once in a lifetime

Sounds like the title of a

romance novel

but in this case I am

referring to

the celestial happening

that I first read about in my

Farmer's Almanac.

The Transit of Venus

(a more interesting romance

title...don't you think?)

If you're looking for a good read

might I recommend

The Farmer's Almanac

it is loaded with fun anecdotes and ideas that

will keep the family

entertained and educated

all year long.

It's my newest favorite.

Back to...

the transit of Venus.

A transit is much like an eclipse

but it is the term used

when the foreground body

is smaller than the

background body.

I learned that from

my handy-dandy

Farmer's Almanac

2012.

I packed up the boys and

we headed to

The University of Toledo

to witness the event

that won't happen again

until the year

2117!

(an Almanac fact)

Others were interested as well.

AKA...we waited in line

which meant people watching.

If you look at the above pic...

notice the little girl

thinking about it...

then below...

doing it!

I told Joe he met his match!

As I was looking

around James informed

me that he saw

my brother Tim in attendance.

What?!

I texted him and sure enough...

he and his daughter Katie

were right behind us in line.

Tim is an astronomy geek.

Wouldn't you know it...

as soon as we entered the viewing

room the buildings

obscured the imaging!

We watched it live...

from Hawaii.

Here's Tim getting the shot

before me!

Thar she blows!

My guys were like...

"We came to see that little black spec

on the screen?!"

One day they will thank me.

But wait!

There's more.

Outside there were stations set-up

to view the eclipse...er...

transit as it reflected on paper.

Where Tim told me the story

of a little boy who asked the staff

if it is true

that if you look at the sun long

enough it can burn your

rectum?

LOL...

The savvy college student answered with...

well I guess...

if you stared at it long enough.

I would have added:

it could probably burn

Uranus!

LOL again...

I bet there was an anatomy

lesson on the ride home for that

fellow!

Tim getting in the way...

again.

Got my shot...

so cool.

A station for the

tots to watch

the action.

The Sunspotter...

a cool little gadget

that I told Tim (another tool man)

he should build for his (and my)

grandkids!

Here he is getting

his close-up...

Here's mine!

I told Joe and James

that one day

they will be able to tell

their children and grandchildren

how they saw this once in a lifetime

event...

and they have their mom

to thank for it!

They were like...

"No...we had a good time...

there were a lot of hot

college girls."

Ah...and so it begins.

Went home

and guess what...

found you could view it all live

via the computer link to NASA.

I much prefer getting

out there under

the sky

with fellow dreamers...

romantics...

astronomers...

students of life!

This moment was brought to you by...

The Farmer's Almanac.

Pick one up at your

local hardware

store.