Theater, Taxes, and Total Lunar Eclipse

We drove into Midland on Thursday, April 10. Staying at Midland RV, just north of I-20 across the  street from I-20 Wildlife Preserve and Jenna Welch Nature Study Center. Can't say much about the RV facility, mostly occupied by oilfield workers and way too expensive, but spaces are at a premium here due to the BOOM. Was offered a job here, but don't think I can live here for 5 months.

Saturday morning, we birded with Midnats at I-20 Preserve. Was good to see friends again and we managed to rack up a list of 25 species, despite the severe drought conditions. A nice spread of Honey Daisy and Blue Curl lined the trail on the east side of the playa.


On Saturday night we attended MCT/Pickwick Players presentation of "Pippi Longstocking", featuring grand-daughter Savannah as a cast member. In addition to a pirate, she also played an old woman and various other characters. Excellent entertainment.

Sunday morning, I celebrated a landmark birthday by attending All Saints Church with Kasey, Robin, Debbie, Nash, and Savannah followed by lunch at Moon Garden. After changing into regular clothes, we spent a quiet afternoon visiting with Kevin, Anita, and Donovan.

Anita has a tremendous salt water aquarium, love the dark purple fish with long purple eyelashes that perches on  the corral. Think she called him a bliney.

Sunday evening, another cold front arrived dropping temperatures into the high 30's. Monday was cold and dusty with 35 mph gusts.

Tuesday, Tax Day, required a sizable check to be written, but I refuse to have anything held out of TRS or American Funds because of the current administration and the gross misuse of taxpayer monies in Washington DC. I will not give a dime until I absolutely have to. My own little civil disobedience.

By Tuesday evening, the weather had cleared and warmed significantly. Jupiter was clearly visible at dusk and the prospects for a spectacular eclipse looked good. Having been suckered by cloudy skies many times before, I peeped out at 10:30 PM, was encouraged enough to set the alarm for 3:30 AM. Because of the location and the hour, and having seen more than one total lunar eclipse before, I wasn't too anxious about the beginning and the early stages of the eclipse. Thankfully, when I arose at 3:30, the sky was perfectly clear. I tucked flannel PJ's into socks and pulled jeans on over the PJ's, donned a jacket and went in search of the Moon.  Rounding the front of the motor coach, the eclipsed "Blood Moon" hung high in the western sky. Back inside I found the camera and this time I leaned against the back corner for stabilization, clicked off a dozen shots with various settings. I checked photo quality on the computer, posted the best 2 on Facebook, headed back out for another look.

Eclipsed Moon and Mars

Mars shone brightly to the upper right of the moon and Spica blazed just below. A truly wonder site and worth the effort to get up and out for the experience.

In another location, I would have pulled out a comfy chair, wrapped myself in the "magic blanket" and watched at the moon slip out of Earth's shadow.  Considering the neighborhood, I opted to stay inside and cuddle up under the warm covers. When the next eclipse comes around in October, we should be on the Refuge at Anahuac and I'll only need to worry about mosquitoes, hogs, and alligators.