Dan Antion

Procrastination and Frozen Stuff

Faith took this photo while hiking on Sunday.

Saturday’s post about the book “Ocean Station” had originally been scheduled for today. It’s not like it caught me off-guard (no pun intended), as I made the decision to tell that story from the bar the previous week. That’s how it goes with SoCS, you say something, and you get committed and if you edit that something out, Linda G. Hill calls John W. Howell and the next thing you know, Tiny is nailing a list of 10 things not to do when participating in Stream of Consciousness Saturday to your front door. Anyway, here I am on Sunday, looking at a forecast calling for snow overnight and during the day, and not having a thing for my blog to wear.

Yes, I procrastinated.

I mention that because it’s been a theme lately around the corner of WordPress that I hang out in. I think the sense of urgency that accompanies January 1st has worn off, and we’ve fallen back into our comfortable patterns of “there’s always tomorrow” – which essentially is true, until it isn’t, but we don’t worry about that. So, I don’t have a post to push ‘publish’ on (but I do have some alliteration going) and yes, I know it should be “on which to push publish” but I read somewhere that the Grammar Lords and Ladies are easing up on that whole ‘never end a sentence with a preposition’ thing.

In case you’re wondering if I am suggesting that Lord Google’s opinion is more highly valued than that of The Editor – no, no I am not. I’m just saying that “I read it somewhere…”

I do have several draft blog posts sitting in Trello, waiting for me to dump them into Word, add a cup of water, two eggs and bake until a toothpick can be inserted and withdrawn with no letters attached. However, I’ve already opened a beer, had a snack, and The Editor is about to make some dinner and the Penguins are on TV. That rarely happens here. No, not the Editor cooking thing, not the open beer thing, the Penguins. The only reason they’re on is because they’re beating the New York Rangers. We get Boston and New York sports here in Connecticut, since, when it comes to sports, we got nothing.

When it comes to a lot of things in Connecticut, we got nothing. As of today, we don’t have any toll roads, but today’s paper says we probably will in the near future. Our new Governor said, a long time ago, that he was in favor of tolls. People didn’t like that, so when running for office, he said he was only in favor of tolls on tractor trailer trucks (ooh, more alliteration). Then he won the election, looked at the balance in the checkbook and said “whoa, we need us some tolls” – on everything that moves.

Technically, we could implement tolls in a way that would make it easy on Connecticut drivers. We could not collect tolls within, say 25 miles of your house, or between your house and the nearest train station. It’s all computer controlled these days. We could do anything we like.

But, we won’t.

We’ll collect tolls on everybody. That’s because money is the Crack of politics. Once the governor takes the blame for suggesting tolls, the rest of them will gather round that idea like moths at the porch light. Before the end of June, we’ll be planning to collect tolls on every major road in the state. It might work. We might make some money, or we might force some of those trucks to continue east on I-90 through western Massachusetts. That end of the MassPike is free. Oh, they (MA legislators) will fix that, but not right away.

Anyway, between the snowstorm that’s coming, the ice the Penguins are skating on and the ice that’s still covering everything outside, I’m thinking about frozen stuff. The gallery includes a lot of frozen stuff and cold stuff. It’s February, it’s what we have.

“Oh, did you want to get a picture of this? I just smelled something interesting, sorry.”
The water is still flowing, but than can change quickly.
I tried getting a close up of this guy, but my camera insisted on focusing on everything else but the bird.
Rushing water can avoid freezing but not a still pond.
This is the Farminton River as it makes one of its final turns toward the Connecticut River.
Smokey is on the move in search of a peanut.
The squirrels aren’t heavy enough to break through so they’re walking on a frozen world.
Munch, munch, munch.
“Maddie, that’s ice. We need to move into the street.”
I’m trying to pull Maddie into the snow. That looks like water, but it’s frozen.
“Hi. I saw you behind the curtain. We’re kind of cold and hungry. Hint, hint.”
MiMi loves being on this shelf in the sun.
After our walk, we needed a little R&R.
“Yes, Maddie. that’s home, but that’s ice on the sidewalk. Let’s stay out here on the street.”
I like the bright sun reflecting off the snow and the shadows.
“Can we go back on the sidewalk?” “No, not yet. Let’s get beyond the ice.”
Someone’s been doing donuts. I like seeing that.
Maddie’s park is a giant sheet of ice.

