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Oh look
Monday, July 31, 2017 at 02:44PM 
So here in Columbia, we are gearing up for Total Eclipse Weekend 2017.
Banners have been affixed to lightposts throughout our fair city, proclaiming Columbia as the best place from which to view totality.
Although, depending upon which website you read, the best place from which to witness the moon blocking out the sun on that day could also be Jefferson City, Missouri; Lincoln, Nebraska; Casper, Wyoming; Nashville, Tennessee; Charleston, South Carolina; and a privately-owned farm in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
In addition to countless other places. Who knows. Conflicting information on this topic is as plentiful as stars in the sky.
(At any rate, the Kentucky farmer says he's prepared for what and who may descend upon his land on that day. I wonder.)
One website states unequivocally: No human action can disrupt the incessant dance of the cosmos, and the Moon's shadow will not wait on you if you're not ready.
At least on that point, we can agree.
Eclipse totality is set to begin in Columbia at 2:41 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2017, lasting anywhere from two minutes and thirty seconds to two minutes and thirty-six seconds, depending on whom you believe.
What we know is that Columbia is the third largest city in the United States on the center line of totality, as well as the largest city in South Carolina with the longest period of totality.
Word on the street is that over one million people live within a day's driving distance of someplace where totality will be visible (given that the weather cooperates), between Oregon and the South Carolina coast.
Lots of them will be on the roads in the days leading up to eclipse day.
According to some sources, untold tens of thousands who have had plans in place for years to visit a location in the path of totality, also have alternate plans if the place they're headed for turns out to have a cloudy forecast.
Even so, have you heard anything about this in the lamestream drive-by media? I haven't. But then, shortly after the (Trump) inauguration and the vile ensuing madness, I stopped listening.
I have read that thousands are expected to set up camp at Lake Murray, a five-minute drive from my house. I won't be going anywhere near that place on the weekend in question.
I plan to be at home on the day, also purposefully not participating in any of the dozens of highly commercialized activities (such as, at a local dramshop, happy hour with water balloons) revolving around the spectacular event. Doors and gates will be locked.
If you want in, you'd better know the code and keep to it. Rain or shine, we'll be outside by the pool.
My dentist, Dr. W, must have heard my heartfelt cry for clear weather on the day because a thick half-page-sized envelope arrived in the mail last week, from his office.
Not a peep from my eye doctor. Still waiting.
I have a habit of ripping what I deem junk mail -- missives from my dentist fall solidly into that category -- into two or three pieces and chucking them, unopened and unread, into the trash.
The packet in question was a hair's breadth from being file-thirteened thusly when I sensed something rigid inside the envelope. Thinking maybe Dr. W had sent me a fridge magnet, I went ahead and grabbed the letter opener.
Oh look! Eclipse shades -- two pair. That's one less thing to do prior to eight twenty-one seventeen.
I wonder, will my eye doctor be sending a toothbrush, when he finally weighs in on the subject? Because even I know, you can't view the eclipse with un-brushed teeth. They'll fall out.
Just kidding.
Where will you be on Total Solar Eclipse Day 2017? I can't wait to hear about how you celebrate it, what you see, and the amazing things you hope to experience.
And that is all for now.
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Happy Monday
Reader Comments (9)
Seeing as how I've decided it's best not to 'plan',
I'll be totally waiting to hear from you about the 'totality'.
However, I will be hoping for clear weather for all of
you totalitarians (is that a word)?
xoxo
The Center Line of Totality...... Doesn't that sound amazing? Or maybe, it sounds sinister...? ,-)
Well, since upper NYS is no where near the "Cool Spots," if we watch anything, it will be on a NASA tv station.
Thank you for telling me when it will happen. I do want to notice, how much dimming of light happens, during it. We watched a night eclipse of the moon, a while back. It was too cold to stay outside for the whole thing, but popping in and out, we could _see_ it, in stages.
My husband's brother lives near Nashville, which is also claiming to be the "best place" to view! :-) His daughter/family are driving down, to view it, at his house. But I never thought, of how many others, will be doing the same thing!!!! Traveling!!! To all the "best spots." Yikes!!!!
You have the best plan! Lock! And Load! Load the eats/drinks, that is. Be very self sufficient, for the whole weekend!!!!! -grin-
Happy Lughnasa!
Or Happy Lammas, if you say it, the English way!
Luna Crone
Oh and..... I am much too much, of a "chicken," to believe that those glasses, will protect my eyes. That's just me. I basically "don't-trust-nothin'-no-how".... -grin-
Happy Lughnasa!
Or Happy Lammas, if you say it, the English way!
Luna Crone
@Sally ... it's a word but just not the right one, haaaaahahaha ... xoxo
@Luna ... I wondered about the shades but if they're imprinted with a certain number, they are legit and you can look at the phases leading up to the totality, and after it, through them without harming your eyes. During the totality, you can look at it with your bare eyes! I can't wait. Word is that leading up to totality, nocturnal animals will begin acting like it's time to do their thing. After the two-plus minutes of dark and cold, the birdies will sing like it's morning! And I'm good with Happy Lughnasa! xoxo
Our Andy lives right next to Hopkinsville and he says everything there has been booked for some time. I sure hope it's not cloudy that day. :)
It happens to be our 37th anniversary and we will most likely both be working. It'll be interesting for sure - especially in your area! Love the glasses!
Ya know, it's not something I have even given a thought to, so I can't say as I really care much., I will most likely be working. I think I'd rather be there than dealing with crowds of people anyway!
The last eclipse, several years ago--80's I think, I watched it IN my car window. The reflection of it. Pretty cool actually. Since I will be in the 99% of the less cool spots, I will just have to see what I can see.
I smiled as I read this post. Your dentist is doing more than sending out birthday cards as they do around here. At least he is concerned for your eyes too. What is wrong with your eye doctor? He needs to catch up with the times. Ha! Ha! I guess he has enough business. Glad you will be locking those doors. :)
@Mari ... Awesome for Andy! Happy Anniversary in advance. xoxo
@Heather ... I won't be in any crowds except my own crowd, haaahaa xoxo
@Judy ... The last total solar eclipse visible from coast to coast in the USA was in June of 1918. There was a total eclipse in February of 1979 but it was only visible in a few places in the US, most of them west of the Rockies. The east coast got a partial look, in places like New York and Washington, DC. I'm excited about this because I've never seen anything like it and I sure never will again. xoxo
@Cheryl ... Yes, Dr. W is pretty progressive. My eye doctor doesn't send me any mail! I do appreciate the shades and unless it's incredibly gray and cloudy that day, I will for sure be using them. xoxo