPY INSIDE. WAKE ME UP IN THE SPRING
All photos between 4 and 5 p.m. in Gaithersburg, MD, Tuesday, Jan. 21, Winter Storm Janus. Photos by John Hayden
Confessions of an Aging Blogger
I have this habit of disappearing without warning. It’s one of my many deficiencies as a blogger.
Some days I walk around wondering, “Where did I put my head?”
My photography skills leave something to be desired. The new Canon has a miraculous zoom lens, but my hands are unsteady. This egret is quite a distance off, and I can’t for the life of me capture all of her in one frame. So I try to salvage pictures using iPhoto. Powerful hardware and software should not be left unattended. Or, as a wise manager told me long ago, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”
I nearly had her, that time! My goal is to write short and sweet. But often I’ll go on and on, trying to capture an argument that’s as elusive as an egret at 100 yards.
I need to learn to be satisfied with an incomplete picture. Incomplete and fuzzy writing. That’s my style, more often than not.
I frequently veer off topic on a whim. That’s a blogging no-no. Which reminds me, have I posted a photo of Princess Lola recently?
Once I get into the zone, I could blog all night. It’s not as if I have a shortage of ideas. Definitely no shortage of cute and regal cat pictures. (When I really get going, I throw in random adjectives and adverbs, not to mention parenthetical references.)
I have a compulsion to cover the subject in depth and variety. Cats come in so many interesting shapes and sizes. They’re so cute when they’re sleeping. I’m not above stating the obvious.
Lastly, I frequently write about taboo subjects. Not religion; I’m talking politics. Boring.
Now that I’ve retired from gainful employment, I’ll have more time for blogging! I’m trying to decide on a course of action. Should I start a new blog? I’m searching for the perfect niche. Preferably one that will draw a wide audience resulting in astounding statistics and minor income from the WordAds program.
While I’m awaiting inspiration, I’ll probably write about retirement. And that’s all I have to say tonight.
— John Hayden
Luxury With A Water View
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Grand cottages on the water, vacation homes of the one percenters. They make a pretty picture. They’re located in West Ocean City, not far from the Route 50 Bridge. The picture was taken with a zoom lens from across the bay in South Ocean City.
Baseball, One Photo At A Time
The classic baseball photo: batter, catcher, umpire; all intent on the pitch.
I’ve been wanting to try tiling a series of photos, and what better subject than the great American Pastime?
The classic baseball photo: batter, catcher, umpire; all intent on the pitch.
John Hayden photo
Photos are from Opening Day 2013 at Nationals Stadium in Washington. Posted better late than never. — John Hayden To see the gallery, click on the headline or photo above . . .
T.G.I.F.: It’s been a long week…
I can relate to this photo. Everyone needs a quiet moment of simple happiness. — John
Living Simply And Still On The Grid 