This happened this past Thursday during a California monsoon. But let me back up a bit to explain HOW I'm here.
WE (my work) has me down in Southern California again on a PTS (Payload Transportation System) Mission. We have our enormous container at a factory, and today we are transitioning from days to nights (meaning yesterday I worked a day shift, and TODAY and for the next several days I work night shifts). SO...I have the day off as I don't report to work until 6pm. Hence, I drove thru the monsoon to the Science Center to see THE Shuttle Endeavour.
My big brother Greg volunteers here as a docent at the shuttle, as he has been involved in the program since he graduated college and was hired into Rocketdyne, working on the SSMEs (Space Shuttle Main engine). Hes very knowledgeable about the shuttles and enjoys his volunteer time. Sadly hes at his real job today but there are other docents for me to chat with. Being a monsoon day its not as crowded as it would likely be on a nicer day....that's ok with me! But there are obviously a LOT of school kids here even so.
So here is the view as you walk into the room. BAM! The actual Space Shuttle!
The very first thing you think is DAMN ITS BIG!
Here is the cluster of three SSMEs.
They are pretty large too, but look small when installed on the orbiter.
One of the engines.
Greg can tell you pretty much everything youd ever want to know about this engine.
The view of the forward end of the port (left) side. I am a Navy guy after all...port and starboard are part of my lingo. (and we use port/starboard on our container too).
Looking aft on the port side.
Heres a shot of video cameras set up in the forward end of the cargo bay (with a science module installed), the aft end of the cargo bay, and 2 shots of the cockpit.
Outside lies the last flight-worthy ET (External Tank) that they have acquired. In the future they plan to install the orbiter on the tank in launch configuration. they also have acquired a pair of Solid Fuel boosters, so they will also be attached to the ET. They are gathering money now for this change in their future display. The tank is WAY too large for me to capture in a photo (see below that I tried)...but this sign posted at the tank tells its story. The ET was made by my company in Louisiana.
Here is a shot looking from the bottom (as it would be standing upright for launch) to the top.
It is HUGE!
So...if you go back up to the camera shots of inside the cargo bay, what I find truly interesting is that OUR container was created to transport the spacecraft from their respective factories to one of the 2 launch bases for the Space Shuttles. Yes, I said 2 launch bases. Vandenberg Air Force Base (where I work) was planned to launch shuttles. They built the launch pad and an extended runway for them to land (our runway was always one of the abort options for every returning shuttle throughout the life of the Shuttles).
So why didn't they ever launch any Shuttles from Vandenberg? One word. Challenger. When Space Shuttle Challenger exploded during launch so many years ago, it was carrying a VERY EXPENSIVE Government spacecraft. The loss of that cargo got the attention of the people in charge, who determined that the Shuttles were WAY to complex and risky to launch our most expensive satellites. So when they shut down shuttle launches for 3 years or so to evaluate the entire shuttle launch program, the Air Force had a rocket built that could launch the largest spacecraft (the ones the Shuttle Cargo bay was designed from the ground up to haul into space). And thus, no shuttle launches ever occurred from Vandenberg.
Anyway...the containers that we have and still use today were designed from the get-go to mimic the inside of the Space Shuttle cargo bay. Any LARGE payload that a shuttle would carry would first have likely been transported to Cape Canaveral (well, specifically Kennedy Space Center...the Cape is the Air Force side, and Kennedy is the NASA side) in our containers. Cape Canaveral is actually a city as well as a Space Launch base. Everything that we haul in our containers goes to the Cape since the Challenger disaster.
OK. Enough on that. Ive probably bored you to tears already. Its time I grab a bite to eat, as tonight we load the aircraft (flew in last night) with our container, and tomorrow night we fly it home (back to Vandenberg)...HOORAY! Ive been here in So-Cal for 3 weeks now...be good to get home...its been a LONG trip!
