The heelers were waiting in the truck as I dashed outside last Thursday morning. I could tell by the red glow that we were just a little late starting out. Ideally, I would want to be started on my classification route within a few minutes of sunrise, but clearly sunrise was already here.

A picture would be nice.

But you gotta get out of town for that, away from the trees and wires and buildings. So we raced, as fast as you can race on narrow streets at 15 mph, around the block and the few blocks north to the edge of town.

'Course, then you've got refinery towers and tanks, and tons of powerlines in your shot. But there is one place, not quite a half-mile north, where the road makes a bend and there is a narrow wedge of open space, with no lights, no cellular towers, no powerlines.

Since it is six-thirty in the morning, I quickly pull off onto the shoulder, the camera already turned on to catch the last rays of red before the bright daylight comes out to shine. Leap out, admonishiong the heelers to stay inside as I lean over the hood.

No good. A highway reflector post is in the way. So I step forward and lean on the post. And get the shot I wanted, among others.

As I click away, a vehicle suddenly appears over the rise from the north, and whizzes past on the curve. Then two others pass by, coming from town towards the golf course. With the second giving a rude little honk.

Well, I did leave the driver's door open into the traffic lane, so he had cause.

But the worst of it was... when I finally got home Thursday, the wife immediately relayed an admonishment from one of her co-workers.

For wasting the outfit's time taking pictures, and blocking the highway.

So, here's what I was wasting a few precious seconds on...