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...

The details...

So, as i previously mentioned, i got up at 4:45am for my trek to College Station. It's only a 2 hour drive to CS and factoring in potential traffic issues, i've got to be on the road by about 5:30am. And inevitably, i am always way ahead of time. If i were to leave a little later then i'd be running into the morning rush hour crowd. Well, even driving the speed limit, i still arrived early. So i decided to spin by some of my old residences...wow...i lived in some shady places. But two of the apartments i lived in were still standing and definitely showing their age.

So, it was on to campus...It's a little weird being back on campus...making the same trek from one building to another as i did time after time back in the 90s...Luckily now, i'm not worried about a test or if my homework is done properly. I definitely don't miss those days...

The Senior Critical Design Review (CDR)is always fun. Basically, the seniors present the design that they've been working on over the last 14 weeks. Persons from industry (me) then ask questions and point out things that the students may have overlooked or point out the things we liked. It's also an opportunity for the students to mingle with the people that might hire them. And it's alway nice to see some of the professors that made your college life miserable. And there is always an opportunity meet new people as different members from industry make appearances. This was my 3rd one to attend and there are some regulars too.

Since my cousin, Kristine, attends A&M, i like to take her out for dinner when i'm in town. This time she was still working when i was complete with the CDR. So, i went over to the Post Oak Maul to kill some time. I was pleasantly surprised that the mall was nearly void of people. I was able to move about without being mauled. I managed to find some things that i've been looking for too. I also found a very cool store, Earthbound Trading Company.

Finally it was time to head over to Kristine's apartment so that we could decide where to eat. I also needed to check some email...i was going through withdrawals... Kristine suggested Abuelos Mexican Restaurant. That was some excellent mexican food! However, i must admit i enjoyed the conversation much more than the food. We had an awesome conversation! We talked about this and we talked about that. Things were learned...I was so enthralled with the conversation that i let my food get cold. But, if you are ever in the area, i recommend Abuelo's. We had a newbie waiter, it was his first day. He did well and i played a few tricks on him along the way...like ordering enchiladas without tortillas. The look on his face was priceless. Anyway, he was awarded with a very nice tip. I had a great time Kristine. Hope your little situation went well...

Well, there you go...the detailed post. Stay tuned for another post later tonight...

Too Tired

I've been up since 4:45am...i don't have the energy to give you the detailed post. Here's the short version.
Went to Texas A&M for the Aero senior design CDR. Bought some stuff at the maul...and had a very enjoyable dinner with my cousin Kristine. Made the 2 hour drive home, got home about 10pm...i'm now going to bed at 11:00pm.
G'night...

Stay tuned for the detailed post...this is just filler for your enjoyment...

Friday the 13th

Today was a weird day. I'm not superstitious, but the day didn't exactly end on a good note. We'll get to that in a minute.

Today was actually a relaxing day at work. I gave a presentation and tour to a class of students from Texas A&M. Dr. Vadali's space craft dynamics class came to JSC for a visit. I had a class with Dr. Vadali back in the day, and when i was asked to give a tour and presentation, i didn't hesitate. I like doing things like this so it was easy to take a "day off" from work to educate potential new flight controllers. It was good to see Dr. Vadali again.

Tonight was another scheduled Finding Reason practice...this is where the day turns sour. It was perhaps the worst practice i've had ever...it was one of those days where i just felt like quitting all together. It was as if i had never picked up a guitar in my life. Ben was in a grumpy mood and i couldn't play worth a darn. That damn blue devils is getting on my nerves. That put me in a grumpy mood.

I came home and continued to practice. I had to get that bad taste out of my mouth. I'm not really any better at blue devils, but i'm not any worse. I may have accidently stumbled upon a new song in the process. I decided i'd try to do some recording through the laptop...and it friggin' worked. I've had problems recording through my desktop for years...but i never tried the laptop until tonight. So, i did a quick recording and sent the newly created piece to ben and greg. I don't know if they've listened to it yet, since it was about 10:45 tonight when i did this. I'm not going to bed grumpy ... so i guess that's good.