And so...hopefully your weather is improving as Punxatawney Phil (the Ground Hog) promised an early spring. I know we have had our share of rain already...I am officially proclaiming ENOUGH! We are going to ahve an amazing flower bloom this spring, and then later in the year an amazing fire season from the spectacular growth. We just cant win.
Hope you have a nice week. Later gaters!
Cheers!
Great pictures, Matt, and I am never bored by your work related posts. I assume when you say you are in SoCal, it is somewhere in the LA area. It seems there were some aerospace companies near my old stomping ground in San Diego county, but I don't think there was any building going on there.
ReplyDeleteI had just typed a long complaint - which disappeared - about our crazy weather & how it has been affecting my training plan -- which I HAVE stuck to for 4 weeks now through drizzle, sleet and snow. Let me just recap by saying that I completed my run outside today in 33mph winds, with gusts to 50 that would actually stop me in my tracks or blow me out of my lane on the track. I just kept telling myself "extra calorie burn, its the same as doing another mile, you can bake an apple pie when you're done...." )
It's a bit discouraging that I am so slow and even the "easy" run days are not easy at all yet. But, this is what happens when you sit down for over a year (except for walking) -- you have to start again from ZERO! You've been warned, Matt!
PS watching races in Spain/Portugal this week helps to take the edge off, for sure! EF has already won as many races/stages as they did all last season, YAY!
Rae
Hey Rae...yep...El Segundo/Manhattan Beach to be specific. Seemed like forever (only 3 weeks)...but 3 weeks in a hotel IS forever.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your crazy weather...I wouldn't do very good with that weather...here I'm moaning and groaning about OUR bad weather (wind and cold...not COLD like you and Susie are getting...but for us it's cold). The news just this morning said this is the coldest February in LA since like 1960...it's 8 degrees below average! Yep...I'm gonna FREEZE in Virginia!! Can't even imagine dragging myself outside to do ANYTHING in your weather and wind...that just plain sucks!
And I know all about "comebacks" (when you were lazy for an extended period of time and feel like you are starting over)...I feel like I do at least two comebacks every year. I'm currently on comeback #1 for 2019...over 2 months of almost no riding does that...rode last night after work and boy do I feel SLOW!
Haven't seen ANY races (typical for me)...but it is time for the spring Classics...hopefully Peter Sagan will have a great season...really rooting for him to win at least 1 monument.
OK..gotta run...hang in there and stay warm!
Hello, hello, I'm never bored either as I think what you do Matt is FASCINATING (even if I can't grasp half as I'm just not mechanically/electrically/technically savy). Do you ever pinch yourself that this is what you do for a living? Or maybe it's not a big deal to you anymore if you've been doing it for a long time, but I have always been SO IMPRESSED! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd, um, dumb question but how far is El Segundo from where you live? Yep, that's the kind of lame question you get from folks who have never even visited CA. ;)
Anyhoo, I've been trying to get back to chat for the longest time but I've been sick for much of this month! And we had snow/ice too. Remember when I mentioned I had "cold-induced hives"? I think that was my body WARNING me that the big bad flu was coming! I started coming down with it the week (Friday) AFTER the freezing weather & I thought it was just another cold, but no, it kept getting worse & worse. Nonstop headaches for 4 days, fever, nonstop blowing of nose (went thru an entire box of Posh Puffs with Aloe!), swollen glands, glassy eyes, aches, weakness, & THEN I lost my senses of smell & taste. After 5 days, I finally was able to stand & not feel like I was going to pass out (yeah) but then I developed a full-blown sinus infection where you get this horrible smell inside your nose & that's ALL you can smell/taste 24/7 until you get a prescription. I FINALLY got my full sense of smell & taste back after 12 days. ARGH!
The GOOD news is that we only have to worry about 2-3 weeks of "winter" around here & then we're usually done for the season. I'm counting down the MINUTES!
That's 2-3 MORE weeks of winter.
