Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Bill, the kids, and other photo updates
I haven't updated in months, but wanted to post some pictures. My laptop is having problems and this is a good place to back-up things.
Bill got the Director's Award a few weeks ago. They invited the kids on stage for a picture with their dad. This recognition is given to less than 3 percent of the total wor
k-force, and we are very proud of him.
From left to right.
Mike Coats (JSC Director and three time shuttle astronaut), Bill, Morgan, Billy, and Ellen Ochoa (JSC Deputy Director and four time shuttle astronaut.) This is a nice picture of the three of them, but Bill was getting sick that day. He had a horrible reaction to a new medication that caused the lymph nodes in his neck and head to swell till he looked like he had the mumps. This was taken the first day the swelling started. He definitely looks different. This was especially nice as Coats had been Bill's boss back in his shuttle days. It has been great for him to get to work for him again
----------------
Now playing: Elton John - Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long Long Time)
via FoxyTunes
For something completely different, the following are "baby pictures" of Phobos. He was born on Thanksgiving Day of 2008. He's almost as big as Triton now, but we are terrible with pictures.
We will have to get some big-boy stuff up soon. This first is Phobos at about 4 weeks while he was still with the breeder. He was one of 5 in a litter of all boys. In the next, Phobos is with Triton on the back porch. He is about 9 weeks old. Triton turned 5 last January. She is only about 45 pounds but pretty tall. She looks huge next to the puppy. In the last picture, Phobos is following Triton as usual. He is about 14 weeks old here.
Bill got the Director's Award a few weeks ago. They invited the kids on stage for a picture with their dad. This recognition is given to less than 3 percent of the total wor
k-force, and we are very proud of him. From left to right.
Mike Coats (JSC Director and three time shuttle astronaut), Bill, Morgan, Billy, and Ellen Ochoa (JSC Deputy Director and four time shuttle astronaut.) This is a nice picture of the three of them, but Bill was getting sick that day. He had a horrible reaction to a new medication that caused the lymph nodes in his neck and head to swell till he looked like he had the mumps. This was taken the first day the swelling started. He definitely looks different. This was especially nice as Coats had been Bill's boss back in his shuttle days. It has been great for him to get to work for him again
----------------
Now playing: Elton John - Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long Long Time)
via FoxyTunes
For something completely different, the following are "baby pictures" of Phobos. He was born on Thanksgiving Day of 2008. He's almost as big as Triton now, but we are terrible with pictures.
We will have to get some big-boy stuff up soon. This first is Phobos at about 4 weeks while he was still with the breeder. He was one of 5 in a litter of all boys. In the next, Phobos is with Triton on the back porch. He is about 9 weeks old. Triton turned 5 last January. She is only about 45 pounds but pretty tall. She looks huge next to the puppy. In the last picture, Phobos is following Triton as usual. He is about 14 weeks old here.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Space Shuttle In Our Back Yard
I've been busy and not much up for blogging in awhile. There has been more productive stuff to do, and I've been thinking of stopping this altogether. Then the kids reminded me it has been a good way to remember some of the major things happening in our lives. Since it's been two months, I won't try and catch up. Instead, here's a cool thing that happened a few days back.
We turned on the news for a quick update, and they were showing a live shot of Endeavor and its 747 ferry taking off from Ft. Worth after refueling. The most recent landing had been at Edwards due to weather at the Cape. We'd had snow the night before and had no chance for a refueling stop here. (Bill also says our airport may not be suitable anymore.) So we missed a chance to see the shuttle up close, but Morgan was optimistic anyway.
Morgan: "So how long till it gets here?"
Me: "It must not be coming, or Daddy would have told us."
Morgan: "Sure it will. How long?"
Me: "Well, it would be about 30 minutes, but we would know. Really. They'd tell us. It's sort of a big deal when we have a flyby. They'd tell us."
Morgan says nothing but checks the time. I forget all about it. We turn off the news and go back to work. Morgan hears a plane and jumps up.
Morgan: "That sounds like a big plane to me. It's flying low, too."
Me: "Oh, Morgan I told you we would know."
Morgan: "OK, then what's that out the back window?
