All Systems Go!!

This blog has been hijacked by Monica Wilson for this afternoon's post. First and foremost the person mentioned in Friday's blog who was unable to follow the rules was Peggy. At least one of us has had to escort her since that time in order to keep her in line and out of trouble. However, she was cleared today to fly on Friday...HOORAY!!! The whole team is stoked about this news, it just wouldn't be the same without her. I'm just excited that I am coming home in one piece. The threats to harm me are OVER! Another joyous occasion today was that we were cleared by the reduced gravity office to fly with our contraption. A few minor modifications had to be made and those were cleared as well...HALLELUJAH!!
On a "how's the team getting along" note, we're getting along great. I believe a running monster was created in Joe due to his great new shoes. This time next year Lyle and I would not be surprised if he were getting ready to run a marathon in the fall.
Lyle continues to amaze me as he thinks anything and everything is sold at CVS pharmacy. How much stock does he own in CVS?? Unfortunately, CVS does NOT sell food coloring or a rotisserie chicken. One item CVS most certainly did not have was his official NASA/All Saints' shirt. How do you forget something like that? Fortunately, sweet Nancy overnighted his polo to the nearest FedEx. Luckily, his forgotten shaving kit could be replaced at none other than CVS! And his lost comb replaced yet again at CVS. AND most importantly his forgotten prescriptions.
Marsha continues to do us proud as our team leader. We passed our inquisition by 20 NASA scientists, not an easy feat. Hopefully, she will be in bed before midnight tonight. Our weight limit was a max of 40 pounds, we came in at 39 pounds...whew!
More from our fearless blogger, Peggy, later.

It is later.  We had a fabulous night.  As luck would have it, tonight at NASA was the STS 134 debriefing, with Mark Kelly, flight commander, and the 5 other astronauts showing us pictures and a video of their mission.  Kelly's wife, Gabrielle Gifford, was there in a wheel chair and waved to everybody.  A standing ovation when she came in.  Awards were given out to personnel on the ground who supported their success.  Kelly was so sincere in his appreciation of NASA and of the the audience being there. We stood in line for an hour, with about 250 other people.  When the astronauts received their medals, Kelly walked over and gave it to his wife who managed to stand up and hug him.  Oh, my, give me a tissue.

Lyle and Joe got in touch with their mechanical engineering selves and fixed us up a darn good reverse flow apparatus, whatever that is, in order to, surprisingly, reverse the flow.  You see, we want no flow of water to be drawn into the pump.  NASA wants no flow of water spewed around their plane.  This accomplishment took 2 trips to Home Depot, one to Lowe's, then another trip to HD, and a few phone calls to an RV repair man.  Here, for your edification, is what this thing finally looks like, until we change it tomorrow for some reason.