It's 10:13 P.M. The Center's five simulators are in deep space. I'm at my desk listening to music from the original Star Trek series. In fact, its the music to The Trouble with Tribbles. That was a fine episode.
I had a few emails from two of our Blog readers asking for more information on the new Galileo. I had a word with Kyle Herring, foreman of the Galileo project. He says the interior is nearing completion. Today he ordered the aluminum to cover the exterior. Covering the outside frame with aluminum is one of the final steps to completing the ship. His goal is to have the ship delivered within one month.
I'm hoping that bit of news satisfied the Galileo hunger out there. We are waiting with growing impatience for our new simulator.
We lost two more campers to the Swine Flu before the camp even started. One mother called this afternoon to cancel her son. Another mother came to the Center with her sick daughter in the car. We arranged a refund and sent them on their way.
(I just remembered she handed me her daughters camp paperwork for the refund. This paperwork sat out in the car with them on the trip here. That means a possibility of virus on the paper? There is no way I can afford to get the flu during summer camp season. I left my desk for a moment to scrub my hands. Let's hope for the best.)
We have a great group of campers for this EdVenture. Many of them are our good veterans. I enjoyed delivering my Start of Camp Monologue to this group. They laughed at my jokes and looked like they really wanted to do well in the simulators and in the class. I know, I know.... time will tell.
We are heavy on staff and volunteers on this camp. The simulator's Set Directors all asked for extra help to run their summer missions and I brought them in for this camp. My fear is the extra help will become more of a bother if they are busy for most of the camp. The Flight Directors assure me they will keep them busy and so I'll take them on their word.
It's 10:28 P.M. Several volunteers just rushed by my desk getting in costume. Apparently the Voyager is getting ready for an acting scene. I'm wearing my noise canceling headphones so I don't know what's happening with the story. Thank goodness for these headphones. They allow me to keep my sanity while I attempt to work around this controlled chaos.
This bright yellow ball of light appeared in the daytime sky over Pleasant Grove today. We had to remind each other that it was the sun. We haven't seen much of it over the last three weeks. They say it will be our ever present companion for the foreseeable future, sending temperatures into the 90's for the weekend. Summer is here.
I'll end this update with some good news. We will take the campers and staff swimming tomorrow night! This will be the first camp this season that will get to go swimming. All are happy.
Now I'll say good night. I've got to put the tables down in the cafeteria for the late night snack.
Mr. Williamson
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
On Last Week
This may be the last day of rain for awhile. Most are happy. I enjoyed living in Little Seattle for the last three weeks. They say a change is as good as a rest so I’m feeling pretty rested and ready for warmer temperatures. I think all of us will agree that this cool June will be fondly remember when the temperatures inch over 100 in the next few weeks.
We had a really good Overnight Camp on Thursday. I’m sure all of the staff and volunteers will agree with me when I say that our one night overnight camps are soooo easy when compared to the three day camps. During the school year the Overnighters are THE camp of the week which makes them seem longer. In the summer the three day EdVenture Camps become the long camp making the Overnight Camp seem like an extended private mission.
We want to congratulated Megan Warner and the Phoenix staff for winning the Director’s Trophy for the Overnight Camp. Megan told “Dark Origins” for the first time. “Dark Origins” was written by Dave Daymont. It is one of two new Phoenix missions for the summer season. The other mission is Currahee, written by Megan Warner.
The Center is busy every day this summer with camps and private missions. We also have a few university students using the Center as the setting for independent movies they’re shooting as school assignments. The film crews arrive after private missions end and stay through the night shooting. They are gone in the morning before I arrive to open the Center.
This coming week will be much the same as last. We start with our third EdVenture Camp. Swimming is back on the agenda for day two of camp! That was the longest stretch of no swimming in any camp since we opened eighteen years ago.
Well, not much else to write about today. One small item I’ll mention and then close. I got a letter from the mayor of Salt Lake County yesterday appointing me to the Board of Director’s of Clark Planetarium. I know, it’s one more thing to add to my plate. Its not too bad though, there is a Board Meeting once a month and that’s about it.
Let’s have a great week at camp and I wish all of our kind readers a great first week of summer.
Mr. Williamson
We had a really good Overnight Camp on Thursday. I’m sure all of the staff and volunteers will agree with me when I say that our one night overnight camps are soooo easy when compared to the three day camps. During the school year the Overnighters are THE camp of the week which makes them seem longer. In the summer the three day EdVenture Camps become the long camp making the Overnight Camp seem like an extended private mission.
We want to congratulated Megan Warner and the Phoenix staff for winning the Director’s Trophy for the Overnight Camp. Megan told “Dark Origins” for the first time. “Dark Origins” was written by Dave Daymont. It is one of two new Phoenix missions for the summer season. The other mission is Currahee, written by Megan Warner.