DeleteAnd I think you're doing GREAT, Rae! It's always toughest to re-start a physical regimen & you had to battle the elements too! Many folks would have just said, "Nah, I'll wait till it gets warmer" but you gutted it out. Keep us updated on your progress. :)
ReplyDeleteHey Matt, have you decided if you'll take (cycling) trips away from Richmond in the colder months while Jeannie is still working? The one thing I worry about for you is that I don't know if the East coast is exactly welcoming to road cyclists. At least in my area, there are FEW to no "biking lanes". Will you stick to mt biking? Or go somewhere on trips where it might be safer for road cyclists. You could get yourself a small RV & take mini-trips during the coldest months. Maybe scoot on down to Greenville & ride with George & CVV. :)
Will ya'll stay in Richmond after Jeannie retires? How much longer does she plan to work? I love VA but like all states, it has its pros & cons. I guess it can't compare to Hawaii but at least it will be a lot LESS expensive!
Oh, Oh, almost forgot - did either of you watch the Westminster Dog Show? I was still sick but I watched it all & also discovered that one of the Fox channels broadcast the Breed competitions earlier in the day & since I was home I got to see it! I was THRILLED! The Basset was ADORABLE (my fave coloring of light brown & white) & of course, he would have been MY Best In Show winner! :) The Fox Terrier that won was ok, but a terrier has won TOO MANY TIMES! I'm not a huge fan of the breed, but the Longhaired Daucshaund should have probably own - he was a real performer & strutted around the ring like he owned it. My fave in the final round (the Group winners) was the Sussex Spaniel. It was his 2nd time in the "finals" & I thought he was adorable each time. :)
Well, have to scoot. Will chat again, hopefully SOON. :)
Hey Susie, wow...don't think I've EVER been that sick. Can't even begin to imagine it...add cold winter weather, sheesh...not sure I'd make it!
ReplyDeleteEl Segundo (So Cal) is about 3 hours drive in no traffic. However, there's not many times anymore in SoCal that don't have lots of traffic. I take the 101 down to the 405, go south past the 10 and then past LAX. I heard it somewhere that the 101/405 is the busiest interchange in the world...all I know is that you can go thru there in the middle of the night and there's STILL traffic! And the 405 anywhere near the junction w/ I10 is a friggin nightmare just about anytime. And it's just getting worse. Mass transit won't help (much), AND it simply costs too much. Personal drones...that is the solution to all big city traffic. Open my garage door, press another button and my drone rolls out on some kind of belt into 'takeoff/landing' position. Get in (your keyfob is just like new cars, it knows who you are and that you are near). Say "Hello Alexa" or whatever you name your drone...tell it where to take you, and zzzppp...away you go. It connects with the area controller system and gives your flightplan, and away you go. If you fly over the highways, well...that land is already spoken for, only in the air there is a LOT of 3D lanes available. Each drone has it's autonomous collision avoidance system and knows where to take you, but takes direction from the master computer (like planes do with Air Traffic Control). You get close to where you want to be it leaves the "skylanes" and takes you to your destination where the local air traffic computer assigns you a "landing" spot and down you go (each spot has a plug-in charger available, it has the ID of your drone so the charging is auto-billed to your account). Can you IMAGINE the freedom of getting OUT of traffic? IF you could buy a personal drone for say $100 grand (the BASE price of a Tesla Model S), would you do it? If I lived with traffic it would be a no-brainer! You'd have a car (maybe) for short stuff, around town, but the drones could totally take over personal conveyance in a short number of years. Every car that is taken from the roads (which are VERY expensive to maintain, air is pretty much FREE) would be that much LESS traffic for those stuck on the ground.
Uhm...sorry, got on a rant there...I just know the traffic down south was HORRIFIC! And I know the DC area is as bad or worse! I'd take a loan for a drone as soon as I could if it were available. How much is it worth to skip all the traffic?
