Sent from my IPod touch. I'm new at this touch screen thing so Please excuse the typos.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Bono comes to JSC
Apparently Bono of U2 was here at JSC today. I didn’t know it till I read some Twitters about local sightings and then my co-worker, Nicole came by to ask one of us to go with her to stalk him.
He was at Building 9, to which I have access J.
I thought for sure even once we got in the building that security or someone would be stopping us to ask what we were really doing there.
I thought for sure even once we got in the building that security or someone would be stopping us to ask what we were really doing there.
We found Bono touring one of the space shuttle cockpit mock-ups. A few security guards caught my eye, and one wrinkled his nose at me, like: “I see you, don’t be a bad girl!” and I gave the sign: “We will be quiet and good, I promise” which was enough for him because he let us hang out and watch.
Noted at that time: we were the only NASA folks stalking him from what I could tell. Everyone else on sight was off doing their work like true professionals. Well, at least while Bono was in Building 9.
We followed him out to get a good picture of him getting into his bus. Still, NOBODY was stopping us! I was futzing with the camera, trying to figure it out, when Bono and his people called us over to take a picture with him personally. I got the idea this had to be quick and I didn’t want to intrude, so I sent Nicole (the bigger fan than me) to get in the pic with him while I snapped the photo.
No stress here! I figured out the stupid camera just in time and got a shot before he had to be whisked away. We thanked him profusely while still attempting to be the professional NASA personnel we are.
J
J
The photo was taken with Tracy’s camera so she’ll have to download it and send it to me but when I get it, I’ll post it here. Yay!
Summary: He was smooooooth. And friendly….and Nicole got to hug him which I am happy about. Personally I’d have drawn blood for Rob Thomas but I am glad I could make Nicole’s day! Seriously, that was cool!
Her actual email to me is below:
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
You rock.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Ok this plane is going to Vegas and I'm all caught up on work with all the time in the air today. So I'm going for wine with another free drink coupon...since my hot chocolate was missing the spike!
In the meantime I need napkins so I guess I'll wipe my hands on my Bailey's stained pants. May as well go all the way.
Sent from my IPod touch. I'm new at this touch screen thing so Please excuse the typos.
Why alcohol is bad for you
>
> It's like this.
>
> I'm currently on the plane to Vegas for Girls Weekend. It's a yearly
> thing.
>
> I have traveled Southwest so much they have sent me tons of free
> drink coupons. They keep building. I decided to use some for the way
> to Vegas. Even though it's a 7am flight, it's Vegas baby!!
>
> So I embarrassingly order a hot chocolate with Bailey's. I'm not
> much of a drinker anyway so I build up confidence to ask for this at
> 7:30am and handed over my drink coupon.
>
> Then I realized this plane is going to Denver. My next plane goes to
> Vegas. Is it all in my head...the judgement?
>
> I get over it and when my drink comes the little bottle of Bailey's
> is separate from the hot chocolate. I lay it down against my book
> and try to make room on my crowded tray.
>
> The gradual wetness tells me that this Bailey's was opened already.
> For my convenience and all.
>
> The drunk In seat 16A has spilled her morning breakfast all over her
> table and her friend Rachel Brady's first mystery novel (yay for
> hard cover).
>
> Where are the wet wipes NOW?
>
> Trying not to make a scene, I catch the attendant for napkins. Wet
> them please. Fellow passengers to my right, front, and behind me
> hand me their napkins too. They apparently must have smelled the
> liquor bc I was being as quiet and calm as possible.
>
> Did I detect pitty from them?
>
> The attendant asked if I would like a replacement Bailey's... "Oh
> no, There's plenty left!" (I don't need alcohol and I'm not that
> big a clutz...) heh.
>
> I wonder if people will just think this is coffee stains on my pants?
>
>
> Sent from my IPod touch. I'm new at this touch screen thing so
> Please excuse the typos.
> It's like this.
>
> I'm currently on the plane to Vegas for Girls Weekend. It's a yearly
> thing.
>
> I have traveled Southwest so much they have sent me tons of free
> drink coupons. They keep building. I decided to use some for the way
> to Vegas. Even though it's a 7am flight, it's Vegas baby!!
