Midterm Milestone reach

Today is Onederful! - BL

Keep going - you're doing great!

Time to figure out some new rewards to help keep you motivated!!

Shuttle pictures

Ok - this old news, but I finally got a chance to check out the NASA employee web site that Cindy passed along to us.  The NASA employees can upload their personal pictures from the launch -- and they have some terrific pictures!!

 Top picture is the basic view we would have had if the shuttle went up as planned

Prayers for Wally

It's a bit unorthodox but it still felt right to me.  I added my beloved cat, Wally's name to the list of Memorial Day memorials at my church.  I miss Wally.  He was a good and loving cat and it feels right to have people pray that he has a happy afterlife.  I pray he does.  I pray its true we get reunited with our pets in heaven.   I love Wally and he will always have a space in my heart.

Bucket List Scrubbed

Had a great trip to Florida and a very nice visit with our friend Cindy, but alas the space shuttle did not lift off while we were there.   It had been reschedule for Monday, which we could have seen, but that was scrubbed too.   The launch is now scheduled for Sunday, and I'm already home.

The trip was a blast - we did so much .. Harry Potter's Wizarding World at Universal Studios, Cocoa Beach, Ron Jons, Blue Springs State Park, Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Beach, Disneyworld, Kennedy Space Center and drinks at Squid Lips on the river!  Look for more details and pictures coming soon. 

It's illogical

It's hard being part Vulcan.   I often feel like I may be a descendant of Spock because I am so logical.   And I have a (controlled) hatred of illogical things and thinking.   And I'll tell you there is nothing logical about Wally's death.  Yesterday was a month.  And there are still several times each week when I'm overwhelmed with the loss.   And it really bothers me that it's not logical for Wally to have died.  He was well cared for, he was well loved, he was too young. 

It's not logical, it's not fair, and honestly it just sucks.

Bucket List - Failure to Success!!!

I don't know when my fascination with space and NASA started, but I'm sure I had it before graduated from grade school.   So it goes back a while as a fabric in my life.  My bucket list includes seeing a space shuttle launch in person.   The shuttle program is being scrapped this year in favor of developing a new type of space craft that can travel further and cheaper to allow our astronauts to make it to Mars and beyond.   That program is expected to have space flights starting in 2014.

The last shuttle launch is schedule for Friday, April 29.  I had no plans to be there ... until yesterday!  My friend Cindy (this is her photo from a different shuttle launch) is engaged to a NASA engineer and they have a "car pass" which allows everyone that can fit into their car employee access to the launch.  This is much closer than the public gets to the shuttle.   We found some cheap flights and are on our way.   It will be nice to have a break from Wisconsin and home, and it will be great to see Cindy and have a chance to hang out with her.  Plus we are planning a day at Universal Studios Orlando and seeing their The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  I can't wait!

First Backyard Fire of the Year

The backyard fire pit got a little workout this afternoon.  The fire was much nicer and burned better than I expected given the amount of rain we've had lately.  I now smell like camp fire, which makes me smile.

I made some progress today.   Another walk over lunch.  It was short but better than nothing.   The weather held out, but my work load impacted my ability to get away for any length of time.  And I worked my way through a big box of clothes that were in my home office.  This box had been there for months; and it was really bugging me.  I'm glad to see it out of there.  I've been making slow progress in decluttering that room and turning it back into a  room I'm proud of.  For much too long, that room has been a source of embarrassment that I wanted to hide from everyone.