Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause...

...and he works at Tyrone Square Mall.

We went to the mall last Saturday, looking for a firepit for the back porch. Sears said they carried them, but didn't say they were on-line only, so we decided to brave the crowds and go take a look. Since we weren't part of the Christmas rush... i.e. we weren't desperate to get gifts, or anything for that matter, we took the attitude of 'it's no big deal' and expected the parking to be crowded. Now Tyrone Square is situated on a triangular plot of land, with the Sear being located in one point. Years ago I had worked there part time and at Christmas, parking near that end of the mall was always tricky at best, and usually nonexistent. But we weren't in a rush, so "it was no big deal'.

As we started our hunt for a parking place we found ourselves waiting to turn out of an isle and onto the travel lane that runs beside the buildings. Someone else had "thoughtfully" decided to stop and pick someone up at the curb, not pulling over to the side, but stopping cockeyed, as if they had frantically pulled into that spot before anyone else could, effectively blocking that lane. As there was oncoming traffic, no one could move around them. The result was a line of cars about 10 long, plus traffic from the other direction, which would all have had to clear before we could move... So we settled back to wait.

The time was about 1:00 pm, and we noticed that coming out of the Mall was Santa Claus, his red coat thrown over one arm, and his genuine snow white bread blowing in the breeze. He walked merrily along, as only Santa can, waving to everyone who looked his way. Me, I'm an equal opportunity waver. I'll wave at anyone brave enough to stand on a street corner and make a spectacle of themselves, be they republican, democrat, a pizza boy or a mobile phone (yes, I pass one of those regularly, and anyone who stands on a street corner in a blow up phone cellphone suit in 95 degree weather deserves to be waved at... but I digress)

I waited for Santa to look my way and gave him a big wave, which he cheerfully returned. Then he walked a little closer to my car and said, "You need a parking place?" Oh yeah. He pointed to his red pickup truck, and said "One's opening right here." It was the only one in sight. I gratefully backed up and waited as Santa got in his truck started her up, and backed out of his place, blocking other traffic so I could get the spot.

It's a great season for being kind to others. And this was my gift for the day... I waved thanks again, and pulled in. It probably would have taken another 10 minutes to find a place, or we would have walked from the other end of the mall. It would have been no big deal if we'd had to walk... but that little act of generosity made my day... and several more after that...

So, yes, I believe in Santa Claus, and he works at Tyrone Square Mall and he drives a red pickup.

Merry Christmas Everyone...

Karen

Morning Sights....

This morning when I left the house the sky was brightening, and there were some high cirrus clouds on the eastern horizon. The thin crescent moon hung low in the eastern sky. From the driveway, Venus was hidden in the branches of the oak trees.

After I stopped at the light at 113th and Park Blvd., I looked to try to find Venus. I couldn't find it at first, but I was sure it was hiding behind the one of the elongated, gray-white cloud hanging about where the planet should be. On the horizon, the sun, while not yet above the horizon, was coloring the clouds in the east pink. Then, as I watched, the gray-white cloud slowly, but noticeably, turned pink itself, in about 15 secs, the color starting at one ends and creeping toward the other. As a finally, Venus popped out from behind the cloud... Then the stoplight turned green and it was time to go...

When I got to Tyrone, The pair of hawks that live near the Pinellas Trail sat perched on a single high tension tower. One sat on the top, the other a few feet down on a post sticking out from the pole. I see them near every morning, and evening driving to and from work. I think they are red-tailed hawks, but I'm not sure yet...

Half way across 1st Ave North the sun peaked up above the horizon. The brilliant orange balls sending bright spears of light through the trees and between the buildings... It's nearly as far south as it will get this year... The solstice is only 2 weeks away.

I've always loved dawn... Its a peaceful time of the day. The light, both in color and direction, is different from any other time. Most mornings I pause to greet the day... and marvel at the sights found there...

Reston

USGS holds and Open House in the National Head Quarters every 3 years. This year they actually asked me to come with my wave tank.

As I walked out of my hotel room on Saturday morning with my USGS shirt on, the Master Falconer from Talons, A Bird of Prey Experience, walked out of her room. "Hey," said Lorrie Schumacher "that's where I'm going." I knew I had to go check out her birds. What I didn't expect is that she would offer to let me hold one.

As some of you know, I've seen the raptors as a sign of hope in the last few months. A sign that someone was watching over me. I count special the days that I see a hawk or bald eagle. I've always loved owls.

This is Mama. She's a Eurasian Eagle Owl. She weighed 5 lbs and has a 5 foot wing span. She was amazing. I got to hold her and pet her. She even cooperated for the picutre. It made the whole trip to Reston worth it, even though I didn't get to hold her for long. The Master Falconer took this one for me before the offical start of the Open House. She'd already started her show, as people who arrived early came straight to her birds. We had a rare pause in the people coming by. I'm glad we took this when we did. I wouldn't have had a chance later in the day, because the Open House was swamped, er... well attended, by 10,000+ people. Neither of us had any breaks during the day. I saw her again the next morning and thanked her again. If I ever get up to Hamilton, NY, I'll stop by. They offer "Hawk Walks" where you get to fly the birds... Where do I sign up? To see some more of the picutres I took, check my Flickr page.

To see some really great picutres of Lorrie's birds taken by Bob Quinn at the NCTC Open House on Oct 20, 2007 click here.

Waiting to Greet the Sunrise

On my way to and from work, I cross a bridge over Boca Ceiga Bay, part of the intercoastal waterway. Also crossing the water at that place are high tension power lines and their 150 ft towers. I've noticed over the past few months that the local birds of prey will sit on the top of the towers and survey the water below, looking for a meal or perhaps just surveying their domain. I've gotten into the habit of looking for them as I approach the bridge.

Over that last few months I've noticed that a bald eagle has occasionally settled atop one of the towers while on my way home, gazing across the waters. These birds are distinctive, even in silhouette against the evening sky. Their large bodies and upright posture distinguish them easily from their smaller and more common cousins, the osprey. Last week I've saw an eagle twice on the way home. There is something breath taking about seeing a wild eagle. I've seen bald eagles up close, in captivity. While they are just as beautiful and majestic, they are captive, and I feel sorry for their loss of flight. It's just not the same. So I've kept an eye out for the eagles, and count special the days I see one.

This morning as the sky was brightening from from dawn toward sunrise, I approached the bridge and looked up. There, on top of the western most tower was not one, but two large regal forms, side by side, silhouetted against the pale pink and yellow of wispy clouds in brightening sky. One on the tower itself, on on the wire next to the tower. Both birds were facing east as if waiting to greet the sun, still 20 minutes from rising. As I passed I peaked back out my window, to see them lit faintly by the morning light, watching the world below go by, surveying their kingdom. They were unmistakable, with their dark bodies and white heads. Untouchable at the top of the towers.

I've always loved the birds prey, and they've been a symbol of hope for me in the last few months. Every time I see one, It's like a sign that someone is watch over me. I felt honored to have seen them this morning, and know that most people driving by that morning never noticed them, never bothered to look up and see the site. Or that some who did look up may not have recognized what they saw. They don't know what they missed. Sometimes you just need to pause and look up... It's not every day you get to see a pair bald eagles waiting to greet the sunrise.