On July 5, I received notice from the NASA Astronaut Selection committee that my application made the first cut from 6,200 applicants down to the "Highly Qualified" (HQ) level of just 400 or so applicants. The process was to get my medical prescreening done, get my letters of recommendation in, and wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait :) Not a problem, since it's been a busy year! But heck yes, I was so honored to make it that far! Turns out, a handful of my good friends and co-workers also made it that far, so it was fun to be in the same boat together.
Yesterday I received the phone call I'd been waiting for for the last 25 years or so: I have been asked to come for an astronaut candidate interview. This means I am now in the next round of 120 to be interviewed and considered seriously. Of us, 15 will get selected to be astronauts. I will be in Week 5, which Jan 16-18. These are the highlights of what I was told on the phone in my excitement yesterday!
Yes, I'm super pumped, and ready for that interview week! I'm not sure what all I can share about the process just yet, so I'll use discretion here and anytime I mention it publically. And also I stink at conveying my thoughts and feelings on something so personal! I'm more of a technical writer, so it's hard to get this into words.
I did ask Anna-Marie last night if she thought I should be an astronaut, and apparently I have her blessing. Paul's beside himself as well! :) A little celebration is in order!
WOOT!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
A snail's soul
Me: That snail's been stuck on our window for like a week now. It must be dead.
Anna: Why is it still stuck on the window then? Shouldn't it have gone up to Heaven?
Me: Well the soul goes to Heaven but the body stays behind when something dies. Do you know what a soul is?
Anna: No
We've had conversations about the soul before but like other things as she grows it's like she is hearing it for the first time.
Me: The soul is inside your body. You can't see it, but it makes Anna who Anna is, and mommy mommy and daddy daddy.
Anna: But the snail is still there on the window.
Me: Just his body, baby. When you die, your body stays and your soul leaves.
I think she was happy with that.
At the park a few weeks ago a little boy (neighbor) her age told her that people who don't go to church don't believe in God. I told her the next time someone tells her that, she can tell them that's wrong, because God is everywhere, and not just in a church.
In today's day and age I still can't believe that people actually believe what the little boy told Anna, and worse, that kids are being told this.
It's the world we live in. I can't wait till we can start teaching her about true access to God, angels, and those on The Other Side who will help her in life going forward. What a powerful thing for a kid to realize at an early age. Everyone should have such access and comfort.
Anna: Why is it still stuck on the window then? Shouldn't it have gone up to Heaven?
Me: Well the soul goes to Heaven but the body stays behind when something dies. Do you know what a soul is?
Anna: No
We've had conversations about the soul before but like other things as she grows it's like she is hearing it for the first time.
Me: The soul is inside your body. You can't see it, but it makes Anna who Anna is, and mommy mommy and daddy daddy.
Anna: But the snail is still there on the window.
Me: Just his body, baby. When you die, your body stays and your soul leaves.
I think she was happy with that.
At the park a few weeks ago a little boy (neighbor) her age told her that people who don't go to church don't believe in God. I told her the next time someone tells her that, she can tell them that's wrong, because God is everywhere, and not just in a church.
In today's day and age I still can't believe that people actually believe what the little boy told Anna, and worse, that kids are being told this.
It's the world we live in. I can't wait till we can start teaching her about true access to God, angels, and those on The Other Side who will help her in life going forward. What a powerful thing for a kid to realize at an early age. Everyone should have such access and comfort.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Disney: The Run
It was an awesome night run over 10 miles that started at 10pm, following 3 days of walking the theme parks. We were already tired and sore...this little stunt was a 9.5 on the nutsometer! But it really was super fun. Disney knows how to put on a good Halloween night run!
It was certainly no impressive pace on our part. I don't even want to check my official time! I eased up on all that, given the serious training deficit and current state of exhaustion and just focused on fun. Besides, since it was my first 10-miler, I had no personal best to beat :) May as well set the bar low!! Not like it was a half marathon...
The route was fun!
We got to run through the WW of Sports stadium!
It was the Tower of Terror 10 miler. Too busy on the run to take many pictures. It ended at Disney's Hollywood Studios but we were too exhausted to stay and ride the rides after we finished. After post-race logistics we finally got to sleep at 3:30am, and were up the next morning by 9 ready to go again. Thanks to Aunt M and Uncle C for keeping Anna that night so we could run!
