Saturday, December 30, 2006

ERAU bashed by Christmas tornado

Our alma mater, Embry-Riddle, was whacked by a freak tornado on Christmas day. Reports have come in from news reports and friends on location that the damage to the campus is devastating. Almost all of the 65 training aircraft were damaged or destroyed and several buildings on campus sustained major damage--including impacts from aircraft! (See photo at left) Thankfully almost no one was on campus at the time and there are no reported injuries.

The university has released several statements indicating that they will be starting classes in January, though later than their original start date.

More info:

Photos from Dave Bujak, a fellow Alpha Phi Omega alum.

News from ANN, an aviation news service.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Christmas comes early to Titusville

The last week has been a flurry of travel activity! Jen got back from her 4-day class in California on Friday afternoon. Tom & Alice (Jen's mom & step-dad) arrived on Saturday afternoon for a week-long pre-Christmas visit. I left for a World Space Expo business trip to early on Sunday (5am!). No, I wasn't running from my in-laws. In fact, I stayed with Bill & Lynn in Hershey,PA (Jen's dad + step-mom). I love all my in-laws and was happy to see them all in the same week :-)

While I was gone,Tom and Alice visited some Frank Loyd Wright architecture in Lakeland (on the other side of FL)! When I got home, they left to go to Sabastian, FL, for a few days. (Maybe they were avoiding me? ;-) )

When we were all together we had a fun time and had an early Christmas. Tom & Alice gave us an awesome new fridge that matches the stove + microwave we'd already bought. After one false fridge (back to the store with you!) we got the working one in the kitchen and into place. Now we have a new fridge + all new food for it too! What an adventure!

Now we're all on the road again with Jen & I heading to GA and Alice & Tom on their way back to WI. Bill, Lynn, & David are also on their way to GA to have Christmas with my family before we all head down to FL.

WHEW! What a week! And mor to come...

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Space Conference in Houston

The 2nd Space Exploration Conference in Houston started off as any good conference should: with food and booze. This is a great example of how the space industry works just like any other group of people on Earth!

SAIC gave several space advocacy organizations free space in their booth to set up and promote their non-profit space programs. I went to the conference as a representative for Space Gen and Yuri's Night. A special feature of being with SAIC was meeting space atrist Pat Rawlings (known for doing all of the advanced concepts sketches for NASA). They were very generous, as were Nick and Krysta Skytland (who put me up for 2 nights!).

The conference was fun, but I was too busy to get other work done! Now I am up to my ears in meetings and deadlines with a shuttle set to launch on Thursday from the Cape. Jen will be at the Range Operations center while I will be at Space View Park with the NSS chapter. If you haven't reserved a room and still need a place to crash, there are a few couches left for Thursday night.