WARNING! More nerd pictures

Dude.

Back from my trip, and I have logged over 50 hours already this week, with still at least half a day of work tomorrow. This girl is tired.

I took 466 pictures in three days, and it would have been more except that my camera kept dying (WTF?) I also realize that that number may seem small to some of you, but you should realize that this is coming from someone that, prior to this trip, has taken maybe 100 pics in the past 4 years. Really.

Words really and truly cannot do justice to all the amazing things I saw. So here's some more pics, with brief explanation:

Here's the Vehicle Assambly Building. It's a h-u-g-e high bay where the assembled vehicle - shuttle, plus the External Tank (big orange) and Solid Rocket Boosters (two small skinny white) - is stored until it's ready to roll out to the launch pad.

To give you some perspective as to how fucking huge this thing is, each of the stripes on the American flag is 11 feet wide. That's wide enough to park a school bus. Wait, you still don't get it? Here:

See those wee ant people? Tiny, huh? Yeah, that door is less than 1/4 the height of the building.

Onward!

My group was also able to sit on console in the Launch Control Center, and listen in on headsets as the next crew up performed a practice Launch Day, including suiting up, getting strapped into the shuttle, and countdown all the way to 4 seconds until launch.

I got up close and personal with an orbiter being assembled. We had to wear super sexy scrubs-type stuff to prevent any foreign objects from damaging the inside.

(I know the pic quality is not great, but there was no flash photography, and the light inside was really strange, plus I'm having to choose shots where no faces are visible). This was taken inside the middeck, which is a level below the cockpit. The dude on the far left is touching the galley, where the crew will rehydrate their food and heat it in a warmer.

And since I know you want to see it:

The toilet. No, I didn't sit on it. Also, there does not appear to be a place for reading material. Alas, the sacrifices that must be made.

Here's a close-up of the external tank.

I like the detail - it looks sort of looks as though it would feel like a foamy football, but this was a HANDS WAY WAY OFF kind of thing, so I couldn't tell you for sure.

While we're doing that kind of thing, here's a tile close-up as well:

This was from the underbelly of the vehicle.

There are so many more amazing pictures. Here's a few that I will not be sharing with my manager:

This was from a train car that transports elements of the vehicle for assembly.
I'm thinking of putting it on a t-shirt and wearing it to bed when I am Just Not Feeling It.

I don't even remember what the hell this is - it was in the facility that builds and services the actual rocket engines. By that time my brain was so full and my body was so tired, I was only able to comprehend sophomoric humor.

Also, these signs were everywhere:

I forgot to ask what they meant. To me, they look like aliens. And no, I did not see any extraterrestrials.

By last night, I was beyond spent. Our group split up for dinner, then met up for drinks later. I left early, because if I had to listen to another "hilarious" engineer anecdote, I was going to kill myself. This morning I was told that at midnight, the party moved to another bar down the street, where much more alcohol and karaoke entered the picture. Dammit, I always leave too soon! However, one of the chicks that was out until the wee hours found herself puking into a trashcan in front of lots of Disneybound families at the Orlando International Airport this afternoon. Nice.

I'm exhausted, starving, and still need to unpack all my crap. Until next time, my chickens...

How was YOUR Monday?

Because mine was AWESOME.

P.S. I'm sorry the spacing is all retarded, but I'm using this laptop I don't know and it's being stupid and I'm tired and it's been a really long fucking day. But an amazing one.

It’s funny how the “I’m going to just go home after my doctor’s appointment at 2 since I worked until 7:30 last night” sentiment of this morning has turned into, “Holy crap, is it 6:30 already?” of this evening. Sigh.

Who doesn't love a some good, vampy piano? (Or is that just me?)

Thinking...

...about installing the awesome car ceiling like they have in the Cash Cab, so my commutes can be a non-stop party.

More of my girl crush

via Jezebel

One of the cool things about working from home (aside from the fact that one does not actually have to wear pants)(you're totally wondering now, aren't you?) is that you can sing along to your work mix. Loud.

I've been a crappy, crappy blogger this week. I made (drug-fueled) promises of heaping praise on those of you who were kind enough to provide me with entertainment and distraction, and then I fell off the face of the earth (except to gripe about desserts).

And so, without further ado: Virtual Dap

Amanda from Sucker For Marketing: I see your Winnie the Pooh and raise you a Sock Monkey:

(I KNOW.)

Megan from A Rollerskating Jam is rad for answering my (upon further and sober review, embarrassingly long and rambling) email and taking it in stride when I admitted that I am kind of mesmerized by the booty on her header (you’re totally going to go and look now, aren’t you? Yeah, you are. BOOTY BOOTY BOOTY)

The Electric Monk – dude has no shame for vying for a second shout-out. You seem starved for attention; are you a middle child, or one of those feral kids, like on the Discovery Channel?

Jamie – you will always get love from me, just for being awesome and for having great taste in shoes.

And a note from Jo always cheers me up. Bum foot or no, you can call me Gimpy anytime.

