One of those days...

Actually, more like "one of those weeks - when nothing mechanical seemed to want to work properly. On Monday, my microwave gave up the ghost without warning. Last night, it was a DVD player I got secondhand from a friend. Tonight, a fuse blew in the car which prevented the brakelights from working and I wasn't able to fix it in time to drive Husband to the airport. It was frustrating because it meant an expensive taxi fare and - more importantly - that we lost thirty precious minutes together. (Of course, I could have fixed the fuse IF I'd had a bit more time and IF I'd had a flashlight that worked - but it was dead too. sigh.)

I intended to blog tonight about my two runs this weekend (an 8k and 12.5k) - both of which were spectacular - and how much I enjoyed running along the river and through my favourite park.  But I find I don't feel much like it now so here are a few photos instead.

Looking back across the river towards home

On the way through Peace Park

Peace Park bridge

The view down river

A tempting spot to rest - though I didn't

The last of autumn leaves

Remembrance

My dad was born just as World War II began and his dad served overseas for the first five or six years of his life.

He says his first memory of his father is of a man in a long black coat limping towards him up the road.  When he saw the man, he turned to him mom and asked "Who is that?" To which she replied, "Your father."

It breaks my heart to think of that little boy.

And it makes me grateful for all the sacrifices that were made - by those who stayed home and by those who went overseas.

And it's reason enough to make my way to the local cenotaph tomorrow - however bad the weather - to listen once again to "In Flanders Fields", pay tribute to those who gave so much, and pray that some day, somehow, we will put an end to war.

Need I say more?

O'Hare International Airport - Chicago

I recently travelled through Chicago en route to San Francisco. The airport was large, busy and a little overwhelming but I had the good fortune of walking from one concourse to another via this pedestrian tunnel. I loved its futuristic design so grabbed a few quick shots as I rushed to catch my connecting flight.

The other wonderful thing was the music - soft, soothing, new agey - occasionally interrupted by a pleasant voice telling me to watch my step as I approached the end of a moving walkway.

It all seemed designed to make me forget - for a few minutes at least - that I was travelling through one of America's biggest, busiest airports.

Perspectives

I took this photo near the end of my long slow run today. It's a new condominium in downtown Halifax.  I loved the way the late afternoon sun shone through the red balconies.

Here's the image flipped the "right" way up.  I don't think I like it as well - though the building's a lot more recognizable.

Here's the same building straight on.

It was the red light spilling to off the balconies I tried to catch with this last pic.

I feel like I should be able to draw some analogy to life from this series but, after a busy weekend - including a 15km run this afternoon - I can't seem to manage it.  Can you?