Muzak, by Charles

So it's been awhile since I've written, at least that's what Jaime tells me.

Recently, instead of buying CDs I want, I've been downloading the albums from Amazon and burning my own onto CD-Rs. It usually costs about $8 or $9 for a CD, so it's probably about $5 cheaper than getting them at the store. Plus the selection is better, I can preview the songs, and I can shop much more impulsively and in my underwear.

My latest two CDs are Weezer's latest (Red Album) and a Sawdust from the Killers.

I wasn't too impressed with the Weezer disc, and I'm kind of a Weezer fan. I once went so far as to travel to Fargo, ND to see them play the world-famous Fargodome. But anyway, they seemed to throw in a lot of new stylings into the mix, which I guess is inevitable when you've got six hundred albums out like they do. It just didn't do much for me.

I often listen to Ethel (a station) on our DirecTV-provided XM Radio. Recently I heard a song called "Tranquilize" by the Killers, and I really liked it. I didn't know they had a new album out, so I looked them up, and sho nuff, they had released a b-side type disc late last year. So I went ahead and grabbed the whole thing, and I really like the album. "Tranquilize" apparently has guest vocals from Lou Reed, who you may remember from "Walk on the Wild Side" (not the Marky Mark song), and it's a great tune. I also really like "Show You How" and "The Ballad of Michael Valentine", and there are at least three our four other good songs on there as well.

I also have their first album "Hot Fuss", and it's decent, but I don't own "Sam's Town". After this one though, it makes me want to spring for it.

Oh yeah, and I got a new job. I've got one more week with Boeing as of today. Sad to leave but happy for new opportunities.

Night Shift

Yes yes, I'm on the night shift once again. Seems like for most of these missions I get to work some stellar hours. This is my first mission working as a real, certified flight controller and it's been quite fun so far...minus not being able to see my husband or friends and sleeping all day long.

The STS-124 mission is going really well and I am thankful for that - as I am sure all of NASA and JAXA (Japanese space agency) are also. My team is kicking butt and has mad my shift very enjoyable. There are some certain people (EECOMs, for instance), that can make the shift a bit more complicated than they need to be, but I suppose it's just because they like to mess with us FAOs.

Recently I've reconnected with some old friends from my Boeing days in Seattle (rather, they found me!) and it's been really great talking with them and catching up (Hi Billy! Hi Abe!). I think it's wonderfully surprising and refreshing to find out that good people have remained good people, and it's especially exciting to find that I still have a connection with them. Yay! One good friend works for the FAA and the other is a fireman who is starting (has started) his own Alaskan tourism company (http://www.porterswildalaska.com/). Make sure to visit!!

That is all. Time to get ready for work. 1 week left to go and then Sex and The City Girl's Night is ON!! Yesssssssssssssss!

-jaime

Tramp-o-reen

Last weekend the National Championships for Senior/Junior Elite Trampoline & Tumbling were held in H-town at Reliant Arena. My long-time (20 years?) trampoline friend Melissa and her fiancee Dan stayed with us for the event. Basically, we partied from Thursday-Sunday with them and then on Monday with our H-town party peeps.

I did see the Final round of competition on Saturday and got to meet up with my old trampoline buddies in the meantime. The meet is the 3rd of 4 Olympic Trial runs and so it was pretty exciting to watch. Ahhhh yes, I remember those times all too well. While I do miss the thrill of competition and the excitement it brings, I can tell you that I do not miss the anxiety and stress that comes with the pressure of performing for the sport. I love "pressure to perform", but after 18 years straight of it, I am happy that I can sit back and spectate now. *sigh* Meeeeeeeeem-ories....of the waaaaaaaaay we weeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre! Great weekend, lots of fun, good friends.

On Sunday we (Mel, Dan, Mar and I) went to Galveston Beach and it was beautiful. Perfect day for the beach. Sunny, windy enough to keep the heat off, waves at the beach for boogie-boarding and just chilling. Lovely! That night after Mel & Dan left for MN, we went to see the Velcro Pygmies at Sherlocks for the second year in a row. It was great, but I partied a bit too hard. Good times :) Monday was a BBQ at the Wilke residence for some fajitas, margaritas, sangria and good company.

Now, it's back to work. Launch on Saturday, 5/31 of STS-124...Go Discovery!

Mama Loves Her Shows

Even though we just got "the cable" this year, I still think my favorite shows are the "free" ones on regular ol' teevee. ABC is really kicking butt with shows and sadly the season of goodness is coming to an end. Desperate Housewives ends tonight, Grey's Anatomy on Thursday, Brothers and Sisters finished last week (can't wait for next season!), and my favorite, The Office (NBC) is over as well :(

Dancing With the Stars ends on Tuesday (I hope Kristy Yamaguchi wins, even if she does have an advantage) and then to my excitement, So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) starts on Thursday 5/22!! I can't wait to watch the fun choreography and dancing while sitting on my couch with my toes curled in excitment, silly grin on my face and hands clasped in anticipation. What a geek. You know what? Who cares. It doesn't even qualify as a "guilty pleasure" (like America's Next Top Model or Farmer Wants a Wife...what?!) and I put it in another realm than American Idol (yucky poo poo) since good dancing is less subjective than a "good voice". Please.