77 comments

  1. I think that you final sentence does a great job in summing up my general attitude about the shortest month of the year–“It’s February, it’s what we have.” Spring is already on our minds, but there is a lot of winter to live through before spring really arrives.

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  2. Was there a Mount Maddie this year? Frozen stuff is definitely at the borrom of my list of favorite things. Then there are tolls. Florida is full of them. But traveling a toll road is often times so much wuicker and less deadly than the chocka block free-ways. We used to have a prepaid Sunpass for our treks into Orlando. It was nice. Costa Rica’s new highway has tolls, but they are very nice compared to the bombed out looking old one. And it gives the visitors a chance to use up the last of their colines before hitting the airport in San Jose. 😉Have a safe week, Dan.

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    • This year, it’s more of a Maddie Mound. She’s not too interested in it, because it’s alternating layers of snow and ice. We’ve had so many small storms that just had to be dealt with in a short period, that I haven’t had time to sculpt the mountain she likes to have, Like today, I was running the machine from 5:30 am to 6:15- not a good time to focus on form over function. We will have tons of tolls before this legislature is done. Thanks – I hope you have a good week, too.

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  4. I’ve tried to write in “The Chicago Manner of Style”, but I keep sliding back into my own voice, which often has me ending a sentence with the preposition “it”. I’ve given up with “Style”, I should just give the book away to someone capable of using it :)
    We’ve been unusually warm lately and it should be the same or hotter through the week. Come on COLD front!!! (PLEASE)

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  5. hahaha . ummm . Collecting tolls was something Trolls used to do under drawbridges isn’t it? Coincidence? oh and I just thought of something: Procrastination is the tool of the truly gifted.

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  6. We have so darn many tolls here in FL that you can load a Sun Pass to flash it and ride on through the toll booth. Or they snap a photo of your tag and send the bill directly to your home. Welcome, one and all.
    I thought of you last night when the news showed some massive fire on a parkway (main road) near Hartford. No idea how it occurred and traffic was backed up…..This is near you?

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    • Hi Lois. The MassPike accepts EZ-Pass or will send you a bill, but the bill will be for more money than the toll. They also charge more for out-of-state EZ-Pass holders. If I know CT, we will screw this up.

      That tanker fire was south of Hartford, about as far south as we are north. Thankfully, none of us had to travel on that road.

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  7. I don’t suppose we’ll ever be a ‘toll free’ country. Anyway, the local, state and federal powers that be would just find another way to extract our hard earned money from us.

    Beautiful picture from Faith. That squirrel looks so cute perched on top of the frozen snow with his peanut shells scattered all over. And those birds sure are eating well at the Antion Animal Sanctuary and Restaurant!! I don’t blame Maddie for curling up on the couch after being out in the cold. Smart redhead.

    And move over MiMi, I could really use some of that warm sunshine about now! We too are frozen solid, AGAIN!, from last nights storm, and I think the sun is stuck in Florida!
    🐾Ginger 🐾

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    • Thanks Ginger. Toll-free – nope, those days will soon be gone forever.

      GP wants some cold. I’m trying to figure out how we might swap the last week of February. MiMi’s idea of sharing is “you can work at the desk, but stay off of my shelf.” She doesn’t want to end up in anyone’s shadow.

      Maddie was a little upset this morning. First, I was up before I normally am, and then she wasn’t able to play after I finished clearing the snow (because I had to get ready for work). Hopefully, the Editor was able to let her run a bit before the critters started showing up for breakfast.

