February in review

 

You will note there is no February 29 - there is no Project366 app only a Project365. You  will just have to take my word for it that the entry was totally awesome. Or you could look it up here http://susansnaps.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/february-29-day-60-road-to-nowhere.html

February 29. Day 60. A road to nowhere

 There are many good reasons to walk to work. Great exercise. Saves on parking. Good for the environment.

All of them very sound reasons. I can cover the distance from home and the office in almost exactly one hour which is a comfortable, sensible length for a walk on a school day. But there is one very big flaw in the plan when you actually have to front a room mid morning and look professional. This morning was stinking hot and stupid humid so I arrived at the office looking somewhat less fresh than a daisy and smelling like a gym change room. Nice (not). So that's the negative. The positive was this somewhat bizarre road sign in the mud flat under the south-east freeway. As you can see there is no road ahead. Clearly that's the Brisbane River.

February 28. Day 59. Leaping lizard

 

At no time have I ever pulled the wings off flies. Ever. Insects were safe but I do have to confess to crimes against reptiles and more particularly the bearded dragon.

Since a child I have always been fascinated by bearded dragons but my way of sharing the love has not always been in the best interest of the species. There was the time I watched one carefully bury its eggs in the back yard. I dug them up and wrapped them in cotton wool in a match box to see if I could hatch them. I have no idea if that would have worked as a plan because, of course, I lost the match box. But that's not the worst of it. My sisters did not have the same passion for the lizards as I did. In fact it would be fair to say they were terrified of them. Which gave me rare power. Grab one of these by the tail and I had a weapon guaranteed to keep either or both of my sisters at a distance. For this I am truely sorry. These days I am happy to admire these amazing prehistoric creatures from a distance. I like to think I have been forgiven. This one at least was happy to stand around and let me take its photo.

February 27. Day 58. Reflections

Day 1. Semester 1, 2012. And so the new university year begins. I love it when the starter's gun finally sounds. For me, teaching is the main game and the university finally comes to life when the students return.

I was on campus just after dawn this morning which would make me seem like a very eager beaver except that it was the OTHER university, not the one I work at. Even as a loyal Queensland University of Technology employee, I'm sure it is okay to say that the University of Queensland's Saint Lucia campus is very beautiful indeed.  The Great Court is spectacular and the lakes are stunning. This morning, as well as the usual ducks and geese, I saw turtles and eels swimming happily in the lakes. I was reflecting on my teaching to this point and the year ahead as I walked. This angle with the old building and the new going up beside it reflected in the lake seemed to sum it up perfectly.

February 26. Day 57. Nuts and bolts

There is so much amazing street art in display as your walk around the city of Brisbane. Imposing statues, colourful statement pieces. Brilliant. Bright. Beautiful. Today I was taken by a work which is really just junk but it is fascinating in its own right and perfectly positioned by the river at Kangaroo Point. Fish Fossil was created by Christopher Trotter in 1995 from scrap metal and concrete. I love it plus I see so many comparisons with what is going on in politics at the moment.

February 25. Day 56. Fashion Runway

 

After the overnight deluge, I honestly thought today's exercise would be ark building so I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to a clear sunny day. Weekends often mean a longer walk so I found myself crossing the Go Between Bridge to the Bicentennial Bikeway along Coronation Drive. I love this psychedelic entry to the underpass so I was lining up to take a photo when these women jogged by. Call me conservative but I had never really considered an orange tutu as exercise attire but good for them. Looks like they are running for a reason http://www.cantoo.org.au

February 24. Day 55. Storm brewing

 

The weather gods were just a bit moody today (actually I think they may have had a bad case of PMT). Bad things were forecast and even before breakfast it was clear that something was brewing. This is obviously not the weather we have in mind when we are planning the weekend ahead but as I walked around the city this morning it created really impressive shadows and reflections. I love the grey threatening clouds against the steel of the Merivale Railway Bridge with the city behind.