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Post by Man in Black on Jan 8, 2010 20:26:10 GMT -5
I am so excited right now... I just scored 2 (very hard to get believe me) launch tickets to see the Shuttle Endeavour go up on February 7. They are the causeway passes with the closest public view that sold out in the first 5 minutes online. The NASA shuttles only have 4 more scheduled missions ever and this is the last night launch on that schedule. Most people who know me probably know that this is in the top 3 things on my bucket list - seeing a shuttle go up at Kennedy. It's even more special to get to see it at night. Marii and I saw Endeavour launch once before at night from Key West, and while that was a special moment, it wasn't like actually being at the Cape where you can feel the rockets and hear the crackle of the fuel. My Mom and I missed an Atlantis shuttle launch by about 2 hours last Spring. We had bus tickets to Gainesville for a friend's graduation and I planned it so that we would get there the night before the launch... Then they moved it up a day (the day we arrived) and we didn't have time to drive into Orlando to catch it. I was kind of crushed when that happened as I figured it would be my last chance ever to see it. You can bet I won't be shutting up about this anytime soon and I can't wait to get some pictures and video... I'm not much of a video person but I will be taking video of this!
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Post by Jason on Jan 8, 2010 21:20:00 GMT -5
Fantastic! Something awesome to look forward to. I'm sure this is a guaranteed great time for you. One thing on my bucket list is to see an actual tornado. All those years of studying and I've never even seen one. If I ever do see one, I've got to make sure I don't do something stupid and drive right up to it. Are tickets to events like this expensive?
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Post by Man in Black on Jan 8, 2010 22:41:37 GMT -5
I've seen a couple twisters from a distance, but to see one close and get some pictures is also on my bucket list... maybe we can plan a tornado alley storm chasing trip lol...
No, the tickets are not expensive at all. I got 2 tickets for 38 dollars each on the first morning they were on sale, but just before I posted this thread I found tour tickets - transportation from your hotel and viewing at Kennedy's causeway for 100 each... and the causeway tickets are near impossible to get. Only problem is now I have 4... 2 to the vistior center and the 2 for the causeway. You get free tickets to the space center museum for 2 days also which would be as much as the 38 dollars anyway... so to get to see the shuttle actually on the NASA site is priceless to me in the first place.
Now I've just got to find a couple buyers for the first tickets or talk some friends into going and using those. Wanna go? Lol.
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Post by Jason on Jan 9, 2010 0:14:06 GMT -5
Once I find a decent job and am able to save a few thousand bucks, preferably more, I'll definitely plan a road trip to Oklahoma or Kansas and chase some tornadoes! Haha. Oh, man. I would love to. But I don't know if I'm able to handle any type of activity like that with the pain I've been experiencing. I'm the active, sporty one out of everyone I know, and I'm practically bedridden most of the day. That doesn't sit well with me. I hope whoever you do take, though, has half as much fun as I know you will.
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Post by Man in Black on Jan 9, 2010 3:19:15 GMT -5
My Mom is the lucky one, or unlucky one who gets to baby sit me on this trip. She's getting the other ticket. The 2 extras I'll most likely wind up selling. And trust me I'll be drugging up heavily to be able to get through this trip myself. ;D The only thing active I'll be doing is vibrating uncontrollably with excitement when the thing goes up.
So, you are still having the pains? I hate that for you, I can definitely relate, but you are too young to be like that, I know it has to suck. At your age I broke my ankle pretty badly playing basketball and was on crutches for months and out of (athletic) action for over 6 months. That stretch of time almost drove me completely nuts. I couldn't play basketball or football, I couldn't go rock climbing... it was awful. Much worse than being laid up now at nearly 40. Now it doesn't bother me nearly as much... I still get aggravated when my friends go hiking and I'm not up to going, but other than that it's OK.
If I can still walk and more importantly drive when you get back on your feet and want to take that storm chasing trip you can count me in. I've always wanted to do that about as much as seeing the shuttle. I just have to do the shuttle first since they are not going to decommission twisters anytime soon lol...
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Post by Jason on Jan 9, 2010 17:25:08 GMT -5
I'm no expert, but logically, I'll bet you can make a lot more money if you sell it a couple of days before the launch. I'm sure there will be some desperate people willing to pay quite a bit to make the launch.
They prescribed me drugs, too. I forget what it was called, but some of the possible side-effects were too scary for me to even want to touch them. I took one or two and they never even helped anyways. Ibuprofen was the only thing that worked, but it hasn't helped with my back or digestion pain that I've been having. So I've just been suffering through it. I was VERY fortunate to not have any pain during the Monday night game in San Diego. ;D
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Post by Man in Black on Jan 9, 2010 19:13:53 GMT -5
You are probably right. I was thinking that I'd carry the tickets with me and unload them while I was down there or give them away if we meet somebody who needs them.