>
> So I embarrassingly order a hot chocolate with Bailey's. I'm not
> much of a drinker anyway so I build up confidence to ask for this at
> 7:30am and handed over my drink coupon.
>
> Then I realized this plane is going to Denver. My next plane goes to
> Vegas. Is it all in my head...the judgement?
>
> I get over it and when my drink comes the little bottle of Bailey's
> is separate from the hot chocolate. I lay it down against my book
> and try to make room on my crowded tray.
>
> The gradual wetness tells me that this Bailey's was opened already.
> For my convenience and all.
>
> The drunk In seat 16A has spilled her morning breakfast all over her
> table and her friend Rachel Brady's first mystery novel (yay for
> hard cover).
>
> Where are the wet wipes NOW?
>
> Trying not to make a scene, I catch the attendant for napkins. Wet
> them please. Fellow passengers to my right, front, and behind me
> hand me their napkins too. They apparently must have smelled the
> liquor bc I was being as quiet and calm as possible.
>
> Did I detect pitty from them?
>
> The attendant asked if I would like a replacement Bailey's... "Oh
> no, There's plenty left!" (I don't need alcohol and I'm not that
> big a clutz...) heh.
>
> I wonder if people will just think this is coffee stains on my pants?
>
>
> Sent from my IPod touch. I'm new at this touch screen thing so
> Please excuse the typos.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Updates
Quickly:
I have kept up with my 4am running group with the exception on missing Monday morning due to the late Rob Thomas concert the night before. Thanks to Southwest airlines it's cheaper to fly mom in from Austin and spend the whole weekend than to pay a sitter for us to go to the concert. Which was by the way amazing! We had floor tickets so we were so close You could see every facial expression! And his voice is amazing...
Anna has decided to start using the potty somewhat again. TJ gave us a fun potty video a fee months ago so I played it a few days ago and Anna watches intently. She even asks to watch it. She's gotten better about the potty at school as well. So maybe we're on an upswing. Who knows?
In the meantime she's getting spook smart. She can tell us about her day and funny little details. She's doing well with the kitties even though they'd rather run and play than to be carried around. They tolerate her. The black one is going to Rachel tomorrow and we'll miss him bc he's a riot!!! But we're keeping the grey one who's female. After asking Anna over and over what to name this kitty she says I don't know! Or "the grey one". Finally a co-worker, Tracy, suggested KC: short for Kitty Cat, which is what we've been calling her. Cute! So last night we told Anna the new name and she said, "no, it's Miss Grey!" Paul and I looked at each other. I told her sure baby, call her what you want bur the vet records will reflect "KC". So there you have it.
Kc is little and purrs loudly.
Yesterday U gave a lecture to a group of students downtown about my NEEMO6 mission. And realized I had forgotten alot about that part of my life as it was really 5 years ago already. So much has changed since then. Wow.
Tomorrow I get on the plane for our annual girls trip to Vegas. Splurge time.
Ok enough. Gotta go shower from this morning's run and tag Paul for his!
Sent from my IPod touch. I'm new at this IPod touch screen thing. Please excuse the typos.
Friday, October 2, 2009
A note from Anna-Marie's teacher
As written:
"Anna had a great day today!! She loved the squirrel book and stuffed animal. She sat on "her" potty and went tinkle in the AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
PS She still didn't want the pics.
Paul and I noticed Anna's frustration with her classroom potty last night during open house. True to what her teacher's told me, she asked to potty and the had a meltdown once there. I am pretty sure it had to do with the awful scary, shaky toilet seat! So I brought in one from home and that seemed to work at least today.
Tried the pictures again for the heck of it. No luck!
Sent from my iPod
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Show your "mad" face
Dear Anna,
This morning I distracted you with the kitties to get you to wear a nice outfit for pictures. You barely consented to let me do your hair (and demanded a purple bow) and we got out of the house on time. We had a car seat melt down over which you'd rathered stay in time out than to get into the car, but alas I am currently stronger than you.
Once you were over it, you showed me in the car how you were going to smile big for your photos. You also showed me your mad face (cute!) and your sad face (cuter!) and I laughed and laughed because I didn't know you knew how to do that!
