BLUE ANGELS (part the seconed)

I went to the Air Show today, mainly to see the BLUE ANGELS. I got there about 11 and saw several plains fly, saw the Army’s Golden Knight Parachute squad and some other cool stuff. A little before 2pm a storm blew through and I, among many others, ran to take cover under the tents. Though I was under a tent I was on the outside of the group of people under it and closest to the direction that the wind was blowing from so my shorts were drenched, the top half of me stayed dry due to my rain coat.

After the rain & wind ended I ventured out once more looking forward to the rest of the show. The BLUE ANGELS were going to fly in about a half hour 45 min. Unfortunately it was not to be. the rest of the show was canceled due to damage and injuries. At the time I thought, well that just sucked. I know the main tent near the stage were the announcer was collapsed but the BLUE ANGELS plains looked fine and as long as they were ok to fly they should.

I met up with some equally drenched people from sapce camp. wandered around with one of the guys I work with who arrived about 5 minutes before the down pour before making my way back to my car and making my way back to the Rocket Center. It took me 25 minutes just to get out of the parking lot (if it can be called that) and probably another 15 to get to the interstate.

Later, back at the Hab, I found out the real reason behind the canceling. It wasn’t just a few minor injuries. A 5 year old boy was killed when the tent collapsed. you can read more here. I can understand why they canceled now.

I will post pictures of what I did see and the collapsed tent at a later date.

BLUE ANGELS (part the first)

I am a very happy person today. I have known for about 2 months or so that the Blue Angels (the navy’s jet demonstration squadron) was coming to Huntsville. Since I heard about it I decided that I wanted to go and see them. I put my time off request in and began waiting. Then the schedule for this week came out and it said that I was going to be one of six to go on a marketing trip. I thought, ok, as long as i get back on Sunday I’m all good. Then the next weeks schedule came out and showed the trip on Sunday as well, my time off request was denied. At this time I still have a chance at seeing the Blue Angels. as long as I get back to Huntsville before 3pm on Sunday.

We had our meeting about the trip today and guess what?

WE GET BACK SATURDAY NIGHT!!! I GET TO GO SEE THE BLUE ANGELS!!!

On a side note… our 1 star hotel does not have TV, Phone, or internet (or little piece of paper said NoFi, hehe) and sketchy cell reception. yay. update on that once I get back and have internet again.

work, work, work!

I’ve pretty much been working all the time since I got back from my week long vacation home to NC. I’ve had 2 week long teams now, one high school aged and this week middle schoolers. I miss my high schoolers, I get another high school aged group on monday… YIPPEE! my kids this week arn’t that bad, they just don’t always listen. I only have one more day with them. They leave Friday sometime before 3, which is when I Take over from the day team leader, so I wont see them after tomorrow. Plus I have to go on a STUPID MARKETING TRIP over the weekend. I get to promote space camp! how fun is that? NOT! Well, I wouldn’t be so bummed about having to go but the BLUE ANGELS are flying at the air show this weekend and I wanted to go see them. Then theres the fact that after I told Mom about wanting to see them she found out they were going to be in NC and she, Dad and Jeremy went to see them. At least I got a hat put of the deal… speaking of which it had arrived so I need to go pick it up.

Here is a picture of me working. I’m wearing a headset cause I was working EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity, aka space walk) and was listening in to the instructions that the person in mission control was giving the guys in space… and i just looked cool. The sunglasses were because where I sit during the EVA I’m looking up at a really bright light.

taken on my cell, so not all that great quality.

also! notice the t-shirt. now that its summer and really hot we wear t-shirts instead of our polos and polos on pick up and graduation days instead of hot flight suits.

The Golden Compass

I just finished reading the golden compass again (the first time being several years ago.) I have been meaning to read it since I saw the movie in December. When I saw the movie I recognized some things but it had been long enough ago that I didn’t really notice what was different. Now having read the book again I can spot tons. The book of course is much more detailed and explains a lot more of Lyra’s back story. The movie finishes earlier than the book. The Church references are a lot more obvious in the book as well. I would say more but I don’t want to ruin it for mom who was kind enough to let me bring the trilogy, that she had just bought, with me to AL. I’m just sorry it’s taken me so long to read it. It is a terrific book.

The next question is do I start on the second book now or do I wait till the after the next movie comes out so I don’t ruin it? Then again, since the movie stopped before the book, I’m already ahead of the movies. Plus I don’t think I can wait that long.

Mom, I’ll get you this book as soon as possible so you can read it. Or maybe the line at the Library is shorter now?

Space Station Eats Sunglasses!

No really, it did. In one of the space stations we have there is a crack between the wall and the floor.

I leaned back in my chair and my sunglasses, which were on my head, slipped off and fell down below to live with everything else thats fallen. =-(

Luckily, I was telling somebody about it and they told me you could lift the floor up so I did not have to go and buy new ones that very night. It was pretty gross down there though.

Ways not to say INTREPID (one of our missions):

Intarded, Intrepet, Interped, Interpid, Interpeded…etc

Some Random Pictures…

Our Pathfinder orbiter broke last night… and the caution tape blocking off a 20-30 ft space around it. My new shoes. Mission control. The orbiter in orbit and on the lunch pad. We have some really cool graphics.

Some Pictures

Top: My new car! I thought I’d finally post a picture. Bottom: Picture of me in a tunnel of one of our orbiters and a scale model of the Saturn V rocket.