(no subject)
For several weeks now, i have marked my morning walk to work with a kind of ritual- whenever i cross under the overpass i try to hold my breath. It started mainly because of the horrible exhaust fumes from traffic and poor ventilation of the space, but a steady stream of pigeon carcasses later, i decided maybe there was something to this self-imposed asphyxiation. Passing under the filthy dark overpass i occasionally shoot a weary glance up at the scores of menacing feathered rats cooing maliciously from the poop covered girders. Pigeons really can be such disgusting creatures. Normally by the time i get to this half way point in my morning walk i have psychologically prepared myself for the power walk to daylight.
This first half of the walk is pleasant- I dare say even pretty and enjoyable. But the moment i have to crisscross three lanes of on ramps and off ramps and angry oncoming traffic, the walk turns into a hellish nightmare until i come out on the other side at my office. Now that it's warmed up, crossing the point street bridge is one of the refreshing breaks in the otherwise gear grinding scenario. Of course, the bridge was the worst part of the entire walk three months ago when i was battling arctic winter winds swirling at me from every direction but north. But now that it’s warming up and the asphalt is steaming under my feet, walking across the breezy body of water feels pretty good.
For a while (like 5 months) whenever i stepped of the bridge i would have to brace myself for the most repulsive part of the entire journey. Somehow, a fat disgusting rat was flattened by a bike on the sidewalk and was slowly weathering over time. The guts of the rat patty must have rotted away months before i began work, because by the time i encountered the thing, it was just a leathery hide, splayed out there on the sidewalk for god and everyone else to see. It was like some furry ceremonial pelt of an ancient medicine man tanning in the January rain. The most horrific detail being that the tail was not only still attached, but was now dry and scaly and brittle. Passing made me shiver-gag but i couldn't help but stare at thing until it was out of sight- my morbid curiosity getting the better of me i suppose. Finally the thing was gone one day when the building it was in front of was gearing up for spring cleaning.
This first half of the walk is pleasant- I dare say even pretty and enjoyable. But the moment i have to crisscross three lanes of on ramps and off ramps and angry oncoming traffic, the walk turns into a hellish nightmare until i come out on the other side at my office. Now that it's warmed up, crossing the point street bridge is one of the refreshing breaks in the otherwise gear grinding scenario. Of course, the bridge was the worst part of the entire walk three months ago when i was battling arctic winter winds swirling at me from every direction but north. But now that it’s warming up and the asphalt is steaming under my feet, walking across the breezy body of water feels pretty good.
For a while (like 5 months) whenever i stepped of the bridge i would have to brace myself for the most repulsive part of the entire journey. Somehow, a fat disgusting rat was flattened by a bike on the sidewalk and was slowly weathering over time. The guts of the rat patty must have rotted away months before i began work, because by the time i encountered the thing, it was just a leathery hide, splayed out there on the sidewalk for god and everyone else to see. It was like some furry ceremonial pelt of an ancient medicine man tanning in the January rain. The most horrific detail being that the tail was not only still attached, but was now dry and scaly and brittle. Passing made me shiver-gag but i couldn't help but stare at thing until it was out of sight- my morbid curiosity getting the better of me i suppose. Finally the thing was gone one day when the building it was in front of was gearing up for spring cleaning.