Quite Convinced

Ok, i'm quite convinced that sickness medications are the products of evil geniuses. They work (at least our minds are altered enough to think that) and they give you some of the weirdest dreams imaginable...or even unimanginable. And the best part of it is that you can't remember the dreams when it's all over. But really, who would want to remember a dream in which everyone walked around in pink bunny suits with the butts cut out of them...Exactly...NO ONE.
Ahhh...dreams...gotta love em. Dreaming of things that'll never happen with things you'll never own with people you'll never be with...Awesome!

Cancer Risk and Cancer Gone?

A new study came out today (or recently). It says that "working the late shift" will now be known as a potential cause of cancer. Nope, you can't make this stuff up...it's true: Late Shift Cancer Risk. or CNN's version: here. Hmmm...this should be interesting.

Cancer Gone? We hope so. A friend of mine, Lauri, had a successful surgery today to remove some tumors from her lungs. Early reports are good news. But if you'd like to send your prayers and well wishes her way, go here: Mauldin News Desk. She will appreciate it.
My thoughts and prayers are with you Lauri and Jeff! I'll make some Dirt pudding to celebrate...you know you want some...

Gettin' Better

I'm a little more than a zombie these days. I'm not 100% better...and i'm not even sure i could put a percentage on it today...but if forced to do so, i'd say i'm 60% recovered. I've been downing the orange juice like it's air, a commodity in which i cannot live without. I really enjoy the OJ.

Get ready for the next month...it's gonna be a busy, busy, month...but hopefully, good things will come...

The Perfect Storm

So...you take dreary cold rainy weather...combine with a club environment (that makes you stress your vocal chords)...combine that with dry air from your home heating system...and you've got the makings of a perfect storm...er sickness.

You see, the dreary weather already stresses your immune system...you try to keep warm and the heat dries out the air...making your throat sensitive...add in the elevated voice...and the beginnings of a sore throat.

Now, to top it off, throw in a lack of sleep and you have a grumpy Todd. I've decided i'm taking tomorrow off from work. I need time to get well. I can't really afford to take time off, but it's gotta be done.

I hope to do a lot of sleeping tomorrow. I've got the orange juice flowing and the meds to ease the irritation...i hope to be back to my old self in a few days.

Stay healthy...

Out of my Element

Tonight, 2/3 of Finding Reason went downtown to a club. I was asked by Jen (Ben's girl) if I would go out with them tonight. One of Jen's friends asked her if she knew any cute, single guys. I'm not sure i meet all of those qualifications, but i went anyway...since i was asked to go. It wasn't all that bad of an evening. We ended up at Rocbar. I must say, i like the place. As the name implies the music is Rock...and i like that. I still felt so out of my element though. I can dress the part, but i'm not sure i can pull off the part. I think if you stuck me in a booth and let me chill...i'd be alright. The DJ was pretty good tonight...i was impressed with his skills...and his yellow and blue mohawk made his gig a little more interesting. Carrying on a conversation is nearly impossible though...but somehow you pull it off.

I think thursday nights are live band nights, featuring local talent. Ben and I decided we'd like to play that venue...now if we could just get the material together.

Even though i felt out of my element...i wouldn't mind going back. I'm off to get some shut-eye...This rocker is beat down...
Rock on...

Debs Visit

Ahhh...it was good to see you again Debbie! Debbie and I go way back...almost 10 years now...or something like that. You see, Debbie was my professor in college...and has since been a good friend. She contacted me the other day saying that she was going to be in town for the weekend. It was great to see her. It was also great to see Al, her husband. He's a really cool guy. We spent the rainy day walking around the large...ok GIGANTIC Saturn V rocket at JSC. I wish she would've given me a bit more notice...then i would've been able to get her and Al visitor badges and we could've have a real tour. Next time though. Ethan is a friend of mine who i knew at A&M and i see him every now and then on site and and Freebirds.

We braved the weather and headed over to Boondoggles for lunch. Had some great conversation. Alas, time is too short. I think i need to plan a trip to the D.C. area.