Then I got a call from your teacher at school. You apparently flat our refused to take photos today, despite my best efforts in making you look cute. All of your friends took theirs, your teacher tried all kinds of things but she said it made you mad and you even threw yourself down in a tantrum.
So if you're wondering why we have school pictures of you every year until now, it's all your fault. You little diva.
Love, Mommy
This morning I distracted you with the kitties to get you to wear a nice outfit for pictures. You barely consented to let me do your hair (and demanded a purple bow) and we got out of the house on time. We had a car seat melt down over which you'd rathered stay in time out than to get into the car, but alas I am currently stronger than you.
Once you were over it, you showed me in the car how you were going to smile big for your photos. You also showed me your mad face (cute!) and your sad face (cuter!) and I laughed and laughed because I didn't know you knew how to do that!
Then I got a call from your teacher at school. You apparently flat our refused to take photos today, despite my best efforts in making you look cute. All of your friends took theirs, your teacher tried all kinds of things but she said it made you mad and you even threw yourself down in a tantrum.
So if you're wondering why we have school pictures of you every year until now, it's all your fault. You little diva.
Love, Mommy
Monday, September 28, 2009
Exercise is Bad for your health
To offload a little of the guilt I had over being behind on the half marathon training already, and to take advantage of the weekend schedule, I got out for a quick 2 mile run on Saturday morning. I was just patting myself on the back for a pretty decent pace time (thanks again Chaelene, you party girl, you) when I came around the corner to my house to see 2 women hanging around 3 little kitty cats. I didn't know anyone, and instead of nodding and pretending like my music was too loud to really notice them, I (unusually) asked what's up...
15 minutes later I have committed to a 4am running group and have 3 kittens in my guest room upstairs. Since Anna's been born, a fish has been our biggest committment after our 2 life-long cats died within a week of each other over Christmas '07. Honestly it's been nice not having an extra bag of cat food to pick up, a littler box to clean, or a vet bill to pay. The cats were great friends but I don't miss the litter sticking to the bottom of my feet as I walk down the hallway, and getting Anna out the door in the morning without any unecessary distractions is a requirement for my sanity these days.
Long story short, Rachel is taking the black one as a birthday gift to her daughter (Rachel's not only a mystery novel writer (order her book through Amazon at the link on her website here: http://www.rachelbrady.net/), a triathlete, a NASA engineer, and a fabulous mother of three, but she's also a humanitarian. The woman never stops.). We have decided to keep the grey one(thanks to Paul's pathetic pleas and the cat's tolerance to being carried by the neck by the household toddler. Think": Darla on NEMO), and we are still looking for a home for the striped one. One cat is about all I can handle at this point in my life. Because honestly, let's all admit who's cleaning this litter box?
If you missed it, the answer is "C": Spacemama.
And what I learned during my first run this morning is that there is a whole world of 4am people who run and bike. Not just this crazy little group of neighbors. Apparently it's the thing to do to fit it all into the schedule I have been complaining about. See? I knew I wasn't alone. I am the youngest of the group, and with me makes 4 total women. They too are training for a half marathon (but theirs is the Houston half and mine is the Disney). This morning we did 2.8miles at an 11 minute pace, which for me is pretty impressive. Especially at a time when I should be sleeping. Tomorrow and Thurs morning it's 4 miles (which I have told them: Go ON! Save yourselves but they claim they leave no woman behind...we'll see). I really am not ready to cover 4 miles at that 11 minute pace but I guess there's nothing to do but give it a shot. On Saturdays they run "long" and they're up to 8 miles. I am NOT at that pace yet so I'll be doing an abbreviated version, on my own I'm sure, till I can catch up. As I explained to them, every year I know I have a half marathon in Jan and every year I start cramming for it in October/Nov. So they're where they probably should be and I'm catching up.
As much as I think 4am is insane, I realize that after the run, I can get alot done before my day even starts at work. It's a whole new world of possibilities! RIGHT?!
