I recently had a week off of a work. Well, sort of. So, my summer programs began June 15. 24 middle school teacher rolled in on a Sunday afternoon and wanted to learn stuff for a week. Now, Sunday afternoon was never meant to be part of a work week. Never. But, somehow NASA has missed this. So, in roll the teachers, and out goes my sanity. Five days later, they left, and I passed out. And that is pretty much how it will be until the end of July, every other week. One of the weeks between chaos was the fourth of July week. After working 70 hours a week, I decided a week off was in order, or rather, a week out of Houston. So, Jessica and I packed up our laptops, out tanktops and our bathing suits, attached our work phones to our hips, and went to her lake house. We had grand plans of sitting on her boat working, but then we decided if we checked email at the house, we coudl actually just enjoy the boat, minus the work. And there I sat, first for 4 days, and then for 3 more (with a 2 days break to actually go back to the office and to a conference). Beer was consumed, there was Mailbu and Coke, Lemonade and Rum, and some sort of fruit soaked in liquor. In retrospect, it was better that we worked at home. I am now very tan and there was a time when I was actually more relaxed. Actually, RIGHT now I am on a plane to Tahoe for the annual girls weekend. But, the past week was another program, so the relaxation is just a distant memory really. This week the teachers were a little more dry, and my assistant had to leave mid week, so there was some stress, but we did get three astronauts out of it, and the teachers spent a very drunk night with the current Chief of Flight Directors at JSC. He showed up slightly bleary eyed to the luncheon today, looking like the night ended a little later than it should have last night.

Let’s see, other interesting things that are going on...Joy, Lucy and Jeannette came to visit and we had plenty of fun shopping all over the place, eating ice cream and enjoying the sites of Galveston (in the 90 degree heat). They checked out my hot tub, we had a ton of BBQs, and walked the neighborhood. And Lucy totally explored my new house, and her very own room. It was pretty exciting.

I will be making the big trip back to California in August to see everyone, so prepare yourself. I will be in all parts, and probably won’t be back again until Christmas, so I expect to see lots of smiling faces.

In September we are going on a girls cruise. 32 women. One cruise ship. They won’t know what hit them.

Lots of big plans and fun trips coming up, and some much needed down time as well. To spend with my cats, which I now I have 2 of. Tony and Mollie. Mollie is the black and white one from my previous post, and Tony is her new brother, who is just a ball of energy, but loves to be held and will sit very contently under my neck and watch me type, as long as I keep petting him. He can’t quite jump up on the couch yet, but he gives it a nice try. I think it is his belly. I call him pudge because he is just a brick, and has such a round midsection it is not even funny. He has already come home with ear mites and an upper respiratory infection, so I have a medicine cabinet full of kitty meds at home. And he does not like the ear drops, but alas, he and his sister and so cute when their ears go flat after the drops, it is almost funny. And necessary, I do not want ear mites in my house. My three interns are enough to deal with.

And speaking of the interns, they are all moved in, and have taken over my BBQ. They keep saying they are going to clean, and I see some effort every once in a while, but it is interesting how much cleaner things become right after their mothers have visited. I am never home so as long as they wash their dishes eventually, I am not bothered. I do have one intern who is a little over the top, but I simply pay Susie to keep him busy at work when I need a break. It works out well for all involved.

Anyway, perhaps in the next blog I will tell you all about the girls weekend. For now. I leave you with some of the cutest fur around.