Davidson Center for Space Exploration

While driving home Tuesday morning I passed by the new Davidson Center for Space Exploration in Huntsville, AL!

Looks like a weekend trip is in order this fall!

The Davidson Center for Space Exploration opened in January 31, 2008 at the US Space & Rocket Center here in Huntsville. The purpose of the Davidson Center is to house one of the world's three remaining Saturn V rockets (one is at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the other one is at Johnson Space Center in Houston), provide a museum visitors entrance, tram system, 350-seat theater/auditorium and full-service commercial kitchen. Not only will the Center highlight the past, but also the future in space exploration and Huntsville's part in it.
The Davidson Center is named after Julian Davidson, who spearheaded the Army's ballistic missile defense program and founded Davidson Technologies. It is also a tribute to all the Alabama engineers who have worked in area missile and space programs.

For more visit: http://www.spacecamp.com/gala

RED SKY IN MORNING, SAILORS WARNING; RED SKY AT NIGHT, SAILORS DELIGHT.

Tuesday morning I started a early morning drive back to Atlanta from Florence, AL.

This saying only applies to mid-latitude locations (winds are easterly in the tropics / in the high latitudes the sun rises and sets at a large deviation from the east-west trajectory). Storm systems in the middle latitudes generally move west to east. A red sky in the morning implies the rising sun in the east is shining on clouds to the west and conditions are clear to the east. Clouds moving from the west (especially upper level cirrus) indicate an approaching storm system. A red sky at night implies the sun (setting in the west) is shining on clouds to the east and conditions are clear to the west (because the sun can be seen setting). If you can see the sunset, the sky will be redder. Clouds to the east indicate an exiting storm system in the middle latitudes. Upper level clouds (especially cirrus) are noted for giving the sky a reddish hue during dawn or dusk. As a mid-latitude cyclone approaches, it is the upper level cirrus that are seen first, followed by lower clouds. The approach of upper level cirrus from the west often indicates an approaching storm system. The sky will not be as red at night if a storm system is approaching because the sun is setting behind the clouds approaching from the west. A red sky at night implies "the storm system moving through has ended!"; The clouds have broken and the sun is shining on and reddening the exiting clouds. The sun will continue to shine on clouds for a period of time after the sun has dipped below the horizon (especially cirrus). Keep in mind this saying was developed before satellite, radar and modern meteorological knowledge. Much of the knowledge of an approaching storm system back then was cloud and wind patterns.

My New Dress!

Because I’m the sweetest and most loved dog in the house Beth and Ralph surprised me with a new dress last week!

To celebrate they both bathed me and took me for a ride to Grams to show off my pretty new dress.
Beth said I might get a new pair of shorts next week!!!

Pete's Place!

Beth's sisters husband Pete Moresi just open his new office in Atlanta.
It's a fantastic place and we're so proud!

For more visit: http://www.optiqueatlanta.com

My New Sperry Top-Siders!

We celebrated Jackson’s new ability to remain in the house alone without accident or damage last night with the reward of two new rope chews for good behavior! Unfortunately all that good behavior ended abruptly in the wee hours of the morning when it was discovered that Jackson had made a meal of my new Sperry Top-Sider Shoes valued at $69.95!
Jackson has been grounded; his allowance confiscated and has lost all TV privileges!
As you can see in his note to me he is looking for a job to pay for my shoes!

I was also able to visit the Gulf Mobile & Ohio Railroad in Mobile this week.
The Mobile & Ohio Railroad (M&O) reached Montgomery in 1898. It built from a branch line from the M&O’s main route at Artesia, Mississippi to Columbus, Mississippi laid in 1860. The M&O’s north to south trunk line between Mobile, Alabama and Columbus, Kentucky was extended to St. Louis, Missouri in 1886. The railroad’s route covered a distance of 181 miles from Artesia to Montgomery Union Station and became the Montgomery District. Branch tracks went to Tidewater, Alabama (from there to Kellerman, Alabama over a wholly owned subsidiary Warrior Southern Railway); Blocton, Alabama; and in the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (GM&O) era to Birmingham, Alabama on April 22, 1952 over the Louisville & Nashville Railroad from Tuscaloosa, Alabama via trackage rights.

For more visit: http://www.gmohs.org

INDEPENDENCE (LCS 2)

While in Mobile this week I was able to see the new 127 metre trimaran Littoral Combat Ship Independence (LCS2) built by Austal Mobile launched April 2008.

The US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a new generation high speed warship designed to carry out a range of operations including mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and the prosecution of surface attack craft in the near-shore (littoral) environment.
Austal is the vessel designer and builder for the General Dynamics Team which is one of two consortiums selected by the US Navy.
The platform chosen by the team is Austal's fast trimaran design which provides enhanced seakeeping, low resistance, superior aviation facilities and large payload carrying capacity and besides that it's really, really cool!!!!!

Family Resembulence???

Wart Hog/Jackson!

Storm Exhausted!

Poor Jackson exhausted after his ordeal of surviving severe thunderstorms yesterday evening was found over sleeping at 8 AM this morning on the office couch!
Does anyone want a dog?

Severe Thunderstorms!

Sudden severe thunderstorms sent Beth, Janie, Jackson and I scrambling into the basement this afternoon with winds in excess of 60/70 mph!!!
The lightning and thunder was none stop for an hour! Several of our neighbors suffered roof damage and fallen trees! We lost power several times and remain under a severe storm warning until midnight.
I surveyed our roof and property and luckily we suffered no damage except for a few tree limbs down in the backyard.