Americans don't need to sleep, do they?! But here's a secret...I am OK on lack of sleep for the first 2 weeks or so. After that, I get horrbily cranky. I warned Paul it would come and he said he'd rather me complain about lack of sleep than lack of schedule to run. I guess it's like being forced to have to listen to one horrible Yo Gabba Gabba song versus the other. Neither is better, it's just a different tune.
Anyway, thank goodness today Anna was in an amazingly agreeable mood because I realized we had to rush out the door earlier than usual so I could cover some morning meetings. I have to teach class tonight until 10pm. I will be beat and I'd considered letting them out a little early (for my own sake) but since they bombed their first test, I'm going to drag the night out as long as I can tolerate it myself...
By the way, a funny thing. I went to a lunch today with like 10 other Tweeters. These are people I work with here at NASA but have never met (except Spacemonkey and biochck) before, and who I follow on Twitter (and some who follow me because I guess they think diaper and Elmo tweets are worth it for the occasional ISS science tweet). So we enjoyed Mexican while actually meeting each other in person, introducing by screen names. "Hi, I'm Spacemama"...who? That's right, I only have 75 followers versus hundreds...I don't also have much to say, but after this morning's run, I was hungry :)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Yes I changed this site
Because I'm not busy enough.
Actually I think it might be easier on the eyes with these colors and font style. I don't know. Already I miss my old lay out. Before I trashed it completely maybe I should have just modified it a little.
Oh well. Likely this will be changing frequently till I get it right.
Actually I think it might be easier on the eyes with these colors and font style. I don't know. Already I miss my old lay out. Before I trashed it completely maybe I should have just modified it a little.
Oh well. Likely this will be changing frequently till I get it right.
POO-POO on YOU, POTTY!
In the spirit of waking up on Monday morning and consciously making the decision to oppose everything we ask her to do this week, she has thrown the potty into the mix. For the last month, even when we were on travel or in strange places, she'd declare that she needed to go sit on the potty, and 4 times out of 6, she'd be successful in "going #1". This week she hasn't offered to go (unless ofcourse it's part of her bedtime stall tactic routine), and when we ask her if she needs to go, instead of the fun "yes!" we get NO! I went into this whole potty thing with the intent not to push and not to get frustrated. But suddenly last night I found myself pissed off at this regression. Then I questioned why I was pissed off when I said I wouldn't let this whole thing get to me in the first place.
Must be part of the whole potty training frustration thing I hear about. I guess it goes both ways.
This morning her teacher said, oh by the way she's flat out refusing to use the potty. She will say NO and even throw herself onto the floor upset! Her friend Karma tries to get her to go but Anna refuses. We agreed to just back off and not even offer. No, Anna's not behind her peers on this issue...no one in her class is potty trained and some won't even sit on the potty. BUT the thing is we all know she CAN do it. This week she won't. Rather than play her game, no one's going to push. If it's control she wants, better to give it to her now. It's her butt and it's her pee.
But the joke's on her: I'm not playing control freak over this. She can wear her diapers to her wedding.
This week she has resisted:
-The potty
-Clipping her nails
-Blowdrying her hair (which we'd just started and she thought was fun)
-Getting dressed
-Staying in the same outfit after getting dressed
-The car seat
-Dinner (in favor of requests for gum, candy, cake, and popsicles)
-Bedtime
-Even changing a poopy diaper a few times
-In general anything we ask her to do for the first 3 times.
She's also enjoyed hitting me when she's mad, with the look on her face as obvious as: "Are you going to do anything about this?" The result has been an increase in the average number of Time Outs this week. August was a low month for Time Outs and so I think she's making up for it in one week.
Must be part of the whole potty training frustration thing I hear about. I guess it goes both ways.
This morning her teacher said, oh by the way she's flat out refusing to use the potty. She will say NO and even throw herself onto the floor upset! Her friend Karma tries to get her to go but Anna refuses. We agreed to just back off and not even offer. No, Anna's not behind her peers on this issue...no one in her class is potty trained and some won't even sit on the potty. BUT the thing is we all know she CAN do it. This week she won't. Rather than play her game, no one's going to push. If it's control she wants, better to give it to her now. It's her butt and it's her pee.
But the joke's on her: I'm not playing control freak over this. She can wear her diapers to her wedding.