The Center is busy every day this summer with camps and private missions. We also have a few university students using the Center as the setting for independent movies they’re shooting as school assignments. The film crews arrive after private missions end and stay through the night shooting. They are gone in the morning before I arrive to open the Center.
This coming week will be much the same as last. We start with our third EdVenture Camp. Swimming is back on the agenda for day two of camp! That was the longest stretch of no swimming in any camp since we opened eighteen years ago.
Well, not much else to write about today. One small item I’ll mention and then close. I got a letter from the mayor of Salt Lake County yesterday appointing me to the Board of Director’s of Clark Planetarium. I know, it’s one more thing to add to my plate. Its not too bad though, there is a Board Meeting once a month and that’s about it.
Let’s have a great week at camp and I wish all of our kind readers a great first week of summer.
Mr. Williamson
Friday, June 19, 2009
Personal Log: Adrian Stevens, Quartermaster - Entry 2
This is just for fun. Any resemblance to people who work at the space center is intentional, although these characters aren't really them. Any resemblance to an actual mission is your imagination.
Aleta Clegg.
Personal Log: Adrian Stevens, Quartermaster - Entry 2
I swiped a rag across the metal counter, leaving a greasy trail. Why had I agreed to this? Two days into the flight the food replicators had failed. Completely and utterly. We needed parts to fix them, parts that were two days travel behind us at Starbase 74. My two assistants and I were stuck cooking with real pots and pans in a galley much too small. Exhaustion didn’t even come close to describing what we felt.
Leuitenant Bradley stuck his head in the door. “Quartermaster Stevens? Captain Herring wants his dinner delivered to the officer’s mess in exactly twenty three minutes.”
I told him exactly what Captain Herring could do with his dinner.
Bradley’s lips pinched, like a fish sucking lemons. “He expects you to be in dress whites for serving.”
“Then tell the captain I need functional food replicators. He’ll get his food when it gets cooked. We’ve been slaving over those pots for the last eighteen hours straight. He will just have to wait his turn.”
Bradley stepped into the kitchen, looming over me. His attempt to threaten me wasn’t going to work.
“I don’t own any dress whites. I will deliver his food when it is ready. It would help if he gave me more staff, but there isn’t room for more than three people in this galley. This ship is not designed for old style cooking, not for the full crew. You tell Captain Herring the crew will have to go on shifts for meals. And I want at least two extra staff for the other rotations.”
“You are in no position to make demands!”
“Go hungry.” I turned my back and swabbed my rag across the counter.
“You have been given a direct order by a superior officer.”
“And I’m telling you, Officer Bradley, I can’t do it. It’s physically impossible.”
Bradley tapped his comm badge. “Security, report to the galley immediately. Take Quartermaster Stevens into custody on charges of mutiny.”
Turner and Quan’Li, my assistants, both thumped their spoons down.
“You arrest her and you have to arrest both of us,” Turner said. “The two of us quit. Cook your own food.”
“You’ll regret this,” Bradley warned.
“Not before you do,” I answered.
Security arrived, uniforms a bit rumpled. Security detail was usually pretty boring, except for the few minutes when it was extremely exciting. I suspected they’d been playing cards.
I held out my wrists. “Arrest me. Throw me in the brig. At least I’ll get some sleep.”
Turner and Quan’Li were right behind me.
“What about our food?” the bigger security guard questioned Bradley.
“Mutiny is a serious charge. These three disobeyed a direct order. Take them into custody.”
The guards hesitated. “We put them in the brig, we won’t get food.”
“Another team will be assigned.” Bradley frowned. “Do you want to join them on charges of mutiny? I gave you an order!”
“Not a good way to make friends, Bradley.” I couldn’t help the sarcasm. It was my nature.
Bradley’s face burned red. I wondered if I could actually make steam come from his ears.
“Throw them in the brig!”
“Yes, sir.” Security didn’t look too happy, but they marched the three of us away.
“Have fun cooking,” I called over my shoulder. “And watch that pot of sauce. It will burn if you don’t stir it.”
“You shouldn’t make him mad,” the security guard whispered as he marched me through the halls. “He’s got the captain’s ear.”
“And I’ve got his food. Who do you think Captain Herring is going to listen to?”
“You’re going to be put on report.”
I shrugged. “And I might get a nap.”
The lights flickered, changing to red. Alarms blared through the halls.
“All hands, battle stations!”
Security ran away.
Quan’Li sighed heavily. “I suppose we need to lock down the galley.”
“Let Bradley do it. We’re still under arrest.”
“Adrian, you can’t just desert your post.”
