Getaway Day

Time to return home.

Sad? Yes. I made some amazing friends here that I know I will network with in the future. I also heard some amazing inspirational stories that will motivate me into becoming a better teacher. I also learned so much that my students are going to be positively impacted in ways they can never imagine.

Happy? Yes. I miss my family. I can't wait to see my boys. While I was gone Nicholas needed to get glasses because he has an eye problem. I wasn't there for that and it really hurts. I know it's small but it still stings as a parent.

Overall? Next to my trip to Korea the most amazing week of my life. Words escape me (a rarity) because the impact will be felt for many years in my content and style. I have to thank Boeing for paying for this trip. I thank my fellow PISD people who were so amazing this week. Thanks to Denise Ridgway for recommending me. Thanks to my parents for watching my boys for a whole week!! Most important, thanks to you for reading my crazy ramblings all week long.

T-Minus 3:00:00 for liftoff!
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Graduation

All workshops are done. All speakers are done. The only thing left is graduation. I am happy and sad about that.

Time to flip the badge!!

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Bottle Rockets

Tara, Reid, Julie and I just built a balanced bottle rocket in less than 30 minutes.
We are a G/T group now



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Hubble IMAX Movie

We are now here ready to watch the movie. I wanted to see it so I'm glad we get to watch it. The theater is enormous so I know this is going to be awesome.

Oh movie starting! Talk in an hour

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Day 5 Wrap Up

Yesterday was another great day here at Camp.  We had the Air Force Academy come in and talk to us about possible career paths for our kids.  Excellent information and definitely something to think about in the future.

After that it was Rocket Launch Time!  I get mine on the platform and here is the launch:



The chute did not open all the way so my rocket tumbled pretty fast, but I am proud that it went straight up and pretty high!

After that we had a guest speaker, former astronaut Hoot Gibson.  I wrote about him earlier and he was a very dynamic speaker.  I enoyed listening to him.

After lunch we were GO for our final STS mission.  We did a great job working as a team again. 

The camp counselors keep commenting on what great teamwork we have.  I can tell as well and this is really great.  You want to do your best because you don't want to let your team down.  But you can also have a little fun with your teammates as well.  I communicated with the space station and one of the astronauts developed Narcolepsy so I got to take care of that and have a little fun with them in the process.

The final thing of the night was observing the stars.  The International Space Station was actually visible and flew directly over us last night.  I tried to take a picture but it did not come out well.  We also learned about stars alignment and the constellations.  I love astronomy but I have never been very knowedgeable about it.  Nicholas is a stargazer too so I am going to have to learn these things so I can share with him.

I am sad today is our final day but I miss my boys so much.  This trip has been really hard on my oldest Nicholas.  He keeps demanding a flight suit so I think I am going to break down and get him one today.  I am definitely going to miss my wonderful (and hopefully lifelong) friends I've met here, but I can't wait to see him and Colin tomorrow.

Ok I am now a GO for breakfast.  Roger, over and out.

Mission Discovery: SUCCESS!

The mission was a success! I was the Mission Scientist in Mission Control so I was talking between the Flight Director in MOCR and the crew on the space station. It was challenging, but it was fun. The perspective was much different in there than it was on the orbiter. Your view is much narrow on the orbiter while a more global perspective is needed in MOCR. We handled the anomalies and I even got to take care of a medical anomaly so my pharmacy genes stayed happy.

We have a little break (a miracle) before we are in for an amazing treat: we are going to view the sky through the Hubble telescope. I can't wait because I know the pictures are going to be breathtaking.

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Mission Discovery

In MOCR now and ready for liftoff. We are GO!

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Speaker: Hoot Gibson

Wow! What ana amazing speaker! As the intros were going on some guy sits next to me. I look up and it's Hoot! Reid and I talk to him for a minute and I get a pic too.

His presentation was a lot of personal pictures, but that's all he needed. He told amazing stories about the incredible life he has led. He was part of the first selection of astronauts in1978. He met his wife in the astronaut training program. Flown 5 missions. Docked the shuttle to Mir. Wow what a life!

Next up is our final mission: Discovery. I am Mission Scientist and will be communicating with the Space Station. Team Harmony rides again!!

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Rocket Time

Rocket launch in 10 minutes!



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Overcoming Fears

I knew today was going to be a personal struggle for me.  We were going to Rocket Park, where they have the Space Shot simulation.  Basically, it goes up high, then drops.  I am so terrified on heights but with the encouragement of Tara and Reid, I somehow convince myself to get on this ride.

Wow this is gonna go high.  My eyes are closed as the cart pulls us up higher..and higher...and higher...until.....

SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!  Down we go! I screamed like a girl but I didn't care.  It was really cool.  It took a lot for me to go up on that ride so I felt very proud.   It also helped that I had some good friends supporting me as well.

Little did I know that was nothing compared to our final activity of the day:  The Pamper Pole.

This pole sits 32 feet up in the air.  You climb a ladder, then up those large staples, then stand on the top.  From there you JUMP (yes I said JUMP) to smack the white rope in the middle.  There are 9 people that are supporting you, as well as a very uncomfortable harness.

There is no way I am getting on this pole.  No.  I refuse.  My fear of heights is already starting to kick in and I am still on the ground.  I was hoping that I could just keep the job of "rope holder" but no everyone had to try.

I don't hang my own Christmas lights on my house and you expect me to climb this pole?  I don't think so bubba.  Well, I went 3rd from last and when it was my turn I made it my personal goal to at least go above the ladder.  I am all locked in and it's time to start climbing.  I close my eyes and begin.

I clear the ladder and I am just looking up at the staples rungs now. One level at a time.  Team Harmony is cheering me on.  Their support is literally pushing me higher.

I stop about halfway up.  Nerves are kicking in.  I can feel my legs beginning to shake.  I can't go any farther.  I want to quit but my team is pushing my higher.  Their spirit makes me want to try just one more rung.  So I look up, and start again.

I stop again right at the top.  I can't take that final step.  The pole is too wobbly.  My legs are DEFINITELY too wobbly.  I make the big mistake of looking down.  Wow that parking lot is far down.  Yikes.  I am clutching the top like I am holding a baby.  I feel it again. My team pushing me.
"One more step." 
"Just one more." 
"You can do it."

Can I?  I have to do it.  One foot up on the platform.  I lean forward and my other foot goes

ON THE PLATFORM!!!  I am standing 32 feet in the air.  My whole body is shaking but I did it.  I can't believe it! I rotate on the platform 180 degrees so I can do the final part:  The rope leap.  If I can climb this pole, then I sure can jump off of it. 

I do my jump, touch the rope, and my team gently eases me to the ground.  I land and my legs are jello.  I can barely stand up but I did it.

There is no way I would have done this without my team.  They inspired me to keep going when I wanted to quit twice.  Everyone was sincerely rooting for the other to succeed.  I truly felt like I was part of a team and it was amazing.

During our debrief Steve (teacher from St. Louis) talked about strength.  It was not just physical strength that got us up that pole, but emotional strength.  The strength of a team working towards one goal.  Never giving up, even when it is hard.  I learned today that when a group of people truly work together, we can break through any barrier to find success.

Who would have thought I would find this at Space Camp?  I can't wait to be a Camp Counselor next year.