Oh...speaking of blue devils, greg posted the other two songs to our myspace website. The songs aren't perfect, but if we want to attract a drummer we need to have our music avaiable for them to listen to. And with that, you can listen to them too.

Tomorrow will be a better day...

Everything Happens For A Reason...

Tonight's theme on Scrubs was "Everything happens for a reason." I heard this quite a few times during my ordeal and never really gave it much thought until tonight. I began to ask myself, does everything happen for a reason? Perhaps! Of course not! or Absolutely! I don't think there is an easy way to answer that question...perhaps it is just rhetorical. I thought about the following phrase: "I never would've ______ if _______." Fill in the blanks...i know you can. This phrase is so repeatable it nearly answers the question with a resounding yes! And because it is so repeatable, it's got to be more than a coincidence. One event that leads to another...and this leads to yet another, and so on... Would the outcome be the same if things were different in the middle...or the beginning? Who knows...there are many routes to get from point A to point B. Obviously the path would be altered in that it is more or less enjoyable, painful, exciting, (insert any adjective here). Just something to think about...

I don't think about the past much anymore...there is no point...you can't change it. You can learn from it though. Although it takes some more time to learn than others. Yeah, i've learned some things. I have changed.

I'm just going to roll with the punches...whatever happens, happens.

So, do you believe everything happens for a reason?

____________________________________________________________________________


Next topic:

Sadly, Texas A&M lost to Memphis tonight and was ousted from the NCAA tournament. I think that A&M lost the game...as opposed to Memphis winning. A&M was not very good tonight and was capable of winning it...but everything happens for a reason...hehehe (sorry, couldn't resist)

Next topic:

So, i decided to listen to the mp3 of the ISS crew wishing me happy birthday today. And it turns out that i do have the entire transmission. For some strange reason, when i listened to it from home, i only got the first 15 or 20 seconds of it. I plan to post the mp3 to the blog here in the next few days. I just need to turn on the desktop and find my passwords to my other website and upload it there. I can then link the mp3 for your listening pleasure. It may take me a few days to get there though...the desktop is mighty slow!

Game Nite!

Tonight was a very nice and relaxing way to end the otherwise exciting weekend! It was game night at Erin, Justin, and Branelle's place. Game nite is a great way to have a good time without spending any money!

Earlier in the day i got in some rockstar practice. For some reason, i've been a little lazy on that front. But all was good as i could remember how to play the two songs in our catalog. I have been working on some new music and unfortunately it sounds too much like another band...oh, well, i'll keep working on it. And Finding Reason my be going on a "retreat" in the near future. Greg suggested we just lock ourselves in the studio for a weekend and work on music, music, music. No TV, no women, no distractions. Hopefully we can come up with some music to expand our catalog!

I started out the day by going grocery shopping (a chore i most hate...and hate even more doing it alone...you'd think i'd be used to it after 8 months) Anyway, the iPod made it a little more tolerable. But i'm stocked up on lots of food and such.

And on the NCAA front, Texas A&M has advanced to the Sweet 16. They play Memphis (#2 seed in the South). I'm not sure how that will turn out, but it should be a good game. I have a feeling A&M might pull it off. Guess we'll see...

Hopefully this week, work will be less painful than last week. I, unfortunately, have a lot to get done in one week. April 20th is not going to come soon enough. What is significant about April 20th, you ask? Well, it's the day that my Increment ends...with the crew (LA and Misha) safetly back on the Earth. I can then concentrate on 13A.1 planning.

Well, i think that is enough randomness for one night...Enjoy your week!

Another Rough Day...

...For the longest time, i thought today was Friday. What a sad realization it was once i realized it was only Thursday. Do you ever have those kinda days? It seems i'm having them more frequently. Hopefully, they will go away soon.

There are 37 days left in my increment. While this has been a great and wonderful experience, i am ready for a little relaxation. Don't worry, i'll still be busy with mission planning, but i'll only be concerned with one mission instead of two. what will i do with my extra free time? I dunno...we'll see.

Texas A&M has advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament by beating Penn today. Here's the bracket for the tourney.

