My Dream for the Captain's Quarters

Hello Troops,
Its Sunday and I’m sitting in my second favorite chair composing this post. You may be wondering why I’m not sitting in my favorite chair. It is occupied by my nephew. He seems to think he has the right to sit in my chair whenever he wants. No other family members or friends sit in my chair so why him? I’m not sure. It might be because its comfortable and reclines and rocks and has a foot rest. No matter, I’ll be a good sport about it. After all, Chaz needs to see the rewards of good hard work. I’ve told him many times that a life of hard work and frugal saving brings rewards, like a Laz e Boy Recliner. If you say it enough people believe it, at least that’s what they tell me.

You’re wondering why I put this picture on the blog? It’s here because I like it.. Would I have a living room designed like this? Well, its clean but I like the way my own living room is decorated. I call it English Hodge Podge with a bit of “I don’t know what what I’m doing” thrown in for good measure. Besides, I have too much junk for a room like this. Set out one of my collectible Thomas Kincaid Seaside Village miniatures, and you’ve destroyed the whole feel of the room. So I guess the answer is no, I wouldn’t decorate my living room like this, but I know a place where this design would be spot on - our Voyager simulator!

Wouldn’t this make an excellent Captain’s Quarters? Our current Captain’s Quarters is a small room at the top of a ladder with a tiny balcony overlooking the Bridge's Security Station. It has a cheap carpet, a bean bag chair and a fold out love seat with splitting vinyl upholstery.

This is my dream Captain's Quarters. It is a place I could call my home away from home. During the camps I’d kick the command officers out of their own quarters, give them a few pads and tell them to sleep on the Bridge floor. This would become my personal sleeping quarters. I could seriously grow to like this.

Let’s get serious. Can we afford this kind of upgrade? Are you kidding! I’d have to sell both kidneys and still be short a thousand or two, but it doesn’t hurt to dream. So...... let’s dream, and if you happen to have several (and I mean several) thousands of dollars that you’d like to donate then please do. It will be your own sleeping quarters whenever you come to camp.

So, time to crack open your piggy bank and see what you’ve got. While you count your pennies I’ll get to work on duct taping the upholstery on our current Captain's Quarters old splitting love seat.... :)

See you at Camp!

Mr. Willamson

Our Long Journey

A Note to Praise the Staff and Volunteers of the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center.

Dear Staff and Volunteers!
Our long journey is drawing to an end. It has been quite a trek. Our school year attendance was 16, 423! Wow, what an achievement. We worked many missions. We taught many classes. We can look back with satisfaction on a job well done. I'm pleased to work with the finest people in Utah County. Each of you bring a unique
perspective to your work. You flavor the Center with your personality and enrich the lives of our students. Your dedication and willingness to extend yourself and go that little bit extra has made the difference between success and mediocrity. We are unusual troubadours. We perform for our audiences without their acknowledgment. We create magic without their applause. We are the makers of smiles. We wave the wands of our voices to take our customers on fantastic voyages through the cosmos bringing them to a better understanding of themselves and the universe.

We sit at the back of our starships manning the rudder. We do all this unseen, for if we stood for recognition, some of the essence of the experience would be lost. So we hide behind our walls - surrounding our passengers with sound and lights and music and story. I acknowledge your work. I appreciate your efforts. I applaud your talent.

Some day when the history of space travel is written, I hope a there is a small paragraph telling of a place in Utah that, long ago, inspired children to take their eyes off the ground and look far into the distance to see what could be.

Imagination is our fuel and Wonder is our language. So troubadours...... we sit together around the campfire and plan our next campaign. There is a summer ahead and more children counting the days to their EdVenture. Let's sleep for a bit and rise refreshed. There is more to do.

Mr. Williamson

The 20,000th Mission's Virtual Celebration!

Hello Troops,
A milestone was reached last week and went almost unreported. Last Tuesday afternoon the Space Center ran our 20,000 mission! I’m not sure which mission it was because it happened during an afternoon school field trip when the Voyager, Odyssey and Phoenix were running. simultaneously. I intended to make it a big deal with some kind of celebration but didn't. I'm a bore, according to my staff. My idea of a party is staying up past 10:00 P.M. on a weeknight and 11:00 P.M. on a Saturday. A knock your socks off celebration is a good movie with diet coke and large, yes I said large, popcorn. My excuse for letting the event slip by uncelebrated was the Magellan projector bulb drama (posted earlier. Go find it and read it. It's too fresh in my mind to repeat it here). My attention was off the mark. You see, I like to worry about things. I especially like to worry about thing I have no control over. I plan on getting a good sized ulcer and taking some of my 180 days of built up sick leave. Anyway, the event came and it went. Two days later I realized the lost opportunity and felt bad about it, for a moment.

Forgetting things that should be celebrated is one way to trim a leaking budget. Yes, I said leaking. The Space Center's accounts sprang a leak. We are sending money into other people's pockets instead of the other way around, the way it should be. The new Galileo is the reason. I'd like to say it keeps me up at night but it doesn't. Come to think about it, the Swine Flu didn't keep me up either. I'm guessing the only thing that would keep me up past 10:30 P.M. would be an impending disaster capable of wiping out mankind. Of course, if that was going to happen I wouldn't go to bed. I'd invite family and friends over for light refreshments. Then we would have one of those interventions and tell each other what we really think about them. Once the air was clear we'd go out onto my deck, look out over Utah Valley and wait for impact.
There I go again, getting off topic. Forgive me. Let's get back to the 20,000th celebration.

So, in order to make amends and save a buck or two (we all know how I am with Space Center funds) I want to congratulate the staff and volunteers of the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center on reaching 20,000 missions!

To start off the celebration I want you to sit down in your favorite chair. We are going to attend a virtual party. Visualize massive amounts of balloons, party favors, and noise makers creating a symphony of ear shattering tones. Imagine handfuls of confetti descending on you like a fog, some going down the back of your neck, others landing in your mouth and still others up your nose. While we're at it, lets conjure up a table full of your favorite snacks and a punch with a real kick.

Wait a minute, who is that getting out of the Hummer Limo pulling up to the front of the school? No way! It is!
Friends may I introduce you to the the cast of the new Star Trek movie - flown in from Hollywood for this very cranial event. Yes they want to talk to you. Yes Spock will find you fascinating. Girls, that young and handsome Captain Kirk really wants to dance with you so go for it. Boys, Lt. Uhura will be manning the kissing booth with the green Orion girl. Wait, what's that sound coming from the gym? They are setting up a replica of the Romulan ship’s engineering section. Everyone gets a phaser that shoots paint balls. Its every man for himself as we attempt to save Captain Pike.

Come on...... admit it. Isn’t this the best Space Center party you’ve ever attended? It’s awesome, and not costing me a dime.

Now visual that for several minutes and then consider yourself partied out. You can tell everyone you attended the Space Center’s 20,000th mission’s virtual party and had a great time.
I know you’re tuckered out and need to go into your bedroom, throw yourself on the bed and sleep for several hours.

Go for it........ and Congratulations to everyone on reaching 20,000 mission!

Mr. Williamson