Well, i think i'm off to take a short nap...nothing else to do on a rainy day...

My Treat

I treated myself to a new toy today. Following work i decided to tiptoe through the battlefields of retail scavenging through the carcasses left behind from the morning's madness. what was left would be mine. I found a replacement for my long gone pocket camera. It was kind of an early Christmas present...for i need it before Christmas.



The Canon SD870IS is my new weapon of choice. You will see me armed with with in the future. Here are the reviews from cnet and dpreview.
BTW, i didn't get the black version...i got the silver...i would've had to order the black version.

So, in theory, you should see more pictures posted here. I know...you only look at my blog for the articles anyway...

What a Day!

First of all, i welcome the cooler weather!

I was fed well today. The first feeding was at work. Several members of management delivered food to the entire flight control team. Good stuff. Peggy, the station commander, had some starbucks treats sent in a big basket...with a giant turkey balloon. I think i might be able to find some pictures of that tomorrow.

The second feeding was with some good friends. Erin and Branelle put together a very yummy feast. Thanks girls! It was much better than the first feeding...

With all the food in my belly, i'm not sure i know how i'm not face first in this keyboard...

I'm grateful...

Merry Thanksgiving

Merry Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good night!

This post is coming to you a little early...tomorrow i'll be working on console supporting the US manned space program...and following that i'll be spending some time with some good friends. I probably won't have much time to post tomorrow...

Be thankful for all that you have...Be thankful for what you don't have...
Be thankful for those that make you laugh...be thankful for those that are there when you cry...be thankful for family...be thankful friends...be thankful for all that you do...be thankful...

I'll leave you with perhaps the best short film parody that i've ever seen!!! And it goes well with my profession and the holiday... This is brilliant!!! Thanksgiving with the Kranzes. It'll take about 20 minutes to watch, but it's well worth it!

The Jokes We Play...

Yesterday i took a trip back to the bookstore...to the place i was the day before. I went back to the very location where i found the book that wanted to get...except...well...the book wasn't there. None of them were...I had to go back out into the isle to make sure i was in the right location. Sure enough...i was. So i went back and looked all around...

Turns out the bookstore employees like to relocate books every now and then. (i'm guessing here, but it seems logical). The Edgar Allen Poe book i was looking for was relocated to the top shelf, when the day before it was on the bottom shelf. It wasn't just the one book either, but the entire shelf...for a while there i thought i was losing my mind (No one better comment on that one!)

What jokes do you like to play?

Offended...I think

On my way home from work this afternoon I decided to stop by Best Buy to scope out my next digital camera. Perhaps in the near future you'll see more pictures posted here...since i haven't had a pocket digital camera in a while. To satisfy your picture craving you can visit here.

So as i'm done looking at the cameras i decide to walk around the store at a medium pace (there's an obscure reference) just moving from section to section...admiring things that i don't need, things that i want, and bypassing things i'll never use. Whilst I was strolling around, a guy approached me (he looked quite familiar to me so i ran through the catalog of people from my past in hopes of putting a name with a face). Then he asked me if i worked there. It took me a second or two to give him a confused look (that was because my brain wasn't through searching the catalog of people i know)...then i gave him that hell-no look. Then he looked around and noticed that Best Buy employees are wearing blue shirts with the Best Buy logo stitched into them. I continued on my way. By the way...i didn't know the guy...

It wasn't until i was on my way home that it struck me as to what had transpired at Best Buy. Some dude thought i worked there!!! What the hell...?? I suppose i could see how that mistake was made...i was all spiffied-up coming from console. I suppose it could've been worse.

After the digital camera scouting run, i went over to Borders to look for some new reading material. I think i found a list of books that will keep me entertained...

On to music production...I've discovered that i have a severe disability when it comes to writing music. I'm not autistic nor a savant...just dumb. I've found that writing music is hard. I did write some more tonight...but i still am having trouble putting on paper what i've done on the guitar. Maybe i should learn to read/write music? nah...too much work.

How's your thanksgiving week going so far?