This week she has resisted:
-The potty
-Clipping her nails
-Blowdrying her hair (which we'd just started and she thought was fun)
-Getting dressed
-Staying in the same outfit after getting dressed
-The car seat
-Dinner (in favor of requests for gum, candy, cake, and popsicles)
-Bedtime
-Even changing a poopy diaper a few times
-In general anything we ask her to do for the first 3 times.
She's also enjoyed hitting me when she's mad, with the look on her face as obvious as: "Are you going to do anything about this?" The result has been an increase in the average number of Time Outs this week. August was a low month for Time Outs and so I think she's making up for it in one week.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
"Fuatience" (Patience)
Time, time, time. Where is it going? How is it almost October already?
There's so much stuff I want to blog on but my evenings are sucked away with Anna fun and then when she goes to bed I just want to sit and stare at the wall. Or the TV, frankly. Didn't some new fall TV start last week? I bet it's on the DVR somewhere.
I started teaching undergrad Human Phys again and we just had our first exam. What I thought would be a class of much more interested and motivated individuals than my last semester, but this class bombed the first exam with an average of only 62. I could strangle them but I don't have the energy. Instead they'd better pull themselves out of it.
I ran into the student who begged me to pass her last semester (she passed herself, barely) because her dad was going to give her $1,000 and she had plans for Vegas and NYC only if she graduated (remember, it's the same girl who cheated). She was working at the university when I ran into her the first night of school a few weeks ago. Turns out she graduated but never traveled. I didn't ask for elaboration. It's called Karma. Cheater.
How's work? FANTASTIC! I still love it and I just put out my first two publications for the office, that I got to first-author. They're review articles on some of the science that's been done on the International Space Station since its beginnings. It was lots of learning and hard work on my part but very cool. Sadly, I've since caught a few minor mistakes but it's on its way to print so what are you gonna do? Ah well... Currently we are planning for a meeting that will be held in Paris with the top ISS scientists in November. How great will this be? I've never traveled overseas, so this will be fantastic, on top of getting to meet top scientists and astronauts in ISS. Geek-out! Paul was going to come with me but he can't take the time away from the busy clinic (which is just as well because I'm not ready to leave Anna with both of us being so far away from her!). In January I am going to an AIAA conference where my chief is presenting in Orlando and then one in Berlin on ISS Utilization. I am loving the international aspect of this position. I have gotten to work with our international Space Station Program Scientist counterparts all over the world.
I've also gotten to have small working meetings with top NASA agency officials to discuss ISS utilization planning. I am actually playing a real role in the future use of ISS. And how often is it you have a casual conversation with your boss about "Hilary" or "Al" or the like? I'm really holding back here because I think I should use discretion about some of the stuff we talk about and just posting them out here to an open blog. But seriously, I am still thrilled to be here. It's such a different world. Every day I go home feeling like I've been productive and I get to work with some great people. To the point I'm tired ;)
Paul's clinic is going really well. Like too busy. Rediculously-growing-out-of-his-current-clinic size-busy. I'm not sure how he holds it all together. But I am so glad it's successful. To blog on this would take a whole other post.
Anna is growing up fast. I wish I could blog every silly thing she tells me or does but if you've ever been a parent of a 2.5 year old, you know it comes at you so fast and frequent you can't keep up. This is a fun age. This weekend she told me (correctly) to have fuatience ("patience"). The tones and words she uses to talk to us, you'd swear she was already a teenager. She's gone from mommy and Daddy to "Mom" and "Dad". She is sweet, funny, and pretty. Though the past 3 days she's been pushing our buttons and testing her manipulation skills. This week she likes to purposely do the opposite of what we say...not in a rude way, but just in a way like: "yeah, whatever, I make up MY OWN MIND on what I want to do MYSELF! And so I refuse to do exactly what you tell me. Directly or INdirectly." It's resulted in a rough week this week with sweet cutie mixed in with moody teenager. I guess that's what's to love about toddlers. But I honestly liken it to being around someone who's high maintenance and this week had been extra rough so by bedtime, my patience has worn so thin Paul has had to pick up the bath and bedtime routine the past 2 nights. (The worst is that my patience this week has been weakened by sinus pain/pressure so my tolerance to "crap" is extraordinarily low to begin with). This is the first high maintenance person I've had so much love for so I can't simply ditch her like a high-maintenance aquaintance. Like other moms of toddlers, I've told myself over and over to "have fuatience, mommy" to exhaustion. Besides, most high maintenance people are way less cute ;) But I do love watching her grow up, even though it makes Paul a little sad. I think it's really fun to watch her turn into a little person, right before our eyes.