Finish line: Tower of Terror ride. Sucky iPhone shot.
Totally worth this awesome metal!! A replica of the ride! And this is the inaugural year, too!
Great job, Disney!
I haven't run since and the Houston half is in Jan. Time to get started now that all my travel is behind me for awhile..
It was certainly no impressive pace on our part. I don't even want to check my official time! I eased up on all that, given the serious training deficit and current state of exhaustion and just focused on fun. Besides, since it was my first 10-miler, I had no personal best to beat :) May as well set the bar low!! Not like it was a half marathon...
The route was fun!
We got to run through the WW of Sports stadium!
It was the Tower of Terror 10 miler. Too busy on the run to take many pictures. It ended at Disney's Hollywood Studios but we were too exhausted to stay and ride the rides after we finished. After post-race logistics we finally got to sleep at 3:30am, and were up the next morning by 9 ready to go again. Thanks to Aunt M and Uncle C for keeping Anna that night so we could run!
Finish line: Tower of Terror ride. Sucky iPhone shot.
Totally worth this awesome metal!! A replica of the ride! And this is the inaugural year, too!
Great job, Disney!
I haven't run since and the Houston half is in Jan. Time to get started now that all my travel is behind me for awhile..
Her first piano lesson
Tonight was her first piano lesson with Ms N! She did great and I can see this will be a good challenge for her. She loves patterns and to try to make sense of stuff and at her first lesson she was learning to read music. I've also noticed that it will be good for her self confidence. She's smart but she second guesses herself a lot when put on the spot by other authority figures. So I hope this helps to teach her to trust herself. It's interesting to see how that second guessing herself is innate for her.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Disney 2012 Part 1
Wow, what a great family trip! I hate that it's taken me so long to post it all here but life's been a whirlwind with almost weekly travel lately...
Anna is a real trooper, like her mom and dad. She rarely got tired and pounded the pavement from gates open to close on this trip: Orlando! In 4 days we covered Lego land, Universal Studios, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom. We even added the Disney night time Trick or Treat party and the Tower of Terror night time 10 mile run for myself and Paul (that was a true testament to how much physical torture we could place on ourselves before we mentally caved!!! Soon enough my feet realized I was doing nothing about their screams between parks and that run so they eventually quit hurting).
Anyway, here's a few photos from our awesome trip. So much fun to travel with these guys, and although Anna's done Disney before, it was like it was all brand new to her. It was really fun to watch her face on the new or forgotten stuff and then watch her recall the stuff we did remember. So really fun!!!
This time we stayed in a condo at Windsor Hills, off Disney site. Only $79/ night with three bedrooms and 2 baths! Uncle Corey and Aunt Myra and cousin Avery stayed with us and it was fun to catch up! It's the best way to go! We stayed in the Puff's Hideout condo. Awesome!!!
At Universal:
She's never seen this movie yet (Lorax) but wanted a picture anyway...
We got the picture with the Mystery Machine but Scooby was always on break!!!
Husband had to.
Spongebob's House: Anna's dream come true...
Squidward's house
Suddenly Spongebob himself came out of a nearby door and motioned to Anna to follow him (gasp!) Her response: "what does he want?" I told her to just follow....
Ta-Da! Her favorite character currently (I can't fathom why but she's not the only kid on the planet who loves him...) She was excited!
We caught an Animal show :) Birds buzzed our heads!
Back to the Future
Simpsons Ride. During the ride they spray baby powder scent for effect. Anna must have gotten a big dose right into her nose because she complained she could still smell it the rest of the day! And she hates the smell more than I do. I suspect she will forever link the Simpsons to that smell...
She watched her first Simpson episode the night before we went to Universal, just in time to learn who these guys were:
She spotted Shrek and had to have a picture. No lines!!
Anticipation over a much awaited parade....
We rode Men In Black...
And back through Spongebob's house, this time to find Patrick too...
Onward that evening to Magic Kingdom's Halloween Party. Kids could dress up and trick or treat while riding rides and meeting Disney villains. It was crowded!!
We made it to bed around 1:30am!
Anna was a unicorn :)
On the boat to the MK.
Boo To You parade, hard to get good pictures!
We covered lots of rides, including the new Dumbo (awesome!), tea cups, Haunted Mansion, Whinney the Pooh, and the Barnstormer roller coaster over and over and over (hands up, bc that's he she rolls!). She finally gave in around midnight...