Anyhoo, my eyeballs are burning from too much tele. Yay!

HGTV

I'm addicted, it's no secret. I just can't seem to pull myself away from those do-it-yourself project suggestions. Luckily for Charlie (and for me!) there's just not enough time inbetween semesters to start any fun home projects, so...for now I watch, listen and take notes.

It makes me want to move back home & help Mom redo my old bedroom...or their bathroom...or anyone else's who wants to collaborate on some "design". *sigh*

JT & DC

Well, I am back from my weekend visiting Jenny T in DC! We had such a good time! DC is beautiful and even though it was rainy (especially on Sunday!), we had the best time ever. My flight got in late Thursday night (midnight?) to Baltimore, ~60 mins from JT's house. It was super stormy and I thought the plane was taking a nose dive into BWI on the way in, but I made it safely on the ground and to JT's house no problemo. Needless to say, Jenny's hands were sore the next day from gripping the steering wheel so tight ;)

Friday Jenny had to work a 1/2 day, so when she got home we went shopping at IKEA and a few other stores to spruce up her place a little bit. After shopping, buying a mirror that was too big to fit in her car, returning the mirror 7 mins after buying it (and laughing the whole way) and setting off to Alexandria (right Jen?), we were starving! We had some delicious Indian food and then went to Murphy's pub for a little Irish song and drink. A band called "Ceann" was playing and Jenny and I saddled up to a table right in front of the band! my favorite song wavers between "Pretty on the Inside" and "Blame the Viking", although "Butt Tattoo" and "Whiskey Hurts My Tummy" (an ode for Charlie) come in pretty close behind. What a hoot! There were only 3 guys playing, one of whom was wearing a white fleece that JT couldn't stand and playing a ukulele electric guitar. They were phenomenal and we had such a good time. Our throats were sore from screaming with and over the music as it played, but it was worth it. As we were leaving and the band took a break, Jenny and I went up to buy a CD. We talked (well JT mostly did cuz I'm shy...yeah) with the lead singer guy, I accused him of being Canadian and sounding like Bare Naked Ladies (well, they do, in a good way!) and I bought a CD. He graciously gave us their 2nd CD free of charge, thanks to Jenny's schmoozing (and probably to get me off his back :). What a great night!

The next day after sleeping in, Jenny and I decorated her house all day long. She cooked a fantastic breakfast and then we didn't eat again until we had awesome burgers at Five Guys Burgers. Holy crumbs it was delish! Burgers and homemade, straight-from-the-potato fries. Can't beat it! We went to Reston Town Center in search of a bar serving delicious pineapple upside-down cake martinis...that incidentally no longer exists (oops). We instead had a drink at the Market Street Bar and Grill and then headed home for an evening of Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd (enhhhhh, it was fine) and chit-chatting on the couch.

Sunday came all too soon and we spent the latter half of the day walking around downtown DC. We saw the Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Portrait Gallery (with all the fancy presidential portraits...we even did a classic waltz (Jenny was the boy & I was the girl) at Abe Lincoln's inaugural ball), and then the White House. Before we hit ol' G.W.'s residence, we ate some delish Tapas at Jaleo. I had to convince Jenny to try the bacon-wrapped dates, but boy oh boy was she ever glad she did! Mmmmmmmmmmmmm... It was pouring rain by the time we had to head back to the car and stop by the White House - our jeans were soaked, but our spirits were still high :) We took some pics and then headed to BWI. I changed jeans in the car on the way there, hoping we wouldn't get stopped by the po-lice. We made it without much fanfare.

In the end, it was a glorious weekend with my best friend and I wouldn't have spent it any other way!

Thanks so much Jen, love you!

D-U-N

Done.
That's right ladies and gentlemen, I turned in my final project for my class today! No more Matlab, no more books. No more orbits, long forsook!

Okay, that was a stretch but I don't care. Yippee! The end of this class (assuming I pass) marks the halfway point of my degree. Well I guess since it's an odd number of classes required and if you're being technical, I'll be over the halfway mark after this summer's class, which starts early July. Come Fall I'll be over the hump and on the downward slope of my Master's degree. When will I be done, you may ask? Why if all goes well, Fall 2009 will be my last class. So, about a year and a half left. Tallyho! END IN SIGHT!

