Launch @ MindSay 
shuttle
*sucking in a deep breath* It's coming down to the wire. In 28 days, phsbum will be launched into her adult life as a soldier in the US Army. She has the support of her friends, boyfriend and brother & sister, and even her dad and step-mom. She has not only my support, but ... she carries with her my deepest love and respect. She is more excited than scared and what fear simmers beneath the surface is a simple fear of the unknown. Her faith will be defined.
The thought that circles slowly, ominously in my mind is ... how do I let go? (Yes, a selfish thought!) Her older sister walked away little by little and still lives 10 minutes away. Her brother sleeps here, eats here, and keeps his "stuff" here ... and has for several years. It will be like going "cold turkey", though, as she leaves. We have been so close that people would stop us in the mall or the grocery store and remark on our obvious love for one another. Restricted phone privileges. No texting. Only snail-mail for 9 weeks! 9 WEEKS! Then I can see her - at the graduation ceremony at Ft Jackson, SC, but she will be changed. No longer my little girl, she will be a soldier. A beautiful, compassionate, intelligent, well-trained soldier. Lord, have mercy!
~ B
It's Monday ... HOT, hazy and humid in Pittsburgh and there's a certain ... je ne sais quoi ... in the air. An unsettled-ness, perhaps describes it.
My son is busy looking for work. He needs work to pay for school ...
phsbum is busily working toward her goals. Before she leaves in September for Ft Jackson, she must obtain her GED. Like her mother *blushing*, the only subject that gives her grief is MATH, but ... I think she's got the fundamentals. Physically, she is building her endurance slowly. M -W-F 's she runs with her recruiters and they pus *clears throat* ... encourage her to push herself! She wants to be able to comfortably run 5 miles by the time she leaves.
I think the "unsettled-ness" involves the emotional upheaval on the horizon. My son deals with it by not being around. My daughter is definately testing her boundaries, anxious to be released from my hold. I, of course, am releasing her with one hand and holding on with the other. My older daughter has been calling everyday ... touching base, staying "in the loop." It's a peculiar sensation.
So ... just for fun ...
| What Your Latte Says About You |
 You can be quite silly at times, but you know when to buckle down and be serious. You have a good deal of energy, but you pace yourself. You never burn out too fast. You're addicted to caffeine. There's no denying it. You are a child at heart, and you don't ever miss the opportunity to do something playful. You are honest and genuine, but you are never tactless. |
| Your Hidden Talent |
 You tend to be full of new ideas and potential - big potential. Ideas like yours could change the world, if you build them. As long as you don't stop working on your dreams, you'll get there. |
| You Are Pretty Happy Being Single |
 Of course, being single can get you down a little. Especially when you've been single for a while. But you know how to be patient and wait for the right person. You're life is too good to settle for anything! |
| Your Inner Color is Blue |
 You in Love: Relationships are your top priority, and this includes love. You are most happy when you are serious with someone. Your Career: You need to help others in your job to feel satistifed. You would be a great nurse, psychologist, or counselor. |
~ B
Launching potatoes was awesome. Seeing the spud core flying through the air in waverly park, simply breathtaking (if the running back and forth to measure the distance our projectile flew had not already stolen it). That absolutely made my day (which, by my standards, was a pretty good day anyways). I never knew that physics could be so beautiful . . .
Speaking of physics, I'd best get back to work.
Just because I've been singing it all day, a song:
Let me know that I've done wrong
When I've known this all along
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you
Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know
I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Who has to know
When we live such fragile lives
It's the best way we survive
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you
Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know
I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Who has to know
The way she feels inside (inside)
Those thoughts I can't deny (deny)
These sleeping dogs won't lie (won't lie)
And now I try to lie
It’s eating me apart
Trace this life back
I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret)
I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Dirty little secret
Dirty little secret
Who has to know
Who has to know
Although they have not yet actually fixed the sensor problem they are readying for a 'Tuesday' launch it seems.
There will be a continuation of the current troubleshooting and some specific tests to do over the days. Someone is optimistic they will either find a fix or it really isn't the problem it is regulated to be.
It is worrying when I see talk that 'mission managers' are looking into an ammendment of a rule so that the flight could go ahead even if they do not find a fix and only three out of the four sensors are operational.
It's an interesting turn of events, to my mind, after the last few months of what has often seemed like delays at the drop of a hat. It seems to me that the mission managers are giving the wind up and really want to get things 'go for launch' now.
Personally i don't liek the sound of a rule ammendment. They have the rules for a reason - it almost sounds a tad political to be changing them to make a launch happen, not that they actually did that. But it was mentioned.
There is also still the possibility that the launch window could be extended past the July 31st close - but this would mean alterations to mission tasks.
Certainly one must feel for the astronauts.
How would you feel as an astonaut to have spent the last two plus years grounded?
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