Went for my walk at 228 am with the hope of seeing shooting stars from the Quadrantids meteor shower that was due to peak around 230 am coming from the NE -- triangulate Ursa Major, the head of Draco, and Bootes.  
      The temp was 9F, the sky was clear, the half moon was low in the Western Sky, and the stars were bright, but with the pervasive ambient light and low degree of visible sky due to trees and buildings, viewing was tricky.  I spent the first half of my walk heading toward the direction the meteors were to be coming from, and not one did I see, though I tried.  Luckily the morning was deeply quiet (even with 2 cars that passed, and one train that called out its 4-horn crossing-warning), and the air was sweet, so the walk was delightful, albeit quite chilly.  
      After returning from my walk, and picking up the newspaper from the box, I looked to the West to check out Orion, when suddenly, just South of that constellation, a beautiful bright shooting star blazed from mid-sky towards the horizon.  Not where it was supposed to be, but really cool!
      I like to imagine in that cold dark silent morning air I heard the meteor sizzle.