I was kind of excited to see the eclipse today! I'd been too scared to look at the one in 2017--the news made it sound like we would go blind instantly if we so much as opened our eyes outdoors--so I chose not to. But then several people were talking about how amazing it was and I wished I'd seen it. So, I decided I was for sure going to watch it today. Especially since we live very close to the totality path.
At around midnight last night, it occurred to me that I never got glasses so that I could look at it! Jerry had taken today off work (not for the eclipse, but it happened to work out that way) so he went out this morning on a mission to get glasses. Everywhere he went said they sold out weeks ago. He finally found some at a 7-11 about 35 minutes away, and they only had a few pairs they set aside in the back.
I debated driving to Luna Pier (or even riding my bike), which is a small nearby town--and the only place in Michigan that was in the totality path. However, Noah came over and said the traffic was INSANE everywhere. The line to get on the expressway was backed up for miles! So I figured I'd be happy with the 99.98% totality and avoid the traffic ;)
It was supposed to happen at about 3:12 pm, so we headed outside about 20 minutes beforehand. Jerry brought out his welding helmet from work and that actually worked much better than the cardboard glasses. We passed it back and forth, waiting for something exciting to happen, but I have to say, the eclipse was very underwhelming.
I found it more interesting to just look around us because the atmosphere seemed really eerie. It reminded me of the moments leading up to a tornado--where it looks like you're looking through a filter or something. And then it was jarring that the temperature dropped a LOT and it got super dark outside within minutes. I hadn't thought about the temperature dropping like that, but it makes sense when the sun is hidden!
While the whole thing didn't exactly live up to the hype, we had a good laugh--Jerry was trying to get selfies of us but we couldn't see anything with the helmet/glasses, so the pictures were all over the place.
Eli's baseball games have started and he plays 38 games(!) this season (two months). That is a LOT of baseball. I have to get ready to go to a game right now, but I've been working on some fun projects lately so I'll post pictures of those tomorrow. (Hold me to that!)
It was disappointing in Tennessee we had too much cloud cover... Maybe next time. You looked so cute.
ReplyDeleteWe were in the 90% path of totality here in Milwaukee. It was a clear day at least so I could see most of it! I work at a metal fab shop so I was able to borrow one of the welder's welding helmets too! I have to say that worked out pretty great! It didn't get nearly as dark since we were only at 90% but I agree with the eerie atmosphere. Like something was just off lol. I was excited to see a new post from you, I missed hearing from you! <3
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear from you! And yes, the temperature drop and the "gloom" darkness has been the biggest WOW for me both times. Glad you chose to experience it and I can't wait to hear about your projects. No pressure, but know that I for one have really missed your posts. I just love how real you are.
ReplyDelete38 games?! This is my son's first year of baseball, and our first experience in youth sports, and holy cow is it a time commitment!
ReplyDeleteI live in Oklahoma, also close to the totality path and I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I hardly stepped outside during it. I was at work and someone mentioned how dark it was outside so I did go out to see how dark it was. To me that was the most fascinating part.
We were in the path of totality and it was an amazing show here in Indiana. Interesting to hear how the birds in our backyard seemed to chatter and call more when it got darker and cooler, unlike birds at our zoo that quieted and roosted, they said. Probably won't be in any of the locations for upcoming ones, so I was glad we saw it. Now to get those glasses donated to the next place...
ReplyDeleteI'm with you as far as just looking around while the eclipse is happening. Way more interesting! We were in the 100% path in north Texas, and it was cloudy all the way up until about 15 min before totality, and then the clouds cleared like God wanted us to see it :) We saw Jupiter and Venus, since the sky was so dark. One of our cats got very agitated like he does before a thunderstorm. And the birds in the trees set off a racket -- I had heard that they go silent in the dark of the eclipse. Not! Weird how it got so noticeably cooler!
ReplyDeleteWe were in the path of totality. I was at work and was able to go outside a couple minutes before totality hit. I found it much cooler experience than I was expecting. I wouldn't have traveled to go see it but I am very glad I did
ReplyDeleteOh man! You should have gone to the totality path! I experienced the partial eclipse in 2017, but I live just south of Toledo and was in the path of totality this time. I thought it would be a very similar experience as last time and didn't expect too much. But when the eclipse went from 99.9% totality to 100% totality, it was a completely different experience. Totality and a partial eclipse cannot be compared. It was like something I have never experienced before! There are truly no words to describe it, but you definitely would have felt it was worth the hype if you were able to experience the full totality. I know most people didn't know what to expect, but it would have been worth the short drive for you to see totality.
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