New Music

Isn't it nice when you have plans, but you just don't feel like following them through? Tonight i was supposed to drive up to northwest Houston to watch LTS play...probably Ron's last performance with LTS as the drummer. But as the day crept along, i lost the desire to make the drive. Had the guys been playing a little closer to home, i definitely would have attended.

So, with me staying home for the evening, i decided i should make the best use of my time. I hit the studio. I decided to bring in my acoustic-electric from the bedroom and plug it in here in the studio. Man, i have forgotten what a lovely sound the Ovation makes when electrified...crisp, punchy, and bright. I truly love the sound of that guitar. I stumbled upon a chord progression that i liked and then i thew down some arpeggios based on the chord progressions...and i think there is something there to work with. I recorded it, but what a pain that was. It took over 40 attempts at getting it to the point that i wouldn't be embarrassed to play it for the guys. I'm not good at recording...or rather, making clean recordings. But as the hours ticked by and as my fingers started to hurt, i decided that i had enough and it was good enough...for now. It almost hurts to type...i really abused my fingers tonight. No pain, no gain...

Let's rewind a bit: I woke up this morning to very cloudy skies. No rain, yet. Saturday morning football was merely an hour away. As i headed out to the field, it started to rain a little...but people showed up...a lot of people showed up...14 in all. That made for a fun game of football. We played for nearly 3 hours. It felt really good to get out and do some exercise for a chance...

Now let's fast forward a bit: I should really get to bed...i've got another full day tomorrow...then it's back on console for Thanksgiving week...woohoo.

Isn't it Strange?

So, you are sitting there, flipping through the channels hoping to find something to keep your attention longer than that creepy burger king commercial (the burger king is creepy), when something catches your eye. That eye catching piece turns out to be a movie that you already own on DVD. But instead of getting the DVD out and watching the very same thing uninterrupted, you sit there and watch the whole thing, creepy commercials and all...well, at least i do.

Case in point, the other day i was flipping through the channels, and stumbled across The Wizard of Oz. The Wizard of Oz happens to be one of my favorite movies made prior to 1940. Ha...well, i don't know that many older movies...movies before 1970-something.

I got sucked into another movie tonight...There was some talk of going to see some live jazz tonight, but i guess those plans fell through...it's a shame too...i'm in a mellow mood. Maybe i'll throw some jazz on in the studio...

Well, i've got a busy weekend ahead of me...i think i'm going to get some sleep...while i can.

Frances Ethel Gumm

I think i have found some artwork for the studio.

Frances here will make a nice addition to my red walls.

Long Weekend...

Well, the long weekend is over. First, i'll say thanks to all the veterans out there who have fought for and helped keep our freedom. Thank you.

It's been a pretty eventful weekend. I don't remember much of friday, but i'm pretty sure i spent it alone...i think i was catching up on much needed sleep.

Saturday brought my return to the saturday morning football field. It's been months since i've been available to play football...and i made it out this week. There were only 8 of us playing, but it felt good to get back out and run around. Most of the soreness is gone now.

Saturday night was a night spent hanging out with friends. Cory's birthday is later this week, so we had an early celebration. I picked up a bottle of Crown Royal (yes, a switch from my usual Jack Daniels, but the choice was twofold: 1) i like to try different every now and then, and 2) I needed to stock some Crown since that is the drink of choice of my brother)) So, Brandon, i'm stocked up on Crown for the next time you visit.

Sunday was a day to relax...had lunch with my parents. I was somewhat like a zombie though...lack of sleep tends to do that to me.

Today was a day off from work, which was nice...but i'll have a lot of stuff to do this week, so i'll pay for it later. Tonight was the first Finding Reason practice in quite some time. The good news is that my FR skills haven't atrophied...that much. The bad news is that i want to progress on the new stuff, but i just can't seem to make it work. But hopefully we'll be able to have more regular jam sessions. Ben resurrected one of his songs from his solo project and we worked out a potential new song (well, the start of it anyway...just a riff to work off of). We don't think we have drummer anymore...not that we really had one. With Ron leaving LTS, perhaps he'll want to work with us...even just part time? ... here's to hoping...

