I tutored today. The kids wanted to go to the library, so we did. I parked behind the restaurant and we walked the few blocks. Just as I arrived there, so did a lot of fire trucks and emergency vehicles. The kids and I were curious about what the problem was, but we couldn't see any signs of something wrong. The firemen were milling around the Commons and Aurora St., and it seemed they didn't know what the problem was, either. The boy suggested someone might have called in a fire as a prank, and I told him that would be called a false alarm. He asked me if a person could go to jail for that, and I said he might, if they caught him. Then the boy wanted to know why they might not catch him, and I said he could have pulled an alarm when no one was looking, and then run away. I first thought of calling it in on a pay phone, but there aren't many of those nowadays. And if he used his own phone, it could be traced.
That was our conversation on the way to the library.
When we got there, someone was using the private room, which was so cozy last time, so we sat out at a table. No one seemed to mind softly reading aloud. The little girl went first, and she chose a book that was in English, but it was about Spanish guys with Spanish names and certain words and phrases in Spanish. There was a glossary in the front of the book where we could turn for pronunciation and English meanings of the few Spanish words. The little girl said, "But I don't speak Spanish!" I answered, "Neither do I, but we can refer to the glossary." So she read, and I was surprised (though maybe I shouldn't have been) that she knew the word "restaurant." After all, her parents own one.
And I knew a few Spanish words, too, like no mas and puerco.
Then it was the boy's turn. He chose another Lego ninja book, but it was longer than what we struggled
through last time. I suggested he find something easier, so he brought back a ridiculously easy book, which he zipped
through. I suggested a harder book. I said when choosing a book, don't just look at the pretty picture on the cover, but read some of the first page, or the middle, or even the last page, and see if it sounds like something you can handle and if it's interesting. He went off to find a book about geology. I really think (hope) this boy will become a scientist of some sort. He is so interested in all things of that sort from how volcanoes work to how astronauts work in outer space, and from how fish live in the sea to how the solar system works and what other planets are like and whether there's life elsewhere in the universe. Last time, one of the words he was learning was "potential," and I told him he had the potential to become a scientist. That was after explaining the word and I was using it to show him it in a sentence.
Before we finished the geology book, my cell phone rang, and it was Bill, offering to come pick us up so we wouldn't have to walk back to the restaurant in the cold. We cut the lesson short. We were going to wait inside the door, but the little girl wanted to wait outside. I said, "OK, till we get too cold. Then we'll go back inside." But soon Bill pulled up in my car, and we all piled in. They all got out at the restaurant, and I got in the driver's seat and came home.
It's ferociously cold, but the sunset was gorgeous driving home. When I parked and got my stuff out of the car, I decided to take a walk with my camera. But sunsets are quick, and I only caught the tail end. Still, I walked the mile I call my short walk, and as I was headed home, I couldn't wait to get back, it was so cold.
Later, when it's warmer, I should take my camera with me when I come home from tutoring. Maybe I can catch the sunset right at the best moment instead of just enjoying it from the car as it whizzes down the road.
I'll just have to do what you suggested and look for similar pics that show more structural detail. I could display the photo on my iPad but the screen keeps shutting off and I get tired of turning it back on. I might try this anyway if I can adjust the screen timeout longer.