She had her 2.5 year check-up yesterday, complete with a flu shot and HiB vax. She did really great and was giggly and nice with the doc till she was stabbed painfully for her shots. She screamed appropriately, then got over it with a few stickers. Overall I say she did GREAT. She's 35 and 3/4" tall and 32lbs. 50th %ile for height and 80th for weight. Pretty good although I think she was squatting a little.
She's loving school and her new teachers. I stopped by during naptime this week to see what their routine looks like and it looks pretty peaceful. She was sleeping and so her teacher and I had a chat. She said Anna is a natural leader and is also the first to give hugs or help to a friend. Ofcourse I think teachers get paid to say this to every parent (way to put a positive spin on the fact she's a bossy butt), but if she is telling the truth then Anna has a good mix of Paul and me that is coming out ;) It just seems she is now one of the older kids in her new class, whereas she used to be the youngest. So I think naturally she's going to be more engaged (I've even heard her TATTLE on a kid). Even though she has her tantrums and acts out like a typical toddler can't help but do, it's still clear she's an innate rule follower like her mommy.
Anyway, she comes home with more "art work" now than EVER so it's all piling up around the house. As if a toddler lives here. Her teacher says her best friend is Karmalina (Together since babies) and that there's a third little girl who's trying to muscle into the friendship and they're being protective. WHAT? Is this high school or pre-school? She's 2.5 years old and the dynamics already start. Look at us: social beings from the beginning. Silly humans.
Paul got me an IPod Touch for my birthday. Interesting because I never asked or hinted for it. I guess he was just listening to more subtle cues that even I was of myself because it's turned out to be a very helpful tool. Like when I learned the magic of owning a DVR system. How much more efficient is my life now that I can clean the house while listening to a podcast of Darkness Radio instead of in silence? Heck, I'd never heard a podcast before of anything. Weather? BOOM, 2 seconds flat (well, wherever there's WiFi). No logging in, no waiting. I even have Twitter and Facebook apps right THERE when I ask for it, and oh guess what?! It magically synched up with my NASA calendar and email so I know my schedule in an instant! Paul said he got it for me to watch movies/podcasts on all of the travel I do. That's darned thoughtful and even fun. I don't really have time for fun little things like this but if I can multi-task while doing it, it's justified :)
Plus there's an app to help me study piano. Which is handy considering I lack the energy to practice as much as I need to. Notice I used the word "energy" instead of "time". I can make the time in the evening to practice. But is it sad I don't have the brain energy to focus on it? At the end of an intense day my brain shuts down as soon as it can lately. And since Mother Nature has taken away some perfectly good sunshine by 7:30pm these days, I shut down mental function way too early.
And speaking of energy, Paul gets home too late for me to go running before it gets dark these days. I can kinda feel a little anxiety creeping in on that looming half marathon in Jan. Right now, even one mile may as well equal the whole 13.1. In the mronings I do Turbo Jam early before Anna wakes. Even though smiling party girl Chaylene is really tough to take at 6am. Ugh. Despite her party attitude, I have to admit, it's good exercise for this body that's just gone embarrasingly soft. It's nice to push myself physically like that daily.
Lately I've become aware that my time is not my own in the day-to-day ops of things. If I get up early enough I can have a say, but after that, it's all over. I guess I always knew this in the back of my mind but it's never really been front-and-center. So I started to feel "woe is me" about this. But I can't think of another mommy/daddy out there who doesn't also feel the same way. So I'm not special, and since I'm not special in this regard, I don't get to complain. So instead of complaining, just consider it an acknowledgement of what all other parents out there already know (duh!): my time is just not my own. Acceptance. That helps a whole lot!
