"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." -Neil Armstrong

Greetings all. I have a few minutes during my lunch break. I figured I'd post about my weekend at NASA. (Notice I'm no longer a dirty, rotten blogger.)

While our Friday was long, tiring, and filled with sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, Roy and I really enjoyed the Johnson Space Center. We took the historic Mission Control tour, where we listened to them speak about how Man will be back on the moon in the next seven years, and we visited the Rocket Park. We had such a good time that Roy and I are planning on going back some time later this year or next maybe to take the "Level 9" tour, which gives a more in depth tour of the "campus".

It was interesting listening to them speak about the future of space flight. They discussed that we will actually build a station on the moon, which eventually will become a refueling station for flights to Mars. They also discussed that with current technology, a flight to Mars would take (I believe they said) nine months. With the new plasma technology, the rockets of the not-too-distant future will only take 10 days. Just amazing stuff.

So, I now have my souvenir JSC shot glass and a magnet for our refrigerator. I'm ready to go back!

I'm going to NASA!

Greetings all. A couple of months ago, my nephew, Jayce, asked us if we'd like to help chaperone his school's eighth grade class trip to Johnson Space Center. "Hmm ... let me think about it ... YES!"

The bus leaves tomorrow at around 4:30 (I think) from Rhome, Tx, so we plan on spending the night with my sister-in-law. We'll head over to the school bright and early, and we'll be on our way! I'll post an update after we get back, but I can already tell you that this trip is going to be great! My friend Christine visited the Space Center a few weeks ago, and she loved it. Welp, talk to you soon -- must go pack and get ready for work.

Snip! Snip!

I forgot to mention this yesterday, but I chopped my hair off. Yep ... new job ... new 'do! The good folks in the mall chopped off 7 inches, so now it's above my shoulders. It's always a traumatic experience for me, but this was actually the first time I didn't claim that the beautician "scalped me". I considered putting highlights in my hair again, but when I found out it'd cost around $60, I reconsidered.

Day two at the new job went well. Again, only 20-22 minutes for my commute. I really need to find some items to decorate my office with. I'm actually considering running out to Target right now. Plants would be good. And books. I need books to put in my shelves. My co-workers have all kinds of texts having to do with education, technology, educational technology. I have a few of those ... but I'm using them for class, so I can't really bring all of them up to work. I realize now that I should have kept my books from my undergrad studies. I remember talking to a fellow student once as we approached the end of the semester, and he explained that he never sold back his books b/c he knew that some day he would have an office, and he was going to display all of his books, and everyone would think he was well read and "super intelligent".

Straight A's!!!

And in other good news for today ... I finally got my grades for the spring semester -- straight A's!!! Woohoo!! I was really sweatin' it there at the end. Anyway, whew!

So, this summer, during the first five and a half week term, I'm taking Analysis of Research in Educational Technology. Whoa. But it's with a professor I've taken before, and I like his classes, so it should be bearable. The second term, I'm taking Educational Telecommunications, which sounds interesting.

Anyway ... WOOHOO!!

Oasis & Green Day

Ok, I know I'm doing these all out of order, but now that classes are done, I actually have time to update my blog!

Well, I should have posted about this way back when, but some time last month, I was browsing around the internet, when I suddenly remembered a commercial on the radio saying that Oasis is coming to town on Sept.22. Well, I then realized that I had already missed the first week of general sales, so I was pretty certain that any chance of seeing them was gone.

So ... I mosey onto Ticketmaster.com, and I pull up the show, and I figure I'll see if anything is available. Up pops fifth row center tickets. I was absolutely shocked ... but I recovered quickly enough press the "Buy" button. So ... a little over one month before I get to see the greatest band in rock 'n roll, I'll get to see my third favorite band, Oasis.

Like I said, I should have mentioned this earlier, but it actually leads nicely into my next little update ...

Man, I love living in "the big city". One of my little sister's favorite bands is Green Day. Welp, it just so happens that Green Day is coming to town on August 28, and I just so happen to belong to a mailing list for a local radio station -- The Edge -- that sent out a pre-sale code. So, on Friday, one whole day before the general public had access, I logged on and snagged three tickets to the show. I then called up my li'l sis Lizzie, and she somehow managed to squeal, hyperventillate, and giggle, all in the same breath. :)

Now ... if I could just get tickets to the Rolling Stones show that's coming up in November, my life would be complete. :P

My 20 Minute Commute

Well, as I hinted in an earlier post, I have a new job. Last month, I accepted a position at UT Dallas as an Instructional Designer for their Global MBA Online program for their School of Management. What's great about this job is that it's right along with what I'm studying in grad school and it cuts my commute by more than half.

So ... today is my first day at the new J.O.B. I have to be there by 9am to complete some paperwork, so I head out at 8am, just to make sure I get there on time. (Keep in mind, I'm used to driving one hour -- in good traffic -- to get to Arlington.) So, I hope on the turnpike, and ... I get to work in about 20 minutes. Unbelievable! I didn't even have enough time to drink my coffee on the way in! Needless to say, this is a very pleasant change.

The next bit of great news came to me a little bit later, when I was presented with my new office. Yes, you heard me right -- Office!!! I have a big desk, a window with a view over the building courtyard, and plenty of space for me to bring in pretty stuff to decorate with.

So, all in all, I'm very happy with my new job. Nice office. The people I work with are nice. Beautiful campus. Great commute. The only negative is that I'm leaving my good friends at UTA. Friday was my last day, and I have to tell you -- I had an incredibly difficult time saying goodbye, then driving home. It amazes me how quickly I became really close to my friends there. In eight short months, I quickly realized that these are people I do not want to ever lose touch with. Sunny, Frank, and Christine -- I miss you guys already!

Brief ... but important ... U2 update

My cousin Cristina has agreed to join me on my musical journey to the Houston U2 concert on October 28, 2005. (Woohoo!!) This is great on many levels.

1. First, she's been able to join me for the last two tours -- Popmart (11/23/1997) and Elevation (4/5/2001). I'll make a U2 fanatic out of her yet!
   
2. I'm getting rid of the extra U2 ticket I had in my possession. At ~$75, that was a little too pricey for me to just throw away.
3. I might be able to see one of my best gal pals, Ja'Nate'. (Woohoo!!)

Classic Cristina Comment: "If I'm not close enough to lick the stage, I just won't be happy."

I am a rotten blogger...

I admit ... I am a rotten blogger. (Sounds like some kind of British slang, doesn't it? Rotten blogger.) I apologize to anyone (...anyone?...) who's been waiting for an update. I have no excuse for waiting over three weeks to post. Stinkin', rotten blogger...

School is killing me. This semester, I started out with great intentions. "Oh, I know how to do it this time. Yes I do. I won't make the same mistakes as last semester." ... Whatever. It seems that I get bogged down right around Spring Break. (Last semester it was the Thanksgiving holidays.) So, I'm up to my eyeballs with catch up work. Semester ends this week.

I ... can ... make ... it ...

Boy, but I've got all kinds of news, though. New job ... Paradise, TX ... Oasis. All those, and more, are soon to come. Stay tuned.

U2 Countdown: 180