cuteness overload

Here are some more pictures of the kittens:

Laura Cushion

We got home today safe and sound, and life is back to normal.

Wookie runs away



Whicket finds a box


And Woton makes a Laura cushion

Grand-cat-ma

Paul's mom has been dubbed the Grand-cat-ma for our three kitties, since we of course have no kids:



But now is she the great grand-cat-ma?






Here is the kitten whom we have named Woton 2- he is the biggest kitten (he came out first) and he is grey.

STS-115 Launch

We are here in Florida for the launch of Atlantis to the International Space Station. It has been postponed twice since we arrived, so it is now scheduled for Tuesday. I used to work at the NBL in Houston and got to interact with many Astronauts and other great people. When Heide invited me to see her launch, I could not believe my luck! What an awesome opportunity. And here I thought many people would remember me since I worked at JSC for only half a year!

In addition to the launch, we were invited to a pre-launch reception at the planetarium. It was spectacular- we watched "To be an Astronaut" IMAX film, a planetarium show called "BIG" and got to explore many other science things in the auditorium. Lunch was provided, and I got to meet many of Heide's true supporters.

Here is a picture of us at the planetarium

Paul, the crazy cat lady

We have travelled all the way to Florida to watch the launch, and what happens? On our vacation Paul finds a pregnant cat who has kittens! Anyone know a responsible loving home in Titusville for these five?

First goey kitten


Born in a barn


Watching the progress


All four kittens

Travel bug

We arrived home from our Austin trip on Tuesday night; I spent Wednesday running errands and Thursday was my IS&T orientation. We learned how to put together a blog and how to change the blog template. I found this ironic, since we were all grad students in a technology school. I was even only one of the two people in the 20 person orientation that actually kept a blog! Interesting… I was also the only dual Master degree student.

This weekend we are headed to Florida for the STS-115 launch. A few of the people that I worked with at JSC will be going up on this shuttle to assemble P3 onto the International Space Station.

Here is a recap on last week:

Monday, August 14th, arrive in Austin early afternoon. Get some Freebirds, take a nap, and go to the Draught House. Visit Chloe in South Austin or SoAus?

Tuesday
Stop by Tom’s Dive and Swim to get our tanks filled. Go diving at Barstow’s. Meet Stephanie and Jacob for an early evening dive. Eat at Ararat’s, yummm!

Wednesday
Get up early for diving. Make one dive at Barstow’s and meet Stephanie. Get in the water for a skills dive, try to follow Paul underwater, but get frustrated after he leaves me behind for the second time without any communication. End of dive number 3. Stop by the Langmeiers and hold Keelyn until mom and dad get separation anxiety. (Note my wonderful mothering skills- beer and baby all at once!) Leave and call Larunce to visit, but Mimi is sick. Skip sick house and go straight to Rudy’s for dinner with Constance and Steve.





Thursday
Do not get up early. Go to lunch at Expose to see Robbie and John. Leave to go get massages from Amy. Meet Phoebe and watch her massage. Leave to go to Fado’s for a blue cheese burger and meet Effie. Listen to cover band and watch drunk eastern girl get gigy with the singer.



Friday
Do not get up early for diving AGAIN! Get ready for party. BBQ party at Constance and Steve’s.





Saturday get up early to go diving. Drive to Houston. Attend 10 year high school reunion. Hang out at Celia’s house.

Sunday
Get up and got to IMAX at Houston Museum of Natural Science. Go to lunch at Jason’s Deli in Rice village. Check out Half Price books. See Body Worlds 3 at HMNS. Have dinner with Amie, Greg, Celia, and Rob.

Monday
Go to NBL. Have lunch at home and say bye to mom and dad, puppy and kitties. Drive to Austin. Go diving. Go to Draught house for last night in Austin.

Lake part II and the Langmeiers

We had a great day at the lake then followed it up with some catching up!

Lake Travis

Today was day two at Lake Travis. Yesterday we got off to a late start, but eventually swung by the old dive shop, Tom's, to say hi to the friends and pick up some air and weights. Then we meet Stephanie and Jacob for some groovy diving.





Check out how low Lake Travis has gotten!