OK...where was I?? Oh...WINTER! For us that means RAIN. Rained again both days this weekend...sure had the weekends down. I've only ridden my mt bike ONCE this year!!! And my road bike(s) just a few times. Yep..I'm quite SICK of rain. OK. I'm done (for now).
Oh....didn't watch the dog show (no idea when it was on) but the local news did show the winner. Not a dog I'd be interested in personally...but that whole thing is way above my lifestyle (dog-shows n such).
ReplyDeleteRae and Susie, hope you both are NOT getting more crap weather, but from the looks of the US weather maps every morning I'm guessing you are. Boy I gotta move to Costa Rico (sp?)...tropical, no crazy population, no crazy government and taxes, just a kick back life. I could do with that..getting pretty sick of our entire system lately (BOTH SIDES). I think our system is irrevocably broken...and our politicians are unable to fix it cuz they ARE the problem. That they vote laws that don't affect them, and vote themselves pay raises (or rather, word it in such a way that NOT voting NOT to get it means it happens automatically..that way they can CLAIM they never voted themselves a raise) just makes me sick! Their compensation SHOULD be decided by the voters! And ALL lobbyists should be hung, or at least outlawed and THEN hung if they continue to show up. Lobbyists do NOT have the peoples interest at heart, as people don't have the money.
Gosh...here I go on a rant again. Sorry. GAAAAA! No bike time makes me CRAZY!! Cycling keeps me sane...see what happens when I don't get to ride?
Errr...just re-read my last..Costa RicA, Puerto RicO..dumbass! (that would be ME).
ReplyDeleteOh, SusieB, so sorry you were so sick! Glad you are better now. I remember the last time I had full on flu (had a mild case last year I think, mild because of the vaccination) I felt like I was going to die. Terrible!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the encouraging words. I hit a bump in the road -- my right knee and ankle started hurting, to the point of being difficult to walk because of the stiffness/pain. So I am skipping a few training days and taking ibuprofen to let it calm down. Probably increasing mileage too quickly. If I weren't aiming for the Cap City Half Marathon on April 27 I wouldn't be out in the cold -- nor fretting about missing training days (this week is perfect for missing, because daytime temps have been 20 or below all week so far, only 13 yesterday) -- but that goal is motivating me to stick with it. Saturday I am due to run 7 miles but I'll just have to see how it goes. Frankly I don't think I can manage to be ready to run all 13 miles, in fact I will be happy if I can run half and not be out of gas at the end. I am using the same plan that I followed the first time I trained for it -- 15 years ago (gee it doesn't seem that long!)
I do enjoy the dog show but didn't catch it this year. I still haven't watched all of the skating nationalsyet on my DVR either -- need to before it drops off (limit of the Vue DVR, some things expire.)
I had my own dog show yesterday, babysitting my daughter's elderly shar pei mix. She tried a new food that gave him explosive diarrhea so she booted him out while she tried to clean it up -- I could keep him in the basement where it couldn't do much damage. He is a sweet dog and doesn't require much but boy he was sad to be shut downstairs by himself!
Matt, I agree - I am so disgusted and sickened by the politics, the shading of the truth if not outright lies, political correctness coloring the reporting (I am thinking of the Mall incident with the high schoolers -- even though the WaPo has issued a statement that since the videos came to light, they see that they didn't have all the facts, yet they still haven't apologized or pointed out that the video clearly shows that the two people are surrounded as much by the native American marchers as by the students, so no one was blocked or prevented from moving) not to mention the outright lies by the likes of Sean Hannity; worship of the likes of the Kardashians, oh how I could go on... our state legislature is solidly in the pockets of lobbyist, shameful!
Back in the 80s my SO brought home a book titled "Choose Costa Rica" all about how it was a great place to move to for Americans. He was all fired up about it for a while! Here we are some 35 years later and it is still a stable and safe country. Did I ever tell you that my neighbor retired, sold up and moved to Isla Mujeres in Mexico? She loves it.
