Musings of a Migrant Science Teacher
SDOisGo-ne... 02/24/2010
 By @NoisyAstronomer It's taken me a while to write this post. Mostly because I've been so busy, but also because I've needed some time to process things. This month has been my busiest ever - I'm actually a bit shocked I survived. I feel a bit like I'm recovering from PTSD. The 16 hour days, the constant pressure every waking moment, the night terrors, day terrors, paper cuts, dreaded delays, and waves of emails: all threatening my sanity. This launch was the hardest thing I've done in quite a long time, and I poured my heart out into every bit of my role. I hope it showed. Ugh, so many thoughts... How do you explain the feeling of a once-in-a-lifetime moment? Or sad happiness? Fulfillment and trepidation all rolled into one? I have to at least try... Looking up at Everest. 02/19/2010
 On February 1st, 2010, I checked my email and saw this: Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as the Grand Prize Winner of the “Champion: What’s Your Everest?” contest, and recipient of the $10,000 prize for fulfillment of your goal. I'm ashamed to say the first word out of my mouth was one my mother probably wouldn't have approved. $10,000... Who wins that?!? Who gets an email saying that someone is going to give them lots of money - and it's actually legit?? On Feb 1st, it was me. Liftoff 02/08/2010
OMGOMGOMG! Last night I saw my first night launch. Last night I saw the very last night launch. The moment was bittersweet in many ways. The first launch attempt was scrubbed due to weather so this was our second night out in the cold from 1am-4:30am. Everyone was tired, but the excitement carried us through. The only word I can use to describe the experience is 'overwhelming.' Night turned to day, and the center was bathed in the light of the explosion that put a crew of humans into space. We watched people go to space. Constellation might be gone, but this story isn't over. I'm still going to be an astronaut when I grow up. Lost Lunches at Launch 02/07/2010
I'm tired. This trip has been characterized by a distinct lack of sleep. Last night the shuttle was no go. Took us 2.5 hours to travel about 15 miles. Arrived back at the hotel as the sun was rising. And now we have to do it all over again tonight. #doubtingmyloveofnasa... Due to the current state of my brain I'm going to refer you to two other blogs which describe the event in more detail: http://privon.com/blog/space/the-part-they-dont-tell-you-about-shuttle-launches/ and http://noisyastronomer.com/ I believe they can still spell...  Rollercoaster of Torture 02/02/2010
 'Little SDO' Things have been so nuts around here lately. It completely ruined my "I'm going to blog every Friday" resolution. Last Friday I was in Florida, this Friday I will be on my way TO Florida again... The marathon has begun, forces are in motion, and there is no way to get off this ride, even though I'm at the doors yelling "LET ME OFF!" I've shared a little about the projects keeping me busy, and since I've done nothing new since then I thought I'd share some more details. These aren't your every day regular projects. They are first time ever done projects, which might explain my fried nerves.  I just finished watching the panel discussion on social media at the 2010 Outdoor Retailer Winter Show (See: http://www.vimeo.com/8924432 Search #guerillapanel) Several people I follow on Twitter ( @theclimbergirl @highsteph @wude72 @pembaserves) sat on a panel and discussed what got them started in social media, their experiences, and what makes "virtual" interactions successful. Dames in the Dacks 2010 01/15/2010
 I climbed a mountain last weekend. No really, I did. Without the aid of motorized vehicles or Sherpa. AND it was in the dead of winter. This isn't something I typically do. I'm a self proclaimed reptile when it comes to temperatures. I just don't do well in extreme conditions, so I was even more astounded to find that I could hike with only two layers - a fleece and a softshell jacket. Amazing. This whole thing started when Sara Lingafelter (@theclimbergirl) was chosen to go to Nepal with the Hanes Brands Everest team. She took a mountaineering course to prepare and reported about it on her blog. Katie Levey (@adventuregrrl) announced her intention to take a similar class shortly thereafter. While the idea had been planted in the back of my mind by Sara, I hadn't seriously considered taking a class myself. My man mountaineers and ice climbs. Last year I tried ice climbing to see why he likes it so much, so I figured this year I should try mountaineering, or "walking slowly uphill while not feeling well." Twitter, NASA and the 21st Century 01/04/2010
 *Let me just preface this by saying this is the first time I’ve posted for the Space Tweeps, but I blog on my own and my style is a bit… rough. I’m hoping to sound smooth and polished in this entry but if I fail you can blame my blog and it’s encouraging readers. I grew up in a house with liberal arts-type parents. Neither Mom nor Dad is very “nerdy.” They do, however, have two key elements that I inherited that when combined created a good science nerd: Order and Curiosity. I get my love of organization from my dad. We both obsess over “things to put things in” and would live at the container store if allowed. Both my parents bequeathed curiosity – but my mom pointed mine in a particular direction: Up. I remember listening to her tell me stories about the space race, listening to the first man on the moon, and playing with her big brothers who taught her all about the stars. I remember cold winter nights being dragged out of bed by my mom at 2am because there is some kind of celestial event and we needed to see it… only to get out there and sit in the freezing cold under the clouds, all alone in the dark. Meh, it can’t always be picturesque. I was sure I’d be an astronaut when I grew up. I’m still hoping I will be. Welcome Baby 2010! 12/31/2009
Welcome to my New Year's tradition. Every year since I can't remember when I've written resolutions and done my very best to keep them. Sometimes the resolutions are goals, sometimes they are milestones, and often they are just plain goofy. The point isn't the resolution it's self though, its the goal setting and the yearly reflection. I'm a big fan of reflecting (insert astronomer joke about telescope optics here.) I believe that taking a good hard look at where you've been helps you prepare for where you are going. On one occasion in particular, it completely changed my life. But I digress... Christmas from waaaaay up high! 12/26/2009
 Night Vision Goggles *This whole once a week to better my writing skills thing only works if the day you want to post does not include a holiday. Therefore I'm posting on the 26th rather than on the 25th when I wrote it. Merry Christmas all! I woke up this morning sneezing. Not just any kind of sneeze, but the kind that affects one nostril and causes the corresponding eye to water, annoying the crap out of you and refusing to stop no matter how many times you sneeze or blow your nose.. This is how I opened presents this morning: "It's Aleya's turn!" "Ok, hand me - *ACHOO* that one will you?" "Here you go." "ACHOO! Thank you. *Sniff*" "Aww, you really like it don't you?" "*Sniff sniff* Yep!" Getting choked up about socks is not uncommon for me, but in this case it wasn't tears, just snot. | 
AuthorMigrant Science Teacher CategoriesAll ArchivesFebruary 2010 |
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