Cheering, clapping, howling and whistling!!
What a weekend!
The shuttle Atlantis landed SAFELY, finally after 2 days of delay. When back on the ground, the fantastic crew at NASA have to find out why the chicken consomme turned bad. An important theory that I shall elaborate in a later entry.
Families on the ground must have chewed off all their fingernails too, receiving word that a family member has to spend another day in space.
"Sorry, your husband cannot come home tonight. He needs to spend another night in space, where they only have enough supply for another day."
My first salute to the flag on Memorial Day. Salutation to a foreign flag can be considered treason. This year, I proudly showed my respect as an American. Hat Tip to those who made it possible for me.
Then the Penguins pulled it off, impressive foot work and well stage strategies. Way to go and see you boys at the Stanley Cup.
Progress and breakthroughs are made at work therefore I need to schedule some SLACKER time at work hours.
There is also Marked Progress made with the Wedding Plans, there is a spreadsheet of names. A start, nevertheless.
May 28th is the last day of school, on an inconveniently scheduled Thursday. Please pray that the kids will survive this summer, survival of the parents' thinning patience.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
My kind of excitement
The birth of this blog coincide with the launch and return of Shuttle Discovery, Commander Eileen Collins at the helm.
When Atlantis begin its long and carefully calculated trip to launchpad 39A, my nerd personality re-emerged. Many many moons ago, I personally witnessed the launch of Shuttle Atlantis from Kennedy Space Center, Mission SatCom, STS 61B.
On Monday, I cheered and pounded my fists in the air, trying to feel the roar as Atlantis soared on a momentous mission. The shuttle closest to me is heading to Hubble Space Telescope, on the FINAL maintenance run. I held my breath until the launch passed the 2 minute mark, watching the NASA TV at work, ignition, lift -off, disengagement of the solid booster rockets and the roll towards HST.
Each day, my life is drawn to the live feeds of the fantastic crew. Repairmen in Space, try holding your tongue when changing a lightbulb on Earth, how about doing the same with 2 snowsuits on, plunk a fishbowl over your head, while wearing 3 pairs of bulky gloves. The intensity and difficulty of space walks vanquish any trivial criticisms on the importance of Space Exploration. My admiration extends skywards. The intrincity to operate the robotic arm, un-surpassed by only the best.
To watch the operations live from space is amazingly motivational. To hear Drew and John, according to Megan, "monkey around" in space is hilarious.
But the satisfaction is to hear live these words:
Outside the airlock hatch, John Grunsfeld said, "This is a really tremendous adventure that we’ve been on, a very challenging mission. Hubble isn’t just a satellite- it’s about humanity’s quest for knowledge."He also thanked several people who contributed to Hubble and the servicing mission, then went on to say,
"A tour de force of tools and human ingenuity. On this mission in particular, the only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible. On this mission, we tried some things that some people said were impossible….We’ve achieved that, and we wish Hubble the very best. It’s really a sign of the great country that we live in that we’re able to do things like this on a marvelous spaceship, like space shuttle Atlantis. I’m convinced that if we can solve problems, like repairing Hubble, getting into space, doing the servicing we do, travelling 17,500 mph around the Earth, we can achieve other great things, like solving the energy problems and climate problems- all of the things that are in the middle of NASA’s prime and core values. As Drew and I go into the airlock, I want to wish Hubble its own set of adventures and with the new instruments that we’ve installed that it may unlock further mysteries of the universe."
Yes, I witnessed history, again.
When Atlantis begin its long and carefully calculated trip to launchpad 39A, my nerd personality re-emerged. Many many moons ago, I personally witnessed the launch of Shuttle Atlantis from Kennedy Space Center, Mission SatCom, STS 61B.
On Monday, I cheered and pounded my fists in the air, trying to feel the roar as Atlantis soared on a momentous mission. The shuttle closest to me is heading to Hubble Space Telescope, on the FINAL maintenance run. I held my breath until the launch passed the 2 minute mark, watching the NASA TV at work, ignition, lift -off, disengagement of the solid booster rockets and the roll towards HST.
Each day, my life is drawn to the live feeds of the fantastic crew. Repairmen in Space, try holding your tongue when changing a lightbulb on Earth, how about doing the same with 2 snowsuits on, plunk a fishbowl over your head, while wearing 3 pairs of bulky gloves. The intensity and difficulty of space walks vanquish any trivial criticisms on the importance of Space Exploration. My admiration extends skywards. The intrincity to operate the robotic arm, un-surpassed by only the best.
To watch the operations live from space is amazingly motivational. To hear Drew and John, according to Megan, "monkey around" in space is hilarious.
But the satisfaction is to hear live these words:
Outside the airlock hatch, John Grunsfeld said, "This is a really tremendous adventure that we’ve been on, a very challenging mission. Hubble isn’t just a satellite- it’s about humanity’s quest for knowledge."He also thanked several people who contributed to Hubble and the servicing mission, then went on to say,
"A tour de force of tools and human ingenuity. On this mission in particular, the only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible. On this mission, we tried some things that some people said were impossible….We’ve achieved that, and we wish Hubble the very best. It’s really a sign of the great country that we live in that we’re able to do things like this on a marvelous spaceship, like space shuttle Atlantis. I’m convinced that if we can solve problems, like repairing Hubble, getting into space, doing the servicing we do, travelling 17,500 mph around the Earth, we can achieve other great things, like solving the energy problems and climate problems- all of the things that are in the middle of NASA’s prime and core values. As Drew and I go into the airlock, I want to wish Hubble its own set of adventures and with the new instruments that we’ve installed that it may unlock further mysteries of the universe."
Yes, I witnessed history, again.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
More more downloads ...
Arlington VA
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Abraham Lincoln-----------------
Do you have bigger gas pedals?
----------------------------------------
This is a local Speedway?------------------------------
I can ..alm .....almost ... bea...beat .... this little girl!!!
*Ahhh ... Especially for Mr. J. and Little J., of the Jackson Brothers.
More downloads ...
A recurring theme, sleep.--------------------------------
I wake up and there is a monkey on my back--------------------------------
Another hard day of sleep--------------------------------
Just checking on my 401K, might be Indiana Jones' next Crusade.--------------------------------
Another hard day of sleep for me too.
--------------------------------
Another hard day of Sleep.--------------------------------
SPF 5, Pee shield --priceless.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Finally Downloaded some
There are about 3 digital cameras in this household and only 1 "DOWNLOADER" ... ME.
So here are some of what I had to see out of the thousands that they snap mindlessly ... (the recurring themes.... Dogs, Fish, Mischief).
Old Blue shirt = Doggie Shirt
Again, Old blue Shirt = Doggie Shirt
Swearing in ... no swearing of bad words.
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Winter reminder
So here are some of what I had to see out of the thousands that they snap mindlessly ... (the recurring themes.... Dogs, Fish, Mischief).
Plastic cup = Tank Decoration
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Old Blue shirt = Doggie Shirt-----------------------------
Again, Old blue Shirt = Doggie Shirt-----------------------------
Swearing in ... no swearing of bad words.
-----------------------------
Globetrotters, up close and personal for $100 per minute.
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Scary Steelers Fan ... Good luck Charm?
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Winter reminder-----------------------------
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