The Pendulum Swing

      Longer days are here again!  Actually, the days started getting longer on December 22nd.  The winter solstice is a day that encourages optimism because after it, the days only get longer, but during Christmas break, I didn't really notice.  Now that I am home from our wonderful vacation down south, I am paying closer attention to day light / chore time.
  
     (Three sunset photos by Brianna)  Day length, according to Wikipedia... "is the time each day, from the moment the upper limb of the sun's disk appears above the horizon during sunrise to the moment when the upper limb disappears below the horizon during sunset. Due to the diffusion and refraction of sunlight by the atmosphere, there is actually daylight even when the sun is slightly below the horizon. The period when it is still somewhat light even though the sun is below the horizon is called twilight."  In general, the length of a day varies
                                                     throughout the year,  and depends
upon latitude. "This variation is caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation with respect to the ecliptic plane of the Earth around the sun."  Normally, around the equinoxes in March and September, the days are getting longer/shorter at their fastest rate. During the solstice, the minute per day change is almost nil... Here's the link.

     Sister Cathy pointed out before 12/21 that as we approached the equinox, first it got dark earlier at night and then it started getting light later in the morning.  Well, I looked up times for Bloomington and all last week the sun rose at the same time, 7:19, but it set a minute later each night, so our days were getting longer in the evening... for instance, January 2nd sunset was at 4:41, the 3rd at 4:42, etc. So, on the 8th sunset was at 4:47.  Next week it will continue to set a minute later each day, but every few days it will also rise a minute earlier. 

     I got this whole concept mixed up
with the Foucault pendulum, which demonstrates the rotation of the Earth.  This animation of a Foucault pendulum at the Pantheon in Paris (48°52' North), shows the Earth's rotation rate greatly exaggerated. The green trace shows the path of the pendulum bob over the ground (a rotating reference frame), while the blue trace shows the path in a frame of reference rotating with the plane of the pendulum.  Maybe I am now ready to tackle a physics class... or not.

     During the New Year's Eve sunset, we had our traditional last night celebration, with popcorn on the beach... trying to catch it in the air.

     Courtney, Mike, Dan and Valencia all dressed up and ready to go party.




     Travis, Ben, and Patrick joined them, going to Bridge street to celebrated the close of 2012 and the start of a new year.




     From the looks of this photo, it appears they had a good time.  They reported that it was crowded and loud, but they were able to get in some dancing and watch fireworks on the beach.  We older folks stayed at the community condo and watched a movie until the clock finally struck midnight.  We did a quick cheer and then went to bed. 

     We all had to clear out of the condos by 11am on New Years Day.  Cathy and Ben, Jean and Brianna, and Patrick all had flights out of Tampa and were the first to say good-bye.  Mike and Courtney, and Carol, Chris and Travis were driving to Illinois and Indiana respectively and hit the road next.

     David's family was just going to Winter Haven to take Mom home and our car load was headed to Orlando to visit our friend Sarah, so we both left near check-out time.  

     Sarah  greeting us upon our arrival.

     Our first order of business was a swim at Sarah's apartment complex pool.  We relaxed in the hot tub, took a quick dip in the cold pool, and basked in the sun. 


     Headed to down town Disney.


     Parked at the building where Sarah works.  It looks like a cruise ship.



     Ate at a fabulous Cuban restaurant.  The food was delicious. 








     Britney loved all the murals, especially this one of the Malecon, a walkway along the road at the coastline of Havana, which is her favorite place in Cuba.

     It had gotten dark by the time we were done with dinner.  We listened to a Latino band at the restaurant and then went out to walk the streets of Disney.

     The lights were beautiful and there were all sorts of entertainment groups along the streets.






     The musicians were amazing, some of which we just watched in awe.


  






     Others, we clapped along with, and some even inspired us to "dance to the music." 
Sarah took this video.


     Due to a wrong turn onto the highway and arriving late at the airport, then standing in a long line to get through security, I was cutting it a little too close, running to catch my fight out of Orlando at 6am on Wednesday.

     I had plenty of time for breakfast at the Atlanta airport while waiting for my second flight.  I sat at this window table and watched the activity outside.










     Below photo taken during our decent to the B/N airport.  I was prepared for the snow in Illinois, but when I stepped out into the cold, it took my breath away.  The pilot said it was 9 degrees when we landed at 10:45.

     I ran to the store after removing some snow and ice from my car that was parked at the airport.  At home, I got stuck in a small drift, just four feet from the garage, but I shoveled my way out.  The dog and cat ran circles around me when I entered the house.  Everything looked to be in good shape.  Angie did a nice job.

     The horses came to greet me at the barn when I went out to clean stalls and check on things.  The sun was warm enough to melt snow on the barn roof, making beautiful icicles.  But I had to knock them all off, because if they were to happen to fall on or near the horses it would not be good. 
 

     I spent the majority of the day in my office working on the computer and reading a bunch of Christmas cards received in the mail.

     Brother did not show up for food during evening chores and I hadn't seen him all day, so the dog and I went for a walk looking for him, but no luck.

     Still no Brother during morning chores Thursday, and I could tell Missy was missing him.  This cast iron or steel bowl got broken when Angie got shocked by the fence and dropped it in nearly 0 degree weather.  The ground was so hard and the steel so brittle from the cold, it broke. 

     It was a peaceful, lazy morning, but I eventually bundled up and worked outside for awhile, and then did another, more extensive search for Brother. 


     Joe and his car load arrived at 3pm.  I proceeded to unpack my bags, and sort and put everything away.  After dinner, Joe took Dan and Valencia to the train station, so they could get to Chicago to take Valencia home and get Dan's car.

     Before bed, I went out to the barn, calling for Brother and taking a few minutes to brush the horses and give them a little bit of hay.