Well, that's about all i have to offer you tonight. I hope your weekend was fruitful!?

Pix for you

Yes, it really is 4-something in the morning. I just got home from work. The good news is that i get a slightly longer weekend...the bad news is...well, i'll sleep through some of it. That's not such a bad thing is it? I didn't think so...

Here are a few pictures that i wanted to post:



Proof that i held a baby...baby Joel Green.



Amazing photos from the fly-around of the ISS




Amazing photos from the fly-around of the ISS




Seth, Lisa, and I discussing something...




The usual mission shift picture...

Real Guitars are for Old People...

A little known secret is that i enjoy South Park. Okay, so i get a little dumber each time i watch an episode, but it's soooo funny. Tonight's new episode was about the latest rage -- Guitar Hero. While i've never played Guitar Hero, i hear it's a lot of fun. One of the lines from tonight's show was the title of this post. Evidently, game controller guitars are much cooler than the real things...I guess that makes me lame and old? At any rate...it was a good episode and had me laughing...a parody of the Rock Star life...except with Guitar Hero.

It's no secret that i love Scrubs! Has to be the best show out there... Ok, the last two statements have no relevance to this post, just had to say it again.

Today i saw Melissa and Joel. He's a cutie. I even held the little tyke! And yes, there is a picture to prove it...i just don't have it right now. The one thing that really disturbed me was that my arms hurt after holding the 9.5 pound kiddo for 20 minutes. I salute all the mothers and fathers out there... I must be severely out of shape...

I did have a few pictures to share with you tonight, but i left them at work...perhaps i'll post them tomorrow.

Real guitars are awesome!

Day Off

My intent was to do a lot of sleeping (well, catch up on my sleep and get back to a normal sleep pattern.) Unfortunately, some telemarketer rudely called me at 8am, waking me from my deep sleep. I wasn't able to go back to sleep. My day was already off to a bad start. I caught up on all the shows that i missed over the last 2 weeks. I did manage to take a little nap.

I mowed the backyard...i think that was the last time i'll have to mow this season. I also played guitar tech and fixed a problem that i had with my black guitar. A little soldering fixed the problem. Now it's working like it is supposed to.
I also did a few other odds and ends around the house today too.

I think i'll do some additional cleaning tomorrow. But i'd like to focus on music. So we'll see what happens tomorrow.

Day 12 -- The Last

Today, er...yesterday (since this post is coming to you after midnight) was my last shift of the STS-120/10A mission. The orbiter won't undock from the ISS for another few hours...after that, the Station's involvment in the mated mission will be complete. The orbiter team still has another few days before they are complete. Discovery is planning to land on Wednesday.

Just a few minutes into our last shift, the entire station and shuttle flight control teams went out side to watch the mated shuttle/station fly over. it was a pretty amazing view. With the new "old" set of solar arrays unfurled, the station is quite bright. So next time you see a bright light screaming across the sky, it might be the ISS.

The shift was rather uneventful...but that's okay by me. Nearing the end of the shift was the crew farewell, it's the short period of time where one crew says goodbye to the other. Some tears were shed, many hugs were given, and many laughs shared. It was time to seal off the two vehicles from each other.

I just got home from a small celebration in the Saturn V building. That huge friggin' rocket was the perfect backdrop for a little chatting here and there. Not everyone could be there, but it was a good time. Perhaps you'll make the next one?
And with that, I've been up since 3am. So, i'm going to bed. And it very much feels like a weekend to me...so, i need to reset my internal clock...goodnight all...

Day 11 -- Cuff Links in Place

...and we're ready for the dance...Today's EVA to repair the torn solar array was completed successfully (perhaps even better than ever imagined). While the views were spectacular, today was dreadfully boring for our system. I think part of that was due to lack of sleep. Although, i didn't feel like i didn't get enough sleep. At any rate, today was the most tired that i have been the entire mission. Perhaps the body (and mind) have had enough?

How did the crew fix the solar array? Well, there were some Apollo 13 engineering of sorts...construct something to fix the issue with the available materials. Michelle's team was responsible for the developement of what has been coined, cuff links.

