Totality!

Yesterday, I the 2024 total solar eclipse in the path of totality. 

  And it was amazing!  

I hate using that word, as it is so often overused and for the most mundane of things..  "That piece of halibut was amazing!" 

  But how else do you describe the indescribable?   All of the adjectives at the same time?  Perhaps.    So where should I begin?

  First,  I would like to say it was not what I expected. Even with all of the pictures I have seen or re-posted online in the lead up. It was so much more.       

I remember back in 2017 when the last total eclipse happened,  Bill Whittle tried to explain what he had seen.   He is a big "space guy" and loves all things "Other Worldly."    His descriptions were confusing and difficult to visualize; but they did one thing right:  Put the Total Solar Eclipse on my bucket list.   Lucky for me,   there was another one in 2024 and I was going to be close.  


   And after managing to get inside the path of totality several hours early,  I saw the total eclipse with my own eyes...  And was rendered speechless!  What else was there to say other than, "Wow!"

Wow! Wow! WOW!

   And now I am attempting to use the same words Bill used to describe the event. "A Hole in the sky!"  "A giant eye looking at you."  "A mystic painting in the sky"   Now I understand.  The pictures could never capture the absolute AWE of seeing it live. Something I should have known after living in Alaska.  The first time I ever saw a glacier or white capped mountains,  I was so amazed that I took dozens of pictures of  the country side.   But in every case,  the pictures failed to capture the magnitude and the majesty of it all.

   Despite knowing this,  I still tried to capture the moment on film.   ( Digital film...that is.)  But my camera could not even capture a picture through the glasses I was using. So I did my best to capture images from the TV in the lounge.
 

 
When the event happened,  I was expecting total darkness, but you could still see.   Like a dawn or a dusk kind of light. The Sun turned black.   "Black Hole Sun" comes to mind.  The area around the sun lightened, but the middle was total blackness. The edges clear and crisp.  It looked like an illusion.  Something out of a painting... Except the Sky was the canvas.

Terrible Picture!

  It looked so surreal, that all I could think was "Wow!"   So foreign to anything I have ever seen up to this point in my life.  Even now, thinking back on it,  it just looked like we were in a CGI generated video game where the artist took "liberties" with the sky background.  

   I thought you would be able to see stars, but there was just too much light.   Even the lights from the parking-lot clicked on.   (Dark enough for them to activate, but too light to see the Milky Way.)

In the end,  was it worth it?   I would say "1000% YES!"  Even with the 6.5 hour drive back home.  ( Was supposed to be only 3 hours, but the traffic was terrible!)  Even with the time off work and the tab for gas and food.  Add another check to my bucket list!  The only thing I would have changed would be to have shared it with somebody.

   But there were lots of other people there sharing the experience with me.   Several people were from Wisconsin!  ( Racine area!)  The guy siting next to my table was a former Marine and drove down to see the show.

   The traffic was slow enough in some areas that allowed me to take pics of the landscape.   I even managed to take a pic of the setting sun... pretending as if nothing extraordinary happened today.

  Driving back home was actually rather relaxing.   The temps were in the 70's and breeze was nice enough to enjoy with the moon roof open.
  I listened to music and I inched my way back to Chicago via I65. The traffic did not seem as bad after watching the eclipse and listening to my music.

  And there it is.   Another attempt to explain something that is unexplainable.   Moments like this make me doubt my competence in the English language.   For surely, it can not be the language's fault for my inability to describe a simple scene.  But that is one of the reason why people who read books can not fully understand the smells and visuals of actual travel.  How Thai food from an open market in Thailand  tastes better than the stuff you buy in a 4 star restaurant.  You just have to be there in person.

   And you would have had been there for the 2024 Solar Eclipse... Within the Path of Totality.   To look up into the sky and see a great black hole where the sun is meant to be...   How can you share that feeling with someone who has not witnessed it themselves?  With pictures and words the best we can, I suppose.   Isn't that was writers and artist try to do everyday?  


 And it has taken me nearly all day just to write this!   So it's time to call this post "done!"   I doubt I would be able to move the ball any further with more words.   But if you happen to be around for the next one...  Where ever or whenever it might be...  You owe it to yourself to try to experience Totality!  It  could be described as a "Spiritual" experience.  Life is short here on Earth.   And Every second counts!

The End Of The Race.

 The Lincoln Half Marathon is over.  I did not win.  

Not that I was running to win.  I was running to finish... And to that end, I was successful!  Hurray for me!

