Space Camp!!

Second leg of my vacation

After a short recharging recess, I am back to typing up on the plane about the second part of my vacation. I do this while flying over beautiful land and listening to U2's "Beautiful Day." :-) I love love love this song and it is probably my all-time favorite song. Okay, now back to the second leg, but a little explaining at first. 

I have a twitter account and on that twitter account I follow NASA and Space Camp. Each group had an opportunity for their followers to register and possibly be selected to go to their respective sights for the last shuttle launch. I was fortunate enough to be 1 of 16 to Space Camp. This was a very exciting thought for me because I love the movie. (If you have not seen, go watch it NOW.) I arrived in Huntsville Wednesday evening ready to meet my fellow tweeters. We all met the next morning and it was amazing to know that everyone of us had a love for space! The first stop was to get a badges at security and then begin our tour of Redstone Arsenal. This facility is on an army base and we were told we were the first group allowed in like this since before 9/11, talk about amazing. I learned about test firings on huge stands, the payload operation center, astronaut pee, and friction welding. All was incredibly interesting and educational. After the tour we headed back to each a delicious lunch of BBQ and listen to Ed Huckbee talk about his amazing time at NASA and the real space cowboys (the original seven astronauts.) We were all given books written by him and he also autographed them. The rest of the afternoon was filled with a mission overview, mission practice, and the incredibly fun Multi Axis Trainer and 1/6 gravity chair. The MAT chair was my favorite. Also a quick note on the mission, the crew I was with was the Discovery crew. I sat Pilot and had a blast. (No pun intended.) Later on that day, we were told that the whichever crew was practicing in Discovery (my group) was using the same mission orbiter that they filmed in the movie Space Camp. So in essence, I was sitting where Lea Thompson and Kate Capshaw sat for the movie. How cool is that?!?!?! 

Alright, that evening we were told we were having dinner that in the event we would be going to Mars would be prepared with only those items of food.  It was okay. Astronaut Don Thomas spoke with us during dinner and we all had the chance to get an autograph and picture. Day two, mission and launch day!! We started the day by talking with a few members of the Space Camp leadership team. Great people! They gave us their cards and I hope there will be cause to use them in the future. The mission was a great deal of fun! I still think a pilot I missed some switches that were suppose to be switched, but it was a ton of fun to do and I would love to have more time to actually play around with everything. After our mission we headed over to the IMAX to watch the launch. Space Camp even let us keep on our orange flight suits we wore to the mission over to watch the launch. I must admit, I felt pretty cool! ;-) It was packed when we got over there and we actually almost had it out with some teachers about our seats, but we eventually got to sit. Astro Don was answering questions and giving us the 411 on what exactly was going down. We has a brief scare at t-00:31 when they thought the tower had not cleared fully. Once it was determined it had, the countdown continued. It was amazing seeing the shuttle launch with so many people. You could just feel the excitement! After we got out of our flight suits we kind of wandered around the museums and spent money at the gift shops before I headed back to the airport to catch my flights home. 

I am once again back on a plane, my final plane ride for this vacation at least. This ride is not nearly as cool as what STS-135 (Atlantis) experienced today, but such is life. I look out my plane window and can look up at the moon and only wander right now where the shuttle is at in their orbit and how amazing it must be to be where they are. I have been truly inspired in this leg of my vacation. I know that I will probably personally never go to space, but I am encouraged to follow my own dreams and to keep persevering. Maybe I am a bit naive, but is there a huge problem with just a little bit? I do not think so. I like to think by having just a little bit that the sky is not the limit to any dream. Questions? Comments? :-) 

By the time I post this I will be back in my room and getting ready to return to a regular schedule, something I am actually kind of looking forward to. Tomorrow, 8 miles for the half training schedule and work in the afternoon. 

It has been a wonderful trip and I am so thankful I got to experience EVERYTHING I did on this trip!! I hope I have not bored you all too much! Have a great weekend!!!


S. 

First leg of my trip :-)

First leg of my vacation

I type this while I am sitting on my first plane back home knowing that eventually I will copy this over to my blog, but I wanted to get it down while I am thinking about it all. 

This vacation overall has been probably the best one I have had in my 21 (almost 22) years of life. I first started the vacation flying out of my home base to Washington DC. For those of you who know, you know that this is honestly my favorite place to visit and now the rest of you know this too. This trip up was a bit different because we actually spent a good portion of the trip down in Virginia Beach. Up until now, I have never spent more than 24 hours in VA Beach and both other visits were during cold months and so i was not able to enjoy the beach, which was very disappointing. This leg of my vacation was only made better by the company I got to share it with. I love going out and doing many things during vacation, but honestly sometimes it is just nice to relax during vacation. There was plenty of downtime and I LOVED it!! The girls I am doing the half-marathon with in September and myself went down to the boardwalk bright and early Saturday morning and got in our 7 mile walk before it got too hot. It was wonderful having walking buddies and it was awesome walking along next to the ocean. :-) Sunday, we headed over to church and then I actually got a Sunday afternoon nap in for the first time since I cannot remember. (Yes, I am a mapper on Sunday afternoon, at least when I can.) Monday was another relaxing day filled with grocery shopping for grilling later that night and trying to cook on my part. ;-) Unfortunately, we headed back up to the DC area on Tuesday, but we did get to see a wonderful concert by the Navy Commodores at the Navy Memorial. I also was taught how to crochet on this trip. I am slowly working on a cowl at the moment. (Someone correct me if I am wrong on what I am trying to make.) I for the life of me cannot remember how to slip stitch the two together so I am stuck until I can get instruction. I also received an absolutely BEAUTIFUL blue flower quilt for graduation. There were also other gifts as well. :-) I love them all!!! I am one lucky girl!! After a very long drive up to Baltimore, only because there was a fugitive on the loose, and a great dinner and a little shopping with my wonderful dad I got on yet another plane to fly to the next leg of my vacation, SPACE CAMP!!!