Hey Rae...hope your knee and ankle pain subsides quick...boy, those soft-tissue injuries can really linger. I'm JUST totally over from my shoulder thing (back in August suddenly my left shoulder had a 'hitch' in it...as I'd rotate my arm (think of the gear-shifting motion in a car, which is exactly what I do w/ my 5 speed) there was a spot in the rotation (up on top of the shoulder) that was like I got stabbed w/ an ice pick...go past it and it's fine, coming back the other way same exact spot...STAB! Go past it, nothing. Tried on my own for a month or so, got so bad I FINALLY went to the DR..he have me the cortisone shot in the joint and BAM!!! It was instantly about 80% better (he called it "Impingement syndrome"). All I know is that when I went to bad it was painful at about a 3 or 4...as I slept, if I MOVED and used my right arm I'd hit that spot and it would be a 9+...sometimes I'd even do a little scream...try moving around/getting in/out of bed without using one of your arms! Anyway, I'd been taking motrin 800's the entire time, and that lat 20% healing to get all the pain away took MONTHS! I JUST weaned myself off the motrin about a month ago. And the worst part? I didn't do ANYTHING (that I can think of) to hurt it! It just happened...in my SLEEP! Went to bed fine, woke up in dire pain! You KNOW your getting old when you hurt yourself sleeping! Anyway...take good care of that knee/ankle...don't overdo it too soon (as you well know). I think that's the biggest mistake most of us make. And stay warm!! I'd be a total hermit in your weather!! I'd end up looking like Jabba the Hut after each winter I'm afraid!
ReplyDeleteGoodness, between illness & injuries, I guess it's no sooprize we're all over 50! :) Heal up soon Rae & take your time with your fitness regime, you don't want to try to rush it because that could make it worse (always my tendency & boy do I regret it later!).
ReplyDeleteIf you've never gotten the flu, Matt, consider yourself SO LUCKY! Thinking over the last 40 years, I guess I've gotten the flu between 5-8 times, so not TOO bad compared to some folks. This last one was NOT the worst time, nope, I've unfortunately been even sicker & that's my ONE (of 2) things I hate about living on my own - when you're so sick & can't drive yourself to the Dr, but not sick enough to call for an ambulance which my HMO would NEVER "approve" unless I was having a heart attack or otherwise totally incapacitated. (The other thing I hate about living on my own is when something in the house needs major repairs. Even if the other(s) are as useless as I with "repairs", just having someone else to share the load of worry & financial cost is HUGE & people who have never had to do it solo piss me off no end when they sniff that it's "no big deal". @*&$^&@!)
I have a question for you Matt (you may have answered this before but I don't remember) - WHO is "Laura Chapek"? Is that Jeannie's alias? Because the FB photo looks just like Jeannie! :) FB occasionally emails me some people they think I "might want to know" & "Laura Chapek" was there this time. I rarely go on FB except to spew about the SOCIOPATH in the WH (& see what Rant is up to) & set it up so NOBODY can find me except my original "friends" but FB still keeps trying to get me to "expand" my group. Hey FB, hope springs eternal! :) Anyhoo, is that Jeannie?
And if you like dogs or just like to see all the different breeds, the Westminster Show is THE SHOW to see! I'll remind you all again next year (it's ALWAYS on a Monday & Tuesday in Feb (well, the part we get to see on TV).
Susie, I've had the flu ONCE. All my years in the Navy we got the flu shot every year (no choice, mandatory unless you were allergic to the vaccine). I was in Yokohama Japan stationed on the USNS Effective in late 1996 (as a civilian, retired in 94)and the day we pulled out of port (my FIRST day at sea EVER) I came down w/ the flu. So now I'm seasick AND have a raging 36 hour bug. I wanted to DIE! Didn't get a flu shot that year...so now I'm quite happy to get one every year. NEVER want to go thru that again!
