Another Great Group from Barratt Elementary

Hello Troops,
This is my weekly telegram from the front.
Tonight we are hosting our second Overnight Camp with students from Barratt Elementary School in American Fork.

I see smiles on the faces of the staff and volunteers. Smiles are a good thing. They tell me the staff and volunteers are enjoying themselves. This kind of job satisfaction comes from various sources.

1. I've given them a hefty raise, which didn't happen. I don't set the pay rates - the school district does. The money they get from here will barely cover a couple gallons of gas, a Big Chill and an apple fritter.
2. They've recently received a promotion. Which didn't happen.
   
3. They see me in an uncharacteristically jovial, jolly and fanciful mood, which is highly unlikely for an Overnight Camp. Ask anyone that works at the Space Center. They will tell you that Mr. Williamson is at his most unapproachable self on an Overnight Camp.
4. This leaves the campers from Barratt Elementary as the source of the staff and volunteer's happiness. Once again, we have awesome kids from Barratt - a tribute to their upbringing. I will also add that they attend a great school with superb teachers like Mrs. Leinweber. Karen and I taught together for a few years - a couple decades ago here at Central.

Now, enough said for tonight. The staff sleeping in the Odyssey are on the verge of being classified "Out of Control". I take action when my patience needle spans the dial and parks in the "Out of Control" section. It's almost there.

Mr. W.

Valentine's Day Wishes to Everyone.

Hello Troops,

A Happy Valentine's Day to our Space Center staff, volunteers and campers! I sent Mr. Howell,our resident florist, out early this morning with flowers for our favorite staff, volunteers and campers, but word has it he missed the bus to the Imaginarium's Wonderland Station. So if you see a forlorn unkempt florist sitting at a bus stop holding a bouquet of flowers, please stop and offer him a ride. And if your flower doesn't arrive, remember it's the thought that counts, right?

A Day Spent Pushing the Very Limits of Society's Norms

Caution, the following pictures may not be suitable for younger audiences. These pictures show a sheer disregard for law and order. They portray people flaunting the established order. The anti social behavior illustrated in these pictures prompted Scandinavian governments to ban them outright.

Viewer discretion is advised.

Sticking it to The Man at the Lunch Table.

Don't tell me where I can and can't tear open my ketchup packet.

Rebel with a Cause is what they call me!

Shocking isn't it? Afterwords the can was left on the table for
someone else to clean up!

Rudeness on an Industrial Scale!

I know, this one photograph caused you to wince.

I hesitated to include it, but felt it was my duty as an honorary member of the 99%
to show the 1% what we are capable of doing when pushed to the breaking point.

This stopped the queue dead in its tracks at the Grocery Store. The Management was brought in to sort out the confusion. I won't include the vulgar language spewed by the sheep waiting in line.

Admit it, you secretly wish you had the guts and mental fortitude to pull off something like this.

And Finally, Just For You on this Day Celebrating all that's right with Love

The Story of my Life

Happy Valentine's Day from the Space Education Center!

Mr. Williamson

A Beautiful New Sign for the Voyager

Hello Troops,
It was just after a quarter past eight Saturday evening when my home phone rang. I glanced to see who was calling. The screen said "School's Public". I reasoned it was Jon Parker and Kyle Jones calling to tell me the new Voyager's backlit sign was successfully installed and working as designed.

"Hello," I answered.
"Vic, we need you to come down and help," Jon said. What Jon didn't know is that I was nearly horizontal in my favorite recliner watching my beautiful 65 inch DLP television (watching is a wishful term for what I was actually doing. Passing between the conscious and subconscious states was more like it. It's what I do on a Saturday night. I know, you might as well open a grave and drop me in, but remember I usually get about four hours of sleep on a Friday night at the Space Center so I have a pass on spending my Saturday nights inebriated with a frothy draft of drowsiness).

"I'll be right down," I replied. I knew they wouldn't be able to install my new sign without my expertise. I made it to the Battlestar without shoes. I was too lazy to put on a pair. I only live three minutes from the Space Center by car so why bother.

When I arrived I saw Jon and Kyle wrestling with my new sign.

"Stand back boys and let a professional at it!" I pushed my chest out, flexed what muscles I had control of on a Saturday night, cracked my knuckles and walked over to the metal stairs leading up to the Voyager's Decontamination Hallway.
"What do you need me to do?"

"Hold the frame up while we screw it into the studs," Kyle said.

Well, at least it wasn't anything too taxing. I held the sign overhead while Jon and Kyle worked magic with the electric screwdriver. Five minutes later my job was done.

Now, skip ahead to this morning.

I got to the Center at 8:00 A.M., walked to the Voyager and switched on the lights.
I went through the turning door and stepped into Decontamination.


I walked to the end of the hallway and turned to see the new sign in all its glory. I was not disappointed. There it was - a masterpiece to my creativity and willingness to approve the expenditure, Emily's graphic design and Kyle and Jon's construction.

The new sign as seen from the bottom of the stairs looking up to Decon.

The Voyager is a fine lady with a new frock for all to enjoy.

Thanks Kyle and Jon for the extra hours on Saturday to get the job done.

Mr. Williamson