What a weekend, how about you....

[RickK]

Yeah, there's not much more of an adrenaline rush (and shock) when you start to move after a packed 4th display on the water and you look around and all you see are red and green lights everywhere you look (which means they are all coming right at you ) and you have to go in a direction that is against the traffic.  I did it once and it was interesting but at least everyone was going slow until well out of the pack.  Not for the weak of heart.

[Circle Hooked]

I had my fill of Holiday boating years ago,to many nice other days out there with alot less stress.

[T Race]

T, final shuttle launch, 11:26 AM this Friday.  End of an era, buddy.  When I worked for Martin-Marietta, our plant in Michoud, LA built the big main tank, so we had a close affinity to each and every launch.  In fact, my old boss quit for a while and went to work for Lockheed (Lockheed and Martin hadn't merged at that time) as the shuttle turnaround manager.  Got mePa some good tickets for a few launches, on-site...awesome experience that close!

   Oh, you are killin' me!!!   I have been trying fruitlessly to explain to the Admiral what a Shuttle launch is like... you see, the Admiral is.... well, suffice to say she ain't no from 'round these here parts.  I had no idea this was the last shot.  I have been sort of dreaming about taking her to see one before they blow the candle out on the Shuttle program.  In a word, DERN.   Oh well.  When you snooze you lose.

  Dang it.  I've been all around the world... how does that Johnny Cash song go... I've been everywhere man: Panama, Bosnia, Northern Lights, Southern Cross, Pakistan to Yucatan, I've been everywhere man.... (huh, I just made that up - I bet I could be a GEN-U-INE rapper ! )   Point being, of all the things I've seen and done, it all sort of pales compared to what you experience at a Shuttle Launch, particularly if you are real close.  The best times for us back in those glory days was the couple of times when we'd be on a boat, tucked up in the Banana River, about a mile or two from the launch facility - along with about 15 bazillion other folks on boats, all rafted up, snug as a bug. Man, I am almost heartbroken that the Admiral will miss out.

Well, Seabob, you will have to enjoy those VIP tickets to the max for the rest of us.  I heard this morning they might have to postpone it for a day or two, those pesky thunder storms.  Well, you called it... the end of an era.  Thanks for your small part in making those engines and these enduring memories of mine    

[gran398]

Weekend update, good news:

Went for x-rays yesterday...Nothing broken, the flexor tendon is still attached to the bone...so gonna wear this splint for a month, should be good to go. What a relief.

Momma bird is eating $10 dollars worth of mealy worms/day...she comes when you whistle for her! Momma won't even hunt anymore...chicks are fat and happy! They'll be out of the nest in 5 days...more great news!

AND...supposed to rain all day...what a blessing!

 

Ya'll have a great weekend!

[T Race]

Went for x-rays yesterday...Nothing broken, the flexor tendon is still attached to the bone...so gonna wear this splint for a month, should be good to go. What a relief.

Gran,
  That is very good news indeed.   :sunny:   Heal fast !

                                 Cheers, T

[Capt. Bob]

Weekend update, good news:
Went for x-rays yesterday...Nothing broken, the flexor tendon is still attached to the bone...so gonna wear this splint for a month, should be good to go. What a relief.

Scott,
I think I speak for everyone here on the Forum when I say....
Just thank God it wasn't your pinky



I just love purple

[fitz73222]

Yeh, the left one is his drinkin pinky...

[flounderpounder225]

Great news Scott!! Have a great weekend...

[seabob4]

T,
She went this morn, but with the day we're having over here, no chance on seeing her...


I knew hundreds and hundreds of people who worked on that program.  And now they face another round of lay-offs, just as I experienced 17 years ago...

True story here.  Back in '86, after we had watched almost every daytime shuttle launch from our plant on Sand Lake Rd., the Challenger was due to launch, shortly after lunch.  Now, since we built the main tank, every employee in the plant (all 12,500 of us) would spill out to watch, the cape being 50 miles away.  I had an important status meeting around 2, told my employees, "Nah, you go out, I've got work to do..."  10 minutes later a few come in exclaiming "The shuttle just blew up!!"  I thought they were totally kidding, but it was no joke.  I went out, and all I saw was the Y-shaped exhaust and smoke we all remember...

Bless their souls, and bless all the fine men and women that worked on all the shuttles...    

[GoneFission]

I was at the Santa Susanna Field Lab for the last shuttle engine test there by Rocketdyne.  We were close - like 1/4 mile away - and it was amazing!     You don't hear it as much as you feel it - like someone hitting you in the chest.  I was at an Apollo launch around 1970, but we were a mile away, so it was impressive (Saturn V had some serious motors!), but being closer helps you understand the incredible power of a large rocket.  

Another time at Santa Susanna, Rocketdyne was testing a new prototype motor that had a wide-range throttle capability.  The engine started, went up to full power, and then the test called for 50%, then 25%, then 50%, then back to full.  Well, she went to 50% just fine, but when they tried to drop it to 25%, it flamed out.  A second or two later it restarted with a BOOM!  Pieces of rocket motor were flying across the test stand and out the exhaust cone.  They shut the test down.  The lead test engineer made this entry in the log book:  "Shutdown engine due to hardware-rich running condition."  I'll always remember that line:  "she's running a little hardware rich."  

[gran398]

Good stuff guys! SB keep that rain coming this way!

Thanks guys for the encouragement...and CB..that pic was inspirational...and tonight being "date" night and all...think I'll mix up a batch or two, whipped cream and cherries, purple beads, etc.....just like in the picture....

[Capt. Bob]

You NC Bubbas,
Class up your act with those little umbrellas Steve Martin was so fond of.

[GoneFission]

Be Somebody!!   :flower:  

The Jerk is one of my favorites...    

[seabob4]

Be Somebody!!   :flower:  

The Jerk is one of my favorites...    

"This is chit...this is shinola"...

[gran398]

Man...have you guys EVER seen a thread morph like this one?