DeleteAs to Jeannie, yes, Laura is her first name (she uses that at work and online). I also do very little on FB...but it is pretty cool as a way to keep in touch w/ people I otherwise wouldn't. But I just don't have the time (nor desire) to spend a ton of time on it.
Also, the Washington DC area was lucky in that we did NOT get the snow/ice that some in the Midwest & northern states just got. We have about 10 more days to worry & then we're USUALLY home free. Cant wait! However, last year on the 1st DAY OF SPRING, we got 5 inches of snow! I was so ticked, it was like Mother Nature was doing it just to thumb her nose at us! It's supposed to snow/rain this afternoon & evening but nothing is "SUPPOSED" to stick on the roads & that's all I care about. And then Sunday, it's supposed to get to the high 60s! It's been in the friggin 20s the last couple days! It is warmer today (thank goodness or the snow would probably stick) but high 60s will still be at least a 20 point jump in temp. I'm telling ya, the weather around here is goofy! :) :)
ReplyDeleteI have some more questions for you, Matt! Will you retire right after you turn 62 or at the end of that year? Besides riding your bike, have you thought about any/all the other things you plan to do? Care to elucidate? I think about eventual retirement ALL the time now because I HAVE to prepare (financially, mentally, emotionally, etc) & I'm still clueless! Since I decided I would NOT be moving to Florida, I feel like a deer in headlights & you know what happens to THEM?! Roadkill!
If you ever want to chat about how it's been for you, Rae, I'd LOVE to read it! Because honestly, I'm a bit frantic. I've worked for the same company at the same location (different offices) for MORE than half my life (not just my adult life, but but my entire life!) & not coming here anymore one day will be a major shock to the system. I've been reading retirement blogs & articles & some books & I'm just flailing because I can't really visualize what I even WANT to do. Anyhoo, any advice & insight would be GREATLY appreciated!
Well, have to scoot, have a great weekend everyone! :)
Well, I HOPE to retire soon after I'm 62...but I will set the date when it's MUCH closer. Lots of things to see about...for one, my union contract w/ my company (I'm an hourly worker w/ the International Assc. of Machinists & Aerospace Workers) is up for renewal in early March of 2023...one of the things we always fight hard for is to up our pension a few $ for every year of service. Once you retire there is no cost of living adjustments or any other increases...it is what it is till you die, and if a month later we get a new contract w/ more $ per month, you missed it. I should be retiring from Lockheed Martin w/ 23 years. So even a few $ x 23 is something worth holding out for. My service anniv. w/ LM is late March (this year I hit 19 years, which means I finally START accruing 4 weeks of vacation per year...HOORAY!!) When I DO retire I hope to have some sort of a workshop w/ lots of woodworking equipment...I'd like to tinker there and make stuff...that and cycling should keep me quite busy (and napping, and watching movies, and hiking/backpacking,gardening, and who knows what else I will come up with). I figure you've got to stay BUSY (napping counts as busy in my book). That's my basic plan...obviously subject to change. I'm not freaked out at all about retiring soon, other than by the fact that I'm THAT CLOSE to being SIXTY TWO FREAKING YEARS OLD! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?? It really sneaks up on you...time has certainly seemed to speed up this last 20 years or so.
DeleteAnyhoo..you and Rae have a great weekend...I WAS planning on doing a long bike ride today (Friday, my day off in our 9/80 work schedule)...but it's been raining off and on since TUESDAY, and the roads are still quite wet this morning...I'm SO Not a fan of wet riding. I will go out w/ the group tomorrow unless it's really bad (misery loves company). Still jonesing to get out on my mt bike and gravel bike and so some serious dirt riding...but won't do that till things dry up...I'm SO not a fan of cleaning bikes and drivetrains.
OK...later gaters!
