I'm back...

I know, I know, I am a huge blog slacker these days. It seems life in Houston has picked up and become slightly more permanent (but not forever permanent, just like 2-3 years permanent, maybe). I will never actually "live" in Texas, although apparently I am being forced to get a Texas Driver's licence. Lovely. Anyway, in case you have not been in the loop recently (and don't feel bad, the loop has consisted of the first person to get through to me on the phone each day, and not much more), I have changed jobs. I now work at Johnson Space Center, in the Education Office. Or, well, actually, I worked for USRA, which is a contractor(or sub contractor as the case may be) of JSC, but I work at JSC, or NASA. Now, some of you might think I worked for NASA all along. For you, this is not really a huge deal. However, really, I did not work for NASA, despite the affiliation. I do now work on site, in a NASA office, with a NASA computer (that might work one day soon), and a NASA badge. It is official. I have arrived. Even if I have arrived in Houston, I have arrived somewhere. I am a permanent employee, and someone is even giving me health insurance and retirement. Good news, Rachel, you won't have to support me and mom and dad in our old age...

Anyway, in other news, I have done much less traveling recently. I did make it up to Austin for a conference that became a very long weekend. I didn't see much of Austin other than the inside of many Sixth Street Bars (some would argue this is the best part). I will be making another trip soon. I am traveling hor (me to California for a week for Christmas, which will be nice. I am sure the weather is the same as it is here (80 degrees, sunny, and clear). I need to dig out my shorts again. We had winter, it was Thursday and Friday of last week. So, I guess this makes us in Spring now. Interesting.

Oh, in other news, Andrea got married. So did Yasmin. Made it back for the big party in SF for Andrea and John. I wonder if I can find those pictures. Perhaps just a couple. The bride and me, and then the Lisa and me, about to give a speech we found out about when the DJ met us to walk into the reception. Oh Turner (was that his name), he really put up with a lot that night.



Also got to spend some time in Davis and Oakland on that trip and seem some West Coast friends. And the Socal crowd. And, then, about a month later Little Lucy Jeanne Shah was born. I am not posting pictures up here, but she is so cute it is not even funny. And while she was supposed to be a boy, some of us are very excited about the dress up possibilities. And now Joy and I know we will at least have one chance at being homecoming queen...um, I mean, our kids could be homecoming queen...but we will so be on the field. You know we will. Not even a question. Beaman has no idea what is coming his way. We will also be at Lamppost after every game with our walkie talkies...come on by...

Other than the trips, I am settling nicely into life here. I have made some great friends at work, and spend a lot of time drinking coffee and/or wine (one much more than the other) and solving the world's problems. World peace is on the list for January. Don't worry, it shouldn't take us too long to figure it out.

Ok, off to NASA happy hour...your tax dollars pay these people, so we wait until 5pm to actually start drinking.

=)