Yet more miscellany

[magid]

I wonder if adults who as babies were put to bed on their backs are more likely to be able to sleep (comfortably) on their backs.

New game while commuting on the T: trying to balance better. I keep thinking it might help with cross-country skiing muscles, also to change my reflex to stiffen leg muscles when getting to unsure footing (ice, especially) rather than bend, which gives more control. Or it's just a way to pass the time in a crush of people hurtling through tunnels underground.

Spotted on the T this morning: a little green bag! (I got a touch of earworm, for the Chattertocks version, the only one I've heard).

Shabbat's winter soup: onions, carrots, a Yukon Gold potato, a roasted sweet potato, some roasted Delicata squash, garlic, sunchokes, some black pepper, salt, ginger, and a touch of cinnamon all boiled together. I mashed it a bit once everything was cooked, so it's a thick orange soup, with lumps, and heat that catches slowly at the back of the mouth.

I'm glad my T ride gives me a view over the river each morning. It feels great coming out of the tunnel to see light and sky and the city, my destination in front of me. And the pressure of sound isn't there when the train's outside, its sound not bouncing right back at the train. Really, though, I'm fascinated to see the weather. This morning, there were winter clouds gathered over the city, clouds with intent, clouds steel gray with snow... except that I could see a bright rim of yellow light just above the horizon, where this weather system doesn't reach.

This feels rather scattershot. I wish I had more focus.

Comments

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

Focus? What's th- ooooooo shiny!!!!

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

I think you're right: the coordination involved in balancing on the T, with its twists, turns, and lurching stops, is bound to help with x-country skiing. Strength training in the legs and core probably would help a great deal, too. But I've never gone skiing, so I'm only speculating.

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

I had a professor at Emerson years ago who used to talk about his "Crossing the Charles" thoughts. As he put it, you can't help but break from what your thought patterns/actions were when you come out of the tunnel.

One of the most amazing thing I have ever seen while on the bridge was a squall that came through. They halted the train mid-bridge for the five minutes the squall was going on. Once it past, they started the train and continued into Kendall.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Wow. I never thought about the more active weather voyeurism potential. And your prof sounds very cool.

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

And your prof sounds very cool.
He is, although I haven't seen him in years. His name is Sven Birkerts (http://www.bu.edu/agni/about/staff/bio-birkerts.html) and he is probably one of the greatest essayist that I have ever read. I heard this quote once about him, "He writes essays on books that no one has ever read that makes you want to go read the books." I was just reading one of his essays this evening after my original post to you and I had such a strong gut feeling of "this way is exactly how people should write essays." He's a real reader's reader. Oh, and he once introduced me to David Foster Wallace and tried to set us up. Only after coffee did he find out that I was living with someone (M#2) already.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Ooh! I've been reading more essays these days, so I'll definitely look for his. Thanks!

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

I suggest reading the earlier stuff before the newer stuff.