[M.M.X.I.V. 93] So near yet so far

I live on the ninth floor of my building, in Evanston, Illinois. (Actually, I have previously posted some pictures of the view in other blog posts, but this time it will be only words.) My room contains a single window out to the outside, looking toward the east. Consequently, there are some days where I will wake up to a magnificent sunrise. This is also true because if you sent a crow from my window, it would have to travel only about a kilometer and a half to reach water–Lake Michigan!

Unfortunately, I am so near, yet so far to the lake. The view of the lake is obscured by several things that meet the horizon before the lake does. The most visible obscuring factor is an apartment building that has at least a ten-by-ten matrix of windows, and the bricks in a not-so-red color, with a rectangular prismical penthouse, probably only with mechanical parts.

Prior to this apartment building is a parking lot for the retirement home, The Mather, and a strip mall that includes a dry-cleaning business. I can see this region much more clearly than I will be able to in a month or so, as they are made visible by the dormant trees that have shed their leaves.

In front of the trees are railroad tracks, as Chicago Transit Authority Purple Line trains roll to the north or the south every five to fifteen minutes. The closest station is within eyeshot of the window, at about the ten-o’clock position. A canopy covers the platform, and I often hear the <DING-DONG> “Doors closing.” canned announcement when working at home, or having fun at home.

The view to the north… WHOA! Thunderbolt! (I’m writing this as it is raining and a thunderstorm is brewing… might as well describe the weather too!) The skies are grey, and unlike some times, there is no gradient (wait, wait, wait. Never mind–the gradient is approximately equal to the Zero Vector–the color is approximately constant to my untrained eyes.) Raindrops race each other on the screen on my window.

When looking to the west, my building looks like a “T” as seen from below. My room is situated such that when I look to the south, my only view is the vertical part of the letter “T”. To the north, the neighborhood to the west of Northwestern University just appears to be a forest, as the trees largely dwarf the houses from a distance.

On the far horizon, before the lake barely enters my view, is campus on Northwestern University. The most visible buildings from my vantage point are the Kellogg School of Management, Deering Library, Garrett Seminary, and two cranes in areas of the new music building and parking garage, on south and north campus, respectively.

It has become a view that I have gotten used to. The interesting thing about these writing prompts is that sometimes it allows you to appreciate things that you take for granted!

Oh, and given the name of the Daily Prompt, I must mention something that is in my WAAAAAY front yard. About eight miles west of my apartment, in Morton Grove, Illinois, is Oliphant Avenue. Therefore…

TAMBOURINES AND OLIPHANTS ARE PLAYING IN THE BAND!!

(How many pies and rotten tomatoes am I going to have to duck for that one?)

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Today is the ninety-third day of M.M.X.I.V. That makes thirteen weeks and two days.

Here are other addresses to the post, as of 08:45 Central Daylight Time on 5 April 2014:

Never A Worry

Noah's logs, musings, and positivity.

[M.M.X.I.V. 93] So near yet so far

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17 thoughts on “[M.M.X.I.V. 93] So near yet so far”

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