wind in the eucalyptus is different

[thoreau]

Miss Kate and I got up this morning and went for coffee. I got out of the car for coffee - and Miss Kate went into a full-on superpowerpout^tm and I assured her I'd be right back. and sure enough I got my coffee and when I got in the car she exploded in a circle dance and face-licking frenzy - my little girl was ramped up - - so we decided to go for a run in Eleanor Pardy Park.

The park is a few blocks over from the house - in a neighborhood full of Eicklers. (60's bungalows by architect Joseph Eickler) Our usual routine is to walk a figure eight through the neighborhood - and then go for a run in the park. I'm incredibly fond of Eicklers - so I look at how each home treats their respective set up - (knowing that most Eicklers are oriented around their back yards so you can't really tell much from the front). I wonder as I look at the homes - what is original - what has been added? and when a decision is made - do they worry about keeping to period - keeping it Eickler-esque - or do they bring in new textures and materials. Miss Kate, of course, is nose to the pavement on sniff patrol.

Eickler owners are very fond of a shrub I call "stinky bush" - that blooms this time of year with a very very strong scent. It overpowers my senses and does the same thing to poor Miss Kate (with her powerful dog sniffing abilities) - she'll literally look up at me like "omg - that bush is kicking my ass! can we get to the next block please?" then she'll literally let out a little puppy-sneeze and launch off for the next block - hoping that it's a stinky bush free zone. More often than not - its more stinky bush - and she'll let out this little huff - like "is this is the only goddamn shrub people can plant?" - she's much more prone to a bushy plant that blooms in the early summer and again in late summer with blue bell shaped flowers. she can sniff that all day long. I suspect - its because raccoons (that live in the waste water system) dig for grubs at the base of these at night - and leave that irresistible scent Miss Kate loves.

This morning's weather was very moody - (a rainy front is moving in) - and it was gusty and windy. The park is lined by eucalyptus trees that are 500-600 feet tall? (math isn't my strong suit - but I don't think I'm over estimating) and when wind gusts come through - eucalyptus trees experience wind differently than any other tree. They have leaves from the ground to the tips - so it's like watching someone drop a stone in the water - and you can see the wind moving through the trees. Gusts are seen by the whole tree moving in unison - while gentle breezes literally achieve three-dimensionality moving across the many leaves on the tree. and it was a fun moment when Miss Kate and I were running around the park when a big gust came through and the eucalyptus literally let out a creak and a flurry of noise that both me and Miss Kate stopped and looked up at the giant trees. I knelt down and Miss Kate came in for a nuzzle.

We had the entire park to ourselves... it was amazing as the park usually is crammed with kids and families. They are rebuilding the playground (its literally all torn up) so - it was amazing to have the whole park to ourselves. Just a remarkable time!