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    • Ha ha – it’s am image I hope to avoid being able to capture, Jennie. I’m old enough to remember when my mother used a bit if straw from a broom to test a cake. I’m trying to think about today’s over-sensitive parents dealing with that one.

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  9. We have passed the halfway point of February. Now any halfway good crastinator can get us to March. Even a slouch with no alliteration skills could do it. Just. Now if when you get a chance watch the Hitman’s Body Guard and then be careful how you quote him. However feel free to quote him on this other point. “Its just life” and that includes the procrastination stuff in.

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  10. I do have several draft blog posts sitting in Trello, waiting for me to dump them into Word, add a cup of water, two eggs and bake until a toothpick can be inserted and withdrawn with no letters attached.

    Always on the hunt for ways to improve the quality of my blog. I will have to try that. If my quality drops, it’s your fault.

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  11. I hear ya! I’m procrastination mode too. February looks pretty there all covered in the white stuff.

    The nut orchards are in bloom here! It’s too early. I just know a frost will come to wipe out the blossoms and there goes our almonds, walnuts, and fruits too no doubt. 😟

    Jennie, I still do the toothpick thing, but since I seldom have toothpicks in the house I use kabob skewers instead. It’s just a giant toothpick non? 😉😉

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    • Oh no! Not the almonds! I hope that frost stays away. We got another 4″ of snow overnight, to keep things looking pretty and white. Wed-overnight-into-Thurs is supposed to be more ice – I’m really tired of ice.

      I think the only reason we have toothpicks is for the cake/muffin test. Thanks Deborah.

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  15. I would just amend the key sentence here to “Other people’s money is the Crack of politics.” Unfortunately, that’s so true and wise people solutions (stop spending money you don’t have) doesn’t apply here. I’ve seen statistics that show 80% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. That’s scary. And the means the government is living on paycheck we haven’t even received yet. OK, I have to stop before I get really annoyed. Whoops! Too late. Let’s just go back to popcorn and hockey.

    janet

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  18. Squirrels on the frozen snow :) MiMi in the sun :) Those shadows are luffly. I’m glad we don’t have ice right now. It’s been a lot of ice and slush lately. I’m happy it’s going to hover round freezing and do cloudy for a while. I’ll take it.
    I’m meh about ending sentences with prepositions. So much of my writing is professional, here, not so muches.
    I do feel like we’re back in the norm now. Especially since swim has ended. There’s a mild reprieve between swim and the musical, where there is only show choir and orchestra. I blog when I feel like it and that’s nice – very not January! :)

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    • When the easy part of your year still includes two things, I sit and think “better Joey than me.” We’re still frozen here. We’ve had warm days when things melt, but the it drops into the teens and freezes. Then it looks like the Zamboni came through because all the ice is smooth again.

      The squirrels must have gathered enough over the weekend, cuz we didn’t see any yesterday. MiMi is a heat-seeking kitty. She finds the warm spots.

      My plan was to simply share the pictures. The words just popped out while I was getting ready. I like when that happens.

      I hope you’re having a good week.

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  19. Sheets of ice seem to be covering everything in our world too. Your line “It’s February, it’s what we have” sums it up perfectly. It was Family Day here in Ontario yesterday and a couple of kids took advantage of all that ice. The park area down at the beach is one big ice cube right now and so they decided to skate on it. Brilliant! A lot easier than me trying to walk across it the other day!

    … and toll roads? Don’t get me started! At least the toll roads you have in the US don’t rape and pillage like our Toronto toll highway does. It’s obscene.

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    • Thanks Judy. As for the timing of spring, I just hope March remembers this year. Last year, March and April seemed to drift back into winter more than a few times.

      We’ve taken to just tossing the “no-waste” bird seed mix (and anything else they’ll eat) right on the ground instead of taking our laves in our hands trying to get to a variety of feeders. No one seems to mind.

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  21. I’m so glad to read that you procrastinate too. And that your writing involves a beer while you’re at it. And hopefully some scoops with cheese. Our new governor is like yours – wanting to try new things out like talking about tolls and becoming hip with hemp. We’ve got cheese for the munchies though.

