Rocket Launch to the Moon!!!

Many of you may know that I have been traveling for work this summer.  I have been gone to prepare for the launch of the NASA satellite LADEE to the moon on the Minotaur V rocket.  The Launch is scheduled for this Friday, September 6th, at 11:27pm from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.  This is easily the most exciting part of my job and I always enjoy being part of a launch, but this one is extra special because we are launching the spacecraft to the moon.  Below are a few links that contain good information on how you can watch the launch and learn more about the mission.  

Info about the launch vehicle.  (This is what I work on):

http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/MinotaurV/index.shtml

That last link also has viewing info for any of you on the east coast.

Spaceflightnow.com provides up to date status of the launch and will be hosting video streaming:

http://spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/ladee/status.html

NASA's info on the LADEE satellite (this page has a cool countdown clock that shows how long until the launch:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ladee/main/index.html#.UiVK1jasjlU

The launch will also be on NASA TV.

If you watch the launch you will hear me as part of the countdown.  I am the vehicle control console operator for this launch.  My call sign is VC, so listen for the launch conductor to call VC and you will hear me respond to him.  I don't know when the coverage will start, but I make a bunch of calls between T- 50 minutes and T- 30 minutes.  Then I am included in the final poll for launch at T- 16 minutes, I enter the launch time at T-12 minutes, I initiate the flight sequencer and arm the flight computer around T- 5 minutes and just  after T- 4 minutes I send the navigate commands to our navigation units. 

Some of My Favorite Pictures

Recently Michelle and I made a photo wall in our house.  We went through all of our photos and printed a bunch and I thought I would share some of my favorite pictures.  A little background, in college Michelle took a couple of photography classes.  I helped her and learned quite a bit and got pretty good at understanding the technical side of photography.  Michelle has a eye for composition and the artsy side of photography.  So together we make a pretty good photographer! ;)

I love water shots with longer shutter speeds so the white water is fuzzy. This is one of the first times I was able to capture this effect.

 Michelle will spot shots like this as we drive places and we will pull over almost anywhere to get it!

 This one and the next one are a great couple of examples of Michelle's eye for composition!

 Michelle loves shooting old wood and farm machinery.  She does an awesome job!

 Michelle does a great job of capturing nature shots, this one from Oak Creek Canyon.

 Fire pictures intrigue me almost as much as camping with a fire itself!

 And I love sunset pictures, Michelle snapped this one in San Diego.

This was a great picture Michelle took while we were camping.  This was in the middle of the night with a long exposure. 

This and the next one show me how I just get lucky sometimes and why I love digital photography so I can just shoot a ton of pictures and eventually get some awesome shots!

Again I love sunrises and sunsets! This was in Alaska.

 This one was in Arizona

Again I got lucky as I caught this lion looking like it was letting out a huge roar (it was actually yawning, but you can't tell in the picture!).

Michelle always makes fun of me because I learned about framing and so when ever I see a tree and particularly dead scraggly trees I have to put them in the pictures.  I think half of the pictures I took at the Grand Canyon had a scraggly old tree in them!

Another great example of Michelle capturing the old farm shots!

I'm gonna get on a box...

...a soap box.  I am going to share an article with you, it is focused on Dad's.  I recognize that not all Dad's need this, and that there are Mom's in the world that need it just as much as Dad's!  I also realize that the 3 people that read my blog are probably not the people that need to see this, but, where else am I supposed to vent!
So, here's the article: http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/06/16/pearlman.fathers.day/index.html
And here's my two cents: I know too many awesome ladies that are struggling to fill both parent roles because their husbands are "too busy" with other things.  I firmly believe that once you have a child, you don't get to be selfish anymore--I don't care if you chose it or not, you are an adult, and you know how to avoid pregnancy.  I think about all of the fun things I did with my family growing up--some were big vacations, but there were lots of little, everyday sorts of fun too.  I am sad that so many kids get dumped in front of the tv, computer, wii, insert other gadget here.  No one is teaching them how to use their imagination, or how to interact with people, or even how to entertain themselves without having a screen of some sort around!  Kids need to know that they are loved, and valued, and how to love and value other people...otherwise they are going to grow up and be lonely, unhappy, sad people.  P.S. I feel like this sounds harsh...and maybe it is.  However, I still think it needs to be said!  Kids are affected by the way the adults in their lives interact with them (or the way they don't interact with them!) It doesn't seem fair to me that a child is damaged because a grownup hasn't grown up. 