The side effects listed for a lot of those drugs sound worse than the problems they are for, some are even quite humorous with the anal itching and all. My doctor told me to ignore the instructions and side effects and to just take them like he said. But, I'm kind of like you, if I can't tell a difference or the effects on me are worse than my pain... I'm just not taking them.
My biggest medication dilemna is the chemotherapy drug treatments I take once a week. They make me ill for at least 2 days with a horrible upset stomach and extreme fatigue... but if I don't take the treatment then it gets where I cannot even move with the swelling and all that crap. Plus that's the stuff that keeps me from losing all my joints and being all gnarled up. I would definitely be in a wheelchair already without it. So I always try to take it.
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Post by Jason on Jan 18, 2010 21:46:44 GMT -5
I hope you have a blast! ;D
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Post by Man in Black on Jan 19, 2010 17:39:21 GMT -5
I will... it's Blast or Bust!
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Fish
Blaspheming Bog Rat
Fishin' Michigan!
Posts: 49
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Post by Fish on Jan 21, 2010 16:02:49 GMT -5
You lucky dog! I envy you, MIB. On that video, I expect to hear you say how much you wish that Fish was there with you. I catch all of the launches on HDNET television. They broadcast in surround sound so I crank it up loud enough for the neighbors to hear. I love the crackle of the engines that you hear about 10 seconds into the flight. It gives me goose bumps. I watch it over and over and over again. I hope that you have a frickin' BALL, MIB!
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Post by Man in Black on Jan 28, 2010 7:22:39 GMT -5
You may not believe this Fish, but you are the first person I thought of when I made up my mind to go on this trip. If I had the money, I'd pay for you to go with me, I swear. And of course you are welcome to come along, but I realize how much more travel that would be for you as opposed to me - a good 1300 more miles I'd guess. Say the word though and a seat in the Jeep is yours all you'd have to do would be get to Carolina lol... I watch those HDnet broadcasts too and rewind them and watch them go up again and again. I'm determined to hear that crackle live though... if it's the last thing I hear. Maybe I'll hold up a "wish Fish wuz here" sign... regardless I won't be able to help thinking about you. edit_ Dang I get f#%n sappy when I take this valium lol... but I mean every word of it anyway And don't forget you brought up joining up for a Shuttle Pilgrimage in this thread - vblackhole.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=268&page=1#2223
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Post by Man in Black on Feb 2, 2010 1:10:58 GMT -5
Well, I'm starting to get excited. It's been a long time since I've truly been excited about something like this. I'm taking a break from packing right now. We are camping for 2 nights in St. Augustine then heading to Cape Canaveral on Friday. The Shuttle is scheduled to launch Sunday morning around 4:30 am. Then we'll try to rest and catch the Superbowl on TV if possible. On Tuesday after the Shuttle launch there is a rocket going up so we are staying for that and then we'll probably head home. I'm taking lots of pictures and buying lots of little souvenirs... mainly because I can't afford big ones ;D Take care everyone and I'll post at you when we get back.
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Post by Jason on Feb 2, 2010 17:44:10 GMT -5
Have a great time, MIB!
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Fish
Blaspheming Bog Rat
Fishin' Michigan!
Posts: 49
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Post by Fish on Feb 7, 2010 10:08:12 GMT -5
I hope you have a great time, MIB. I'm sorry for not coming back sooner to respond n this thread. As much as I'd love to have joined you on this trip, I guess it just wasn't meant to be. David Todd returned from Iraq just a couple of weeks ago. We thought there was a chance that he was coming to Michigan during this past week, but as it turns out he won't be able to come to Michigan until March. So even though he ended up not coming here, I still had to set the week aside until we knew for sure. I'll take my son being home safe and sound from Iraq any day of the week, though, as I'm certain you understand. There's no launch that can top that. Just know that I'm there in spirit. Hopefully you'll still be able to see the launch at it's new time tomorrow morning. On the subject of shuttle launches, I ran across this video (on CNN's website) when I was reading about Endevour's launch being scrubbed. It's home video of the Challenger disaster taken by a man who lives not too terribly far from Cape Canaveral. It really provides an interesting perspective on the tragedy. And not just visually, but also from the commentary of the people watching it unfold.
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Post by Man in Black on Feb 15, 2010 23:47:26 GMT -5
That's great about your son Fish. Sorry he couldn't make it all the way home though.
We still got to see the launch and everything went great. It was the time of my life. I'm working on all the pictures now and I'll start a new thread about the trip when I get them ready. It was quite an adventure... that I needed for sure.
Maybe we can make it another time. I know how to do it cheaply and efficiently even better now. I've got it figured out and I'm thinking about hitting one of the other launches.
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