Saturday, November 22, 2008
One Single Impression, Childhood Memories, click here
(Sorry for the inconvenience)
Genesis 9:2-3
2 The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands.
3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
[The entire account of Noah and the ark, the animals, and the flood can be found in Genesis, Chapters 7, 8, and 9 (link)]
Thursday, November 20, 2008
"Houston we have a problem" -- My efforts to help the space program: found, a tool box lost from space; helped in training astronauts
"O my gosh [OMG], what now? You cause more problems than you fix. I wished I'd never have encouraged you to take those courses."
"Nothing's bad with the it. Some other guys got it back in order."
"Well?"
"I lost our tool box, that's all."
"How could loose that tool box, it's big and heavy?"
"It just floated away. I had it tied on to me but it got away anyway. Gone into space."
"Oh boy, do you know what that cost us? A hundred thousand bucks. I can't earn that in several years!"
"That part is alright, the Government is going to bail us out on this one."
Some comments now.
First, Adi and I found that toolbox out in our driveway this morning, it must have landed here. I am hoping to get it autographed.
Secondly, that woman loves those granny knots. We learned in Boy Scouts to tie square knots. For added security I always do another on top making it a double square knot. Those never give way.
What does this photo have do with the post today? That jar sits in a prominent place in our home, it was made by an astronaut's wife and astronaut's mother. She was an artist, we like her Moon Jars--this one, the lid has the earth, the jar is the Moon, both are sculpted in relief.
[The cougar behind is a print by Charles Fracé, a nature painting artist. Mine is autographed by him, "To: Jim", and represents my college, The University of Houston, and its athletes, the Houston Cougars. Mrs. Jim gave me the picture after having it so nicely framed.]
How can that be? She is Mrs. Garriott, mother of Richard Garriott who is son of NASA Skylab veteran astronaut Owen Garriott.
And? I was active at the beginning Owen's flight training. I gave the senior Garriott his first indoctrination lesson to the Skylab vehicle in the Skylab mock-up simulator for which I was on the design team and helped to build.
That was back when I was a senior aerospace engineer with Ford Aerospace at NASA. I did a lot of other work with him while I was a flight control simulation and training person there. Note also that during Skylab missions (training was completed) I monitored and advised on either the Electrical Power Console or the Environmental Control Console.
And? I know that Dr. Garriott would have trained his son Richard better than that as to not lose a toolbox. Unfortunately Richard Garriott returned to safely to earth earlier last month in the Soyuz capsule along with two cosmonauts landing in north-central Kazakhstan (link). Or he could have done the job without losing the toolbox, I am sure of that.
One more item here, I was fortunate enough to have the Garriott's daughter as a student in my Introduction to Business class at San Jacinto College. At that time she was concerned for her brother who had quit college and was just 'playing with' his computer closed in the closet. He has come a long way and is one of the biggest producers of computer games now (read about his game career here).
More space things later
Labels: Humor, Jim's Life, space, Stories, Work
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Ruby (Red) Tuesday -- A new picture
This is the new picture. Mrs. Jim bought it at a boutique held at our church. Adi, the model dog, is here so you can get the perspective. Measurements are 36 inches by 52 inches.
Now, where do we put this nice picture that Mrs. Jim brought home?
That was to be my job to sit it on the fireplace mantel just to see. Mrs. Jim had to help me, the picture IS large.
How do you like it here? We would have to paint or surface over the mirror presently glued to the wall behind it.
Mr. Jim and I think it might should go where this tapestry is hanging now. Something a little taller might be nice in that spot over the doorway to Mrs. Jim's study.
We both like the tapestry, our builders wife and our friend helped us find it. Oagga knows how to shop for prices as well. She also paints. Oagga was with Mrs. Jim at the church shopping and ladies luncheon and approved of this picture.
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Then we would move the tapestry over here, above the China cabinet. I can do that, I have an 18 foot ladder. I hung it before, per instructions from Mrs. Jim.
But we will need someone to hang the picture. It is too heavy and bulky to be up on a ladder with me.
Before we do this, Mrs. Jim isn't sure she wants to keep the frame as is. She might (have it done) cut it down to four to six inches wide or get a different frame.
Click the Ruby Tuesday button if you want to see more Ruby Tuesday posts.
Mary is in charge there, you can post your own if you wish.
I have a boogey man under the bed poem posted at JIM'S LITTLE PHOTO PLACE for this week.
Labels: Married Life, Ruby Tuesday