And that was the case on yesterday for my birthday. So for those of you who sent texts, emails, and voicemails my way and I didn't even return your calls, I'm so sorry...the business of the day didn't stop and that included until I passed out last night around 9pm from exhaustion. I'm sure it's just my immune system fighting off allergens, and not a result of the fact that I'm a year older :)
There's so much stuff I want to blog on but my evenings are sucked away with Anna fun and then when she goes to bed I just want to sit and stare at the wall. Or the TV, frankly. Didn't some new fall TV start last week? I bet it's on the DVR somewhere.
I started teaching undergrad Human Phys again and we just had our first exam. What I thought would be a class of much more interested and motivated individuals than my last semester, but this class bombed the first exam with an average of only 62. I could strangle them but I don't have the energy. Instead they'd better pull themselves out of it.
I ran into the student who begged me to pass her last semester (she passed herself, barely) because her dad was going to give her $1,000 and she had plans for Vegas and NYC only if she graduated (remember, it's the same girl who cheated). She was working at the university when I ran into her the first night of school a few weeks ago. Turns out she graduated but never traveled. I didn't ask for elaboration. It's called Karma. Cheater.
How's work? FANTASTIC! I still love it and I just put out my first two publications for the office, that I got to first-author. They're review articles on some of the science that's been done on the International Space Station since its beginnings. It was lots of learning and hard work on my part but very cool. Sadly, I've since caught a few minor mistakes but it's on its way to print so what are you gonna do? Ah well... Currently we are planning for a meeting that will be held in Paris with the top ISS scientists in November. How great will this be? I've never traveled overseas, so this will be fantastic, on top of getting to meet top scientists and astronauts in ISS. Geek-out! Paul was going to come with me but he can't take the time away from the busy clinic (which is just as well because I'm not ready to leave Anna with both of us being so far away from her!). In January I am going to an AIAA conference where my chief is presenting in Orlando and then one in Berlin on ISS Utilization. I am loving the international aspect of this position. I have gotten to work with our international Space Station Program Scientist counterparts all over the world.
I've also gotten to have small working meetings with top NASA agency officials to discuss ISS utilization planning. I am actually playing a real role in the future use of ISS. And how often is it you have a casual conversation with your boss about "Hilary" or "Al" or the like? I'm really holding back here because I think I should use discretion about some of the stuff we talk about and just posting them out here to an open blog. But seriously, I am still thrilled to be here. It's such a different world. Every day I go home feeling like I've been productive and I get to work with some great people. To the point I'm tired ;)
Paul's clinic is going really well. Like too busy. Rediculously-growing-out-of-his-current-clinic size-busy. I'm not sure how he holds it all together. But I am so glad it's successful. To blog on this would take a whole other post.
Anna is growing up fast. I wish I could blog every silly thing she tells me or does but if you've ever been a parent of a 2.5 year old, you know it comes at you so fast and frequent you can't keep up. This is a fun age. This weekend she told me (correctly) to have fuatience ("patience"). The tones and words she uses to talk to us, you'd swear she was already a teenager. She's gone from mommy and Daddy to "Mom" and "Dad". She is sweet, funny, and pretty. Though the past 3 days she's been pushing our buttons and testing her manipulation skills. This week she likes to purposely do the opposite of what we say...not in a rude way, but just in a way like: "yeah, whatever, I make up MY OWN MIND on what I want to do MYSELF! And so I refuse to do exactly what you tell me. Directly or INdirectly." It's resulted in a rough week this week with sweet cutie mixed in with moody teenager. I guess that's what's to love about toddlers. But I honestly liken it to being around someone who's high maintenance and this week had been extra rough so by bedtime, my patience has worn so thin Paul has had to pick up the bath and bedtime routine the past 2 nights. (The worst is that my patience this week has been weakened by sinus pain/pressure so my tolerance to "crap" is extraordinarily low to begin with). This is the first high maintenance person I've had so much love for so I can't simply ditch her like a high-maintenance aquaintance. Like other moms of toddlers, I've told myself over and over to "have fuatience, mommy" to exhaustion. Besides, most high maintenance people are way less cute ;) But I do love watching her grow up, even though it makes Paul a little sad. I think it's really fun to watch her turn into a little person, right before our eyes.
