Cold Beach Changes

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How to make a washed-out beach shot alot more colorful- I like this one!
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It's getting pretty cold, down to teens, singles, n -20F windchills. We're definately freezing our pattootees off this week! I'm hoping I may soon be able to find icebergs at the beach. Precipitation helps them form better tho, due to the fresh water on top of the saline brine.
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All we had were some brief, but wild squalls with the cold front blast Thursday pm, which all blew away in the strong winds. Actually there were little 'bergs in the B-cove I didn't get out there for a few weeks back, when time was an issue. Now it's simply too cold to wander around out there... Even the squirrels were nowhere to be seen today! Wish I could afford to hibernate myself...
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I hope you've enjoyed the previous mini-vaca oasis of ESR January thaw '10 beach pics. It's definately not as pleasant there at -50F in the wind! I've done it a few times, before tho.

Like in February 2007 when I took this one of fav beach on film. (That's the same jette in the foreground, sideways.) That's alot of built up ice! Kind of resembled the artic tundra- That was extreme cold to brave... (plenty of sea ice to see in that month's posts)
As stated somewhere on ESR previously, this beach is notoriously very windy.

I've been waiting a very long time now to try some digi-cam shots of similar conditions like that, but so far, each trip has proven vastly different from it. Such as when I went last January '09, n it was all groovy-waved n purpley-pink at that sundown. (Jan '09 post) It was a little bit warmer n slushier on that outing. These two views weren't previously posted on ESR, btw.
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Not only do you have to be well-prepared not to freeze, you have to be careful where you step. It's ice after all. Sometimes it's difficult to tell where the water underneath begins. It's always safer at low tide walking on ice sitting on top of the sand. I know that sea ice has different properties than fresh-water ice, n isin't as smooth or solid, often in odd, disconnected, grainy, hunks. Trying to walk on it over water isin't safe at all. Nevermind that in the extreme cold, no one is there to help. I'm fairly paranoid, respectful, n cautious on my icy excursions, so don't worry about me- (but inexperienced folks, don't try pics like these on your own!)

In this balmy- appearing scene, the windchill factor was only about 10F. Cold beach colors always seem different...

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(original "washed out" pic from altered Jan '10 pic above)

Inspected

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"The sea is my oyster, er broken Coggleshell" said the seagull as she trailed toe-prints behind along the wet sand...

Sea Scene

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Low light,

Low flight.

Swirling sirus,

Shoal beach.

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Down dusk,

Down hush.

Swimming seagulls,

Soul reach.

Fav Side Trip

I've been having a perfectly miserable week.

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At work, I've been too uptight n ready to walk out due to stress overload. Trying to do more than I have time for, while not feeling well (sinus infection) has me feeling overwhelmed. W2 forms received prove that I made alot less the past year (while all my bills have increased). My scheduled hours have been cut more again, n my check keeps shrinking.

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The downstairs neighbors have been loud n home all week, so I haven't had one full day of sleep. As I write tonight the music downstairs is blasting n it's difficult to think.

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Between being unhappy both at work n home, I've been very moody. It's amazing I haven't gone ballistic, because I certainly feel like I should- I feel like screaming n yelling at everyone who's guilty of offending me, n I'm mumbling too much under my breath instead. I've learned it's really bad for me to internalize my intense emotions instead of getting them out. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) without enough sunlight just puts frosting on my mood cake.
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I've been in serious need of a "mental health day", but because I don't get any paid sick time, I can't afford to call in even one day. Almost the end of January, n haven't been taking current pics for fun, either.

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Finally I made it to Day Off, n was able to get up (woken with banging from downstairs again). I put off my normal routine of chores n got out into the afternoon sunshine to go get the mail. The weather report had slated a good day, above freezing, n sunny.

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I had to head to the center of town for errands, so made the side trip for a "Mini-vaca" at my Fav place in the world before sundown. It was my first visit there since October. I've really missed it. Despite the freezing windchill it felt so good to be there. Usually it's iced up this time of year, but the thaw this week has melted it all. The seaweed deposits are less than usual too.

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The tide was low n I walked below the jette end which I don't get to do often. The gulls were plentiful, scouring to eat before the daylight faded. I stood at the water's edge near them n watched as the sun sank lower behind the horizon's hazy clouds to put on it's color show for us.

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I'm blessed to be able to take a half-hour out of my day to feel so connected to the natural Earth n it's Creator. Only this brings me away from my wrath at frustrations. This brings joy to my life when all else is a chore. Now I feel I can keep trying, so I can once again come back n find this place of peace in my soul. Without this place, I think I might crumble...

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It brightens my mood that I can share it with other bloggers, no matter the distance away you are!