“I was officially relieved of duty. You heard Leutinant Bradley. I’m going to report to the brig, like a good mutineer. My feet are killing me.”
“What about the Captain’s dinner?”
“Under red alert? He isn’t getting it now.”
“Incoming!” the speakers blared.
The ship rocked crazily. Lights flickered madly. Smoke poured from the air vents.
Turner grabbed for support. “We’re under attack!”
“They said it would be dangerous. I’m hiding in the brig. Are you coming with me? The walls are thicker in there.”
Turner and Quan’Li were on my heels all the way to the brig. We checked ourselves in and made ourselves comfortable while the explosions continued.
Aleta Clegg.
Personal Log: Adrian Stevens, Quartermaster - Entry 2
I swiped a rag across the metal counter, leaving a greasy trail. Why had I agreed to this? Two days into the flight the food replicators had failed. Completely and utterly. We needed parts to fix them, parts that were two days travel behind us at Starbase 74. My two assistants and I were stuck cooking with real pots and pans in a galley much too small. Exhaustion didn’t even come close to describing what we felt.
Leuitenant Bradley stuck his head in the door. “Quartermaster Stevens? Captain Herring wants his dinner delivered to the officer’s mess in exactly twenty three minutes.”
I told him exactly what Captain Herring could do with his dinner.
Bradley’s lips pinched, like a fish sucking lemons. “He expects you to be in dress whites for serving.”
“Then tell the captain I need functional food replicators. He’ll get his food when it gets cooked. We’ve been slaving over those pots for the last eighteen hours straight. He will just have to wait his turn.”
Bradley stepped into the kitchen, looming over me. His attempt to threaten me wasn’t going to work.
“I don’t own any dress whites. I will deliver his food when it is ready. It would help if he gave me more staff, but there isn’t room for more than three people in this galley. This ship is not designed for old style cooking, not for the full crew. You tell Captain Herring the crew will have to go on shifts for meals. And I want at least two extra staff for the other rotations.”
“You are in no position to make demands!”
“Go hungry.” I turned my back and swabbed my rag across the counter.
“You have been given a direct order by a superior officer.”
“And I’m telling you, Officer Bradley, I can’t do it. It’s physically impossible.”
Bradley tapped his comm badge. “Security, report to the galley immediately. Take Quartermaster Stevens into custody on charges of mutiny.”
Turner and Quan’Li, my assistants, both thumped their spoons down.
“You arrest her and you have to arrest both of us,” Turner said. “The two of us quit. Cook your own food.”
“You’ll regret this,” Bradley warned.
“Not before you do,” I answered.
Security arrived, uniforms a bit rumpled. Security detail was usually pretty boring, except for the few minutes when it was extremely exciting. I suspected they’d been playing cards.
I held out my wrists. “Arrest me. Throw me in the brig. At least I’ll get some sleep.”
Turner and Quan’Li were right behind me.
“What about our food?” the bigger security guard questioned Bradley.
“Mutiny is a serious charge. These three disobeyed a direct order. Take them into custody.”
The guards hesitated. “We put them in the brig, we won’t get food.”
“Another team will be assigned.” Bradley frowned. “Do you want to join them on charges of mutiny? I gave you an order!”
“Not a good way to make friends, Bradley.” I couldn’t help the sarcasm. It was my nature.
Bradley’s face burned red. I wondered if I could actually make steam come from his ears.
“Throw them in the brig!”
“Yes, sir.” Security didn’t look too happy, but they marched the three of us away.
“Have fun cooking,” I called over my shoulder. “And watch that pot of sauce. It will burn if you don’t stir it.”
“You shouldn’t make him mad,” the security guard whispered as he marched me through the halls. “He’s got the captain’s ear.”
“And I’ve got his food. Who do you think Captain Herring is going to listen to?”
“You’re going to be put on report.”
I shrugged. “And I might get a nap.”
The lights flickered, changing to red. Alarms blared through the halls.
“All hands, battle stations!”
Security ran away.
Quan’Li sighed heavily. “I suppose we need to lock down the galley.”
“Let Bradley do it. We’re still under arrest.”
“Adrian, you can’t just desert your post.”
“I was officially relieved of duty. You heard Leutinant Bradley. I’m going to report to the brig, like a good mutineer. My feet are killing me.”
“What about the Captain’s dinner?”
“Under red alert? He isn’t getting it now.”
“Incoming!” the speakers blared.
The ship rocked crazily. Lights flickered madly. Smoke poured from the air vents.
Turner grabbed for support. “We’re under attack!”
“They said it would be dangerous. I’m hiding in the brig. Are you coming with me? The walls are thicker in there.”
Turner and Quan’Li were on my heels all the way to the brig. We checked ourselves in and made ourselves comfortable while the explosions continued.
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