[Mama_Bear]

Yes, it was a pretty good rolling quake here. Not bad enough to knock anything off shelves or anything, but strong enough to get my attention, for sure!

I have lots of relatives on the coast, just south of the epicenter, so I am following the news closely.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Glad to hear you're OK. Hope Amy and Jim are fine as well. I think it was more shaking than baking, hehehe.

[OESY]

Winter solstice for 2003 occured at 11:04 pm PST on December 21. However, the Earth is actually nearer the sun in January than it is in June -- by three million miles. What causes the seasons is the earth's tilt: our hemisphere is leaning farthest away from the sun and, therefore, causing all variety of climate, drama and poetry:

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper

So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!

But remember, earthquakes and in-laws can be counted on to lengthen short days!