So, I’ve been in FL for a very long weekend. We went to see the launching of STS-126. It was absolutely phenomenal.
As the countdown was informally chanted amongst the crowd, the anticipation grew to a thunderous climax. It was one second after the completion of this countdown that a brilliant light greeted the moon-filled evening from across the cape to our viewing point on the coast at Titusville. We were 11 miles away, and the night became like sunrise for a few moments. It might’ve been my imagination, but I could swear I could feel a bit of warmth on my face as the brilliance of the lighting of the SRBs became more and more intense.
The light became an apparent fireball, which started to rise slowly into the air and accelerated the higher it got. At the very top of this fireball, I could see the shuttle, almost chased by the raging inferno beneath it.
It was absolutely the most breathtaking view I have ever seen.
Of course, the video doesn’t do it justice, but that was essentially the view from our perch on the coast. The voice you hear as it is lifting off is that of the bro.
We were going to hit up Kennedy Space Center, but doing that the day of a launch is pretty danged impossible. So, we spent most of the whole day before the evening launch in Downtown Disney. It was pretty splendid. I had the best buffalo tenders ever at House of Blues, and then played a few video games in DisneyQuest with my bro and a couple of friends. Ruthie somehow walked through all of Downtown Disney without buying a thing 🙂 I was so proud.
Saturday, we went to Universal. That was pretty spiffy. Island Adventure was a pretty cool addition to the park. We went on a couple of roller coasters there. One was called the Hulk, and was quite the treat. Very unique coaster. I’ll leave the rest as a surprise for anyone who might hit that one up in the future.
The regular Studios part of the park had a pretty cool Simpsons ride. I think it could’ve been better but, for what it was, it was pretty neato.
It was while we were at the park that we found out that Ruthie’s pug, Dee, had died. The vet had called her a few hours before that, telling Ruthie of a respiratory problem she was having. They were going to try to treat it, but things didn’t look good and they might have to put her down. Apparently, she passed a couple of hours later. She was a great dog. It’s a shame, and I will certainly miss her snorty little face.
I think I have dry socket :\ I have pain in my top hole whenever I drink cold water. It’s not really a constant pain, just when I drink cold water and it hits up there. I may have to call the dentist. D’OH!!!
There’s a new Star Wars Robot Chicken this very eve. I will probably fall asleep to that.