Part II: In Which Our Heroine Blogs With The Aid Of A Glass Of Wine – Stick With Me, I’ve Got A Point Somewhere In Here

Speaking of Joanna, the other day she wrote something about Friend Crushes that totally struck a chord with me. You know, how you meet someone you think is just So Effing Awesome, and you are all, I totally want to be their friend, but maybe they won’t think I’m cool? What if I try to talk to them and they laugh at me with their friends and then prank call me during their sleepover this weekend?

I find as I get older (Haven’t you heard? Twenty-six is the new Fifty.), it is harder for me to make friends. When you’re young, it’s easy – Let’s share crayons and be best friends forever! I don’t know where the bathroom is either; let’s wander around together and try not to look like freshmen. Hey, I’m a history major too! Maybe it’s that I don’t get out enough. Maybe I should be more social. But it’s just HARD. Especially since I feel like I’m teetering on the edge between two very different worlds: With or Without Kids.

But the blogosphere (for better or worse) (and oh God, I hate that word)(I mean I hate “blogosphere”, although “for better or worse” is kind of tired, too) can be the great equalizer. Socialize at your convenience! Expose as little or as much of yourself as you want (in more than one sense)! No worries about your kids or significant others getting along! And, even better, Google to find someone else who posts about the Limbo Rock! My little blog has given me the opportunity to get to know some cool people, to learn about things I probably wouldn’t have otherwise, to read and laugh and groan and cry.

And so my point is…what? Um, Change? 42?

No. The point is, Thank You. You are all my Heterosexual, Platonic Friend Crushes. I like you. I’m glad you seem to think I’m cool. Let’s sit together in the caf at lunch, okay?

Raw, Unfiltered Gin:

Lukewarm, sub-par cheesecake is about as effective at quelling my terrible mood as a kick in the face. No. Thanks. Fuck. Off.

It is 10:17 a.m. and I am waiting very impatiently for my drugs to kick in.

As of yesterday, I am Sooo Over Crutches (yeah, that didn't take long), and I'm relying on the roll-y chair from my vanity to get around the house; thank GOD 4 1/2 years ago I opted for laminate flooring and tile in the main part of the house.

But in my zeal to Do It All Myself this morning, I pushed too hard across the carpet in the office and half fell out of my chair, onto my bad foot. J is sleeping like the dead across the house and deaf to my pitiful whimpers, so I'm pouting in here, trying to cheer myself up and willing the pain meds to hurry up and kick in because Holy Fucking Nerve Endings And Carpet Burn, Batman.

I am in pain, and kind of humiliated, and mad that I can't just get up and answer my own cell phone, and that I can't bathe myself without assistance, and that I will be on crutches until the 22nd. So I am not in a good place this morning.

Hello, chickens! I am back at home chillin' after having my foot cut open this morning. In spite of my anxiety before, everything went quickly and smoothly, and my heavily-banadaged appendage will be more of a pain in the ass than an actual pain. But that might be the drugs talking.

Um, Contest! Or something!

Send me something funny, cute, amusing, entertaining, whatever at gin.blog@gmail.com. I read quickly and am caught up on all my usual blogs already, but my addled brain can't handle anything heavy just yet, so Brideshead is going to have to wait some more (sigh). Make me grin, and I will post about how awesome you are.

My homeboy The Electric Monk gets the first shout-out by directing me to a video of his totally scrumptious daughter shakin' what her mama gave her. (I should note that she's a toddler, lest any of you get all weird.) Dude:

See, now aren't you totally jealous of my affections? Satisfy the middle child in you, and send me something cool.

It's 5:23 p.m., and I just realized the only thing I have consumed all day is Starbucks and a Coke. I have achieved the American dream by learning to sustain myself on caffeine alone!

Poop!

Oh. My. These Mad Men inspired illustrations are amazing.

DUDE, I have totally had this thought (but never with my current job).

Plus You Wouldn't Have to Go to the Gym!

from Overheard in the Office

Coworker #1: Ugh. I don't feel like being at work today.
Coworker #2: I know. Don't you ever wish you could just fall out of bed in the morning and break both your legs so you could take a sick day?

When it’s finally lunchtime and your stomach has already been growling the better part of an hour, that last minute on the microwave will be the longest 60 seconds of the entire day.

Being a proud, lifelong Texan, any mention I make of Rhode Island is usually a punchline, but I’m giving them mad props here for passing legislation mandating dating violence education at the middle and high school levels.

To be honest, this was a little off my radar – the closest I’ve ever been to domestic violence has been a Lifetime movie. And even though to many of us, the warning signs may be obvious, I agree that it’s important to educate kids – both guys and girls – as they are just beginning their dating life so they can make smart and safe decisions.

My continuing fascination with uke' music

I've spent the past half hour just watching these guys.


Don't you kind of want them to come to your next impromptu house party? I bet they'd play for a case of beer.



I could totally play the wobble. AWESOME.

I haven’t forgotten about my new name (maybe?)/new look thing – I’ve just been really freakin’ busy and overwhelmed, and will continue to be for the next week (month, year, whatever). But! I’ll have some time to poke around next week, as I will be off from work a couple of days recovering from foot surgery (to remove a small calcified cyst – sexy!). We’ll see what kind of (un)sound judgments I make under the influence of painkillers…