On To The Next!

Endeavor rolled out of the VAB last night and reached the launch pad early this morning in preparation for it's final mission, currently scheduled for April 19.  It was gorgeous out today and I took a little trip out to the pad to catch this terrific shot of the shuttle before the rotating service structure covers it up for the next month. 

Go Endeavour!

One of Those Days

I am so exhausted today, and I'm nursing a mild but persistent headache.  I attribute it to the extreme emotional highs and lows of yesterday's final shuttle landing for Discovery, the 10 hours I worked yesterday supporting said landing, the celebratory half bottle of wine I subsequently drank last night after I got home, and today's gray, rainy, blah weather as the front moves through.  It's also a bit surreal having Discovery back in the processing facility, but not having the busy rush of people doing work to prepare for another flight. In celebration of Discovery's final mission, here are a couple of images to remember NASA's currently oldest orbiter by:

Discovery's Last Landing

Discovery landed today at Kennedy Space Center at the finale of her very last mission ever.  While it was definitely sad walking away from Discovery on the runway, the landing itself was wonderful and happy.  Gorgeous weather (albeit a bit windy) allowed us to see the vehicle in the sky before we even heard the double sonic booms.  Here's a photo montage of what I got to experience today:

My first glimpse of Discovery with drag chute deployed

In the convoy approaching the vehicle

Up close and awesome

Admiring the vehicle with the hoards of people who showed up on the runway

Taking a wind blown break from work to pose in front of the nosecap

Equals

Very interesting clip of James Bond as portrayed by Daniel Craig and the voice of Judi Dench as M discussing the roles of women and men in society.

I Adore this Coat!

Since I live in Florida, I don't get to indulge in all of the fall and winter gear that I love oh-so-much, like sweaters and boots and coats, etc.  I know all you northerners who continue to go through a cold and miserable winter don't have much sympathy for me, but I can't help it.  I occasionally cave in on a sale item that I absolutely have to have, but this latest coat I found is not within Floridian splurge range.  I will continue, however to obsess over it...

Finally! A Real Friday!

Since I had to work last weekend, I haven't had a day off in 11 days!  I'm SO excited to have a real Friday this week followed by a real weekend!  The weather is supposed to be rainy down here so J and I are planning some light cleaning, heavy cooking, and LOTS of staying in, laying around, and watching movies.  Since it's been over a month since I've had a weekend to just relax, I'm definitely looking forward to it!

(Picture from here)

Yes Please

As someone who could live on a diet of cheese, bread, wine, and fresh greens for the rest of my life and die happy, I'm definitely going to be adding this book to my list of required reading (and eating)!

Yum!

Moroccan Wedding Blanket

Don't get excited mom, this isn't about getting married... it's about a gorgeous decorating piece that I've been craving for a while now, a Moroccan wedding blanket:

They are elaborately detailed, neutral colored blankets with embroidery, fringe, and sequins.  Now if only they were affordable.  I found a dress on a blog I frequent today that shares a very similar feel to this blanket and I was so hopeful that maybe this would be another option.

 Still gorgeous - still not affordable.  More likely to eventually go on sale, though.  Fingers crossed!