Austin dive vacation

We arrived in Austin yesterday after a long morning traveling. We woke up at 4 AM PST to get to LAX for our 7:40 flight. We eventually made it through check-in, baggage drop off, and security five minutes before our flight started boarding. I guess this is an overall positive experience at LAX. Celia had left 3 hours for her flight to my wedding through LAX, but still managed to miss her flight, YIKES!

We went out to the Draught House Monday night and got to see many of the people we miss dearly from Austin. Of course, I was too busy drinking, talking, and goofing off to take pictures, but here is what I managed to snap in a moment of memory making clarity:

hair

My husband





And me!

Huntington Library

The Huntington Library Tea Room needs reservations over 6 weeks in advance. I had made plans to take Paul's Grandma to the Tea Room and had reservations for 4 today at 1PM. Paul's mom, Yanny, drove up with Grandma from the OC (saving us a two hour drive round trip). We all met at our little apartment, which Paul was frantically cleaning up last night. We headed over to the Gardens and saw a preview of the Chinese garden exhibit. It is a huge exhibit with a large waterway in the middle. No structures are in place nor are many of the plants in the ground, but the foundations, walkways, Koi, are all in position.



We also saw the children's Garden



and the Japanese Gardens (that one is my favorite). Here is a picture of all of us standing in front of some Bonsai.



We had tea and lunch at the Rose Garden Tea Room. The food was fabulous and the strawberry-kiwi black tea was perfect!

R0m30

Paul posted a note that mentioned his lack of l33t skills. It reminded me of a great l33t flash movie that was made about Romeo and Juliet. Check it out.

Def Con 4

So apparently we are high alert again! Thank you hubby for pointing out how dangerous travel might be on the eve of our trip to Austin. I mentioned that I might not really WANT to know the details, and Paul sent me back this email:

Yeah, I can just see that conversation while we are packing

Paul: Don't pack that
Laura: Where am I going to put my toothpaste, in my checked bags?
Paul: Yes
Laura: Why?
Paul: Just trust me.
Laura: Arghhh.. you're impossible to communicate with
Paul: Yes dear.

This was an amazingly accurate summary of our future conversation! ROFL.

Woton and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

I had a busy day today juggling work (they keep calling me on my day off) and getting ready for school. I got my hair cut, picked up my books at the college bookstore, drove to Claremont to speak to the dean's office and my professors regarding missing the first few days of class, and getting some clothes that fit! While I was at Old Navy (good clothes for not much dinero), I spotted this perfect accessory in one of the departments:





He sat nicely for a moment before he decided he did not want it on:



But look how cute he is!




And check out the hat!

San Onofre Surf Spot

On Saturday I got invited to a friend of a friend's birthday party at San Onofre. The e-vite said they would be there at 7AM. What??? I go down to Venice and hardly any surfers are there at 7AM, let alone 5AM as movies would have you believe. After dragging Paul out of the house, we finally hit the road and make it to San Onofre just in time for a one-car-in-one-car-out line.



This line was 1.5 hours long. So, around lunch time we finally make it down to the beach. It worked out fine since everyone else had just gotten there half an hour before us or so. We did a little body surfing, and waves ducking. I put on tons of sunblock, but my stubborn husband and co-worker, Faraz, skipped the needed protection and are now paying the price. Lobsters!

Carol, of TravelT gave us some free shirts, which we plan on taking traveling with so that we can take pictures with them on. He also offered his board for me to play with, but I think it would have been a dangerous weapon in my hands, so I declined.

Here is a picture of the twin nipples- the power plant near the beach.



We also checked out the camping areas around there. It looks like a great car camping area.

Sunday I got a little stressed and got pretty upset about how many things I needed to do before I began school. So Paul stepped up and decided to help out. (Please note that I had JUST vacuumed this area, but I got this on film because it might have been the only time I have seen Paul pick up the vacuum.)



Next stop... packing for Austin!

Monkey see monkey do

The hubby started a weblog too! What a copy-cat!

Check out his cool pictures of the cool people stopping by his work, JPL. I am not jealous!

What time is it? what day is it?

I just got home from work and am too tired to post anything interesting.