When:  After breakfast, mid-morning on New Years Day
Weather: Cold–below freezing cold
Observations/Thoughts

During my walk today, I was glad to be able to wear sunglasses again.  The cooler temperatures were a fair trade for the happiness-bringing ball in the sky.  When the sun was gone, I missed even the little-bitty, half-formed shadows.  The loud, screaming sun brought back the shadows at full strength.  They were so deep and dark they were almost worth starting a conversation with.

The most notable event of today’s walk was the limited number of warm bodies about.  The cars  were probably limited, but I really didn’t keep track of them while walking.  I focus on those who pass me and those I pass. (i.e. pedestrians) Today, it was all about one fellow walker.  Our paths crossed twice.  As I was still loosening up and getting acclimated to the cold temps, we passed each other. He was well bundled.  He had the added bonus of full beard.  When we intersected again, it was on a road we both used to complete our walking “block”.  As a walker, his “rules” had him on the wrong side of the road.  As our paths neared, he switched to the other side of the road–the one where he faces the driving traffic.  His wave was less glad to see me this time.

There are two dogs who dwell just over the bridge.  These dogs are “protected by” a NO TRESPASSING sign.  Today, it seems the cold took the energy out of them.  As I walked by the first time today, the dogs just could not find a good reason to give me their attitude.  As my walk was winding down and as I was coming from the opposite direction on the path and behind the dogs, the dogs must have been rudely awakened.  They found the passion for the attack they could not summon before.  They ran the length of the fence multiple times as they attempted to intimidate me.  I am pretty confident I kept the “scared” pheromones at a minimum.  Their efforts were not rewarded.