So do me a favor, and love on those sweet little things called kids, because they are a gift.

The blog world deserves better than this!

Well, let's be honest here.  Jeff and I are boring :)  Our lives are full of the same boring things...and I am (obviously) having a hard time coming up with things to post on this blog! We have been doing some little projects around the house, but several of them are still in progress, so you are going to have to wait a little longer to see pictures :) ....that is, if anyone is still checking this blog!

Today is the day Jeff and I have been married for 9 years.  In some ways, it seems much longer...and yet, it also seems like there is no way that we are old enough to have been married that long!  We aren't doing anything fancy this year--just dinner.  That's ok though, it will be nice to get out and have nothing to do but chit-chat!  Jeff has been out of town for work (California right now...he will be headed back to Alaska later this summer) for the last month, and will be flying back to CA on the 22nd.  That basically means I have had to form a GIANT honey-do list, and that in between fix-it jobs, we have to hang out as much as possible :)  We are conspiring to have big plans next year--I am feeling pretty proud that we will make it to 10 years!  I feel like I should be posting an ode to Jeff...but I have to think about it for a little longer...the ode part of my brain isn't functioning yet today :)

In other general updates around here...I became a Pampered Chef consultant last month!  I am excited about getting out and doing things.  I have my first show tomorrow.  It should be a lot of fun!  I'd love to do a cooking show/catalogue party/order you something awesome for anyone that is interested!  Shoot me an e-mail and we can work something out!  There are some really great summer things going on!

We also have some doctors appointments in the next few days...nothing bad.  However, details will come later as  we get more knowledge.  We are optimistically excited...at least that is what we are telling ourselves, and you, as it were.

I am out of work for the summer, head back August 10th!  I am somewhat surprised to still have a job.  MPS is having major budget issues...our state is having major budget issues.  I am looking forward to the year, it may be my last year doing the screenings.  I love the job, but the drive is long and the future so uncertain that it may be time to try something else out!

Jeff is working like a crazy man!  As those of you blog followers know, he was in Alaska  for work for a couple of months.  That launch has been delayed by some issues on another launch, so he has been working on this current launch in California.  He has been gone a lot!  I was hoping to get out to California during this last trip, but money keeps tripping me up :) 

Spencer is coming for a visit in 2 weeks!  I am super excited that there will always be another person at the house with me for the month of July!  I am excited for other reasons too...but after being alone for so long, I am craving another human being!  We were planning on hitting the Henry reunion on our way up to visit Grandpa and Grandma Coons, but Jeff isn't flying in until July 1st...we will miss the Henry Reunion.  There is still some debate as to whether or not we swing through for a day. 

I am sure I am forgetting some awesome goings on...or at least some medium ones :)  I can't think of them right now though.  The blog world really does deserve better than my sad attempts at blogging lately!  I will attempt to gather some pics and post them this week!

Near Fossil Beach

 Yesterday I hiked around Fossil Beach.  I was trying to see the whale spouts, but instead saw some eagles, WWII pillboxes and bunkers and a great sunset.

More Pictures from Alaska

My stay in Alaska continues so I thought I would share some more pictures I have taken over this past week.

Here I am standing outside by the parking lot of the launch control center.  There is definitely a nice view here!

 On my birthday a coworker and I shoot clay pigeons.

 The sunrise this morning on our drive to work.  Here you can see the different buildings I work in.

 Closer up.

 Nice view with the launch tower.

My neighbors! 

Launch tower from another angle.

And again. 

 Visit to Fossil Beach

With a sweet view. 

 At Surfer Beach

 Also Surfer Beach

 Yes there really are surfers in Alaska!

Another random surfer dude. 

 I love the look of the sky.

 State Recreational Site

 Again.

 Ugak Island in the distance.

 Another great sky.

 The Kodiak Narrow Cape Lodge.