She had her 2.5 year check-up yesterday, complete with a flu shot and HiB vax. She did really great and was giggly and nice with the doc till she was stabbed painfully for her shots. She screamed appropriately, then got over it with a few stickers. Overall I say she did GREAT. She's 35 and 3/4" tall and 32lbs. 50th %ile for height and 80th for weight. Pretty good although I think she was squatting a little.
She's loving school and her new teachers. I stopped by during naptime this week to see what their routine looks like and it looks pretty peaceful. She was sleeping and so her teacher and I had a chat. She said Anna is a natural leader and is also the first to give hugs or help to a friend. Ofcourse I think teachers get paid to say this to every parent (way to put a positive spin on the fact she's a bossy butt), but if she is telling the truth then Anna has a good mix of Paul and me that is coming out ;) It just seems she is now one of the older kids in her new class, whereas she used to be the youngest. So I think naturally she's going to be more engaged (I've even heard her TATTLE on a kid). Even though she has her tantrums and acts out like a typical toddler can't help but do, it's still clear she's an innate rule follower like her mommy.
Anyway, she comes home with more "art work" now than EVER so it's all piling up around the house. As if a toddler lives here. Her teacher says her best friend is Karmalina (Together since babies) and that there's a third little girl who's trying to muscle into the friendship and they're being protective. WHAT? Is this high school or pre-school? She's 2.5 years old and the dynamics already start. Look at us: social beings from the beginning. Silly humans.
Paul got me an IPod Touch for my birthday. Interesting because I never asked or hinted for it. I guess he was just listening to more subtle cues that even I was of myself because it's turned out to be a very helpful tool. Like when I learned the magic of owning a DVR system. How much more efficient is my life now that I can clean the house while listening to a podcast of Darkness Radio instead of in silence? Heck, I'd never heard a podcast before of anything. Weather? BOOM, 2 seconds flat (well, wherever there's WiFi). No logging in, no waiting. I even have Twitter and Facebook apps right THERE when I ask for it, and oh guess what?! It magically synched up with my NASA calendar and email so I know my schedule in an instant! Paul said he got it for me to watch movies/podcasts on all of the travel I do. That's darned thoughtful and even fun. I don't really have time for fun little things like this but if I can multi-task while doing it, it's justified :)
Plus there's an app to help me study piano. Which is handy considering I lack the energy to practice as much as I need to. Notice I used the word "energy" instead of "time". I can make the time in the evening to practice. But is it sad I don't have the brain energy to focus on it? At the end of an intense day my brain shuts down as soon as it can lately. And since Mother Nature has taken away some perfectly good sunshine by 7:30pm these days, I shut down mental function way too early.
And speaking of energy, Paul gets home too late for me to go running before it gets dark these days. I can kinda feel a little anxiety creeping in on that looming half marathon in Jan. Right now, even one mile may as well equal the whole 13.1. In the mronings I do Turbo Jam early before Anna wakes. Even though smiling party girl Chaylene is really tough to take at 6am. Ugh. Despite her party attitude, I have to admit, it's good exercise for this body that's just gone embarrasingly soft. It's nice to push myself physically like that daily.
Lately I've become aware that my time is not my own in the day-to-day ops of things. If I get up early enough I can have a say, but after that, it's all over. I guess I always knew this in the back of my mind but it's never really been front-and-center. So I started to feel "woe is me" about this. But I can't think of another mommy/daddy out there who doesn't also feel the same way. So I'm not special, and since I'm not special in this regard, I don't get to complain. So instead of complaining, just consider it an acknowledgement of what all other parents out there already know (duh!): my time is just not my own. Acceptance. That helps a whole lot!
And that was the case on yesterday for my birthday. So for those of you who sent texts, emails, and voicemails my way and I didn't even return your calls, I'm so sorry...the business of the day didn't stop and that included until I passed out last night around 9pm from exhaustion. I'm sure it's just my immune system fighting off allergens, and not a result of the fact that I'm a year older :)
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