Orion

Something is not right with Orion. I don't know much about astronomy, and no, I'm not going to break into song. I do know Orion. Like a lot of people, Orion is my favourite constellation. Probably, because he is so easily recognizable - or his belt, at least. My second favourite is the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters. Not as well known, but a lovely cluster to the right of Orion's belt.

Every fall, I'm excited to see Orion appear. Excited like, 'There's my man!' He's an old friend who shows up in the fall and keeps me company through the winter. Any cold winter night, when I'm out in the dead of night for one reason or another, and the world is asleep, he's up there in the sky. Orion and snow-angels are the only things that get me through the winter months without as many complaints about being cold. But, something has happened to Orion.

Last year he was in a different position in the sky than he had been in every year previous. Everyone I asked about it said I was crazy, but most hadn't paid him any mind since they were children. He was higher than he should have been - almost overhead. He's never been overhead. I've lived in the same place for ten years, and he's always been at the same degree through those years, except last year. There are tons of astronomy enthusiast. I thought I could find some mention of why the constellation was in a different position. I found only one crazy site:
http://www.zetatalk.com/index/earthrv8.htm
Last night, I was outside, late at night, and decided to see if Orion had risen enough for me to see him. I couldn't find him at first, then I spotted Pleiades. I followed it left, to where I thought Orion's belt should be, but it wasn't there. It didn't make sense, so I looked around the area, and there it was, Orion's belt. Only, it wasn't the familiar left-to-right belt we all know. It was up-and-down, like a stoplight! Impossible, right?
I've never seen Orion's belt straight up-and-down, but there it was. If I had a better camera, I would have taken a picture, but my digital is just a cheap one I got for web photos. No chance it could take a decent shot of the night sky.
I don't know why there's no mention of it anywhere. It must be some type of normal change, otherwise there would be posts by alarmed amateur astronomers all over the net. All I do know is, I want to know why.