The Newtown Pentacle

Thursday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

See that pathway through the snow? That’s a fantastic and completed job of snow removal by a commercial business building, by the standards of Pittsburgh, in the tourist areas surrounding the stadiums.

Shame. Shame. Shame.

I think that shame gets a bad rap these days. Look in the mirror every now and then, huh?

‘Aren’t you ashamed of yourself’ doesn’t seem to be something people consider these days. As I’ve mentioned several times over the years, the specific way that my own brain operates involves sloughing off successes and victories – that’s what was supposed to happen – and hard coding failure, embarrassment, and shame into active memory.

Keeps me honest, and up at night, this.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Hey Now! That’s the ‘white whale,’ an Allegheny Valley Railroad unit moving along a Norfolk Southern trestle. Sweet serendipitous victory! Already forgotten, that.

Almost slipping on a patch of wet ice? I’ll remember that one forever.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

The path I was following was a bit of a loop. I’d be roaming around in the end for a little over 90 minutes, then heading back to the T. It was about twenty degrees out, and a bit windy. One was warmly dressed, but…

There’s a lot on my mind these days. No better time to think through things than when walking. Something biochemical goes on. There’s studies which suggest that some of the neurological decline of aging can be attenuated by taking long walks. Maybe it’s the meditative solitude.

As I always say: if I stop moving, I’ll stop moving…

– photo by Mitch Waxman

I underexposed this one a bit to bring the sky closer into accord with the broader range of human vision. You can just see the sun peeking through, slightly above the center point of the shot.

Couldn’t feel its warmth, at all.

Things got weird here. Long blocks surrounding Allegheny Commons Park, nearby the National Aviary and several schools, had zero attention paid to their cross walks. I had to walk around a half mile before encountering a safe place to cross the street. This was annoying.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

The plows had more or less cleared the roads, but they left behind ice walls of up to three and change feet high along the curbs. Pedestrians can go jump in a lake, I guess. Thankfully, the bike lanes were clear because – let’s face it – that’s the number one priority for urban planning.

Notice any bicycles in the shot above? Didn’t see one rider the whole time I was out. Lots of people walking about, though. As long as the bike lanes are available, life can persist and the Republic continues, I guess.

Watch words and phrases to listen for inclusion of, if you think your politician is going all bike laney are ‘Strong Towns,’ ‘War on Cars,’ Safe Streets,’ and ‘traffic calming.’ Should your politician start using these words, an intervention is called for. Treat this sort of thing in the same manner you would after finding drugs in your kid’s bedroom, as early intervention during bicycle lobby conversion is critical.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Bah!

I swung by the rail trench in the park, but nothing was happening there, and it was too cold to just stand around and wait for a train. My toes were thereby pointed towards the direction of a T station a couple of miles away where I’d catch my ride home.

Wasn’t done shooting, though.

More on all that tomorrow.

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Buy a book!

“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.