Laura, Kaden and Emma

The trouble makers around the house while I was gone...

How to Score VIP NASA Shuttle Launch Tickets

For friends and family who may want to hit up a NASA shuttle launch before it's retired in 2010, I'd highly recommend requesting some VIP Launch Tickets. From what I hear, it's an amazing spot to watch the magic. It's a fairly simple process once you know who to contact and, sometimes helping them know who to contact.

The first thing you must do is find and contact your US Representative's DC office. I ended up dealing with the Executive Assistant/Scheduler for my request. YMMV. Contact this person via phone and tell them you're looking to request VIP NASA Shuttle Launch Tickets.

The second thing you'll want is to have this web site address handy:

http://legislative.nasa.gov

My US Rep's office had never done this before so they contacted several NASA offices and left voice mails and gave up before asking me for any intel I may have. Through the magic of Google, I found this legislative branch of NASA which exists to deal with the US Congress. After forwarding the US Rep office this web site, they contacted them and found help with a woman named "Lisa". Again, YMMV.

The last step was submitting my full name and the full name of any one who is planning on going to the shuttle launch. Also, you'll need to provide your home mailing address and the date or mission (i.e. STS-124) that you're looking to attend.

After your information is submitted to NASA, they will contact your US Rep's office about a month prior to launch date to inform them if you will receive the tickets or not. If you will be able to go as a VIP guest to NASA, you'll receive a packet in the mail with information and your passes. My plan is to follow up with the US Rep office about six weeks before the launch date to "get back on the RADAR" for this information.

Since I'm just in the "waiting" stage of this process as I type this, I don't know what happens from here on out other than what I've read on this site (scroll about 2/3 down). This is where I got most of my accurate information on how to go about this process and to "help them help me".

If you go for it, good luck! I'll report back if/when I get the confirmation.

Flying With Chris

Chris L and I flew the Arrow to Urbana for some lunch and pie at the Airport Cafe. It was busy, busy but we reserved some pie and by the time we ate it, it was gone. Good thing. Getting back to the airplane, I hit the fuel pump and mixture and I think I flooded it. It took a good 15 minutes and a few attempts to get it going, but luckily I got it before the battery went dead.

Coming back to Bluffton, there was a tree trimming helicopter (another, longer video here) parked there at the edge of the ramp. We got an up-close look at it and those blades are pretty impressive.

Check out all the photos by CLICKING HERE.

Big Smiles!

Just a cute picture...

Dinner at Barcelona Restaurant and Bar

We headed down to Columbus today sans kids to have dinner at Barcelona Restaurant and Bar with Ryan and Melissa who are in town from NYC along with Corey and Kelly and 14 other folks. It was a great meal of black rice paella (me) and lobster ravioli (Laura) along with a "black and tan". We enjoyed some delicious dessert afterward as well. Afterward, everyone met at Bar 23 in Short North to chat a bit. We jetted early since Laura had to work at 7am and we had to pick up Emma.

Corey and Kelly

Ryan and his buddy, Brian (the wives were at the other table)

Kelli and Dustin

The Circus Comes to Lima

...and it was SMALL. They didn't even have a "big top". It was all done in one of the buildings at the Allen County Fairgrounds. For $15 per adult, I figured it would be better, but it was quite cheesy (maybe all circus' are?) and I certainly won't be back.

Either way, Kaden liked riding the elephant and seeing the lions and tigers outside. Also, he got his face painted and enjoyed roaring at everyone/everything.

Emma's First "Solid" Food

Laura started Emma on her baby rice cereal tonight. Mmm.. Poor girl had to watch us eat lasagna. Either way, she seemed to like it OK once she figured out how to keep some in her mouth.




Afterward, we all decided to show off our lasagna eating skills.

Kaden's First "$100 Hamburger"

While the usually "$100 Hamburger" normally costs more than a hundred dollars and neither of us ordered a hamburger, we did take our first flight for lunch. He's been to Urbana's Airport Cafe more than once, this was the first time sitting up front and it being just him and I. Pretty fun.

You can see that he was pretty excited and intent on getting there (note the fancy map reading). The Airport Cafe was super busy and didn't have ANY pie leftover of any flavor. Bummer. After filling up on a club sandwich and chicken fingers, we headed back for home under clear skies and 60F+ weather.






Indian Lake was pretty busy today with the nice weather. You can see all the boats cruising around.


Here is a shot of "Rexville, OH" with another shot of some friends' house.

Kaden - Ready For Instrument Training

It seems Kaden has taken a liking to the Foggles that I use for instrument flying practice. (They are just safety glasses that limit your viewing to the instruments and minimal sights outside the airplane.) I think I need to call the CFII and get him a lesson!


Of course, after a hard day of flying and training Kaden likes to kick his feet up and watch Dumbo.

Back From Vegas

I headed to Vegas late on Tuesday and got home this morning at 9am (after a six hour delay in Vegas due to weather in Houston). Ugh. I did end up getting First Class Upgrades on the way there and back which made it better. I got a good sleep on both legs.

(notice scheduled time is 431p and actual was 1041p)

Anyway, it was a good business trip with four good meetings (John W, Rick F, Merle H and Frank B with Mike Z in tow). We also did the usual Del Frisco's dinner with thirteen of us and Matt and I took advantage of the Spa at the Mirage. That is the best $25 you can spend in Vegas.

the view of the new Venetan building from our suite

the view of the pool from our suite

me ready for meetings