I did manage to keep my pace just under a 10 minute mile.   In my defense... There were lots of hills!  But the weather was nice enough and I could have lost a layer of clothing to help with the over heating.   My legs are sore and I'm taking this day off to rest and recover as I wait for the second half of the adventure to begin:   The Eclipse!  

Currently,  it is VERY windy and there was rain and hail earlier.  But the Sun is peaking out at the moment between the cloud cover.  The weather sounds like it will be favorable over Indianapolis tomorrow.  But I will continue to say a little prayer just in case. (It can't hurt... Right?)  

Cheryl on the other hand.  ( That is right,  Cheryl ran this race too....)   Managed to get a good time and a second place age group award.... again!  No big shock there.   She is bummed because she ran a 1:43.30.   Not her personal best, but she has been running 20 miles each weekend to prepare for an upcoming marathon.  She said she was not fully trained.    Ummm ....  Ok.

After our beer and doughnut, we headed out to the Beaver Brewery in Bloomington.   A nice little pub that was cozy and had character.  Since I could not get many pics from the Marathon.( Because I ran it and did not have any spectator photography....)   I decided to take a few of the Beaver Decor.     It was fun! 

And the beer and food were great.  I would highly recommend it for people.    I stopped by the humble gift shop and purchased a couple beer samples for home while Cheryl bought a sweatshirt.  I would have bought a shirt or beer glass too, but for each of these items,  you have to know the context.  Otherwise,  people will look at you strangely.  

And that was pretty much all there was.   Cheryl is currently back home in Iowa and I'm here, alone in the hotel room waiting for tomorrow.  My goal is to get up early and beat the rush for the viewing.   Once I'm in the shadow of the eclipse,  I will find an open area and camp out until the event.   With a little luck, I will be able to have internet access and be able o post about it as it happens.   Then again, I have heard that once it happens,   you forget everything and stare awestruck at the black hole of the sun.  I shall do my best to stay focused.... But if I only get to see it for myself... that will be enough.  

Because "once in a life time" events only happen ...  well,  Once in a Life Time.   You have to be open to change and all possibilities. Because life is short...  And every second counts.

My Weekend Adventure!

 And I'm off!  To my Great Adventure in Southern Illinois and Indiana!   I kicked off the weekend with some brews and conversation at the clubhouse with some friends and coworkers.   The Clubhouse was much quieter this "Thirsty Thursday" as compared to last Thursday.  (Funeral at a bar?   Who other than the Irish do such a thing?)  It was a nice evening to wrap up the work week. 

Today!  I'm traveling to Springfield, IL to prepare for the Lincoln Half Marathon.   I think I'm trained at least enough to complete it.   I doubt I will be breaking any records.  Then again,  breaking records was never my goal.  Staying healthy and completing it with a decent time is all I seek.  That means not being dead last.. ( That would suck!)  I'm looking forward to the beer,  comradery and maybe some of the bling.  

And lastly,  I will be traveling to Indianapolis to watch the great Solar Eclipse!  I have my glasses and plan on taking my computer so I can hopefully blog about the experience.   I'm hoping that this event will reveal something to me at the end of it.   The secrets of the universe,  space travel,  magical hero powers...  Who knows?  Maybe just something I can add to my list of things that I have seen or done in my life.   Another experience that is rare and only a few select people get to see or do.   Because of all the things that you may own in your life,   only the experiences of life are the things that you can truly take with you every where you go.   And life is short!   So make every second count....

A Busy Easter

A quick post because it is late....  Happy Easter!  He Is Risen!  I'm not sure why there seems to be more of that this year than in previous years.    Usually cute bunnies and colorful Easter eggs grace Facebook and the internet.  Or perhaps it is just my perspective.   But in any case,   I hope the message is sent out loud and clear: The real meaning of Easter.

After Church,  I managed to start my latest fish.   I will give you a hint  later in this posting as to what kind of fish I have in mind.   Otherwise, it does not look like much at the moment.   If I have time later during this week, I will slowly build on it as before.   Hopefully,   with the size being reasonable, I will be able to complete it in less time than it took me to complete the bluegill.   We shall see.  

While waiting for that to dry,   I worked on my latest V.A.S Achievement Badge.  I have now successfully completed all of the V.A.S. stations and now am a valued member of the team.   I still might have to work on other certifications.. like batteries or Soldering. But for now,  I have most of the V.A.S system down.    And I have the badge to prove it!