Endeavor flew over our house 3 times. We ran outside and clapped, shouted, waved and danced. She's a beauty. And the moral of this story? Listen to your kids and look for cool things to fly by your house! Merry Christmas... ( The photos are from JSC. Unfortunately, I didn't listen to Morgan and get my camera ready.)
We turned on the news for a quick update, and they were showing a live shot of Endeavor and its 747 ferry taking off from Ft. Worth after refueling. The most recent landing had been at Edwards due to weather at the Cape. We'd had snow the night before and had no chance for a refueling stop here. (Bill also says our airport may not be suitable anymore.) So we missed a chance to see the shuttle up close, but Morgan was optimistic anyway.
Morgan: "So how long till it gets here?"
Me: "It must not be coming, or Daddy would have told us."
Morgan: "Sure it will. How long?"
Me: "Well, it would be about 30 minutes, but we would know. Really. They'd tell us. It's sort of a big deal when we have a flyby. They'd tell us."
Morgan says nothing but checks the time. I forget all about it. We turn off the news and go back to work. Morgan hears a plane and jumps up.
Morgan: "That sounds like a big plane to me. It's flying low, too."
Me: "Oh, Morgan I told you we would know."
Morgan: "OK, then what's that out the back window?
Endeavor flew over our house 3 times. We ran outside and clapped, shouted, waved and danced. She's a beauty. And the moral of this story? Listen to your kids and look for cool things to fly by your house! Merry Christmas... ( The photos are from JSC. Unfortunately, I didn't listen to Morgan and get my camera ready.)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Pink States, Yellow States, and Rainbows
Everyone I know is tired of the latest election cycle, fiscal crisis, et al. Mostly I feel invaded by the loud, insistent, and seemly urgent demands for my attention.
I also hate being a demographic. Red state, middle-aged, middle-class, southern
, suburban, protestant, self-employed, mother of two, married.
The loud and urgent seem to think my group needs a great deal of guidance. I have been very tired of being told what I must think/feel/do.... I don't want to be classified, or whatever the verb form for demographic might be ... demographed, demographified?
____________________________________________________________________
Then, right in the middle of Kroger, I had an epiphany. I know... Kroger... just screams middle-class/age/mom.
I bl
inked and the world turned pink. Shoppers and workers dressed in pink. Shelves lined in specially packaged pink products. Pink candy, yogurt, cereal, and all of those wrist bands. The whole city turns pink for the Koman Race for the Cure, and it's grown from there. Y'all, the loud and self-important doesn't always win. The world changes with the small, the modest, the quiet, and the humble things in life. I'd been swimming in all this goodness and never saw or heard. Yogurt lids, women walking together.
And in October, we
also turn Yellow with Lance Armstrong and the Ride for the Roses. Every year we celebrate cancer survivors and commit to eliminating cancer from our lives forever. remembering this helps make all the noise finally go away. Good things happen all the time. Good people do the right thing.
And during Pride, we turn the whole city into a rainbow. The l
ights are almost as cool as the people!
So I've decided my new demographic is is Pink/Yellow/and Rainbow. Plus, we have all these cool wrist bands.
A young man, about 19-20, was my cashier at the Kroger of the Epiphany. He had pink and yellow wrist bands on one arm and a rainbow band on the other. I wanted to tell him how proud I was of him and how proud his parents must be. What a great kid. But I didn't. I doubt he would have wanted an old lady patting him on the head.
----------------
Now playing: Big Tent Revival - The Great American Novel
via FoxyTunes
I also hate being a demographic. Red state, middle-aged, middle-class, southern
, suburban, protestant, self-employed, mother of two, married.The loud and urgent seem to think my group needs a great deal of guidance. I have been very tired of being told what I must think/feel/do.... I don't want to be classified, or whatever the verb form for demographic might be ... demographed, demographified?
____________________________________________________________________
Then, right in the middle of Kroger, I had an epiphany. I know... Kroger... just screams middle-class/age/mom.
