3-2-1 Liftoff!

The shuttle launch was truly a great experience (I'll post photos after I download them). This was definitely a perk that came with the boyfriend.

We had a whirlwind trip. We left mid-morning Saturday, driving from Houston to Pensacola. Sunday was from Pensacola to Cocoa Beach. Monday was the launch and then we left right afterwards, spending the night in Tallahassee. Yesterday we drove from Tallahassee to Houston.

Things learned during the trip:

1) We learned that we CAN do a road trip together. More than 32 hours in a car together and we still love each other - no blood was shed, despite the fact that I wanted to get home at a decent hour (made it at 10pm) and he wanted to stop and see things on the way back. We've already decided that we need to take more road trips so that we can spend time seeing things instead of just driving.

2) We learned that we both like to drive... so we have to come up with a driving schedule.

3) East Florida beaches are nice. We got to walk on the beach before and after the launch.

4) Seeing the launch on Kennedy Space Center property and having a VIP pass is definitely cool - we were invited to social gatherings, got a great press-type kit with picture, a shuttle patch and pin, bios of the astronauts, etc. We also got to watch the launch in the closest safe area. Way cool!

5) The shuttle goes up quickly! And loudly! And brightly!

6) Satellite radio makes a trip better. Since our music likes are so different, we listened to comedy stations mostly and those were surprisingly entertaining.

7) Jacuzzi jets will shoot water outside of the tub and onto the floor.

8) Florida oranges and tangerines really are better than Texas ones. And the fresh orange juice is yummy!!!

I'm sure there are more things, but I'm on a time limit. I finished 10 pages of essay number 1 just now and my brain is fried.

I'm so happy I don't have work next week. Last Thanksgiving I spent a great deal of time grading district exams. This year will be quite different: spending time with someone I love and feel 100% relaxed around and writing papers: the last 10 pages of essay number one and 12-15 pages of essay number two (not started, although primary research has begun). It's all about writing!!

And auditioning for a new play...

And planning the set for the "Midsummer's Night Dream," which I'm directing in the summer.

And reading summer reading book choices, if I have the time.

And cleaning my apartment.

Hey - can I get two weeks off?

Cheers and nighty-night!

Exciting!!!

This time next week I'll be in Florida - either hanging at the beach or maybe driving home (tba) - but the reason I'm going to be in Florida next week is... wait for it... the shuttle launch! The bf got VIP tickets, so I'm off to Cocoa Beach! I'm super excited - we're driving which is great because I love road trips and this will be the longest road trip he and I will have been on (previous road trip was only to Baton Rouge) AND I get to see the shuttle before the program ends. The only bummer is that, due to my work, we won't get in until Sunday (and the fact that I'm not a night driver - I fall asleep) which means we'll miss the KSC/launch pad tour. Oh, well. I still get to feel the ground shake, hear the roar of rocket engines and see the sight.

Yay!

And then I'm back to reality, in which I have 10 pages of a paper due next week. Well, it's due Monday, but I'm going to finish it tomorrow so that I won't have to worry about it. I have 6 pages so far... 4 will be easy to do.

Cheers!