While waiting for the badge to finish, I also worked on the V.A.S. Dragon stand commemorating the year 2024.    The Year of the Dragon!  I used to hide little cardboard doodles like this all around the warehouse back in the day when I had more freedom.  But now,  being in the cage most of the day,  I rarely get to leave my little sayings in the racks.   My hope was that they would cheer up the pickers or Inventory as they drudged around the endless rows of boxes.   At least a few of the people have mentioned that they miss them.   It is amazing what you can do with just a few highlighters and cardboard dividers...

 And lastly,  I put up the pictures that Helen gave me.   Ever since Jerry died,  she has been donating his stuff to anyone who will use it. 
  ( Or people who shared his passions.)  I scored 4 VERY NICE fly fishing rods. 
  And a belt sander that Jerry had repurposed for sharpening knives it was just like the one I had in my shop back in the old carving days.  And I used it for the same thing!   Now that I have Jerry's old one,  I sharpened all of the knives in the house to a dangerously sharp edge.   It took hardly any time. 

 

I also put up the two pictures she gave me.  If you can ID the fish,  that might give you a hint as to my next project 

Next weekend will be busy.   I have a race;  Will see Cheryl;  and plan on seeing the Solar Eclipse.  All of that will happen beginning Friday... 
So I just have to make it till then.  ( Hurray for Mondays!)  In the mean time....  I best get to sleep early because tomorrow comes quick....  And every second counts.

A Free Saturday!

 I may have mentioned in my last post that Saturday would be a working day.   Zebra has been threatening us all week that we would have to work "Mandatory Overtime!"  They were wrong!  An entire week of straw dogs and paper tigers...  And kicking the hornets nest of Employees who wanted a full free weekend for Easter.   Sometimes I think the Zebra Culture is under new management....  But that is a rabbit hole I don't want to go down just yet. 

For me... Today!   I managed to do laundry,  work out, and Run 12.5 miles again!   Luckily,  the rain held off while I was out there.  I'm rather tired at the moment.   So everything after the run has been a chore just to get started.  My joints ache all over.   And I have a half Marathon next week!   At least I have a certain level of confidence that I will be able to finish it.  

After the Marathon,  I plan on traveling to Indianapolis for the viewing of the Total Solar Eclipse that is happening in Monday,  April 8th. I recently purchased my viewing glasses from Walmart. ( I missed them the first time...  They were right by the entrance! Go figure!  Walked right by them....)  So I will hopefully be able to see the last solar eclipse event that will be happening in my lifetime. ( I think..... Maybe just for those people living in the US.... and not Alaska. See map.)  

That being said... I am very excited to be viewing history.   Especially since I missed it in 2017. ( I can't remember the reason we could not travel 100 miles to see it in Missouri.)  Fingers crossed that all goes well this time and I am allowed to see it.  And the Stars in their true location. 

Other than that...  The rest of the week in Review:   I finished the Ryujin.   I now have to make a sign/stand for VAS so they can display it properly.   Right before they throw it away, I'm sure.   But it was fun making it so once I give it away, they can do with it as they like.  

I also went out with several co-workers to the Clubhouse. 
  It was rather disappointing, since they were holding a FUNERAL at the bar on Thursday.   They place was PACKED with inappropriately dressed people crowding the bar and being very loud.    For months, I have been talking about the bar as a nice quiet place to enjoy a few beers, good food and some conversation.   But Thirsty Thursday was an anomaly.   On the bright side....  We managed to get three people to join us!   Hurray!   Joan from Outbound,  Marion from Inbound and Lakiesha, who is one of the recent hires.   We enjoyed the conversation as best we could until the yelling became overwhelming.  We all agreed to cut our losses and make it a short visit.   There is always next week...

After my run today, I took a trip out to Shoreland High school to see the effects the rain was having on the proposed wetland project.   I took some pictures of the "flash Flooding" that happens when the rain pours down for more than a sprinkle.  As you can see...  The ditches fill with water and begin a temporary river that floods the fields and lawns of the locals.   

And most people can clearly see that it comes from the High school!   Just kidding...  Though the High School is in the background,  the real culprit is the farmland just down the road.   Those fields flood and send all that water into the soccer/football field.  Which flows down between houses and into the baseball field.   Hopefully,   with the wetland project on the books,  they will be able to solve that problem.   And I will have some handy dandy "before" pics of what the water used to do before the wetland project was incorporated.  

So that is all for the moment.   Tomorrow is Easter and I'm sure Sommers New Life Church will be jammed packed for the service.  I have actually considered attending one of the other churches just to make room for people and avoid the cramped parking.   But...  Sommers is so close.    And convenient!I might be a good idea not to change things too much because I still have things I need to accomplish this weekend.   And every second counts.