Bus stop #2326

Freezing rain warning:
'A patchy area of rain over central Alberta
and will continue to track southeastward through the evening.
Rain falling onto cold, snow covered surfaces
may result in slippery conditions.'
Slipping down the walk
Sliding down the walk
Somehow managing to stay upright
More or less walking the walk

#151 Kind Edward Park

101st and MacDonald Drive
the magpies of McDougall
scampering about on snow covered rooftops
but were they there to hear
Philip Glass?
Carmina Burana?
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy?
resonating memories
white black and blue
pica picas
tending the church
atop Bellamy Hill

Bus stop #1243

huddled
bundled
waiting
waiting
waiting

a question from a man
looking for Manpower
as he searches for the address
sighs 'too many papers'
finally he finds it:
100 ave and 101st

explaining that the avenue numbers are higher
as you head north
it's 'that way'

he sets off to the south
and i look across the street
to Allwest Demolition
and what was once the bank building
steel/iron girders
hang like severed branches
as the wrecking ensues
a bit like a scene
from Terry Gilliam's 'Brazil'
as the 151 rolls up
not a moment too soon

12:12pm Grandin/Gov't Centre

the 'Next Stop' recording
not exactly as announced...
out of step
slightly out of time
maybe every thing moves more slowly
on a snowy day

a reluctant recipient
of an invitation to Ride the Thread
the yarns of the envelope untied
considered
then restrung intact
for someone else

at the end of the day
i wonder if the people who clean
the trains and buses might find one of these
would they
open it?
read it?
take it home?
or leave it in place
to ride another day

#80 Southgate

rail cars parked on the tracks

along the route of Kiwanis Safety City

11:11 am past the Truck Driving Training Institute

through the neighbourhood of turquoise teal shutters

and Sainte Jeanne d'Arc

slow going round Avonmore Park

Time Machine Motor Sports

and Signs of All Kinds

a fender bender a few blocks before the sign advising

'Caution Maneuvering Buses'

counting down to Happy Hour on Tires

lunch at Bubba's Drive Thru BBQ

and the promise of

All the Way Metal Drilling

02:02

the symmetry of GroundHog Day

#5 Westmount

the first of the second
we move so slowly
bundled in our coats and parkas
jostling down Jasper
(sad news of an elk in the Park)
past the old General
and Rabbit Rabbit Tattoo
the No.600 brick building
signs for Nashville Hot Chicken
and Music Lessons in the snow
still standing holiday planters
bows, boughs and baubles
festive remnants
on the return so many 5's
555
my totem
a nice way to begin
the month of hearts

Bus stop #1620

frosty day head count:

Pikachu toque

Pokemon toque

black beret

pink headscarf

robin's egg blue toque

fuzzy brown cloche

grey slouchy tam

Canada toque

Team Canada toque

ribbed multi-coloured stripey toque

wolf eared scarf/hood

mauve faux fur trim

(better that than the real deal)

Oilers toque

game day in the icy Ice District