      It was another lazy morning Friday.  Britney had breakfast by the fire.  I could not get myself to put on a swim suit and go to the Replex.  I made some calls about Brother.  The last Angie had seen him out at the barn was Monday night, when we had been hit by more wind and snow. 

     Dan had dropped Charlie off before he left, so we were entertained by this energetic little fur ball, who was constantly getting into trouble.

     Britney went to town for dentist and eye appointments and to run errands.  I did five loads of laundry (actually 6 because I had to re-wash the load that had a pocket full of candy in it, that I did not discover until putting the clothes in the dryer).  I need to remember to recheck Joe's pockets.  

     I ended up staying in my loungers all day, throwing cover-alls over them to do chores.  I had a sore throat and started feeling worse as the day progressed.  Charlie was a snuggle kitty, keeping me warm as I sat at my desk, messing on the computer and writing thank you notes.  I made a few more calls looking for Brother and had my hopes up when one neighbor reported having a stray black cat under her truck a few days ago.




     Saturday I woke feeling sick with a bad sore throat and earache.  My equilibrium was off and I didn't know what to do to get my pendulum to stop swinging.  I took it easy most of the day.  After cleaning stalls at noon, I did drive to a few neighbors looking for Brother.  And I made some more phone calls.  I suspect and fear I will never see him again.  :-(    



     Charlie kept me company, and warm, while I read and napped.  I soaked in a hot bathtub, took cold medicines, drank lots of water and hot tea, ate hot soup for lunch, but still felt pretty crummy much of the time.  It was kind of a pendulum swinging from feeling okay, to feeling pretty bad.

     Charlie stalking Abbey while she checks out his litter box.

     I heated up the turkey and gravy I had frozen after Thanksgiving, and cooked mash potatoes, corn and biscuits for dinner.  You know the old saying, "Starve a fever, feed a cold", although I felt really hot by the time we sat down to eat, and didn't have much of an appetite.  Ice cream for my throat, and then NyQuil and I went to bed at 8pm.

     I woke up Sunday, earlier than usual, feeling no better.  My nose had started running and I was coughing and sneezing.

     The house pets joined me in the office where I had the space heater on.  




     Charlie and Kaysha are becoming friends, but Abbey still keeps her distance.




     It was very cold when I went to the barn to fed and turn out the horses.  After eating their hay, they grazed on the east side of the house, out of the frigid west wind. 







     I enjoyed watching Zorro and Roni horse around from my office window.
I guess that is one way to stay warm.










     It was another day of laying low, sticking to the couch, office chair or bed.  I tried different cold remedies, like cream of wheat, soup, and Day Quil.  Nothing really seemed to help much, but who knows how bad I would have felt without them.

     Charlie continued to entertain me (kept me preoccupied) by looking for and getting into all sorts of mischief.








     Joe cleaned stalls for me and I cooked lamb for dinner, but again didn't have much appetite.  Britney, Joe and I watched a movie.

     I had a bad night... little sleep, lots of coughing, earache, fever, and aches all over.  I called my regular Dr. (whom I haven't seen in three years) but she was completely full.  So Britney took me to a walk-in, same day care clinic.  I wanted to get better quickly and not be contagious by Wednesday, when we would be taking Britney to Children's Hospital.  The Dr. said it's the flu, and since I am already 4 days into it, there's not much to do other than ride it out.  Once home I snuggled on a bean bag in front of the fireplace and read till I fell asleep.

     Joe cleaned stalls again; and he and Britney went to the Replex to work out.  I went up to bed with the electric blanket turn high because I was so chilled.  When I woke up a few hours later, I had a 102 temperature.  My body temperature thermostat seems to be a wildly swinging pendulum.  



     The sun was warm and bright Tuesday, and helped melt some of the snow.  This is the first day the poultry had come out of the coop since our return home.   Hercules was sneaking up on Kaysha here.  I actually felt worse instead of better and had a fever off and on all day.  I did go out to fill feed bowls and water, and took a few pictures.  We watched another movie after dinner, which I barely ate.

 

     It was another bad night for sleep, and I knew I was too sick to go with Joe and Britney to Chicago.  They left Wednesday morning at 5:15 and I stayed in bed till 7am. 




     By afternoon I started feeling a little better.  I went out to do chores, and even though it completely wore me out, the 44 degree temperature and sun were revitalizing.  To the right, Roni, with Amiga behind him were coming to see what I was doing.  I found a chicken egg in the coop, first one in over a month, so they are responding to longer days too.  To the left,
                                                      Missy also came to say hello.  We
are both missing and still looking for Brother.

     Joe and Britney got back at dinner time and said that the new Children's Hospital in downtown Chicago is big and beautiful.  They had no problem finding it or driving in Chicago traffic.  Best of all, they reported a thumbs up from the doctors.  The MRI showed that the tumor remains stable.  

     As a pendulum swings, it is only "in balance" for a split second.  When it is made to stop and hang loosely downwards, it is said to be in the equilibrium position.  A friend posted this video on Facebook a few days ago, and I thought it went well with my weekly Blog theme.  Scroll down to watch the video.  It and the photo are of Michael Grab's art work. 

      Life, like a pendulum, changes daily.  Hopefully it doesn't swing too far up and down or right and left.  Some things, we do have control over, like the pendulum of weight gain and loss.  But other things, like the far right
                                            and left political groups and our economy, I

have no idea how to get drawn back towards a middle balance. We all need to be in a state of equilibrium, to be balanced, or stable.  But such a state is extremely rare, usually only existing for brief periods of time before something disturbs the balance.  There is a constant tendency for change.  Here's hoping that you can keep your personal pendulum (your budgets, work, relationships, health, weight, etc.) from swinging too far out of balance.  Seek strength and guidance from God, and have a great new year.