The inevitable "darkness" post.

Today the sunset at 3:15 pm, and tomorrow the sunrises at 9:11 am.  It isn't even the winter solstice yet, but that equals about 6 hours of somewhat dim daylight.  If I wake to light, then I've overslept.  Conversely, it's always dark when I'm  getting off work unless I take a half-day.  I'm not really bothered yet, but I expect the post-Christmas season to be grim.  I intend to take a couple mediterranean weekends (Istanbul HUZZAH!).

This diminished solar input means that the temperature of the air relies almost exclusively on fronts, and that the weather forecast is always: "temperatures in the mid-_____, remaining steady throughout the day..."  The Baltic seems to keep the weather relatively mild.  After having a white-toed close call, I bought wool inserts for my boots and have been comfortable enough to walk home from work most days.

An effect of the darkness is that personal reflectors are ubiquitous.  Sidewalks are not common on back-roads in my neighborhood, and it is either "strongly suggested" or mandated that everyone wear a small reflective item on their right side, approximately waist height.  I've gone native and bought a moomin reflector to hang from my down parka.

Moomin are cuddly finnish trolls.  They have a children's comic devoted to their exploits, and they are to the Finns what Asterix is to the French and Hello Kitty! is to the Japanese.  Moomin are EVERYWHERE.  There are moomin books, mugs, stationary, cutlery, toys, etc.  They are sold at Tarjoustalo (literally: "Bargain House"), at the post office, and at the Arabia outlets.

The moomin love the bogs of lapland, and they love fishing.  They live in spindly cottages that look like land-locked lighthouses.  There are poppa, momma, girl and boy moomin.  I bought the top-hatted daddy moomin reflector key-chain because I thought it was cutest.  To my eyes, they are nordic anthropomorphized hippos.  I actually think the subsidiary characters look more interesting.  My favorite are the hattivatti, thunderstorm ghost eels that get excited by lightening but are otherwise harmless.