I have been receiving a lot of calls, texts, pm’s etc. about the eclipse coming up this week, and at first I planned to not get involved. This is a hot topic and after multiple calls, emails, etc., I decided to answer a few of the most asked questions. What’s the best way to view the eclipse?  Will the glasses from my dilation work?  Can I use my welder’s helmet?  I’ve decided to try to answer most of the questions I’ve been asked and help others make the best informed decision for themselves.  First and foremost I think it’s important to remember to be smart about the decisions made Monday because our decisions and actions can affect the rest of our lives.  So…… A good rule of thumb is — Don’t be dumb.  Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions I have received and my somewhat educated and perhaps a bit snarky answers.

1. Can I wear my regular sunglasses during the eclipse?
2. • Umm no. Can you wear your regular sunglasses and stare at the sun on any other day?    I know.  A bit harsh. Let’s think about it though.  Staring at the sun causes a condition called solar retinopathy.  The sun emits rays that we cannot see or feel that basically will “fry” our retina if we look at it.  The brightness and heat are just the precaution to warn us of the impending harm.  When the eclipse begins, the sun’s brightness may not be as intense but the harmful rays that we could never see are still there and just as harmful.  That’s why it’s even more dangerous to look at the sun during the eclipse and everyone is freaking out!!  We wouldn’t know harm had been done until it’s too late.   So….. Let’s not be dumb.
3. Can I wear those glasses you gave me after my appointment?
4. • Umm….. Again no. See answer to question 1 for clarification.
5. I heard somewhere that I can wear welder’s glasses and be ok. Is that true?
6. • Not exactly! The American Astronomical society AAS says that welders glass #12 or higher is sufficient for viewing the eclipse.  So I pulled my hubby’s helmet out of the garage and checked it out.  It took me a good minute and I actually went to the website where he purchased it to double check and it looks like his says variable from 9-13 but it also says it is shade #10.  Everything I’ve read says most welder’s helmets around the house aren’t sufficient so I’m saying better safe than sorry.  So no.   Here is the link.  https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
7. Are the glasses I bought online, at the gas station, or from the piggly wiggly (ok I made that one up. I don’t know if there still are piggly wiggly’s or if they sell them) ok to use?
8. • The eclipse glasses you purchase should meet international standard ISO 12312-2 for safe viewing. If this is not clearly printed on your glasses then I would not purposely take the chance.  Also the AAS has a list of approved vendors that have met the standard for safe viewing. You can access the list here https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters .
9. Do I need to wear the glasses all day if I’m outside?
10. • Well, have you looked through the glasses or have you read the directions on the glasses? When you look through these babies you will quickly see that wearing them all day is pretty much impossible.  Seriously though, you should be in position before putting on the glasses, take a look at the eclipsing sun through your glasses only, look away, then take the glasses off.
11. Can I view the eclipse from inside through the window?
12. • See answer #1.
13. If I don’t have eclipse glasses how can I view the eclipse?
14. • NASA will be showing the eclipse live. You can watch it here https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive-info
    • There are some other options if you don’t have the glasses. You can learn about those options here.  I might try to build a pinhole viewer tomorrow.  If I do, I’ll let you know how that goes.  https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/projection
15. What are you going to do during the eclipse?
16. • Well, originally I planned to go about my day as normal. With all the hype and questions, and research, I actually bought eclipse glasses from one of the approved sites.  My lunch hour happens to coincide with the eclipse time so, my staff and I will be heading outside and taking a peak through our ISO approved eclipse glasses.  I will not be looking at the sun without my glasses on at any time.  I will also not gaze at the sun through my glasses for an unlimited amount of time.  I plan to get myself situated, put on my eclipse glasses, take a gander, then look away and take the glasses off.  I may repeat this a few times to make sure I see what I want to see but I plan to take my own advice and not be dumb!  I hope everyone has a great eclipse experience Monday and if for any reason you find yourself worried that you may have injured your eyes, give your local optometrist a call and I promise I will not say I told you so!  Happy eclipsing!!

Bryan and I met in the spring semester of 2000.  It was our last semester of undergrad at NSU in Tahlequah.  We had actually been in several classes together before but had somehow never connected.  He claims he saw me 3 years prior to meeting and knew we’d be together.  He’s a romantic at heart. That’s one of the many reasons I love him.   That last semester every morning I would be walking out of the science building as he would be walking in.  I had a newborn baby and an 8:00 physiology class.  If I could find my old notes from that class, I would totally share them.  I’m not sure that I learned much in my sleep deprived state.  I think I was mostly in a stupor and my chicken scratch falling off the page would testify to that.  (Sorry Dr. Clifford) When we look back now at the friends, acquaintances and classes that we shared during the years we were in college together, it amazes me that we never connected sooner.   I honestly believe the Lord guarded us both from each other for lack of better words.  He knew that I wasn’t in the right place those first two and half years of college and so we didn’t find one another until the last semester of my last year of school.

We would pass each other every morning, make eye contact and perhaps a quick smile.  If he was real brave he might say “hi” as he hurried on in.  By the end of February, I began to wonder if we would ever get further than the quick hellos.  Then one morning my best friend Kate (who assured me that Bryan liked me) and I decided to go eat breakfast.  Then it suddenly turned into an invite for Bryan and his friend as well.  I actually don’t remember much from that breakfast because I was so nervous. I do remember however that Bryan picked up the whole tab trying to show off.  I’m pretty sure he had to work extra the rest of that week to make up for that gesture.  It was still a week or so of me “accidentally” running into him before he asked me on our first official date.

We decided to have the official “first date” at my apartment because I didn’t have a baby sitter.  I bought the fixings for spaghetti because it was cheap and easy.  And when Bryan arrived at my apartment, I was an ugly, hot mess.  The baby was sick.   I looked like warmed over death from lack of sleep and taking care of a sick baby.  My hair was in a ponytail, no makeup, shorts and a t-shirt that had baby puke all over it.   So, Bryan stepped in, and never missed a beat.  He stepped up to the plate, fixed dinner and saved the date.  He later admits that was the only meal he really knew how to cook!

It wasn’t the most romantic meet up or first date but I wouldn’t change it for anything.  I was given a true glimpse at his character in that short period of time and I knew right then that he was definitely worth getting to know.

I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing!  I’ve been feeling led to start a blog for quite some time now, but have been too scared to do it.  I mean really who wants to hear what I have to say any way?  Are my words worth the time to read?  I must be crazy!!  These are all thoughts that have continually surfaced throughout the past year or so any time the mention of a blog has come up.  Yet, here I am.  On a whim I looked up blog sites and before I realized what I was doing I had signed up with WordPress.  Then the panic attack started….

After a day of beating myself up and fretting over my impulse move here I am writing my first official blog.  My name is Courtney Bratton.  My husband of 15 years and I live in small town Oklahoma with our 3 kiddos.  M (17), T (11), and L (9).  Yes, I know the timeline doesn’t add up.  We will get to that at a later date.  Our family lives on over 100 acres of woods and pasture land.  We have almost every kind of farm animal known to man–cows, chickens, turkeys,  bees (that’s right– bees!), cats, dogs, a bunny, a turtle and a pony.  It takes quite some time to get everyone fed and watered every day and apparently my hubby has decided on this hot July day we need to work cows in the 98 degree weather!  Can’t wait!!

When I was younger my path was laid out straight in front of me but I’ve made lots of twists and turns and have even fallen off the path along the way.  My hope is to share with others what I’ve learned sometimes the easy way and sometimes the downright hard way.  I want to share my love for God, health, life and beauty to others and I hope that someone will gain something from my crazy, messy life!