Hey Matt, I didn't realize you'd be working into 2023. Last year you said "4 more years" so I assumed you meant you'd retire in Sept 2022 or at the end of that year. I certainly understand why you'd want to stay until higher pension money would kick in though! I will not have a pension (like most of us younger half Baby Boomers, you're one of the fortunate ones, Matt!). My retirement consist just of my 401K, ROTH, & my ESOP shares which get cashed out to move into an IRA about 1-2 years AFTER you retire. (My company is private, employee-owned & our shares are set up in an ESOP). I also have some taxable account mutual funds that I invested in 20-30 years ago & an individual stock portfolio that I started in late 2008 & which was doing ok until last Fall! It is STILL down about 16% compared to its peak in early Oct. Plus, several of my energy sector stocks are still WAY in in the red since 2014-2015, sigh. Basically, I consider ALL my investments these days to be "retirement savings" even if some are in taxable accounts as I won't touch a penny of it until I'm actually retired.
DeleteHow soon after you retire will you & Jeannie move to Richmond? Right away or within a year? (And thanks for clearing up "Laura" - if that wasn't Jeannie, I thought she had to have an IDENTICAL twin that you'd never told us about!) :) :)
And I didn't realize you were into woodworking! I knew you did things all over your house (new tile & new floors, etc) but didn't know the wood stuff! You sound like you'll have retirement totally covered! What kind of things do you make? And gosh, Matt, is there ANYthing you can't do?! You are truly a renaissance man!
Hey Susie, when I was saying "4 more years" I was just referring to the fact that I'll be 62 in Sept of 22...hadn't really thought that far ahead to my work anniversary. I just did the numbers last week (due to your question) and to have the points to retire I'd need to wait until I hit my service anniversary giving me 23 years (years of service plus your age need to add up to 85 or more to retire and start drawing pension right away...plus our Union contract was just this past weekend...I think it's the 9th of March). When I do retire I'll have my 401k, pension, Roth IRA and Navy retirement, and then when I max out the $ my SS (which by then Jeannie will be retiring). Anyway....we won't be able to move to Richmond right away...Jeannie has to get a transfer (which could take a while...she is Gov)...still a bit too far for me to plan (but I'm quite sure she has a plan...that's what she does).
ReplyDeleteAs to woodworking, I'm a jack of all trades, master of none (that pretty much applies to everything I do). I'm good w/ my hands tho...and have done some woodworking...and I just like to make things. The problem w/ woodworking is that just like plumbing and auto mechanics (and likely all the trades), there are zillions of tiny "tricks of the trade" that make things easier or better. That's why it takes a long time to become a Master Carpenter. I'd be more of a journeyman/apprentice. But if I had a shop full of the big power equipment I'd have fun learning as I go. I REALLY need a wood lathe tho...you can do a lot with that! Bowls and things...fun stuff. I like fun stuff.
HEY! It looks like Spring has FINALLY SPRUNG (for us)! Temps all week are mid 60's, instead of low to mid 50's (HOORAY!). And hopefuly NO MORE RAIN! (none in the immediate forecast..which has been over a month since I was able to say that). Yeah yeah..I hear you Susie and Rae...("SHUT UP! You are crying about FIFTIES??") Fifties are pretty cold for us here. And yes...I'm spoiled. Anyway...along with our warmer temps comes the spring WINDS!! Was going to do a road ride tonight in that GLORIOIUS EXTRA HOUR OF LIGHT we now have (HOORAY AGAIN!)...however...yep..the wind. 15 to 20mph when I got off work. So I will do what I do every year in the March/April winds...Mt bike! (of course things still could/will be a bit icky for a while till things dry out)...mt biking doesn't seem to be nearly as affected by the winds as on the road. AND...I had a ton of work (ie: upgrades) done to my mt bike over Dec/Jan...and only ridden it ONCE this year! (due to travel and rain). So...if the rain stays away, it's time to get DIRTY!! YAY!!
ReplyDeleteOK...that's all. Hopefully you get your Spring very soon too.