Love!!
The next day at Epcot she anxiously awaits meeting princess Belle on her way into a princess lunch...
Autographing her book...
This is a picture of Anna as he was trying to answer the question, "what's YOUR name?". She choked. Literally. On her food. She was so scared she started crying a bit and Aurora turns to me: "Oh MY! Sometimes they can get a little overwhelmed! Are you ok?!" I suggest she moves on the the next table so we can figure out the problem. It turns out Anna went to answer her name to Aurora and choked on a mouthful of food, which scared her into tears :) She recovered and Aurora came back but Anna decided after that when she saw any princess at a nearby table, she was not going to put any food into her mouth!
Anna working the camera.
After lunch: her old faves...lots of soft hugs :)
It's the same poses of the same child, 1.5 yrs later.
The rest of Epcot was rides with short lines and:
...I'd better post this now before I never finish! More to come, next post, including the run!
Anna is a real trooper, like her mom and dad. She rarely got tired and pounded the pavement from gates open to close on this trip: Orlando! In 4 days we covered Lego land, Universal Studios, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom. We even added the Disney night time Trick or Treat party and the Tower of Terror night time 10 mile run for myself and Paul (that was a true testament to how much physical torture we could place on ourselves before we mentally caved!!! Soon enough my feet realized I was doing nothing about their screams between parks and that run so they eventually quit hurting).
Anyway, here's a few photos from our awesome trip. So much fun to travel with these guys, and although Anna's done Disney before, it was like it was all brand new to her. It was really fun to watch her face on the new or forgotten stuff and then watch her recall the stuff we did remember. So really fun!!!
This time we stayed in a condo at Windsor Hills, off Disney site. Only $79/ night with three bedrooms and 2 baths! Uncle Corey and Aunt Myra and cousin Avery stayed with us and it was fun to catch up! It's the best way to go! We stayed in the Puff's Hideout condo. Awesome!!!
At Universal:
She's never seen this movie yet (Lorax) but wanted a picture anyway...
We got the picture with the Mystery Machine but Scooby was always on break!!!
Husband had to.
Spongebob's House: Anna's dream come true...
Squidward's house
Suddenly Spongebob himself came out of a nearby door and motioned to Anna to follow him (gasp!) Her response: "what does he want?" I told her to just follow....
Ta-Da! Her favorite character currently (I can't fathom why but she's not the only kid on the planet who loves him...) She was excited!
We caught an Animal show :) Birds buzzed our heads!
Back to the Future
Simpsons Ride. During the ride they spray baby powder scent for effect. Anna must have gotten a big dose right into her nose because she complained she could still smell it the rest of the day! And she hates the smell more than I do. I suspect she will forever link the Simpsons to that smell...
She watched her first Simpson episode the night before we went to Universal, just in time to learn who these guys were:
She spotted Shrek and had to have a picture. No lines!!
Anticipation over a much awaited parade....
We rode Men In Black...
And back through Spongebob's house, this time to find Patrick too...
Onward that evening to Magic Kingdom's Halloween Party. Kids could dress up and trick or treat while riding rides and meeting Disney villains. It was crowded!!
We made it to bed around 1:30am!
Anna was a unicorn :)
On the boat to the MK.
Boo To You parade, hard to get good pictures!
We covered lots of rides, including the new Dumbo (awesome!), tea cups, Haunted Mansion, Whinney the Pooh, and the Barnstormer roller coaster over and over and over (hands up, bc that's he she rolls!). She finally gave in around midnight...
Love!!
The next day at Epcot she anxiously awaits meeting princess Belle on her way into a princess lunch...
Autographing her book...
This is a picture of Anna as he was trying to answer the question, "what's YOUR name?". She choked. Literally. On her food. She was so scared she started crying a bit and Aurora turns to me: "Oh MY! Sometimes they can get a little overwhelmed! Are you ok?!" I suggest she moves on the the next table so we can figure out the problem. It turns out Anna went to answer her name to Aurora and choked on a mouthful of food, which scared her into tears :) She recovered and Aurora came back but Anna decided after that when she saw any princess at a nearby table, she was not going to put any food into her mouth!
Anna working the camera.
After lunch: her old faves...lots of soft hugs :)
It's the same poses of the same child, 1.5 yrs later.
The rest of Epcot was rides with short lines and:
...I'd better post this now before I never finish! More to come, next post, including the run!
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