This may need to be two post. Yes, in fact that is what I will do. I will finish out this post/note and write about Space Camp in the next. :-) Besides, my thumbs are getting tired as I am typing this on my 4G phone. ;-) 

S.

1/2 Marathon Week #1

Work, work, work! I actually really like my summer job. I do, however, want a real job. So, onto workout updates!! Yeah!!!

This week started week #1 of the 1/2 marathon training schedule. No, this is not to run a 1/2. (I will leave that one up to my crazy father.) The 1/2 is Labor Day weekend in VA. Super exciting!

So, normal training schedule consists of three walking days, two cross train days, and two days resting. I ended up tweaking the schedule a bit to adjust work schedule. Sue me. I was only able to get two days of walking in, but it was good walking. Thursday, a co-worker and myself went down to our campus work-out facility. Put in my time on the tread and she hit up the elliptical. Afterward, we went over to the weight machines. (This is more of a funny story than anything.) I actually made her go over there because I wanted to try this ab machine, but did not want to look like an idiot. So, I tried this ab machine. Felt great yesterday! Today? OH MY GOODNESS!! I feel like someone who may have had some type of surgery on my stomach. I have to roll out of bed because it hurts to much to use my stomach muscles. 6 pack here I come! Well, maybe. ;-) I did do the ab machine this evening, just not that particular one.

I will stop this here. I will not be able to hit up the gym tomorrow. Working 12 hours. . . But, I look forward to my Monday gym adventure and feeling really good about myself on vacation here in a few weeks. Amen, because I need to get away. Oh, yes, please say a small prayer. I have had an initial interview with a potential place of employment and I am hoping to get positive feedback sometime this week. Off to bed!

S.

Updates. . .

Hey everyone!!

My my how things have been crazy! A lot has happened since the last blog post, so here goes the updating.

The biggest thing was of course GRADUATION!!! Yeah!!!! Graduation was an amazing experience. It was also very hot. The had all of us from my college squeezed underneath the seating in the basketball arena and there was very little air. I also thought I would be lucky and walk near the beginning of graduation, but because the Criminal Justice department is actually the Sociology/Criminal Justice department I was in one of the last degree groups to walk. Woo pig!! Anyway, lots of fun and I am thrilled to be done!

I have also moved out of the apartment I was living in and am back in the dorms for the summer. No complaints. No rent or utilities to pay for the next three months! It is nice to be back in environment like this. not crazy about the twin size bed and community showers, but such is life. Training has begun for the summer job and so far so good. Looking forward to the summer to start and to make some money!

Okay, on to workouts. I feel bad to say not much has happened since Race for the Cure. :-/ I have however decided to start training for walking the VA Beach half marathon. I am super excited!! I say walk because I have decided I am just not a runner. I have been given a walking training plan and will start it up next week. I also have started to lift again. Going to keep after it this time! :-)

Well, I am going to be signing off for now. I have some people hanging out in my room watching "Twister." How appropriate for a night of thunderstorms, right?? You all have a great weekend and I look forward to blogging again to let you all know how the new training plan is going next week.

S.

Race for the Cure :-)

Good morning all!! Race for the Cure was this morning!!! It was a very exciting and nervous morning.

Thankfully, I had last night off. I went to judge some colorguard tryouts and then came back to relax. I knitted a little, did laundry, and overall tried to prepare myself for today.  I was up around 5:30. I had all my clothes out last night so all I would have to do is change and pull back my hair. I picked my friend up around 6:15 and we headed to where Race for the Cure was being held. I started to get super nervous when I saw all the competitive looking runners. Yikes!! Was my first thought. My second thought was, someone has to come in last place, right? I also started thinking about the shorts I was running in. I know, stupid. Stupid me decided to wear a different pair of shorts. Bad move!!

So, the race started and I knew right away it was going to be a "long" journey. I am no outdoor runner, as I think you all know by now. I decided it was going to be a jog/brisk walk type of journey, but no matter what I did I was going to finish. The most encouraging part was seeing the volunteers throughout the course cheering on everyone that was coming through. It really touched my heart. I also had to turn of the Pandora "Stevie Ray Vaughn" station I had going because it kept coming in and out, but when I turned on my playlist "Beautiful Day" came on a few songs later. :-)

The coolest part of all this is that the fundraising goal that was set was made!!! Thank you all so so much!! There was actually more than $250.00 given. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. The second coolest thing, at least for me personally, is that I finished. :-) Here are a few pictures from the race. I kind of like blogging and keeping you all updated on the fitness portion and just the everyday happenings in my life, so I will probably keep posting if there are no objections. :-) You all have a fantastic day and thank you all again!!

