Waiting for the shuttle to go

The other day as I was driving somewhere, instead of Neal, who was on vacation, I listened to Laura Ingraham who had a guest author discussing whether or not people could actually multi-task. This is a fascinating topic for me as it gets thrown around often in conversations. The professional speaking said that there is really no such thing as multi-tasking, as one’s brain does not process that way. What is actually taking place is called ‘toggling’, where the brain switches from one task to another more quickly in situations, and in people, than in others. This is more or less comparing the brain to a computer, which makes me wonder which came first---the brain, as a type of computer, or the computer, a picture of the brain…Of course, I know that answer but still, it's fun to compare!

The reason this came up right now is that I am simultaneously watching LIVE from NASA the preparations for launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, listening to Neal on the radio (via Internet) and writing this! Oh, a man just held up a sign in the ‘white room’ that said, “God Bless America” as the crew leaves that area, readying the shuttle to pull away. I wonder if the guys have to put everything back if the shuttle does not go today. They might have to hook the whole works back together and do the same routine tomorrow, or the next day. If the Cape is as overcast as it is here, they might not go. It is quite cloudy here, but getting a bit lighter grey than dark.

Hopefully the weather holds for the ‘kids’ and their escorts who are at Universal Studios today, having left here at 6:00 a.m. They needed no help from me in getting up and ready but Sydney told me they were tired because while they had set their alarms on the phones, turning the volume so they would hear them, their friends in CO would send them text messages late in the night and wake them up! They were frustrated by that! “Like, come on, guys!”, she said to me. I imagine the kids back home were not thinking about the time difference, or were in their mode of ‘living in the moment’. While one would not even think of calling someone at 3:00 a.m. or showing up at their door just to chat, sending an e-mail or text in the wee hours might not faze a person. I told them they can sleep in the car on the way down and on the way back home again, and sleep late in the morning tomorrow. As far as I know, that is!

It was publicized at church to have our teens and those of Keystone Heights join these young people for the trip to Universal Studios but I did not hear that any others were going. Pastor’s daughter is in a baseball tournament today so she would not be going. Someone at the pool asked if we (GS) can’t do our own VBS, sort of sassy but not really, and it gave me pause. Without answering them out loud, in my head and heart I thought, “No, we can’t”. One of the young moms at church asked me if I was coming to help and I said, “Well……” and immediately she said, “Yeah, I am so over it, too…” That pretty well sums it up. There are some for whom their gift is doing VBS and some whose gift is to write about it. And to house the willing and enthusiastic helpers from Colorado!

The countdown is “go” right now, with them announcing the launch windows being open in the default landing areas around the world in case of engine failure. When Joanne S. was growing up, they lived in Belgium where her dad, an Air Force officer, would visually track the spacecraft for NASA. Imagine that! I am sure he had equipment for that, not just standing outside with his hand shielding his eyes…He also helped select chimps for the first launches with life inside them. Joanne has the black and white photos, head shots, as it were, of several of the chimps. I called them her 'family photos'!

We are presently at 36 minutes and counting, with Justin letting me know that at a State Park down the coast a bit, they have sunshine. Oh, good, I am excited for him!

Tragic employment numbers announced today really put a damper on the other news. Glad something could replace the news out of Orlando and that trial, but folks are often more interested in the sensational news rather than the important stuff. Slight of hand being performed via the media, turning people’s head away from goings on in Washington or their states. The nation is now presently closer to 10% unemployment with hiring reportedly stagnant. Hopefully that is not the case for those I care about who are searching for work. By the way, Mom, Justin loves his new clothes, says he really likes the way his ‘job searching pants’ feel around his ankles!

I am a bit hungry right now but hate to walk away from the monitor in case I miss something on the launch pad! Guess if I scurry it will be okay for me to leave. Maggie O. and I had tentative plans to watch the shuttle launch from my balcony and then have lunch. Launch and lunch, that sounds like me! In the afternoon we might attend a movie, “Midnight in Paris” at the Mall, since it got bumped already from the Fleming Island theater by “Cars II”. I had sent Lisa a caution about that movie, the Cars II one, which is reportedly alive with 'green' propaganda, much like "Wall-E" was. Nothing subtle about it, as even the director of Cars II admitted, he was going after so-called 'big oil'...and this was prior to the accident in the Gulf. Ugh!

Raindrops on the window here and in the river but Justin reports he has sunshine. The launch director just said, “Godspeed” and a few other words to the astronauts....Very touching exchange between launch control. My sister, Lynn, just called to see if I was at the beach watching but I told her I am in my window, watching the rain drops hit, while watching LIVE on the computer. She has the same or similar in front of her, so we are watching together!!! Godspeed, Atlantis, Godspeed!