December 24, 2007

Christmas in commute-icut

Christmas on Loop 360

I haven't been able to see the Capital of Texas Highway trees this year -- this photo is from 2006. Maybe this week we'll take a drive down the highway (aka Loop 360) at a time during the day when there's no traffic, to have a look, see how many trees are decorated this year. I know they're there because I've had to drive down the highway at night a couple of times and I can see hints of ribbons and bows in the dark. (I wish I'd thought of our doing this yesterday instead of the other Christmas-y thing we decided to do, which was a disaster, but I'll talk about that later if I can get past the trauma.)

The above photo was taken from my car, probably during rush hour. My current digital camera has turned out to be sucky for its intended job -- taking low-light photos in movie theaters -- but it performed an unexpected job last year that saved my sanity. The camera lives in my purse, and it's easy to take out and use at any time.

I knew there were some decorated trees on Capital of Texas Highway, but it wasn't until last year, when I had to drive down that road for work every day, that I saw how many and how varied. Apparently it is illegal to do this, decorating the existing trees on the highway, although I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's a distraction and crazy people take photos from their cars. But that doesn't stop people from keeping this tradition going. For weeks, every time I drove down that stretch from Spicewood Springs to 2222, it seemed like someone had slipped out in the night and trimmed one more tree or shrub. There are all manner of decorations, including at least one tree in University of Texas colors. And they do a very good job of cleaning it all up after the holiday season ends, too.

Who are the stockings for?

I wished I were able to stop the car and take some better photos, but there isn't a good place to do that, especially if you're driving by yourself. Very especially if you're driving to work and don't want to be late, or are driving home and just want to get out of the traffic before it gets worse. Instead, I would have the camera in my lap, ready to go, and when traffic stopped briefly I pulled it out, got the window open, and snapped any photos I could. Lots of blurry photos, but the great thing about digital cameras is that you can take as many as you like.

It became a habit, even after Christmas. I kept my camera where I could get to it easily on those long, tedious, frustrating drives home in rush-hour traffic. Loop 360 is not big enough to handle all the traffic that has resulted from recent development (they are constructing new office buildings and apartments continually, it seems) and no public transportation or alternate routes are available. You sit, and sit, and sit. But especially at Christmas, and during wildflower season, you can pull out a camera while you sit there and take as many photos as you like. It kept me from boiling over on many an afternoon. I ended up with a Flickr set called Snapping While Commuting.

These days I have the camera in my purse but I never seem to use it during the commute. Usually I am standing up on a bus, or sitting in an aisle seat if I am lucky, and I don't think that would go over well. It's all right -- I don't need to use it that way anymore. I miss the photos, but the tradeoff is worthwhile.

Inadvertent self-portrait

Posted at December 24, 2007 08:31 AM
Comments

I tried twice to get pictures from my car this year and failed to get any nearly this good. I ended up using one of a tree among the signs at 2222/360 that isn't even that pretty. It seems there are more than last year but I'm not sure. Last year there were some on Red Bud Trail, too, but I haven't been up there this year.

Posted by: LB at December 24, 2007 09:07 AM