Last year, there were two days of skateable ice. I use the term skateable loosely as it was bumpy and cracked and while it was safe it wasn't fun. We've been monitoring the situation very closely for the past few days. Trips down to the pond before school. Reports from Dad after getting off the bus...."Is it safe yet?" Finally, today...it was. They skate until it's dark and the pucks are disappearing into the shadows. Until we look around and realize the temperature has dropped a bunch and damn, it's REALLY cold now and holy crap, it's kind of dark out here.

But tonight, as we're watching the weather the meteorologist starts talking about the full wolf moon that's going to be out tonight. And that it's going to be clear, cold and bright. 'Like mother nature has turned on a night light for us', he says. I give my husband, B. a look. He knows what I mean. So, at eight fifteen we get tell the kids to grab their stuff and we took them to skate under the light of the full moon. Truly awesome.