Creative Minds Guess D

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What I think when I ask my brain:


"What is a... ?"
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Definitions of recently admitted Rypos D
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ketting a kettle that "tings" instead of whistles
hace spanish "it is"
var a large car that's almost a van
tamily a bunch of folks who all look like the "Tammy" dolls
crosp cross spitting
tun extremely heavy store bags to lug
Pjoyo Pajama joy of the yoyo
firt anagram: Fine In Red Too
drixzzly a grizzly bear drink
skight sky light air
maight a Mom light
explected Cleared up with cough syrup
Star Terk 1. a celebrity cross between a terd n a jerk
................ 2. a Mongol-looking, Turkish alien on tv
fumers those who huff paint fumes
fing a small, useless, half-digit
atying Like Patying, but without slapping hands
porblem Being poor is a problem
hopliday National Hopping Day (Blue Bunnies Fave)
hetting Like "Hutting" in football but signals time to spit
slimecycles The wash cycle that puts more glop on your clothes than it removes
shovelong when the walkway you need to shovel is a mile long
weel re-inventing the "well"
gify web animations which are very confusing
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Brought to you by SnaggleTooth's Dictionary of Rypos

Creative Minds Guess
Creative Minds Guess B
Creative Minds Guess C

original pic

Shaken not Stirred

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If you're ever curious about scientic facts about recent earthquakes, as I always am, On the bottom of my side bar links is The USGS (United States Geological Survey) Earthquake site for a quick n timely updated regional list n a variety of maps.
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Off the list by Magnitude or region, click on a date/time to get the specific report, then tab between "Details, Summary, Maps," ect. All the aftershocks are also recorded on the list.
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The latest two high magnitude Quakes, offshore off Eureka CA, 6.5 on Jan 10, n Haiti 7.0 on Jan 12, were indeed part of distinct fault lines. Exact plate movements n locations are known.
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The site doesn't get into the humanized details, but does help with understanding why it happens where.
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What has been troubling me besides the horrifying causualties taking place in Haiti the past few days, n being unable to do anything about it, is a train of thought expressed by some co-workers in response to the disaster.
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Some Christian folks I know (Some from the Dominican Republic n the USA too) actually believe that Haiti was purposely destructed by God as a judgement against the dark religions practiced there (such as VooDoo). Even a TV reporter described the event as "a disaster of Biblical proportions."
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This doesn't explain, however, why so many innocent travelers, children, hospitals, n even the Arch Bishop were impacted in collapses.
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Looking at the maps, it is easy for me to follow the known fault lines of the tectonic plates n reason that it was indeed a natural occurrence caused by the Earth's inner movements of magma. I don't hold with the notion our Creator would ever do such a thing merely to teach a lesson. These lessons have already been taught thru recorded history.
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To have made such a place as this, n have so many incredible experiences for so many lives here over time, shows a far more intelligent entity than we can even begin to grasp. A random slap-down for misbehavior? Tell me Al-Queda doesn't deserve it more...
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Read the Maps, follow the lines...

Unindentional Rypos D

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Fasten your east-belts- Here comes the Fourth set of saved for silliness, mis-keyed bo-boos! I've been saving up this batch ever since Halloween time.

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Some were caught prior to publication, or edited, but saved to a text file to laugh at later. Entries appear as phrases, sans punctuation. A few more comments were added in this round. I hope you are amused.

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I'm not afraid to invent new words that make me wonder,

"What is that?"

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spoky world (ouch!)

I need to rub to the store (if I could invent a car that runs on my hair's static electricity...)

The temps are ketting icy

You must hace a big var!

getting the tamily over

the crosp air

There were so many errands to tun today,

Pjoyo by SnaggleTooth 2009

I'm firt!

word ver on Paige:

boo disho (I too, am afraid of dishes...)

Thanks for the kings words (curtsey)

G word ver:

am meds (I took mine, thanks)

grey, drixzzly

a skight air

I maight get up

I don't want to play the electric bill unless I have tom

it was explected

the new "Star Terk"

to let the paint fumers out...

I’ll fing time

in the way of atying

The porblem

Paige word ver:

re bow (stop pulling bows off the presents!)

light hopliday displays

I could barely fit behind the steer in where (moo?)

Lucky you hetting yummies.

Hoe special to be a Christmas baby

I like the slimecycles!

I'm already weary of shovelong

Not seeing weel

all with free martinis (hic!)

don't thimnkl it's local

to save moaney

the gify that keeps blooming

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Stay Tuned for SnaggleTooth's next Dictionary of Rypos

Unindentional Rypos

Unindentional Rypos B

Unindentional Rypos C

Outside Folk

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My little friend, Grey Fluffy, finally posed on a branch right outside the open window for me so I could get her pic. Everyday she waits for my late-afternoon, chopped, leftover bready-goods from work. I've been trying to get a decent, non-blurred shot of her for years now- This is the best I've ever done, n the light was good too.
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Out front every day I see MapleBeard. In the snow, you can pick out the ancient face n uplifted arms that inspired me to name the large tree. He's eating some snow here- This year mushrooms grew in the mouth hole-hollow. I'm sure the little Titmouse birds are living in there this winter, tho I don't get up early enough to see them often. Glad I don't live out there with them in this cold...

The Big Chiller

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Watching the USA's weather on the news is like having a contest to see who gets colder. When it's only 15F in Atlanta, n 12F in Dallas, we have to wonder what's knocked the artic air lower than it's been since I can remember. One news person this a.m. reported it was currently warmer in Antartica!

