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Living in Florida, I have gotten use to the fact the Space Shuttle blasts off only a few miles from where I live. I try to get out and watch it from my back yard or another location with a better view.

In 2010, the Space Shuttle project will stop and the last night blast off was on November 14th, so I knew I didn’t want to miss that.  We went to where the golf course starts and waited until 7:55 pm.  There were so many people there this time and I guess they all felt like me.  This is the last one and I want to be part of it.  Floridians feel very strong about the Kennedy Space Center, as other states cherish their monuments and places of history.

As the time approached, the clouds were heavy on the horizon and then the glow started and then there was nothing.  The crowd became very quite.  The clouds were so heavy in our area we couldn’t even see the glow of the rockets and believe me, I was starting to worry.  It seemed an eternity before the shuttle started peeking above the clouds and the crowd roared.  Its just a site to behold, especially at night.  We saw the rocket separation and then it went behind the clouds again.  I wish I could describe how the crowd feels every time you watch the shuttle make its way to space. 

The video I have below is a good example of how the crowd reacts to the blast off and especially when the shuttle went behind the clouds.  We did the same thing when we weren’t able to see it anymore.  You should get a chuckle out of it.  I hope you enjoy this little few second video.

I will finally get to visit Kennedy Space Center in December and we will have lunch with an Astronaut.  Story Musgrave has been with NASA for 30 years and worked closely with the Hubble Telescope and has logged many hours in space.  The reason I am so excited about seeing him is that he is friends with my last employer and I can’t wait to take picture of the two of us together to pass along to him.  They haven’t seen each other in many years.

I am looking forward to all the pictures and stories that I will cherish after a day at Kennedy Space Center.

Tags: space shuttle by Tammy
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Today let’s focus on an experience. Good, bad, indifferent. From the present or from the past.

That old saying, if I had only known what I know today!!  Oh my gosh.  I can only imagine what my life would be like today. 

First, I would’ve waited much later to get married.  Being very young and inexperienced is one of the major reasons that marriage fell apart on my end.  I wasn’t mature enough to know better about a lot of things.  That was the thing for girls my age to do back then, whether you were ready or not. 

I learned a lot in those 22 years of being married and I really enjoyed the time after that of being single.  I had never lived on my own before and I truly loved it.  But, it did have its draw backs.  I was a bit lonely.  The TV doesn’t make good company sometimes and thank goodness for my wonderful friends who kept me busy. 

Secondly, I am sure I would have more money now because I would’ve used my brain a bit more on learning how to invest for my future.  After I received my first notice from the Social Security office on how much I would have when I turned 62, I knew right then I needed to take matters in my own hands and started my IRA at the age of 40.  I won’t have a lot, but at least I will have some to go with my SS check.  I am hoping there will still be SS check’s when I become 62.   Now if i can pass this knowledge on to my son so he will start an IRA is a different story.  Young people don’t realize what you need to live on after you can’t work anymore.

Thirdly, I would’ve enjoyed life so much more than I did.  I was so worried about making sure there was enough money to pay bills, raising my son and keeping a marriage going, that I forgot what life was truly about.  And that’s where my husband today comes in.  He has shown me so many things in the past few years.  I have literally stopped to “smell the roses”.   Now I’m sure getting older has a lot to do with it, but life is so much more enjoyable now.

So I guess what I have learned from all of this is:  enjoy life, take time to smell the roses, take moments to think about your future and what you will need to survive on and most importantly, love your family and friends.
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I CT for April Staker and she has wonderful kits and items in her store. She is now offering some really great hybrid items.

I used her newest kit, Josh for this layout. Beautiful colors and elements for little boys.

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UPDATE:  The International Space Stations pooper has been fixed and all is happy in space now.

Tags: April Staker, life, space shuttle by Tammy
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I don’t know if any of you have been keeping up with the recent space shuttle, but one of the mail reason’s for going this time was to fix the toilet in the International Space Station.  There is only one for everyone up there and its been broke for awhile now.  I mean, think about it.  Where was it all going if the pooper wasn’t working?? At this very moment, the toilet is being fixed and should be functioning soon. I’m sure the crew will be so pleased.

I also understand that Buzz Lightyear is one of the crew members this time.  So be sure to let the kids see what his adventures are in space at www.nasa.gov.  There is a great area there for kids and they get to hear Buzz as he is in space.
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I wanted to show some more pictures of our stay in Georgia while we were in the mountains. I have never seen such beauty in my life. The view of the mountains from our friends home was more than my husband and I could take. That expression, “It takes your breath away”, is true! When the sun came up and when it settled behind the mountains and when it rained. I just don’t have the right words to express the beauty of it all. I hope the pictures help.

These views are from the deck of the house.

Morning

Evening

Storms

Tags: Georgia, space shuttle by Tammy
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A day in my life (things about my day)

Since I am retired from the 9 to 5 work force, I usually spend most of my day with orders from my website, answering emails, playing with the dog, smooching my husband, cleaning around the house a bit, watching a little tv, making at least one meal for us, yard work, laundry, chatting with friends online, blah, blah, blah!!

And contrary to what they say about people that retire and live in 55+ communities, we are a very active group of people. I do have my monthly meetings or card clubs I go to, take long strolls with my dog, visit with neighbors out in the middle of the street, go to the occasional party, swim at the pool and relax on my lanai when the weather is wonderful (which is most of the time here in Florida) My life here doesn’t compare to what some of these people do here for enjoyment. There are tons of things to do to keep you active in your later years. And living in central Florida, there are many sites to see and things to do.

For instance last night, in the wee early hours, the space shuttle blasted off again and if you live close to the space center, a night launch is just a site to behold. I have a video for your enjoyment of how it just lights up the sky like you have never seen before. Enjoy.

Tags: 55, life, space shuttle by Tammy
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