Babe I'm Gonna Leave You

"Shukhov looked hopefully out of the corner of an eye at the milk-white tube - if it had shown -41 they ought not to be sent out to work. But today it was nowhere near -41.

Several of the squad leaders who were on their way to the PPD had gathered near the pole with the thermometer, and one of the younger ones, a former Hero of the Soviet Union, shinnied up it and wiped off the instrument.

The others shouted advice from below : "See you don't breathe on it. It'll push up the temperature."

"Push it up? Not fucking likely. My breath won't have any effect."

Tiuriun of the 104th - Shukov's squad - was not among them. Shukov put down the pail, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and watched with interest. The man up the pole shouted hoarsely : "- seventeen and a half. Not a damn bit more."
From One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

I thought of Ivan today as I ventured out into the -9 temps this afternoon. I was planning to run only 1-2 miles, and get back indoors as quickly as possible.

But I felt fresh and energetic, the cold did not bother me, and when I thought about it, it did not seem any worse than yesterday.

So I ran around town and ended up at Busey Woods again for a few 1 mile loops. I know I am getting in shape when 8 miles is an easy day.

When I got home I checked on the chickens to make sure they had not froze to their perch. I gave them some oatmeal mash mixed with grapes and peanuts. They seemed to like it, and I felt bad they had to endure this awful cold.

Later in the day I worked on 2 pictures, now I am off to soak in the tub and massage my feet and legs....

Work Desk

Star Fruit 1 Minute Before Being Eaten

This showed up on the ipod during my run today :