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I'm not looking forward to the southern USA cold repercussions. The Navel oranges on sale this week went up ten cents per pound overnight. The fuel pump prices are climbing suddenly here too. How many businesses will be affected, wages lost, school hours lost, n accidents suffered? I heard mentions of zoo-critter hardship. Also of cold-stunned turtle rescues in Florida. The only ones profiting would be those selling space-heaters n blankies. No doubt crops, animal n plant species, n economics will suffer.

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Few southern folks have the long-sleeved wardrobe as we of the temporate NorthEast culminate to make it through the seasons. Even tho I'm used to these weather conditions, I know long-range this wide-spread chilly weather will effect us up here regardless, in other ways mostly related to cost.

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I wonder how many folks now wish they'd recieved a snuggie for the holiday...

Here's my stay warm tip I use to save money under cold conditions:

Heat up tea-kettle water on the stove. Pour it into a clean, glass, ex-jelly jar with a tight cover from the recycle bin. Leave about 1/2 inch space of air at the top. Use a potholder or rubber-grippy to put the lid on. Test for leakage. (don't get burned with hot water) Place it into a sock or small towel n carry it around as a personal warmer.

I put mine in my easy-chair corners to watch tv, n under my blankets to sleep, one near the top, one at my feet. The water will stay warm for hours before needing replacing.
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Ice anyone?

Coast

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A week into Twenty-Ten n I haven't done much yet. I'm using an altered December image, because all the new pics thus far aren't great, n were after dark. Don't think I've even taken ten clicks yet.

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The downstairs neighbor folks have been away since Xmas with the exception of one day, so home's been nice n quiet how I like it, n I've had more uninterrupted sleep hours, which helps my mood improve considerably. If only I didn't have this head-pounding sinus infection I'd be having more fun. My free-time energy level is really lacking. At work of course, I haven't slowed down at all.

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Finally today I hung the new calender up. Haven't really needed it yet.

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Luckily the temperature here hasn't been as frozen as the Mid-West states are experiencing. I saw distressed Floridian orange growers freezing on the news today too. Darn, the price on oranges may be rising again. The low Temp in Orlando is the same as here today! Yippee, the next big storm will pass under my zone n miss us! Just a few flakes are expected on Friday. There's a relief... A week without shoveling is an improvement.

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The new tallest 160-story building in Dubai had a grand-openning fireworks party this week on the fourth. I find it's design nifty n spectacular. According to the article linked, it isin't completed inside yet tho. It will even have the worlds highest Mosque. What a bold move to make in these tough times. I was impressed n applaude the effort. Of course those folks are in hock up to their eyeballs. (Who wouldn't want to go see that?)

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I quietly made it over 600 posts on ESR this week. That last hundred just flew by.

So Far in Twenty-Ten, just coastin' along...

Slippery

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The Northeastern USA is undergoing a snow storm several days for the New Year. Accummulation hasn't been alot as before, but the flakes aren't slated to stop falling for another day, n driving is fairly slick.

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I'm already weary of shoveling, cleaning fluff, n scraping ice off of Little Truck for every single ride. (On the way to errands, after coming out of each store...). It's become very time consuming. I wasn't done with snow removal in time to get any daylight pics today. Altho reportedly, there's more light minutes going into each day, I really haven't noticed. I'm still coming n going in the dark. Light fades quickly under the overcast in the late afternoon.

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So far this year I've practiced alot of Day Off errand-avoidance-contingency plans, due to taking fewer chances in the slippery driving conditions. I paid money to a machine for tire air, instead of trekking across town for the free compressor. I bought the incorrect organic peanut butter, instead of the further away kind with palm oil in it. This one will require alot more stirring in order to make work lunch this week.

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Also, I've experienced some super-clutzy moments without even drinking any alchohol this holiday. Not seeing well in the darkness, n my seasonal sinus infection likely has something to do with it, affecting my balance. Then the icy, slippery stuff helps too.

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One pair of reading glasses has disappeared out in the snow along the way somewhere. My preferred reading glasses for work broke clean in half at the nose-piece, n I had to wear the incorrect strength for being able to walk n see all night. Before work yesterday, I dumped over my travel mug of tea on the truck seat while gettin in. Last night, a just washed, large, glass measuring cup slipped off the counter n shattered all over the place. Enough extra pick-ups already! Really, I've enough chores to do as it is.

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Time to slow down n take my time to do things more carefully, but even now on Day Off I'm pressed to do too many things in too limited time. I get stressed when I don't accomplish what I'd like, because it adds to the backlog list looming over my shoulder.

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Regardless, I've decided this year I'll try to sleep more, because I really need to. So I'm taking my time getting up on free days for awhile, unless there's a compelling reason to push it. I've missed far too much sleep doing this night job the past three n a half years.

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The only other New Year resolve I claim, is (as always), "I Will do my best." -To "what" is the question- shovel n drop things? Off to more joyfull chores- mmm... Laundry...

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original photo

Bring it On

Welcome New Year 2010
May the coming decade
bring wonders, people,
technology, n beauty
we don't even dream of yet...

(Not a real post- kind of a blog-post-card!)