Launch of Columbia, March 22, 1982

Lumpy and the Poot were privileged to see the last shuttle launch on July 8th.

They have several excellent blog posts about it including The Challenging Enterprise In Which We Endeavoured to Discover Atlantis (We Drove Past The District of Columbia)

It was nice symmetry that they went to see the last launch since me and my Pi had seen one of the first.

Back in the day when my Pi was launching communications satellites for GTE and being courted by NASA, we got VIP invites to a shuttle launch.

It wasn't convenient to go to the first two shuttle launches, but we went to see the 3rd - Columbia, March 22, 1982. www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-3.html

These pictures were taken with a Canon AE1 using a 200mm telephoto lens. 35 mm film (this was was WAY before digital cameras of course) .

Should have stored these photos better. I was lazy here and just took pictures of the photos instead of scanning them in.

I was the age the Poot is now at the time.

Covered Wagon on Route 27?

Saw this thing off in the distance and couldn't figure out what it was. Why would a covered wagon be driving down Route 27?

HIVES - Part V - An Update

At some point in the past few days when I was Googling, I was offered the opportunity to take an online "Skin Disease Picture Quiz - Identify These Common Skin Conditions".

How could I resist?



I have two things to say about the test.

One - I didn't really know all the answers, the score I got is due to a lot of lucky guesses

and

Two - bad as I've had it the past week, things could have been A LOT worse.

Try your luck?

http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_conditions_picture_quiz/quiz.htm

Hives - Part IV - A NEW Med

So I am now on NEW med, for the hives, which are most likely the side effect of one of the OTHER meds I was recently on.

THIS med has a list of side effects that is also a mile long.

I am waiting with bated breath to see which ones I develop.

Hives, of course, are one of the possible (supposedly unlikely) side effects of this new med. Ha! Wouldn't that be hilarious?

At least it is just ONE med this time so the schedule should be easy, right? Not like last time when it was one med 3 times a day and one 2 times a day.

If only. This one is 3 times a day for the first 3 days, 2 time a day for the next 3 days, and once a day for the next 3 days. And to make it more interesting, I started in the middle of the day.

As I said, I am waiting with bated breath to see new side effects. This blog has the potential to go on forever.

Chad Gadya.

HIVES - Part III - Treating the Symptoms

I've drunk a bottle and a half of Caladryl so far and am still getting hives.

Ha Ha! THAT WAS A JOKE. The Caladryl is for "external use only".

To the reader of this blog - DO NOT DRINK CALADRYL BECAUSE OF WHAT I SAID EARLIER AND THEN SUE ME.

Actually, I was quite surprised that there is no DO NOT DRINK warning blasted in bold type across the bottle. Just in the fine print on the back:Warnings for external use only.

True, it does say "Topical Analgesic" on the front. But they don't seriously believe that the typical user is going to have a clue as to what those two words mean separately, let alone together. Do they?

It's more likely that the user will think "Topical Analgesic"? Isn't that like a piña colada?



If you ask me, this is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Johnson & Johnson, just think about it.

HIVES - Part II - A Second Opinion

Actually went to my doctor on Friday, for a second opinion.

My usual doc was not in, but the one who was concurred with my diagnosis of "Pretty weird, huh?"

Figured that the most likely cause was an allergic reaction to the meds I had recently taken (see earlier post) but that didn't explain the fever. And it was unusual that the allergic reaction showed up two days after I had finished the meds, not during.

The doctor discounted my theory of "Super Skin Sensitivity Following a Bout of Poison Ivy" as being a contributing factor, in addition to the drug allergy.

Shows how much he knows, huh. (Just be glad I didn't blog those photos.)

So the doctor agreed that I could continue with what I had been doing - treating the symptoms and "wait and see" how things progress.

HIVES - Part I - WARNING NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH.

I understand that when Moshe had hives a while back he was going around day care showing them off to everyone.

I can certainly understand why he did this.

When you have access to something so totally disgusting, you don't want to selfishly keep it to yourself, but you want to share it with your friends and family.




These are just a sample. No where near the worst of it. But the worst were in areas I am never going to photograph, let alone post on the web.

To be continued ...

Plays in the Park - Hairspray

Excellent, excellent production!

The 3rd Anniversary of This Blog, the Day Before the Last Shuttle Launch

Today is the 3rd anniversary of this blog, the day before the last shuttle launch (unless it is delayed).

Here's a report on two of the Childrentals' quest to see the last Shuttle Launch:

The "Childrental and Two Friends Road Trip" reached Florida today. The weather down there is hot, humid and raining but that didn't stop the part of the group who had thought to bring along a bathing suit from going swimming in the ocean at the Canaveral National Seashore.

I would say, "Remember to bring towels next time, Childrentals," but as this is the last shuttle launch, there is not going to be a next time.

Apparently several million other people also thought it would be a great idea to see the last shuttle launch. And would therefore also need a place to stay in the area.

I would say, "Remember to figure out where you will be staying before you go next time, Childrentals," but as this is the last shuttle launch, there is not going to be a next time.

Really guys, didn't you learn ANYTHING from me?

I just hope that the place you pitched your tent is legal and that the tent doesn't get towed.

PANDORA THINKS I'M FAT

Pandora is constantly insulting me.

First it was those annoying Hebrew Home for the Aged ads. I finally figured out (at least I think so) that they were not actually targeting me in those ads, but "My Aging Parent."

Which is only slightly less insulting.

And then they started in about my weight.

and

As if that weren't enough, they also implied that not only am I fat, but also SHORT and FAT.



Also, my teeth are yellow,



Pandora, that is just not nice.

I really like your music, but you are ruining my self esteem.

And guess what, Pandora doesn't like my HAIR, either.

Scheduling Challenge

I have to take two antibiotics for ten days.

-I have to take one every 12 hours.
-I have to take the other every 8 hours.

-One cannot be taken within 2 hours before or 6 hours after any food item containing calcium.
-The other is best taken with milk, to reduce digestive upset.

-Besides having a very small window of opportunity to have calcium, I am supposed to avoid fiber.
-EVERYTHING I usually eat contains either calcium or fiber, or both.

I drew up a schedule. Kind of like a sfiras haomer calendar.

I'm really happy this coincided with the first of the month. Makes things a lot easier.

Sometimes we inadvertently refer to them as "feedings" as in, "Is it time for your 10:30 feeding yet?" or "Have you had your 2:30 feeding?"

In case you forgot, this happened once before. Check out the side effects: Are We Having Fun Yet?

Excuse me, gotta go take a pill.

This is Going To Be Amazing