STS-123

Hello all - sorry it has been so long since we last posted (hint: the next post will explain some things). Anyhoo, on March 10 Lenny and I headed to Florida to see the launch of STS-123. My parents were staying in Florida for the month of March and wanted to see a launch. So after thinking about it for about 3 seconds, Lenny and I thought it was a perfect excuse to go. I got a causeway pass, which let's a civil servant (that's me) take 6 people on site at Kennedy Space Center to watch the launch from a long causeway that gives the perfect view. We were about 4 miles from the launch pad (that's pretty close actually). So my parents and my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Bob (they were vacationing in Florida at the time too) picked us up from the airport and we headed to Cocoa Beach. We had some lunch and caught up for the afternoon and then decided to get some rest - the launch was scheduled for the middle of the night. We headed to Kennedy Space Center at about 10:30 pm to get a good spot. And that we did - it was perfect. There were loud speakers that went over everything that was going on - both on the pad and in mission control. Then when the loop gives all the go/no-goes (all goes for this one) you really start to get excited. The Space Shuttle Endeavour launched at 2:38 am on March 11. It was amazing! Though the cloud cover only allowed us to see the Space Shuttle for about 30 seconds we could hear it for over a minute. A Space Shuttle launch is the most amazing, breathtaking thing in the world...I can't even begin to come up with words to describe it. The whole sky lit up like it was noon!

Needless to say it was an awesome trip and it was fantastic to see my parents and aunt and uncle, even it was only for two days. Check out some of the cool pictures we took and definitely check out the video my Dad took of the launch - notice that we didn't hear the launch until about 45 seconds after lift-off.

Everybody's getting excited -this is right before launch (from left to right - Lenny, Dad, Sandy, Bob, Mom)

Launch!

Sandy, Dad, and Lenny try out an Apollo Command Module - cozy!

Don't we look good is space suits!

Launch video!

Buffalo and toys

Right now, I am in Buffalo, NY. Not my favorite place in the world, but I am up here for another wind tunnel test and it's going really slow. I get stuck in a small over-heated conference room (though for some silly reason, my feet never warm up) and wait out the test. We get 1-3 tests a day, so the waiting can take forever. When the data does come in it gets frantic and I really enjoy those bursts of energy. The time in between seems to be dragging though. On a good note, for the very first time ever, I had no crazy delays or canceled flights on my way up here through Midway - it's a miracle!

Now for the cool part of the post. Over Christmas Lenny and I got iphones and they are the coolest phones ever! I haven't been this excited about a gadget in a long time. I can even post on this from the phone. I have also discovered a way to have it list the direction and strength of the wind near our house at any given second. Isn't that cool! We also got a Wii a few weeks ago...yes I know we are spoiled! We are having a ton of fun boxing, bowling, and playing tennis. I am surprised how much we actually use it. Last weekend we bought Super Mario Galaxy and it's so much fun, but a little addicting. I didn't realize how much I missed that game from when I was a kid - though it's a lot fancier now. Poor Grommit thinks we are nuts when we have the controllers in our hands and we jump around the room. He barks at us for being crazy. It's quite funny.

I must get my head back into the Buffalo mindset now...someday I will post pictures of our vacations!

Oatmeal

So apparently I am one of the weirdest people on the planet...for some reason this week my friend Katie and I were talking about oatmeal. Maybe she had it for breakfast that morning, I'm not sure. The bottom line is that, up until that point, I had never had oatmeal in my entire life. I don't know if I just don't remember it as a kid or I didn't like it or what. I remember my parents eating it, but I never remember having it myself. So apparently, I am really weird. So I decided to rectify that situation this weekend. This morning I had my very first bowl of oatmeal. Instant Quaker Oatmeal - Maple and Brown Sugar. It wasn't bad...but I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Haven't decided if I am going to become an avid oatmeal eater. Maybe I need to try Apple and Cinnamon.

Happy New Year

What a holiday season! Lenny and I traveled up to Michigan to celebrate Christmas with our family. It was crazy! We drove - it took about 20 hours of driving on the way up and about 22 hours on the way back. Grommit came with us and did great! In fact, I think we all bonded during the trip - he is much more cuddly since we got back. I think he's happy we didn't leave him anywhere. He did enjoy the snow - it was the first time he had seen any - by the end of the trip he was catching and eating thrown snowballs.

It was great to catch up with our family. My nieces are getting so big and they have certainly grown up. Megan made us a great mug with a space picture she drew - I keep it on my desk at work to show off to everyone at NASA. I think Maddie bonded a bit with Grommit and Molly is a little drama queen. Our nephew, Mathew is also getting big. He was a hoot to hang out with. I can't believe how fast they grow up. We got the typical harassment about having kids of our own, but I am happy with all the nieces and nephew! Plus, Kalena and Jon are expecting another child in August, so that should make the Cassady's happy! I keep reminding my Mom how cute Grommit is and she just rolls her eyes.

It was nice to come home after all the chaos and rest for a few days. We both caught colds and where glad to just lay on the couch. In fact, we didn't even make it to midnight on New Years - does that mean we are getting old?!

Anyhoo, here are some pictures from the trip...

Here's Megan and I building a block tower.


Maddie and Grommit.


Molly all dressed up to party.


Mathew sitting in all the wrapping paper.