Frapto 365

I had to do something at the east end of campus at the end of the day today, so instead of walking all the way back to my usual subway stop, I hopped into Museum station.  Museum station is, of course, named after the nearby Royal Ontario Museum.  Last year, it was heavily renovated from the standard 1960s functional design to something of an art piece as part of the Arts on Track project managed by the Toronto Community Foundation.

The station’s many structural support columns were turned into design elements.  In the foreground, you see an Osiris Pilaster,  in the midground is a Wuikinuxv First Nation House Post, further back are Greek Doric Columns, then a Toltec Warrior.  Barely visible in the photo in the background, the red column is a replica of the Chinese Forbidden City Columns.  Examples of artefacts from all these cultures are available for viewing in the ROM.  The station name “MUSEUM” (barely visible in the background, track-side) is displayed as large orange Plexiglas characters overlaying a passage written in Egyptian Hieroglyphs.  The passage was from an inscription found in the tomb of Metjetjy, an Egyptian nobleman from circa 2300 BC.  It reads:

“I was loved by my father, honoured and praised by my mother. I gave them a proper burial – by royal decree because I was honoured by the king – so that they could praise the god forever. I was a good son from my childhood until their demise, never causing them anger. Moreover, my opinion was considered in every royal project.”

Kinda like a resume from the grave!

Currently listening to: Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” (don’t judge)

I took this on the walkway over Arch Street between the new parking garage and Amtrak’s 30th Street Station. I was downtown to pick up my mom. She came up by train from Glades County, Florida and will be here visiting until next Monday.

I took quite a few more from inside the station and the roof of the parking garage and I will put a link or slideshow here when I get them up on my Flickr photostream.

Tonight as I drove home I caught a glimpse of a beautifully setting sun. I tried to find it, but everywhere I looked trees blocked its mandarin face. By the time I made it home, only its last few rays were seen. Ergo the shot. Not too particular, but a good reminder of an old Beatles tune… so tomorrow will be rain [snow] so, I’ll follow the sun.

It snowed here most of the day until I needed to go out. Then it turned into an icky, slushy rain. I would have preferred to go out in the snow.

Punxsatawney Phil may have predicted that winter will soon come to an end, but we still woke up to more snow this morning.  On the way out I spotted this little bird sitting on a lamp post down my street.  It took me a couple tries to get him just right, but I think I finally managed.  I love when I find a good photo op so early in the day, it makes me feel weirdly accomplished.