Tour B
The Final Frontier
OR How DH plans to live vicariously through DSs
We arrived at the Radisson at the Port Florida late, like 11 pm, which wasnt really Alaska late, but wed been traveling for something like 18 hours at that point, so we were Tired with a capital T, and a capital R & D, just because I like symmetry TiReD now isnt that aesthetically pleasing? We decided to sleep in, at least for us. Our wake up call came at 8:30, which is like 4:30 a.m. Alaska time, but thats OK because we went to bed at like 7 p.m. Alaska time
carry the two
subtract the square root of 7
oh, now my brain hurts.
Im convinced there are 2 types of people in this world math/science people and English/history people (OK, that only applies to English speaking people, so as not to offend anyone, please insert your native language here: _________/history people). You guessed it, Im an English/history person. Cant add digits over 10 without removing my shoes. Ive got a masters degree and I still dont know what 8x7 equals.
So we are at the Radisson at the Port in Cocoa Beach. I got a good military deal for $105/night. Our room was a decent size and we lucked into a great location. We were facing the courtyard with an actual court! Tennis not Peoples. It was also close to the breezeway leading to the parking lot. I convince DH that we got the great location because I know stuff. All bow to the mighty Dis. Life is good.
Wake up call
no Mickey yet, bummer. DH & the Monkeys were still sound asleep, so I turned on the coffee pot, sat by the window and jotted down some notes from our travel adventure. After my first cup of coffee-esque substance I decided enough was enough, it was time to awaken the men folk.
I accomplished this by bouncing on the beds chanting Get up, get up, get up. Luckily, DSs are pretty skinny little boys so there was plenty landing space. Ive missed my calling as a trampoline artist. I only pounced on DS7s leg once. What can I say, they started squirming. Again, not Mother of the Year, but it works for us. In the midst of my wake-up ritual DH perked up enough to just grin and shake his head at me. This is an almost 20-year trend that wont end any time soon. While admiring my bouncing he commented, That is cruel and unusual punishment
mostly unusual. This is the stuff memories are made of. Theyll all thank me in 20 years.
We packed the mighty park backpack with the essentials ponchos, first aid kit, hand wipes, extra film, duct tape, horseshoes, map of Kentucky, oven mitts and head out the door. We stopped at MickeyDs for a bite on the way to Kennedy Space Center. YAY free parking (at KSC, I expected it at McDonalds). Our tax dollars at work.
Now, we bought vouchers at SoG the night before, but we had to get them turned into tickets. There were 2 windows for advanced sales/will call, so we got in line. There were only 2 families in front of us. Unfortunately, the not-a-CM in the window was actually trying to make the round filter fit into the square air handler in order to accommodate the first family. I knew our duct tape would come in handy. After a teleconference with Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and the guy in the vest, they were in. Unfortunately, Gary Sinise was no where to be found.
We walked into KSC in time to catch the end of the astronaut talk. Pretty cool. DH wants to be an astronaut when he grows up. He flew planes in high school and actually passed college physics (hes a math/science), but thats as close as he gets. OK, astronaut talk over. We turned around and there was a moon man. All of a sudden the MTV theme jumped into my head (Gen X sing-along time: na nana na na, da nana nananana na na, na na na, na na na). Funny, I never realized that the old MTV theme and the SportsCenter theme were so similar. Anyway, this is KSCs version of a character meeting. There was a HUGE line to meet anonymous space dude, so I managed to talk DSs out of it. Keep in mind NO ONE was waiting in line to meet the ACTUAL astronaut! Imagine this, you get to be a real astronaut and scores of kids are running past you to meet some minimum wage teen-ager in a moon man suit. Lesson for the day: not every job is as satisfying as you might think.
We hit the Robot Scouts attraction next. I was expecting an interactive thing like Innoventions where you get to play with robots. Not so. You walk around and quasi-humorous robots tell you about all the cool stuff robots get to do in space. Now DH is considering being a robot when he grows up. I thought it was cheesy/lame, but DSs are 5 &7 and space robots are cool!
The life size space shuttle was pretty cool. You get to stand in the cargo hold on a platform. I wish they would remove the scaffolding so I could get a better photo. Its all about me. And my photos. I think space shuttles are cool. Im a child of the shuttle era. I remember Mrs. Oakley wheeling the rabbit ear TV into my 3rd grade classroom so we could watch Columbia lift off. We could see the shuttle fly by our house when we lived south of Tampa. DH even managed to get us a special pass to KSC property to watch John Glenn go up in 98. If you ever get a chance, watch a launch in real life. It is one of 3 things Ive seen in my life that just left me in awe. Sure Id seen the shuttle launch on TV many times, but it is just amazing to actually be there. Knowing what it looks like and experiencing it are two very different things. (The Grand Canyon and the Vietnam Memorial are the other 2 things that left me with the same feeling.)
