Mr. Bailey goes to Washington (again)

I was in Washington Feb 10-12 to chat with Congress. You may recall that last year I went to DC for the Space Exploration Alliance Legislative Blitz. This is an annual event where space advocates meet with Congressional staffers (and the occasional Senator or Representative!) to discuss space issues and do a bit of informal education. This year we chose to organize the Blitz to fall just after the new 2009 NASA budget request was released by the White House. I realized how much I'd learned in my previous trips when I had a conversation about appropriated verses allocated funds and how continuing resolutions to the omnibus bill was bad for everyone. (Did you get all that?)

The 2008 SEA Blitz was successful with over 100 meetings on the Hill. I was typically grouped with several other people--including an 8th grader who came with her dad. She was well spoken and knew a lot about NASA's prize competitions and the COTS program. We ended up having so many meetings scheduled that I even talked to a few staffers alone instead of with a group!

The trip was fun, but unexpectedly COLD. I figured we'd get into the 30's, but one morning it was 12 degrees. That is ridiculous. I don't own clothing appropriate for that kind of weather! I almost bought a $250 wool coat to stay warm (it was a nice coat). My journey became more perilous when the icy cold weather caused traffic accidents and shut down the highway going to the Dulles airport. I missed my flight and had to stay in Virginia overnight!

Normally I prefer to fly from Reagan National (DCA) in the heart of DC and accessible via the Metro. It is so easy to get in and out of there! However, this time I was flying out to California and had managed to get a seat on the new Virgin America airline. Even with all of the delays and unexpected overnight stay, it was worth it! Everything from the check-in line to the cabin lighting was cool, sleek, and hip. I even ordered a snack from the touchscreen entertainment system at my seat! If you ever get the chance to fly VA, just do it. It is a great example of how well an airline can run!

The Amazing Sticky-Note Trick

This has nothing to do with anything, but it is a neat trick and a great example of how a small change in a process can have a dramatic effect on the whole system.

Originally posted at Communication Nation.

Click To Play

Great video

This is a cool video made from an Obama speech by some musicians, actors, and artists. I thought it was really powerful, no matter what you think of Obama as a presidential candidate.

January Update

Ahh, the new year! Already a month has gone by. Hard to beleive. I think it has already lost that 'new year' smell. Perhaps that's a good thing...

We started the new year with a *BANG* out in Las Vegas with friends. We drove out to where we could see the strip and the coordinated fireworks display. It was cool, but I've seen Disney shows that were about as good. The coolest part was watching the fireworks coming off of the Stratosphere (think Seattle Sky Needle). THAT was a neat thing to see!!

Unfortunately it was disturbingly cold and dry in Las Vegas. Being there for several days led to me getting a viral infection that kept me company for most of the month.

I spent several days up in New York for Zero G flights--including a taping of Good Morning America! We did a studio tour early in the morning and I was pulled off the street to do an interview for FOX Business News. It was surreal. And COLD. Very cold. After all the Zero G fun, I got to attend a party for Virgin Galactic where they had the new models of SpaceShipTwo. It was very swanky and a great time to meet some new space friends.

While I was gone, Jack had some eye surgery and had to wear a funny collar for two weeks. Poor thing! He bathed for a whole day when he finally got the stitches out of his eye. Things seem better and he isn't sneezing nearly as much. We are watching him to see if his eye stops being so cloudy and whether it helps him see better.

After New York, I got to spend a day with Jen and the cats before heading off to a whirlwind session of annual Flight Attendant training for Zero G. We squeezed 20 hrs of training into 2 days! Early mornings and late nights helped everyone to make it to training without missing work.

More fun is ahead in February with the SEA Blitz in Washington, DC, and NGEC-2 at NASA Ames in California followed by a week long cruise in the Eastern Caribbean!