In 1972, beloved singer-songwriter John Denver wrote about a meteor shower he witnessed during a camping trip here in Colorado. His lyrics describe the scene: “I’ve seen it raining fire in the sky.” This December, you and your family can see that same fire if you grab some blankets, drive a little ways out of town, and peer up at the night sky. The starry performance you can witness is called the Geminids meteor shower, which will reach its maximum rate of visibility on Dec. 13, but you may see some meteors as early as Dec. 7. Meteor showers are common, but few know exactly what they are. According to in-the-sky.org, annual showers occur when our planet travels through areas filled with pebble-sized debris left behind by comets and asteroids. These small particles collide with Earth, heat up, and then appear to us as shooting stars. From Greeley, you may be able to see around 81 meteors per hour! As its name suggests, this shower originates from the constellation, Gemini. In Greek mythology, Gemini was associated with the myth of the twins, Castor and Pollux. Pollux was the son of Zeus, who SHOW YOUR KIDS THIS AMAZING STARRY SHOW! How You Can Spot 81 Meteors Per Hour This December
seduced his mother, Leda, while Castor was the son of Tyndareus, king of Sparta, who happened to be Leda’s husband. Oddly enough, though the brothers were twins, their mortality varied due to their paternal heritage. When Castor — the mortal brother — died, Pollux begged Zeus to give Castor immortality. Zeus granted his request, which reunited the brothers together in the heavens. The shower was named after the amazing bond these two brothers shared. For the best viewing experience, check out in-the-sky.org to get additional information about seeing the Geminid shower from a specific city. Then make some hot cocoa, pack some blankets, gather up the family, and get ready to see the beauty John Denver sang about.
A QUICK WORKOUT Prepare Yourself for the Thanksgiving Feast
After you’ve warmed up, it’s time to start the workout. Squat jumps, ski jumps, pushups, plank crawls, and holding a squat stance are easy exercises you can do in your kitchen, dining room, or living roomwhile your feast cooks. Do each exercise as many times as you can in a minute, and just like you did in the warmup, repeat each set three times.
When you’re in the kitchen cooking your signature dishes for Thanksgiving dinner, you might find yourself with short periods of nothing to do. While you wait, why not fit in a quick workout? Exercising for 30 minutes will help ease any anxieties you may have — perhaps about getting those side dishes just right, or about your in-laws, who will soon be seated at your table. To start off, you’ll need to warm up. Keeping the oven in sight and the timer well within earshot, take a few minutes to loosen up your muscles. Jog in place, do some jumping jacks for a minute, or jump in place for 45 seconds. Warmups often consist of these basic exercises, but one set of each won’t be enough. To make sure your body is completely warmed up, repeat each set at least three times.
While in your squat stance, there are several things you can do. For 30-second intervals, put your arms out in a “T” formation and move them up and down in small pulses. Then move your arms out in front of you and return to the “T” shape. Raise your arms up over your head and clap, and then return once more to the “T” formation. Rotate your arms in backward circles, switch to forward arm circles, and finish up by holding your squat for an additional 30 seconds. This 30-minute exercise routine is great for before, during, and after your Thanksgiving meal prep. You don’t have to wait around all day for things to finish up — occupy your downtime with short exercises to keep your heart pumping.
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