Here comes the summer

(I might wax and waffle here, be warned...)

The winter solstice is past! That moment where the Earth's axial tilt is furthest from the Sun (assuming a North-is-up-universe...) is gone, not one hour ago. No spooky shit involved, no silly solstice celebrations, no pagan propaganda: just the knowledge that the days are gonna get longer for the next six months - rock 'n' roll!

In other solar system news, I actually managed to get up at six this morning (on the shortest day of the damn year, no less) to head to a vantage point I'd spied out to watch the Earth get all in the way of the Sun and Moon. One look out the window: overcast as feck. Back to the land of nod, there'll be other eclipses.

In other weather-related news, the snow is finally melting. Seriously people, if you live somewhere that's covered in cold, white stuff for more than a few days a year, EMMIGRATE! It's fun for five minutes and then it's just patches of cunningly-hidden ice seperated by channels of black slush. Farewell snow, you shalln't be missed!

Having said that, I did have a thoroughly sodden ride in the sleet and snow to college the other day and it was great: one of those experiences that makes you feel really ALIVE.

And now to sleep, and a longer day.