WHEN: 11:38pm(UTC), December 21, 2010
WHERE: The northern hemisphere
Winter has arrived (as if you didn't already know)! The winter solstice occurred at 6:38pm(EST) this evening so the northern hemisphere is now officially (astronomically) within the clutches of winter. "You mean it hasn't been winter for the past month??", you ask. Tell me about it!
Frozen lighthouse on Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio.
I'm sure some of you know that I, like many of you, am no fan of winter. I made my case in June (just after the summer solstice) why summer is the most wonderful time of the year (despite what the Christmas song says, that you've probably heard 723 times since Halloween). And I stand by that. I couldn't be more happy to fly home tomorrow night and be home for Christmas. But honestly, isn't Christmas the only thing that makes winter bearable? Consequently, just 4 days in to winter, Christmas is over! Then what? Five loooong months as we wait for summer to arrive. I guess some of you have American Idol to look forward to in January, but who knows what respect remains with that show without V-neck Cowell running the place.
Now, to back up.
There is much that comes to mind this first day of winter for me to bring to the digital table that is my blog. Too much in fact. With bills to be paid, suitcases to be packed, and a checklist of things to ready our home for our 12-day absence, there's not much time left for Time & Space. Nevertheless, I have to get out at least some of these last minute thoughts before Christmas break deservingly steals me away from the blogosphere for, perhaps, the rest of this year. I think I have made it clear to our families that my agenda over break will be as empty as the city pools in Minnesota today - and that includes writing blog posts. Gobs of food, playing in the snow, lounging in my PJs until 5pm, watching movies, playing games with the family, and enjoying my niece and nephew (when their diapers are clean and they're not fussy, of course :) are the only things I want on my schedule for the next 12 days.
For those of you who don't like sleep, you may have witnessed the first thing this winter solstice brought - a rare lunar eclipse. The last one of its kind came 372 years ago on December 21, 1638. That was the last time there was a full moon on the winter solstice. Until last night. I myself was not up to see it and I have not heard much about what it was like. For those with clear skies and snow on the ground, I did hear that the eclipse (turning the moon amber in color) cast a beautiful pink reflection off the snow. Stace has the early shift (6:15am) at school this week so we've been up early the past two days. Yesterday, on my way to work (still black out), I was driving over a bridge and saw the last glimpse of the (also amber) moon setting in the west. It was HUGE! I got to see that at least.
Something we have both got to see this month, however, are plunging thermometers. It seems like we can't catch a break this December. Literally overnight on Nov 30/Dec 1, winter crept in and hasn't since relinquished its icy grip. Not including that night, we've only seen 1 day above average here in Charleston during the month of December. This, of course, led me to make graphs to illustrate how relentless the cold has been. I know you're not surprised.
High temperatures in Charleston this month.
As you can tell, the highs (blue) have failed miserably to rise above December's (green) and even January's (purple) daily averages.
Low temperatures in Charleston this month.
Only two days so far (and one in the forecast) are above average this month.
This cold snap has been relentless this month and now we're posed for a 12-day stay in the even colder ice box of the Upper Midwest. I'm always excited to travel home for Christmas and experience the frigid cold and snow but to be honest, I've had it with the cold and am so over winter. And this is only the first day!
Meanwhile, an unpredictable Christmas system, which has already dumped up to 8 feet of snow in The Rockies, is pushing across the country this week that may bring snow to many on Christmas Day as well as to some southern states not used to having any snow on Christmas. Winter storms and travel headaches also continue in Europe this week including the busiest European airport, London Heathrow, leaving many unsure about where they may have to spend Christmas. At worst, their departure city. At worst-er, an airport terminal.
And on that solemn note, check out the United State's Top 10 worst weather airports. This list is not exclusive to winter weather but definitely takes it in to account. And when we'll be on a plane in less than 24 hours and it's the middle (beginning) of winter, I am very interested in such a list. Of course, the two airports we are flying in to this week and next both made it in to the Top 10. Minneapolis came in at #4 and Detroit came in at #2. Splendid! I will say, though, that Detroit is one of those airports you would prefer to have a layover in - if you must. We flew through Detroit in April this year for the first time and I was definitely impressed. With their brand new McNamara terminal (one mile long) and sufficient runway space, the airport was ranked No. 1 this year in overall customer satisfaction for large airports by JD Power and Associates. Minneapolis was ranked No. 3. We agree. Both airports are clean, modern, and entertaining and since we have to fly, we enjoy these hubs.
Flying over Lake Erie in April on our approach in to Detroit
Kelleys Island, Ohio (Sandusky, Ohio is in background...SHUT UP, Richard!!)
Detroit International Airport
McNamara Terminal
Downtown Motor City (with Ontario, Canada across the Detroit River)
Detroit Airport's 500ft. psychedelic light tunnel
The indoor monorail runs the complete length of the one-mile McNamara Terminal.
I rode the monorail back and forth across the terminal repetitively during our 3-hour layover in April. I plan on doing the same on both our 3-hour layovers this time. Great fun, for a kid like me :)
(Yes, the airport was that empty - it was April. I don't think we'll be that fortunate tomorrow.)
(Yes, the airport was that empty - it was April. I don't think we'll be that fortunate tomorrow.)
Debby, you'll notice the "Stylish Paws" store to the left in this picture :) We stopped in there to look for Tigger in April and I'm sure we'll stop in there tomorrow night to look for Oliver.
I'm working a half-day tomorrow then we fly out at 4:30 (and land in Minneapolis around midnight, our time). Hopefully we can get to bed before 2am! A coworker of mine graciously accepted to drive us to the airport, which saves us a lot of money for 12 days of parking (at an airport 5 miles from our house). We drive down to Iowa Thursday and then the fun begins!!
As many of you may not know (outside my family), I am a huge fan of aviation. But that's for another time. For now, I leave you with a couple links. The links below are to LIVE tracking of each of our four flights (barring any unforeseen changes or snow storms), in case you are extremely bored and feel the need to "spy on the sky". I do it whenever I know someone is flying but since we're the ones flying, I leave YOU the links. Bonus!
Christmas vacation, here we come!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
See you in 2011!
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