Well, it all worked...Once again, the engineers and flight controllers have proven that we are an elite institution. That when faced with the dreary, we rise to the challenge, we conquer the challenge, and we move on. We then prepare for the next challenge...

Well, by the time my boring shift was over, i had a huge headache. I think my boredom was a side-affect of me not feeling well...So, i came home, took a short nap and my headache went away...I get to sleep 2 hours later tonight, so i hope to be well rested for my last shift of the mission...

Day 10 -- Ride that Train...

Not much exciting happened today. The robotics team moved the MT (mobile transporter)...which is similar to a train. The MT has wheels on it and it moves back and forth on the track...where ever we need it. Today it was moved closer to the shuttle so that it could pick up the Shuttle's long arm. Once the arm was out of the bay the MT made its way outboard on the truss...which is closer to the solar array that needs to be repaired. All this motion back and forth on the track was in preparation for the EVA tomorrow morning.
Not much occured for the ADCOs...we were just looking at plans for the next few days.
I only have 2 more shifts left, assuming the EVA goes well tomorrow.

The big item for the day was that i had the motivation to get in the studio again. I had some issues get all the equipment working, but once i did, i ran through a few songs. Blue Devils comes and goes...but today was a good day for me with that one.

Additionally, i stumbled upon a progression that i found pleasing to the ear. I tried to record it, but it didn't turn out all that great. What i need is to run that progression by Ben...then he may be able to run with it. But i hope the motivation sticks around a little more...2 hours a day is not gonna get me too far.

Day 9 -- Surprise Guests

Who were the mystery surprise guests? You may have heard by now, but the surprise guests were former President George H. W. Bush and former first Lady Barbara Bush. The Bush's are big NASA and manned space flight supporters. Why the visit? George and Barbara were at JSC for the Columbia memorial and they said that they'd like to return to the control center once we returned to flight. Well, i suppose their schedules were a little swamped, because we've had 6+ missions since then. But they fulfilled their promise to return.

Their brief visit took them to the WFRC (Shuttle Flight control room) where they were able to speak to the crew and watch them perform zero-G antics. After the visit to the WFCR, they visited FCR-1 (Space Station Flight Control room). This is the room that i would normally be in, but not today. I didn't want to crowd in that room and potentially distract the controller on console (not that we were doing much at the time). I just decided to go down to where the Engineering support personnel sit and watch the events unfold on the TV screens. Several of my friends and colleagues got to see and talk to the Bush's. They even asked Melissa the name of her unborn child...(there is a funny story that goes here, but i'll let melissa tell that one).
Did I get to see President Bush and the Silver Fox? You bet! Turns out that the last stop on their visit was to the very location i had decided to camp out. We exchanged a few words with the Silver Fox as she admired the console that our engineering counterparts work at. On the way out President Bush and i gave each other the manly nod as he acknowledged my presence. It would have been rude of me to reach around the lady that was guiding him out to shake his hand...the manly nod works for me just the same.

We weren't able to do much today...since plans are still being developed. As happens so often, we are waiting on others to finish their work before we can finish our work. But we were able to develop some theories as to some data that we are seeing on the vehicle now...not a terribly exciting work day, but it seemed to fly by without warning...

Oh, and there is something so wrong feasting on lasagna (excellent lasagna Erin)at 5am or fajitas at 7am. I didn't partake in both on the same day...but given a bigger stomach, i would have. The one bad/good thing about missions is all the food...there isn't a lot of healthy items there to choose from, but it's all very tasty. I have a feeling lots of diets will go into effect following the mission.

Just a few more days left in the mission...then i can get back on a regular schedule...

OH...i was super hyper today for some reason. I had this tune in my head and i needed a guitar to see if i could work out that tune...it was the beginning of the next Finding Reason hit. Unfortunately, i think i lost it before i could get home. I did get into the studio today to do some work though. In fact, this post comes to you from the studio computer. The past few days i've been too wiped out to think about getting in the studio...but i made it happen today. Maybe tomorrow will yield similar results?