Kirstie and Me before

Kirstie and Me after

Just me after

DONE!!! At least with this one. :-)

S.

So close!

Hey everyone!

This post will not be as long as the last one, promise!! This is just another way for me to procrastinate on my homework for the evening, but when you combine crime and serial killer statistics for my math class. . .Who would not want to do the homework? ;-) I also want to get some more knitting in tonight. I actually had a dream about knitting last night!! Hehe! :-)

Monday's workout and today's workout were very similar. Took a little faster today on the treadmill and "covered" more mileage. I mean, technically, you are covering the same black revolving belt, which is actually kind of weird to think about. Maybe I am just tired. Okay, no more tangents. Weight lifting is going great too! I am so glad to be back to lifting. I feel better and I feel like my body is responding well to the changes that have been made to the workout routines.

By the way, the SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR flies THIS FRIDAY!!! Who is excited??? I think it is time to get out Space Camp again and watch it. I think it is no coincidence that the last shuttle launch in June is with the Shuttle Atlantis. That is the Shuttle in the movie!! I HAVE TO BE THERE!!!!! :-)

Alright, time to get some "math" *cough, cough* done before bed. (Court was super interesting today, by the way. Not mine, of course!!) More very very soon, since Saturday is the day!! :-)

S.

Warning: Kind of long, but I encourage you to read it all the way. :-)

Hey ya'll!! I am sorry there have been no new updates for a few weeks. The last few weeks have been such a whirlwind and I have a feeling these last three weeks until graduation will be no different. I will try and do a brief plot summary of what has been going on in my world. :-)

Workouts the past few weeks have been happening. Yeah! But, not as often as I want them to be. Boo!! I ditched C25K last week. Probably not the best idea two weeks before Race for the Cure, but I was bored with it and needed something new. So, I started something new and something that I think will be more beneficial to me in the long haul. Speed intervals. . . Yep! I feel like I can get over the hump quicker by switching between a moderate running pace and a pretty good power walk pace as opposed to a slower jogging speed. So far, so good! I am also going to start incorporating weight lifting again. I miss it and I feel better about myself when I am lifting weights. I am going to search for a lifting cycle that will target areas and that will be the most beneficial. Will let you know how it goes.

Race for the Cure is THIS SATURDAY!!! Honestly, I am starting to get a little concerned. I think I just need to remind myself why I am doing this and to have a good time with it. Unfortunately, my family will be visiting a college with my baby sister and will not be able to be there, but my best friend is suppose to be there. No hard feelings at all towards my family. I actually wish I could be there with them and share in this exciting time with my baby sister. :-) I will finish the race regardless of how or the time. ;-)

Now, for something a bit more personal. :-) I applied for a job ( Sorry, no more details.) about a month ago and got the wonderful opportunity to go in and test for this job on Thursday. Now, this is just the very beginning of a very long process, but to even get the opportunity was an amazing experience. I cannot help but to thank God!! While I would be definitely upset if I did not make it past the test, to have the experience and opportunity was more than I could ever ask for. Hopefully, I will hear something this week on the test and I am hoping it will be good news. Originally, when this opportunity presented itself I was excited of course but still very wanting the military to work. I still want the military to work out, but I can feel a change within letting me know that if this is the only thing that happens, it will be a good thing. God has a plan. I know this. Now, I must hang on to that.

One last thing before signing off. I, for whatever reason, am intrigued (if that is the right word) with certain things, usually devastating, that have happened in history. The Challenger (Yes, I know I was not born), OKC Bombing, 9/11, and most recently the Tucson Tragedy. As more information came out on the news about who Gabrielle Giffords is as a person, I began reading more about her too. I hope to one day meet this wonderful woman and my continued thoughts and prayers are with her, her family, and every life change that day. I found a speech she gave to the 2009 Scripps College graduating class. I will leave you all with a little bit from her speech. It sounds funny, but the words truly touched me and reminded me of certain things in life. Here you go:

"You cannot authentically live anyone's life but your own. That is the deal life offers us. We as women have fought too hard and for too long against the narrowing confines of social expectations to have anything less. Here at this wonderful point in your lives today, this hatching into you future, it is now time for you to embrace what was denied those who came before--it is now time to follow the passion inside your heart and listen to its voice above all others. And what it says to you in the years may surprise you and invert the notions of how you thought your life would turn out. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being confounded like this, especially in your early twenties. That is part of the adventure of growing older-- and growing deeper into your old skin as women, or as the wonderful poem go: WARNING, when I am an old woman, I shall wear purple. So yes, I am saying being happy is more than just something to hope for. It's something to expect. When you do this, when you tune out the critical voices in your head and embrace what your heart is saying, you don't just make your own life better. You make the world better."