One Minute at Zero G's, $600; One Minute at Two G's, $600; Not Hurling in the plane, PRICELESS!

Lyle and Marsha, 2 minutes from blast off!

Some of us are not morning people.  Some of us are.  The morning people win.  The morning people get up in the 4's.  What is wrong with them?  Luckily, they usually go out and play until around 6 a.m.  This  morning, one of the morning people, Lyle, was a bit subdued and didn't run his usual 3 miles. ( It had been suggested that we reserve our hydration for our blood cells, and Lyle took this to heart.)  Marsha herself did not sleep all that well, as she was making a list and checking it twice.  They were psyching up for one of the most exciting experiences on earth, evidently, one that Monica, Joe and I are psyching our own selves up for right now!

Taking off into the Wild  Blue Yonder

                  

As Marsha and Lyle were having two last meetings, one for the rules of the airplane (they ARE picky about that plane) and one for the distribution of drugs, the rest of us were on the plane fine tuning our project.  (One medication calms the sicky feeling, while the other counteracts the zombie feeling the first one gives you. You take them if you choose.  I gotta tell you, every NASA person on the flight takes them. That's good enough for us.)  Marsha and Lyle flew:  Here they speak: "The meds made us a little more loopy than normal, but we managed to focus on the task at hand when we needed to, and perhaps a bit too much.  The trip out to our flight path over the Gulf of Mexico was easy, followed by a 2 minute period of 2-G force where it is more comfortable to lie down.  The first parabola producing zero-G was the most jarring of the day.  Lyle flew to the ceiling and Marsha was thrown over our experiment. The men in blue suits were kept very busy keeping people from colliding with walls, equipment and other people.  We re-positioned ourselves so as to have access to straps for holding onto. Christy, our engineer mentor, had to operate the computer where Marsha was initially stationed.  We were able to produce bubbles in several parabolas as expected - without getting water into the pump.  It was very exciting, especially since we'd been told that it might not work at all!! Toward the end of the flight, we were able to spend a few parabolas "free-floating" in zero-G - too much fun! The whole experience was unforgettable and much too brief.  What a ride!"

Three down, (or up, really) Three to go....

Lyle disembarking with his own two feet!

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM:
There is a storm in the Gulf.  We were immediately told that we were flying this afternoon.  Go have a light lunch, come back at 2:00 and be ready to fly.  We got delirious with excitement.  15 minutes later, we were not flying.  The "track" taken by our plane was not available.  Soooo, if it is too "rough" in the morning, Joe, Monica, and I will fly in the afternoon.  If it is rough then, it will be Saturday morning.  Needless to say, we are concerned.  Firstly, because we don't know what "rough" means.  More importantly, we are terrified we will be out of luck.  They promise we will make it.  Fingers crossed, people.  
Matthew, Laura, and Nancy arrived this afternoon for a sweet reunion.
Matthew would not remove his arms from around Joe's neck for at least 15 minutes, no kidding.  Adventure is exciting and fun, family is ...... priceless.

Gone too long, Daddy.