To make things even better for me - yes, I had a good day today - I'm going to visit my BFF Jenny T. tomorrow and I can't wait. D.C., here I come! Probably rainy, but super fun. I get in late Thursday and return home late Sunday night. Monday brings a week filled with some quality jury duty selection time and then the week is booked with fun work meetings and so on...
but for now I choose to focus on the really great parts coming up - D.C., Jenny, seeing Shar-lez (yes, Charlie) for the first time in a couple weeks, not having homework or studying for 2 months. Oh yeah...can you feel it too? Good times!

That is all.
As you were.

Coding Coding Coding...

...Keep those fingers coding.
Thank god my partner's co-diiiiiiiiing
FI-NUUUUUUUUUUUUHLS!

Code 'em up, type 'em in!
Type 'em in, spit 'em out!
Code 'em up, type 'em in
MATLAB!

Error 1, error 2!
Error 2, error 3!
Pull my hair, every error!
MATLAB!

Coding coding coding!
Keep those fingers coding!
Thank god my partner's co-diiiiiiiiing
FI-NUUUUUUUUUUUUHLS!

Election Hoo-Ha

I am not known for my depth of knowledge in all things political. In any "things political" actually. Charlie has been trying to remedy this ever since we met. I now vote in every election (except the ones I miss) for everything. Well, maybe against some things too, but you get the point. I have made a conscious effort to disregard all things 2008 Presidential Election-y until recently, since the past year of campaigning has worn on me in its ridiculousness. Has it even been a whole year of campaigning yet? I don't know, but it seems like 10 if it's been 1, so either way, it's been too long already.

I only bring it up now because we're coming down to the wire for Democratic candidates and it might be time to pay a little attention. I stopped paying attention to the Republican candidate mess as soon as everyone else dropped out of the race, leaving a lone McCain.
In an effort to "pay attention" to this thing called politics, I watched one of the recent debates on television. It might have been the first debate I have ever seen in my 29 years of living. It might also have been my last, but that's debatable (pun intended). What silly questions they ask! Who cares why Barak Obama doesn't wear a flag pin? It's like asking why he doesn't wear pleated pants. Totally irrelevant to any kind of issue America should care about and certainly not worth wasting air time but more importantly, MY TIME, on. I find it interesting and a lot of times disheartening the things candidates will do to garner attention - the recent WWE ads in particular. Sure, it might show they aren't such stuffed shirts after all, but c'mon. "Can you smell what Barak is cookin'?" Ouch. Clever, yes. I have to admit that I laughed at it. But really? Wasted campaign funds and precious campaign time spent on something so silly.
Anyway, I didn't write this for any particular reason. Just some thoughts going on in my head about the campaigning right now.

Oh yeah, one more thing: Charlie has gotten me into watching The Daily Show and the Colbert Report. I love it. If you know either of our personalities, you will understand why we like those shows so much. Especially the Colbert Report...and that damn screaming eagle. It gets me every time.

Latest and Greatest

It has been a while since we wrote anything on the blog, so here's a recap of what's been shaking since ...well, since last time. Mom and Dad Strandmark came to visit, bringing with them our new custom cherry bookcases for the office and Faith's old dining room furniture. It was so great to see them both at our house - it feels like ages since that has happened! We ate great food, installed the bookcases, played guitar hero (yes, Mom and Dad too!) and enjoyed one another's company - yay!!

"My best friend Jenny Tobin" came to visit a week or so ago and that was awesome. I hadn't seen Jenny in exactly 1 year, since April & Matt Budde's wedding in 2007, so it was really great to hang out with her and catch up. We shopped, ate, hung out and took advantage of our precious time together - it was wonderful! So wonderful, in fact, that I am going to head to DC to visit Jenny over Mother's Day weekend - just before Jim gets back from Afghanistan in early June. Wheeeee! I've never been to DC and while I would be remiss if I didn't do some sightseeing while there, but I really don't care - I just am happy I get to see Jenny again :)

Yesterday the Wilkes, Sholls and I went to Buzz Fest in the Woodlands. It was so much fun! We got to see great bands like Seether, Puddle of Mudd, Filter, and 3 Doors Down. It was an all day music extravaganza that I am paying for today...surprise surprise.

Charlie left for New Hampshire today for Navy Reserve duties. He'll be gone for 2 weeks and comes back just after I've left for DC and just in time to take his semester final exam the following Monday. Fun fun fun. I barely see the guy anymore!

School is almost done for the semester, thank goodness. My final project is due on 5/7, Charlie's final exam is on 5/12. We have about 2 months off of school and then both take a condensed math class (2x/week, 3 hrs/class, homework due each class) for the second half of the summer...just in time to interfere with the multitude of weddings we've got at the end of July/Aug. Yippee!!

Lastly, the dogs. We still have both of them and we've become much better about managing their time together - though they mostly spend time apart these days. It's still a work in progress, but we're trying to make it work. Kirby smells funky today, so that's an extra bonus to the whole deal. Hopefully I can manage these two rascals successfully by myself whilst Charlie frolics on the East Coast.

That's pretty much the news from here...what's going on with you?