Once In A Blue Moon

Look at that! The goatmother took this picture last night. Tonight is not only the full moon, but it marks one of the rare occurrences called a 'Blue Moon'. What is that, you ask? Well, there are different definitions, apparently, but the most modern one says that a Blue Moon occurs when a full moon comes twice within one month. (For other definitions, please see here.) Because the lunar cycle, the time between the new and full moon, is only 29.5 days long, and because the calendar months are longer than this, except for Februrary which is shorter, it causes the full moon to occur a little earlier than the previous month as time goes by. Eventually, approximately every two and a half years to be exact, a month will have two full moons.

Now, that being said, the next 'Blue Moon' will occur on August 31, 2012. Even better, the year 2018 will have two 'Blue Moons' in one year, January 31st and March 31st. Now won't that be cool?

According to some folklore, when a Blue Moon' occurs, it will have a face and talk to anyone who stands in its light. This sounds kind of spooky to me, but you know, I want to give it a try. Don't you think a moon might consider conversing with a humble goat standing on a stump? Hey, it could happen. Oy. I might finally get the answer to the Universe, Life and the true meaning of Peanuts. Although, come to think of it, I probably already know the answer to that last one.

At any rate, tonight will be a very rare occurrence. And most especially, with it being the beginning of a whole New Year, I think we ought to embrace it and take the opportunity to ask for a fabulous year ahead for ourselves and all those poor folks without jobs, income, love, health, friendship, meaning or Peanuts in their lives. After all, it is said that the energy of a 'Blue Moon' is magnified three-fold. Three. That's a good number. Kind of like those 3-to-a-shell Peanuts.

So, my friends, grasp this opportunity to consider things and perhaps change some old ideas. After all, you know what they say - if you don't like the scenery, change the point of view. "Every once in a blue moon, something new comes along that scrambles your preconceptions." - Unknown.