11 Days Until the Winter Solstice: Living in Mid-Michigan’s Giant Fridge
11 Days Until the Winter Solstice: Living in Mid-Michigan’s Giant Fridge
Out the window: a solid, lumpy layer of Mid-Michigan snow that looks like it signed a six-month lease. On the calendar: a small red circle around December 21, the winter solstice. On the driveway: you, a shovel, and the growing suspicion that your lower back should be listed as a historic site.
And hovering on the horizon in our cartoon is that tired little sun — the fridge light of the sky — finally trying to turn itself up.
That’s what the winter solstice really is, once you strip away the science jargon: the official moment when the universe says, “Okay, fine, you’ve had enough darkness. Let’s slowly crank the dimmer back toward ‘not depressing.’”
So… What Is the Winter Solstice, Really?
Astronomy version: the Earth tilts, our hemisphere leans away from the sun, and we get the shortest day and longest night of the year. After that moment, the North Pole starts tilting back toward the sun, and daylight slowly increases again.
Mid-Michigan version: it’s the day we celebrate the fact that tomorrow’s sunset will be a few seconds later… while still brushing three inches of lake-effect snow off the car. It’s not the end of winter; it’s more like the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for “Hope You Like Gray Skies, Volume Two.”
We’re not halfway done with the cold. We’re not even close. But on solstice day, the cosmic thermostat flips from “losing light” to “gaining light,” and that tiny change does something real to our brains.
Mid-Michigan: Living in Nature’s Walk-In Freezer
If you live around here, you know the drill. We don’t “get some snow.” We get snow systems. We get plow piles that develop personalities. We get that special kind of slush that somehow goes straight through waterproof boots.
By the time the solstice shows up, we’ve already:
- Shoveled the driveway enough times to qualify for a part-time job with the city.
- Had at least one conversation that starts with, “Remember grass?”
- Watched our Russian Blue cat stare at the snow, then back at us, like we personally ordered this from a catalog.
That’s why the solstice is such a weird emotional mix. The weather is just getting started, but the light is finally done getting worse. Winter is saying, “Buckle up,” while the sun quietly whispers, “Hang on, I’m working on it.”
The Emotional Physics of the Solstice
You don’t need a degree in astrophysics to feel the difference a few minutes of daylight can make. When the days are shrinking, every 4:45 p.m. sunset feels like the universe is slamming the lid on the Tupperware. When the days start growing again, even by seconds, something in your brain unclenches.
The solstice is a cosmic reminder that direction matters more than speed. We’re still stuck in the snow, but we’re finally headed toward spring instead of away from it.
That’s why our cartoon leans into the joke: “We’re not even halfway through winter… but at least the fridge light’s turning up.” The sun is still low and sleepy, but it’s finally drifting upward instead of down. The graph line has turned the corner. The vibe has, very gently, improved.
Little Solstice Rituals (That Don’t Require a Crystal or a Chant)
You can absolutely celebrate the solstice with candles, rituals, and deep spiritual reflection. You can also celebrate it by doing small, practical things that make the next few months less obnoxious. Here are a few “Mid-Michigan-approved” ideas:
- Do a Light Audit. Change the one bulb that’s been flickering since Halloween. Add a lamp where you squint the most. Your retinas will nominate you for public office.
- Claim a Window Seat. Pick one chair that gets even the slightest hint of sun and declare it your official Solstice Throne. Coffee required, crown optional.
- Upgrade the Shovel Soundtrack. If you’re going to move snow, you might as well do it to good music (hold that thought; we’ve got you covered below).
- Set a “Tiny Later Sunset” Alarm. Once a week, check the sunset time and notice how much it’s shifted. It’s like watching hope in slow motion.
The point isn’t to pretend winter is secretly amazing. The point is to admit it’s kind of a lot, and then steal back whatever light, warmth, and humor you can.
Creator Desk Essentials for Long Nights and Late Drafts
If winter has you writing, editing, drawing cross-hatched snowbanks, or just doom-scrolling weather radar, these are the tools I actually use at my own desk. Yes, they’re affiliate links. Yes, they help support the channel. No, they will not shovel your driveway.
Logitech MX Keys S
Slim, quiet, reliable keys with smart backlighting—my default typing surface for long writing sessions.
Check price →Logitech MX Master 3S (Bluetooth Edition)
Comfort sculpted, scroll wheel that flies, and multi-device switching that just works.
See details →Elgato Stream Deck +
Physical knobs + keys for macros, audio levels, and scene switching—editing and live controls at your fingertips.
View on Amazon →BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 LED Monitor Light
Even illumination without glare, so the cross-hatching (and spreadsheets) stay crisp into the late hours.
Buy now →Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1)
USB-C lifeline: HDMI, SD, and the ports modern laptops forgot. Toss-in-bag reliable.
Get the hub →A Bluesy Soundtrack for the Longest Night
Every season needs a soundtrack. If you’re going to live in a snow globe for a few months, you might as well have good guitar tone while you do it. Queue these up while you sketch, shovel, or stare out the window with the cat.
🎸 Listen to Our Blues Albums
Three full albums — hit play below or open on YouTube.
Where to Hang Out While We Wait for Spring
If you want more smart, slightly unhinged conversations about time, light, tech, and why the cat is always right, come connect with us:
- 📺 YouTube: Deep Dive AI on YouTube
- 🎧 Podcast: Deep Dive AI Podcast on Spotify
Wherever you’re reading this — wrapped in a blanket, standing in your boots in the mudroom, or leaning on a shovel in your own personal Narnia — remember: the snow is stubborn, but so are we. The days are getting longer. The fridge light is turning up.
Happy almost-solstice from mid-Michigan. May your coffee be hot, your cat forgiving, and your driveway at least partly plowed.
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