The Shepherds

And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the lord came upon them, and the glory of the lord shone round them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be the sign unto you; you shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger,

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.

And when it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the lord hath known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe, lying in the manager.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told to them by the shepherds.

Luke
Chapter 2
Verses: 8-18

Replacing Sidewalk Near Path Station

Replacing Sidewalk Near Path Station

Newport Santa

Christmas only days away. Tuesday sometime between five and six and the Newport Mall. A swarm of parents with their kids in tow. I wonder why they are waiting so late, but is it late? What week of Advent is the one best for the visit to Santa’s lap. It’s a scene that’s been parodied so often, hard not to see it this as anything but a cliché, especially where the whole Mall situation is a for-profit photo-op. Memories of our own visit to Santa, when we believed, are so cloudy. I wonder if we are remembering more of our first visit, or of our last. Still, it’s nice to think, that for a moment or two, a touch of magic is felt by the kids and the parents know they are doing something to make their child happy. I love the flat screen Television above Santa’s throne flickering with Hanukkah trivia and the diversity of races of the parents waiting their turn.

Winter Fountain

I just did this one for contrast. Click here for the Summer view. Now, the water is frozen and snow fills the basin. In spite of some hardy looking strands, the only thing living about the plants are beneath the dirt. Nothing new. Maybe it’s trite. Weather is one of the very few things we all experience though. Weather can suck, often annoys but you have to respect the fact that weather happens to everyone, everywhere.

Really Frozen Muck

I know, I’m usually not this repetitive, I admit I already did write about the first formations of ice on our favorite downtown pool of pestilence. But passing by this when the temperatures began dropping real low seemed worthy of another viewing.

Jersey City: Snowed in Sunday Morning

Kenny, local businessmen, all-around good guy and neighborhood character. Early Sunday morning, clearing out the corner of Columbus and Jersey so citizens can have their bagels and coffee with their 6-10 inches of snow, considering who you listen to.

The snow that fell this weekend they’re saying was the second largest snow fall on record, a dubious claim. The statement that we haven’t seen this amount of snow since 2003 seems much more reasonable. It’s nice though, before all the dog pee and carbon monoxide fumes turn the white into that gross, icy gray slush that will be soaking into our sucks until about April.

Block by block. Now, it was a Sunday so do not take these pictures as evidence on what businesses and property owners follow the haphazardly enforced municipal ordinances of shoveling side and who is following their annual tradition of ignoring the law and letting pedestrian risk life and limb. But, those who have lived in Jersey City for a while—ever since say, last winter, know full well the winter-long sidewalk slog. A portion of a block is cleared, and then there’s the un-shoveled danger zone. I’ve stumbled much, even several slip and fall right on my butt. You would think that the owners of the property, or the real estate brokers in charge of selling the property, who have the responsibility of snow removal. But for some reason, every year they get away with never removing the snow, which of course gets all crusty with ice, melting and refrozen. These pictures were taken the last day of Autumn. Trudge with caution.

I don’t want to be a bummer though. Look, there’s less sunlight, more clothes to wear, constant discomfort from cold. Lots of thing enhancing the negativity of your mood. Winter’s here and once the holiday cheer fades, there is usually not as much fun to be had. And, you never catch up on as much reading as you would like. Nonetheless, if it is going to be cold outside, might as well have snow, might as well have a White Christmas. Get a hat with ear flaps, a pair of lined gloves and sensible shoes and see what this Winter has to teach you!

Snow on Chilltown

Saw this one coming. The dude has a camera, he’s going to be walking around Sunday taking pictures. What’s next Sunsets? Kittens? Heck, you never know. It’s going to be a bad winter. It’s going to be very cold and a lot of snow? How do I know? Remember the first couple of weeks of October. Whenever the weather gets unseasonably cool, downright chilly, all of a sudden like, twixt October 1st and October 15th, steel yourself, the winter will be severe. That happened this year, now we’re due not just for a white Christmas, but most like a white Lent! Might as well enjoy the snow, appreciate it now, because you’re going to have plenty of opportunity in the weeks ahead to be sick of it and deeply irritated by the constant cold and damp. Add 15 minutes for the putting on and taking off of snow boots whenever you venture forth outside. It does look nice and seeing snow fall, especially the first one of the season, makes me feel giddy. Waking up and your familiar landscape is transformed into a lunar-like tundra. Welcome Snowmen and Snow angels. Welcome old man winter. The morning has a quiet. When the sunlight comes out of hiding it has more purpose.