Launch Discovery Launch!

Time flies when you're busy. Since Thanksgiving Ross and I have been consumed with work and Christmas preparations. We got our Christmas tree decorated and even have most of our presents under the tree. My parents came to Houston the weekend after Thanksgiving, and we got a lot of shopping done.

The next weekend was a lot of fun. My best friend Barbara came to visit! We went to my group's Christmas party, decorated another Christmas tree at the church, did some more shopping, got pedicures (Ross didn't join us for that part), and went to see the latest James Bond movie.

This week Ross and I participated in the 2nd Annual Space Exploration Conference here in Houston. I got to see a couple of ISU friends there. Melissa was one of the people responsible for organizing the event, so she was busy most of the time. We finally got to catch up a little on the last day. Alvin, Steve, and Marlo were also there, along with Michael Simpson. It was great to meet all of Alvin's Irish friends that are here at Rice University with him. Steve had updates on his career plans, and I can't wait to find out how everything works out. Marlo was like me...just working!

Yesterday the shuttle was supposed to launch, but it got "scrubbed" for 48 hours becuase of a weather violation. Thanks to that, I haven't slept in 24 hours. I'm working the 11PM to 8AM shift tonight. Tomorrow I work 7PM to 8AM unless we launch. If we launch I only have to work until midnight! The downside is that Ross will have to work the night shift whenever we launch. We're still hoping for a launch before Tuesday. If we launch on Tuesday, we'll have to work Christmas, which would be really disappointing since I worked Thanksgiving too. We'd really like to go home and see our families! Let's hope that the weather clears up, everything goes well, and that we get to launch tomorrow! That would mean I'd get to give one of the "go for launch" calls and see a night launch while sitting on console!