Yes boy, I got to see it and watched it in different stages over the whole eclipse. My DD called to remind us, and even my dh informed me when the sky cleared. It was the most beautiful I'd ever seen too, Marda. I caught it at one point, where it was red tinged, but a crescent of it was almost turquoise blue. I ventured outside with coat and earmuffs once or twice, but was too much of a weenie to keep doing that, so I would go to the front door, and open it often to see it most clearly and check it out with binocs. The foyer was in total darkness and I shut the massive old door on my sixteen year old cat, who screamed and ran up the steps like his heinie was on fire. Poor little guy. He didn't come back out for hours. I haven't talk to my dd or her husband yet today, but I don't even have to ask her where they were last night for hours. In their observatory.

Stargazing has always fascinated me. When I was a kid, I got a lot of "Steven, get down off that roof this minute! You're going to break your neck." I miss the rural Illinois night sky. I envy you folks that don't have urban glare. Getting into the wilds of California though can rival some of the best stargazing I've known. I remember one night, up in the giant redwoods in Humboldt county. We set up camp on a wide bend near the Eel river. That campsite was magical,, with an incredible view of the night sky and towering redwoods on either bank. What a show. I had never seen the Milky Way that clearly before. That was the first time I realized that you could actually see our own galaxy. It's a profound thing. Hey Cameron! Congratulations to your son. Sounds like he's on the right track. Ah, to be young again. Steven

We had planned on going outside and playing in the snow for an hour or two tonight to watch it, but it's going to be tooooo cold, so we'll be watching from inside. We'll likely go out on the balcony off of our bedroom periodically to get a better look. Sophie is incredibly excited. We've looked at pictures of lunar eclipses, and talked about why it happens and stuff. It's supposed to be clear here tonight, so we should get a good view. Oh Gayle - I just read your response - a fire is a good idea!! We have a firepit in the backyard. Why didn't I think of that? :)

We learned in law school to always get the ring on Christmas or on your birthday. If it is given on those dates, it is considered a gift and you get to keep it. If it is given any other time, it is a conditional gift and you only get to keep it if you fulfill the condition (wedding goes through). In divorce, woman keeps the ring b/c she fulfilled the condition.