They are building some sort of ride thingy in a building and I get the impression from the big sign that it will be Mission:Space-ish. Coming Summer 2007. I wonder how that will be. Somebody let me know.
We stopped into the Launch Status Center and since there was no actual launch to report the status of, the not-a-CM did a nifty demonstration with the shuttle tiles. He held a blow torch to one to make it glow red and then put it face down on his hand. He didnt even need our oven mitts. Pretty cool. (wait for it
wait for it
there it is.) Dont try this at home unless you have a real shuttle tile lying around. That would be a way cooler taxpayer perk than free parking.
We headed over to the bus tour. DH wanted to do Tour B, the one that went to the International Space Station. Well, not THE International Space Station, but a mock-up and some of the actual parts that arent in space yet. Unfortunately, the not-a-CM said we had to go on Tour A first. Huh? DH is used to following orders, so we went on Tour A. You get to see the vehicle assembly building, the launch pad and an office building from the bus and get dropped off at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. There is a giant rocket laying on its side in the building, a gift shop, a CS restaurant, and a few interactive things (finally a robot to play with!). We all took turns driving Mars rovers. DH was excited to learn that the average astronaut is male, 34yo, 6 tall, 165 lbs., has 2 kids, and a Corvette. Hes right there except for the Corvette. And the actual possibility of going into space.
DS7 seems to be emerging as a math/science. He wants to be a scientist when he grows up. DH has been trying to convince him that being a space scientist would be way cooler than being a normal everyday scientist. Youve seen the TV shows about the stage Moms and Dads, right? The crazy cheerleading mom, the dad who thinks Pop Warner will lead to the NFL, the parents who drag semi-cute kids to millions of commercial auditions. Well, I have visions of DH turning into one of these crazy parents during the 4th grade science fair. How are you going to get to space if you dont win the science fair?
No pressure kids, but weve already filled out your astronaut training application for 2025 and 2027. Please plan to get straight As, earn Eagle Scout, graduate from West Point or Annapolis, and complete your doctoral dissertations before the deadline.
DS5 wants to be an astronaut, but for him its all about the outfit. We dont need a girl, hes our diva.
We were bussed back to the main complex and headed to the Imax film Space Station 3-D, narrated by Tom Cruise. For some reason the narrator part is important, they kept mentioning it. It is no MuppetVision but it is pretty cool.
Its now about 3 p.m. and we havent actually eaten anything since McDonalds. Being Mother of the Year that I am, we shared a pretzel ($3.49). Hey, it was only a few hours before dinner.
We finally had clearance to go on Tour B, so we headed out to the International Space Station, well, not THE Interna
oh you get it by now. There is a mock up of some of the parts that are already in space that you can walk through and an observation area to look at the pieces parts that will eventually go up into space.
Here is my worst space nightmare: the ISC has an entire capsule that is nothing but drawers. Drawers on the walls, the ceiling, the floor. Im not a filer. When I file things I lose them. I also dont always close drawers. Our house is pretty clean, but I can guarantee that at least 2 of my dresser drawers are open right now. As you might imagine, this drives squared-away military DH a bit nuts and will continue to drive him nuts until death do us part. Besides the whole math/science thing, I now realize that Im not nearly organized enough to be an astronaut. And I dont have a Corvette.
When we got off the bus, there was moon man again. Without a line, YAY! This is the way to get a photo op with anonymous space dude.
After an obligatory stop at the gift shop (t-shirt and cool spring loaded rocket launcher for Jackson, space shuttle necklace for Huckleberry, coin set for DH, ornament for me, 2 rubber Failure is not an option bracelets and astronaut ice cream just because its a requirement). Our diva is still a bit upset that I wouldnt buy him an $80 space suit. Im a terrible mom. Just ask him.
Right at the check out, hanging with the gum and the Chapstick, was a REAL LIFE 1x1 space shuttle tile for only $14.95. My eyes lit up, I reached for the little pack in slow motion
Dont do it
uttered DH. I had visions of a nifty alternative use for my crème brulee torch (yes, I actually own a crème brulee torch, dont judge me). I didnt get the shuttle tile, but I still wish I had. I should have played the future science fair project card.
I don't think I would bring it up with her--life is too short.
I do read more than I post (only been part of the pirates for 5 weeks) - it is the end of the school year and things are crazy
Hopefully we can meet on the boards and on board.
in' sailor."
