CPR
Fri Apr 08, 2005 15:56 (UTC -5)Yesterday I did it. I got certified in CPR! As I said earlier, I needed the certification to pass my health class that I’m taking online.
My mom found this place that was giving a class nearby. My sister and her friend came along because they’re both taking the class too. The place was sort of in the part of town that I never happen to be in. We walked into a small room that appeared to be a waiting room. There was a guestbook to sign in. It seemed like a funeral home in those respects. But no, it turned out that was the room. That was where we were going to learn CPR. To make a long story short, it was a lot easier than I thought they would make it, which just goes to show that anyone can be certified in CPR.
And it’s only a matter of minutes till the partial solar eclipse I wrote about a few weeks ago begins. I foolishly, foolishly, foolishly decided to wait until Monday night to order the solar filters, so they’re not here yet and won’t arrive on time. But on the bright side (if you could call it that), the weather is not cooperating, so at least I won’t be the only one who can’t see the eclipse.
Of course, I am hoping to catch a glimpse of the celestial event, which begins here at 5:21 P.M. EDT (16:21 EST, World of Stuff time) and peaks at 6:20 EDT, about an hour later. The sun will be setting, and by the time it’s over at 7:14 EDT, the sun will be at an altitude of only 5°. It’s been cloudy and miserable all day, but hopefully the clouds will thin out enough for me to see the sun reasonably without a special filter. The sun can get huge when it sets, too, so that could help. But in any case, my camera won’t be good enough to photograph the sun at a reasonable size.
The next solar eclipse I’ll be able to see from here will be the much-anticipated total eclipse of Monday, August 21, 2017. It will pass over the whole continental United States. Maybe I’ll book a hotel in a town that lies in the path of totality. I think that years and years ago, some guy booked a place in Times Square for December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000, and ended up getting the room free due to his impeccable planning. Maybe I’d get a discount for booking twelve years in advance. Who knows? Anyway, in twelve years I’ll be twelve years smarter, my camera will be twelve years better, and my solar filters will have arrived by then.
Wait! The sun is out! The skies (in that direction, at least) are clear. Looking through a blank CD-R or two makes a nifty solar filter (I tried it). I’ll see how it turns out, and maybe even get pictures!!!!!1one Squee!! Let the eclipse begin!