I bl
inked and the world turned pink. Shoppers and workers dressed in pink. Shelves lined in specially packaged pink products. Pink candy, yogurt, cereal, and all of those wrist bands. The whole city turns pink for the Koman Race for the Cure, and it's grown from there. Y'all, the loud and self-important doesn't always win. The world changes with the small, the modest, the quiet, and the humble things in life. I'd been swimming in all this goodness and never saw or heard. Yogurt lids, women walking together.And in October, we
also turn Yellow with Lance Armstrong and the Ride for the Roses. Every year we celebrate cancer survivors and commit to eliminating cancer from our lives forever. remembering this helps make all the noise finally go away. Good things happen all the time. Good people do the right thing.And during Pride, we turn the whole city into a rainbow. The l
ights are almost as cool as the people!
So I've decided my new demographic is is Pink/Yellow/and Rainbow. Plus, we have all these cool wrist bands.
A young man, about 19-20, was my cashier at the Kroger of the Epiphany. He had pink and yellow wrist bands on one arm and a rainbow band on the other. I wanted to tell him how proud I was of him and how proud his parents must be. What a great kid. But I didn't. I doubt he would have wanted an old lady patting him on the head.
----------------
Now playing: Big Tent Revival - The Great American Novel
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Evacuation Updates -- Status your out of Houston Friends
We have been keeping up pretty well with everyone on our evacuation plan but did not inform all of our friends outside of Houston of our whereabouts. I also failed to factor in loved ones that do not use e-mail/blogs etc.
BIG MISTAKE. My dearest friend of the last 47 years, Darlene, was not on my list. She lives in Ft. Worth and has no idea how hurricane evacuations work or what plans we had in place. She left frantic messages that did not reach us and was headed to Houston this morning to try to find me. Thank God her husband delayed her rescue trip long enough for us to reach her before she got close to the mess. Darlene is one of the brightest and best women I know, but she won't use the Internet and never calls my cell. We very nearly had a serious problem just because we left someone out.
We've been able to check our voice mail from the house. Since the account is through the phone company and not tied to power in the house, we heard from several people we left off our call list. If you may have let someone fall through the cracks, check your address book and call those people before they send the national guard after you.
Updates on our folks -- Long:
Carol and family- still in Dallas
Carol's folks -- safe in Pearland. No power.
Melody and John -- safe and have power in Northwest Houston. They are trying to get to Carol's folks now.
Ginger and family -- have gone back home but have no power
Jenny and Lee -- safe in League City but no power and using emergency supplies. We will check with them and take what they need when we go home.
Ramona -- safe in Katy with her aunt
John and his mom -- still in Palestine and safe
Julian and his mom - heard from them shortly before the storm, have no information on their evacuation location. If you have information on the area around Webster, I'd like to know.
Main family -- stayed in Pearland, no information sense the storm
Audry, Mike and the kids -- safe with Suzanne and Henri
Hubert and Vera -- stayed in Pearland. safe but no power.
BIG MISTAKE. My dearest friend of the last 47 years, Darlene, was not on my list. She lives in Ft. Worth and has no idea how hurricane evacuations work or what plans we had in place. She left frantic messages that did not reach us and was headed to Houston this morning to try to find me. Thank God her husband delayed her rescue trip long enough for us to reach her before she got close to the mess. Darlene is one of the brightest and best women I know, but she won't use the Internet and never calls my cell. We very nearly had a serious problem just because we left someone out.
We've been able to check our voice mail from the house. Since the account is through the phone company and not tied to power in the house, we heard from several people we left off our call list. If you may have let someone fall through the cracks, check your address book and call those people before they send the national guard after you.
Updates on our folks -- Long:
Carol and family- still in Dallas
Carol's folks -- safe in Pearland. No power.
Melody and John -- safe and have power in Northwest Houston. They are trying to get to Carol's folks now.
Ginger and family -- have gone back home but have no power
Jenny and Lee -- safe in League City but no power and using emergency supplies. We will check with them and take what they need when we go home.
Ramona -- safe in Katy with her aunt
John and his mom -- still in Palestine and safe
Julian and his mom - heard from them shortly before the storm, have no information on their evacuation location. If you have information on the area around Webster, I'd like to know.