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    • I’m sure we’ll go with the tolls and the hemp. We’ll have to import cheese, which will upset our trade balance with you guys and Vermont. But we can tell the folks in VT that the quickest way to the shore is through CT, so (toll toll toll).

      Chips and a beer are necessary at times. I don’t struggle with guilt (like, perhaps, others). It’s not worth it. Guilt adds stress, and stress is unhealthy.

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      • LOL – you’ve spent way more time (just kidding) on all of this than I have ;-) You’re right, guilt causes stress and over-eating. Consumption in moderation is the key to a healthy lifestyle. Once again, your brilliant take on things brightened my day!

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  23. Delightful read Dan. I had some inner smiles through your “prepositions” and other candid thoughts, along with the frozen factors. Tolls are increasing here in Florida, but the new ones are able to provide options with no-toll general purpose lanes while also having express lanes with variable tolls for those who must get somewhere in a shorter time. It is likely tolls (or user fees) will increase nationwide to help pay for transportation infrastructure maintenance and building new capacity. I hope you thaw soon – if that’s what it “is.”

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    • Thanks Ron. People up here like to complain, but as soon as the start collecting tolls or fees, it’s only going to increase and spread to everything. If they lock the money into a fund for transportation AND if they let that include TRAINS, then I’m all for it and I’m willing to pay even though I have to cross the CT River twice a day. I’m glad you found a reason to smile while reading this – I like that.

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      • Good points Dan. Yes, I think municipalities will look for ways to gather funds from the people. I hope our representation works on our behalf for the taxation. I guess we have to smile regardless. :-)

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  24. Hi Dan – I suspect more tolls will be introduced … more money in the public coffers is a requirement. I’ll hang on without a car and use my bus pass for free local and other places travel … only resort to the train or coach when absolutely necessary. I’ve been so pleased that winter here has been relatively comfortable having seen bad weather over on Vancouver Island – I’m glad I’m home. Enjoy looking forward … me too – cheers Hilary

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    • Thanks Hilary. I’m looking forward to days when I don’t have to worry about going out when we get snow and ice. If I could take public transportation to work, I would. But, the only option involves multiple buses and would take almost 2 hours for what I can drive in 20-30 minutes.

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      • Yes I’m lucky here – though for the coffers sake I don’t think we should all (elderlies!) have free bus travel … I know you have to go to work for a while yet – still probably this is the last snow period … enjoy the weekend when it rocks around … cheers Hilary

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  25. Hi D – enjoyed the thoughts and pics…
    and the nice takeaway for me amidst this icy and chilly February has been the longer days this last week.
    actually it started a couple weeks ago – I noticed lights thru the blinds when the alarm went off – it was a sign that spring is a coming

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  26. You may not want toll roads in Connecticut, but I’d like to see them here in Tennessee. None of the roads here have enough gravel in them, which makes them dangerous when they are wet and, of course, when they are icy. We don’t have a state tax as such here. The tax on all merchandise is high here because that is what is used to run the state government. In other words, I decide what I’m going to give to the state to run its affairs by buying or not buying. A couple of toll roads would ensure that the roads are maintained properly.

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  27. I am always attracted to the word Procrastination. Probably because I’m lazy. Now, you and many of my best friends wouldn’t agree to that because you guys see me constantly working. Yes, I work like a dog and I’ve worked like a dog for many years. I used to do 18 hours shifts at my first job in the hotel kitchen. Now I’m down to 8-9 hours but I still believe I procrastinate. I mean my blog is incomplete. Or maybe I’m just mixing procrastination with mismanagement of time. What do you think?

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    • Procrastination sounds better than mismanagement. Still, working 8-9 hours on a creative endeavor is taxing. To go from that to another creative endeavor is very hard to do. I find that the days I have to write at work, I don’t write much (or very well) at night. I’d give yourself a break – I think you work very hard.

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