Good Food Sunday

Today my parents came into town to take me out to eat as a celebration for my birthday. We went to Texas Roadhouse and we enjoyed the most delicious ribs. All i could think was: Tasty, Tasty Murder! Man, those ribs were great! And for dessert, my mom made me probably my most favorite dessert...dirt pudding...or this time, dirt pie. Lots of cream cheese and butter and whipped cream and vanilla pudding. Yummy...and oh, so, very fattening. As if i care...

Here's a recipe for those that don't know what i'm talking about.

I also test drove my parents new Hyundai Santa Fe. It was actually a lot of fun. I think it pushed my "buy a new vehicle want" to the top of the priority list.

On another note, the NCAA tournament bracket has been set...and Texas A&M is the 3rd seed in the south region. I'm somewhat impressed...i hope they move on. Some had predicted that they'd make it to the final four. I don't know about that but we'll see. Here is the bracket.

Number 1, Texas A&M, in Basketball??

I was just as baffled as you were by this statement. As of this writing, the men's basketball team is number 1 in the Big 12...and ranked number 8 in the AP and ESPN polls (that's number 8 in the country) What the hell is going on? This is very uncharacteristic of Texas A&M basketball. But the tides have turned, i guess. A&M is doing very well this year. They have been invited to play in the big tounament. Hopefully they can do well. I haven't watched much college basketball. But i happened to stumble upon the game tonight and A&M was really good. It's not like they played a no name team...they played the number 12 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys. Perhaps this year, i'll be more interested in the NCAA tounament.

Professor Thomas U. McElmurry

Yesterday, I learned that my very first Aero professor had passed away early last month. Professor McElmurry was a great professor. Aero201, i believe, was the class. This was our first taste of the aerospace world. I still have my model airplane that we built in that class. I still have the report of the airplane that i designed in that class. If i recall correctly, I was in the second to last class that he taught. I think there was one more class of students prior to him retiring. I was completely honored and privileged to be in the presence of this man. He had so many great stories to tell. Somewhere amongst his belongings is a book full of polaroid photographs. These photographs will contain each and every student he ever taught. That was his thing...at the beginning of the semester he'd pull out his camera and snap a few pictures of the class so that he'd be able to put a face with the names.
Below is the article that the Texas A&M Aerospace Department put together:

Thomas Uriel McElmurry

Aerospace engineering professor McElmurry remembered

Thomas Uriel McElmurry a visiting associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering for 13 years, passed away today (Nov. 3) at the age of 85. McElmurry, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, began his Air Force career at age 17 with the Army Air Force in Seward, Ak., eventually receiving flight training in Santa Maria, Calif., in 1942. After flying two tours of duty in World War II, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama and master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of

Michigan. Remaining on activity military and as a test pilot, McElmurry was chief of the Operations and Training Branch of the USAF Experimental Flight Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and an astronaut candidate in NASA Group 2, selected in

1961 for military astronaut class 1. He also was an instructor at the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, where he was involved with the NF104 space plane, and a test pilot at the Naval Weapons Center in California and at Holloman Air Force Base in

New Mexico. During his career with NASA, he was chief of flight crew operations in the Office of Manned Space Flight; chief of the Orbiter Atmospheric Flight Test Office; deputy manager of operations integration for the Space Shuttle Program; manager for operations integration for the Space Shuttle Program Office; and assistant for systems reliability and quality assurance for the Systems Division, Mission Operations. Upon retiring from NASA, he served 13 years on the Texas A&M aerospace engineering faculty. While at Texas A&M, he was the advisor to the student Aviation Association and the Corps of Cadets. In his spare time, McElmurry was a very active flight instructor and avid flyer.

Friends, Family, and Yehudi...

...I knew that the title would have you crinkle your nose with that bewildered look of, "huh?" I wonder what he's talking about now?? Sometimes a good piece of writing starts with the cleverity of the title...and oh yeah, cleverity is a new word. I shall petition Webster to add it to the next rev of the dictionary...(well, i'll save that for another time).