Main family -- stayed in Pearland, no information sense the storm
Audry, Mike and the kids -- safe with Suzanne and Henri
Hubert and Vera -- stayed in Pearland. safe but no power.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Evacuation for Ike
We have evacuated to Austin very close to Henri and Suzanne. We've checked on everyone we can. Here's what we know. If you find out more or can let us know how you're doing, please leave a comment.
Audry, Mike and their kids are at Suzanne's house.
Mamita is with Lucy and her kids.
Alex and his wife are with his in-laws.
Carol's family and Ginger's are in Dallas.
Ramona is in Katy with her aunt.
Tom's family are all in Palestine.
Dr. Schumacher and his family are at the ranch and can be reached if we him.
Everyone's cells are working if you need to reach them/us, and Bill's had a tag-up with JSC today. Short-term, we will stay in Austin and can get help from friends if we need anything. We will not try to return to the house until we know if it is habitable.
We've been watching the news and praying for the folks still in Houston. A few of our folks are part of first responder/critical services and unable to leave. Nick's grandmother is in the sheriff's office in Dickenson. Laurie's family, Carol's folks, and Suzanne's are all staying in Pearland. Ginger's husband is staying in Houston with the power company.
UT canceled the game with the Razorbacks and freed up several thousand beds in Austin yesterday. Gov. Perry issued orders freezing lodging costs at their lowest rates. That's saving us about $30 per night and is much appreciated. Y'all would be so proud of Texas if you could see how well everything has been managed for the evacuation. We had no problems with finding gas and the traffic was very heavy but nothing like Rita. Carol said it took about 8 hours to get to Dallas, but they left late yesterday afternoon. Even so, the road were safe.
It would be great to hear status from anyone in Houston. For some stupid reason, I can't stop crying. I'm not very upset about our personal belongings but feeling very sad about what may happen to Galveston and Clear Lake. We've heard that Galveston may be totally submerged sometime tonight. Or neighborhood could be under 15-20 feet of water. Obviously, we all love Houston, and it hurts to think of what may happen to our city. More importantly, please keep yourselves safe. Everyone is going to have a combined birthday party Saturday, 7:00 at Tomi's, God willing. Keep safe and be there. We are praying for you all.
Power/communication could go down during and after the storm. So, please leave a comment here if necessary to let us know you're OK when the storm has passed.
Love,
Donna
Audry, Mike and their kids are at Suzanne's house.
Mamita is with Lucy and her kids.
Alex and his wife are with his in-laws.
Carol's family and Ginger's are in Dallas.
Ramona is in Katy with her aunt.
Tom's family are all in Palestine.
Dr. Schumacher and his family are at the ranch and can be reached if we him.
Everyone's cells are working if you need to reach them/us, and Bill's had a tag-up with JSC today. Short-term, we will stay in Austin and can get help from friends if we need anything. We will not try to return to the house until we know if it is habitable.
We've been watching the news and praying for the folks still in Houston. A few of our folks are part of first responder/critical services and unable to leave. Nick's grandmother is in the sheriff's office in Dickenson. Laurie's family, Carol's folks, and Suzanne's are all staying in Pearland. Ginger's husband is staying in Houston with the power company.
UT canceled the game with the Razorbacks and freed up several thousand beds in Austin yesterday. Gov. Perry issued orders freezing lodging costs at their lowest rates. That's saving us about $30 per night and is much appreciated. Y'all would be so proud of Texas if you could see how well everything has been managed for the evacuation. We had no problems with finding gas and the traffic was very heavy but nothing like Rita. Carol said it took about 8 hours to get to Dallas, but they left late yesterday afternoon. Even so, the road were safe.
It would be great to hear status from anyone in Houston. For some stupid reason, I can't stop crying. I'm not very upset about our personal belongings but feeling very sad about what may happen to Galveston and Clear Lake. We've heard that Galveston may be totally submerged sometime tonight. Or neighborhood could be under 15-20 feet of water. Obviously, we all love Houston, and it hurts to think of what may happen to our city. More importantly, please keep yourselves safe. Everyone is going to have a combined birthday party Saturday, 7:00 at Tomi's, God willing. Keep safe and be there. We are praying for you all.
Power/communication could go down during and after the storm. So, please leave a comment here if necessary to let us know you're OK when the storm has passed.
Love,
Donna
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