Good-By Spirit!

Yesterday NASA announced that after over a year of silence from the Mars rover Spirit, which has been on Mars for about 7 years, they are hanging their hats and listing her as MIA.


Spirit Rover

Spirit landed on Mars in January of 2004 for a mission that was to last 3 months. Since then it has gathered quite a bit of data including evidence that Mars may have been wetter in the past then it is now. In March of 2010 Spirit stop sending signals which some believe was the result of a particularly harsh Martian winter which did not allow Spirit to get the solar rays it needed for power. Without an adequate supply of power the electronics in Spirit would have been particularly susceptible to the extreme cold.

Looking forward the NASA Rover Team is preparing to launch the next generation Rover called Curiosity this November which will gather data to determine if Mars ever has or ever will support microbial life.

I know that I will not forget Spirit or Oppertunity because they are one of the first NASA Missions that peaked my interest and a true testiment to modern day engineering.

The Other Boleyn Girl

Now that finals are over I have actually had time to sit down and read. I started my summer with The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory which has been on my reading list for a while and subsequently travelling with me every where in my car just in case I get a moment to read. I finally sat down over the last three days and finished this wonderful story.

It's a story about duty and desire. A young woman who's family trusts her about in an attempt to gain power, titles, and riches. In her world everything is for the family, she must forsake her husband to gain favor and then dutifully serve the one who steals away everything she has earned and achieved.

Historical fiction is by far one of my favorite genres and Gregory does an incredible job telling the story of Ann Boleyn from a unique perspective which through out the story stays true to major historical events. If you're in the mood for an entertaining book which is also a little bit of a guilty pleasure I would definately recommend The Other Boleyn Girl.



"The Most Happy"



Hiding from life.... in the bathroom

Here I sit bored to death. If I leave this room I must return to the grind stone that has transformed me into someone that works until i pass out from exhaustion leaving no time for the fun and games of my youth. Why do I do this to myself? Because I know no other way. I have always accepted responsibility open handedly, until my arms are so full i can no longer continue on.

I must learn to say no. Not only to others but also to myself.

Never Knock on a Stranger's Door

I was waiting on the stoop of someone’s home. I only stopped to avoid the rain. They never would have known that I was there. Why did I knock on that door?

I was headed home from the grocery store. I didn’t have the money to waste gas going to the store. The light from inside the house came on. Why did I knock on that door?

I remembered my husband would get off work soon. I thought that he could come pick me up. The house was well kept, with tender and care. Why did I knock on that door?

I did not know what had happened here. I had never heard the stories people told behind closed doors. There was someone inside, maybe watching TV. Why did I knock on that door?

I knocked on the door. I was greeted by a man. He seemed like a nice enough man. Why did I knock on that door?

I was offered inside. I gladly obliged. He offered me a seat. Why did I knock on that door?

I turned around towards the living room. I saw fresh blood on the floor. His eyes met mine with a crazy glare when I looked back at him. Why did I knock on that door?

I turned to leave. I was stopped by his hands. He turned me to look at his dead wife on the floor. Why did I knock on that door?

I tried to scream but no sound came out. I felt a hot pain along my throat. He threw me to the floor towards his wife. Why did I knock on that door?

Thomas Jefferson Said It..........

"And what country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure."


"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare but only those specifically enumerated."


“A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.”

- Thomas Jefferson

Weekend Adventures

Last week was spring break and I had three whole days off in a row. With all this free time I decided to go down to the farm. I haven't been down there in months and there were a couple of new baby goats that were born the weekend before which of course I wanted to play with.

While I was there 5 babies were born!

We had one momma goat just lay down in the yard and give birth out in the open right in the middle of everything (which is very unusual for goats). She and her two babies just stayed right there all day, even when the herd moved on she never moved. But when it got dark they were still out there even though the other goats had gone back to the barn. We couldn't just leave the babies out there in the open all night, it would not be safe for them so we decided to pick them up and put them in the closest barn for the night.

But when we picked them up and moved them, momma goat went crazy! She started running around screaming at the top of her lungs. She was so scared, she thought we were taking her babies from her and hurting them I suppose. She was so scared and I felt so bad for her. It took us atleast 10 minutes to herd her into the barn that her babies were in, but when she finally realized they were safe in the barn she calmed down.



Baby Goats A Few Hours Old



Last weekend was alot of fun. I'm glad I was able to spend that time with my family.  :)

Worse then the Avian Flu

Everywhere I go I have to listen to Angry Birds this and Angry Birds that. I have played the game and it is pretty fun but not so fun that my entire life should revolve around it. The radio is not safe, the internet is not safe, and now work is not safe.

A couple of people at work have become so addicted to this game that they are playing it at work, even when we are behind on our workload. Seriously?

When I saw this video I knew that I just had to share, because I love Star Trek and frustrated with everyone addicted to Angry Birds so I found it completely hilarious. : )