Today was a very long day...and it still isn't over. I woke up around 4:45am to get ready for a trip up to Aggieland. Every semester the senior Aerospace Engineering Students put on a CDR (Critical Design Review) for persons of industry (me). Well, i'm not the only one there, but you get the idea. Essentially, the senior's get to present their semester's worth of work on the design of an aircraft, rocket, or satellite. It is a chance for the seniors to get dressed up in suits and "practice" presenting critical data in front of people that can be critical. For some, this is their first time presenting in this fashion, and it shows. For others, it is a time to put forth the confidence of their studies and prove to persons of industry (some of whom have hiring power) why they would be a good candidate for that new opening. It is a great chance for us former students to go back and see it from "the other side of the fence." It's also a good time to mingle with the students and present them with some ideas of real world questions and concerns based on their designs. It is also a good chance for us former students to see our old professors and chat with them about the latest goings-on. Everybody wins...it's a great program that i hope to make every semester...time and schedule permitting.

I had fun today. This semester's crop of students were really good. I saw a lot of good things from those students and the tells me that the program at Texas A&M is still, if not better than, as great as it was when i was there. It's also good to see more space related stuff being thrown into the mix.

So the morning and most of the afternoon was spent watching, critiquing, eating, mingling, and reliving old times in the H.R. Bright building...my old stomping grounds. It was good to see some of my old professors again. I also learned that one of my professors had passed away about 3 or 4 weeks ago. This will be a separate post.

Knowing that i would be in College Station for the day, i called up an old friend from high school that i have not seen in many many years. Luckily she was available to chat for a bit. I went over to Kimberly's (formerly Nawara, now Winslow) office and chatted about the goings-on in our lives. I imagine it has been 10 or more years since i've seen her. We had a good chat. It was good to see her again. I told her to start reading my blogs...Hello Kim. So, that completes the Friends portion of the title.

Also, I thought I'd take my little cousin, Kristine, out for dinner. She's currently a student at Texas A&M and I haven't seen her in quite some time. Luckily, she was able work me into her schedule. We ate at this joint called "Boston's Aggieland." Pretty swanky little place with some really good food. We talked about all the goings-on in our lives. Yep, i have managed to use the word "goings-on" three times in this post. I had fun. I learned something about myself tonight that i hadn't heard before (or perhaps i heard, but didn't remember). Unfortunately, i'm going to make you wait for that one. Well, i hope to see you at Christmas, Kristine. If not then, then perhaps next semester when i return to Aggieland? Or i'm sure there will be other opportunities. Thanks for making time for me. Ok, that takes care of the Family part of the title.

Yehudi, Yehudi, Yehudi....what the hell is a Yehudi? I'm glad you asked. Believe it or not, it is an aircraft component. I was reminded of this word at today's presentations. Essentially, a Yehudi is the trailing edge portion of the often bulbous part of the airplane that stores the main landing gear when retracted. Usually found on transport/cargo aircraft that have a high wing. Here is a short blurb on where the name came from:

Apparently known as a “Yehudi”, this inboard trailing edge extension actually first appeared on the Boeing B-29 to solve a fuselage-nacelle interference problem. Douglas used it first on a swept wing transport on the D went to the -320 model.The name was first used to describe the wind tunnel part that was made on the spot during the wind tunnel test. “Who’s Yehudi” was a running gag on a popular radio show at the time, as well as the name of a popular violinist.

Here is a picture of a C141's Yehudi (that sounds dirty, doesn't it?)
So, this obviously completes tonight's title: Friends, Family, and Yehudi...

On my way back home, i stopped off at another friend's (Ann Marie) apartment to chat since i was in the neighborhood.

Well, that about sums up my Wednesday. Wednesday has turned into Thursday while i was constructing this post. Why am I still up, you ask? Well, i'm working on a strategy to sleep shift for the upcoming STS116/12A.1 Shuttle launch that is supposed to take place in about 16 hours, weather permitting. If we delay, i'll be wide awake in the middle of the night...oh what am i going to do with my time??? Perhaps you'll get another long post from me??

I hope you learned something from this post...hehe...Good evening/morning...