Craft Lass

Why do I write many songs about space? Because exploring space is one of the most utterly human things we do.

@texastankwatch Thanks! Home in record time and even found a parking spot right away! Miraculous. Overnight drive was a great idea. Only hit 1 slowdown for road work, in VA. Do you ever sleep? Lol (I get asked that a lot myself)

@CraftLass Be safe

I know it's not ideal for efficiency to keep windows open, but some crispy cool night air through the windows+seat warmers is just such a lovely feeling while driving. Happy autumn, everyone!

*Chesapeake House, what a silly brain fart.

Maryland is just rocking the service plazas these days. Massage chairs, Dyson Blades in the restrooms, Peet's at Cumberland House, whole food courts of options - even if some of these are only open during the day, they really put the "service" in service plaza!

I love when people ask me how I met my friends. In this case, "Oh, we met at the press site at KSC watching Juno leave for Jupiter." Now I'm sitting here in her mama's house, right at home in a place I love, marveling at how a chance meeting can make a whole new family.

Ha! Definitely some precedent... Even if not for directly funding missions this way.

Racing to NC to give a beloved bestie a hug for the first time since... 2019? Yeesh, that's a long time! You'd think I was heading to a launch, all giddy and weepy and full of anticipation!

@texastankwatch Ironically, I got a good spring tan in NC in May, lost it over the summer since I try to avoid outside in high heat, and then... Wandered around NM for 2 weeks with 50 spf sunblock even under clothes, and layers of 30-50 upf clothing. Still got a good tan! Incredible.

@CraftLass Absolutely

An icon at an icon in an icon! Almost home at last. Now just gotta grab some bags and cross 2 rivers at rush hour.

@texastankwatch Oh, yeah. The Midwest has lots of flats and humidity on top of being more northern in the northern hemisphere. Florida compared to, say, Hawaii is relatively low in UV. And that's just w/in the US. 😂 Was recently marveling at how HI's scale goes higher than we thought possible

@CraftLass Than Midwest

@texastankwatch Quicker in Florida compared to where? Lol Lots of way worse places for UV

@CraftLass Curvature of the earth mskes sunburns happen quicker in Florida

@texastankwatch It's the first time I realized humidity can have advantages besides keeping skin and lungs moist lol. People say dry heat is easier to bear, but 72F in NM felt like 115F here. Because of the sun! Dry heat is better releaved in shade and night, though. Pros and cons to both

@texastankwatch It's true elevation makes it stronger, or at least I've read that. Even on top of a mountain here, the sun is never as brutal as in NM. 4000' in the Smokies is nothing like 4000' feet in NM. It made Florida sun feel completely weak! My hypothesis is humidity acts as a filter.

Got home yesterday as a zombie who couldn't sleep or stay awake, and then my "computer" arrives from repairs - actually an empty box that had clearly been opened and re-taped. So impressed with @RazerSupport, unfortunately, they use FedEx for the shipping parts.

@genejm29 Amazing, isn't it? I really want to go visit the bar and check the place and plane out. Maybe even splurge and stay sometime when flying in/out. They did such a great job recreating the old terminal, too! Makes me feel like a kid again. My first FF program was TWA!

@CraftLass I forgot there was a Lockheed Constellation over there!

While landing at JFK at dawn is super inconvenient if heading towards Manhattan, it also provides one of the most beautiful sunrises on a clear day. Everything in life is a trade-off. That one was pretty cool!

@VTjawo @NASA I had NO idea what to expect, but it was really cool. Had never been so near balloons! Seeing them fly across just before the eclipse was really special. The Fiesta itself is bananas - so crowded, but really well-organized and run. Def worth doing once.

@CraftLass @NASA I DO want to make it out one of these years to the Balloon fest. My parents went in their RV years ago and really enjoyed it.

Happy Annular Eclipse Day!! Headed to a more private spot with our travel gang for our last hurrah before Woody and I split off, but so thrilled @NASA is hosting the eclipse at the Balloon Fiesta and Petroglyphs National Monument. People here are very excited for it!

@VTjawo @NASA We saved a bunch on flights by picking these dates and using JFK... And then spent allllllll the savings on hotels and cars. As you do. 😂 Ah well, money well spent!

@VTjawo @NASA Ha! Smart move! If we weren't there for the Virgin Galactic launch, meteorite hunting, and friends already, we'd never have done it in ABQ. Lol Prices were bananas and even worse up in Santa Fe after. The Balloon Fiesta really drives it all up! But so glad we got to see that.

Bernie the badass driver got us home so quickly! Only 1.5 hours right through midtown and the tunnels. How you know a true NYC driver - so aggressive, so safe, so smooth, and so fast even in hideous traffic. Wonderful to be home, even if dizzy with exhaustion! @genejm29