WOW! Just watched a video of the Bora Hansgrove TTT at Tirreno...a spectator/pedestrian walked across the wet road right in front of the team...2 of their guys clobbered him and went down HARD! (Majka and Gatto, Sagan swerved and missed the DUMBASS!) Man...that is criminal! The guy paid for it tho...he was hit pretty hard, and deservedly so. Here's a link:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.velonews.com/2019/03/news/gatto-and-majka-crash-with-pedestrian-in-tirreno-ttt_488882
Hey Matt - have you seen that GEICO 'Hump Day' commercial with the talking camel? Well, GUESS what the temp was when I drove home Fri? GUESS, GUESS, GUESS, GUESS! 75! 75 hip-swiveling, shimmy-shaking degrees! Whoo-hoooo! :) :)
ReplyDeleteIt was back into the 30s this morning, but I do believe we are FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE (another commercial) from winter until November!
So, you'll be getting 2 pensions? Wow, I'm not going to call you lucky as you work so hard & deserve every penny, but you ARE FORTUNATE as most of the rest of us younger-half Baby Boomers will get none. BTW, what will you do for health insurance until Medicare kicks in? Join Jeannie's plan as a spouse or does your time in the Navy cover it?
I'm VERY worried about the next 3-4 years as at some point, a recession will kick in & the market will get hammered. And the worst thing is to retire right as the market drops big & I won't really be able to extend my working. I had thought the market drop WOULD have started 2-4 years ago & we'd be on the other side by the time I (& you) retire. Man, I would REALLY love to be able to see the future & know the exact market top so I could then move some 401-k money into cash/bond funds right at that exact moment! LOL!
Hey, I watched that cycling crash video multiple times & it seems the COP (back rain slicker & yellow hat) was motioning the guy to walk across the road right then! It's HIS fault! If I was that pedestrian, I'd be suing that police dept!
And speaking of cycling, I saw NONE of Paris-Nice as NONE was on TV! Remember the good old days with "Cyclism Sundays"?
Oh & it seems Team Sky has found yet ANOTHER billionaire that will finance them! Unfrickinbelievable! I was looking forward to them FINALLY having the same money as the other "top teams", which means they'd have to have let at least a third of their top "helpers" go. Sheesh!
Hey Susie...glad you got some Spring back in your step...our weekend was BEAU-TEE-FUL! It was bordering on HOT (for us)...I had to open the sliding door on Sunday to COOL the house down some in the afternoon! (that's a GOOD problem!)
ReplyDeleteYep...both Jeannie and I will get pensions, and we are very lucky! As to medical, thankfully my Tricare (that I get as I'm retired Navy) will stay with us all the way to 65 (I don't take the company medical, and by turning down my companies health care I get enough money given to me to totally pay my Tricare every year!)
I'll have to re-watch that video...I did see the traffic control guy but didn't notice him actually waving the guy across...but still, the guy didn't even LOOK...just cuz somebody waves you, wouldn't you LOOK at least? Just my 2 cents.
And hooray (not) for Sky going to have another Yankees payroll. Damn. Not that I want ANYBODY to lose their jobs, but sheesh...they just have too much $. Pro cycling needs a payroll cap.
And HEY! Get your March Madness brackets filled in! Just did mine this morning...I have Duke and North Carolina in the final, with Gonzaga and Virginia the others in the final 4, Duke winning 68-66. I had a pretty great bracket last year, especially considering I don't follow basketball except for THE TOURNEY (ie, I'm a total poser picking BB games).
Matt,
ReplyDeleteI saw in your blog that your brother worked on the SSME's. I worked MPS / SSME at KSC from 1985 until 1997. I have a collection of documents about the shuttle that I have given the Docents in Washington DC for Discovery. I thought you might want to tell Greg / his fellow Docents for Endeavour in LA about it:
https://djtrxhspk3vbzxnwufnm3q-on.drv.tw/Gandalf.Digital.Net/shuttle.html
If you have any questions please feel free to ask.
Ken
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