follow-on act

[jay]

Scrambling... I was unprepared for this meeting, at least by personal standards. Still received compliments on this morning's talk. But thanks to someone's randomizer, I was chosen to give my personal introduction... after Harrison Schmitt. Heh. Someone had to be next.

It's interesting discussing lunar instrument requirements and likely equipment failure modes and soil characteristics in a group with someone who has both the scientific expertise and has had personal experience with that particular field site...

Otherwise, we have lots of geologists and geophysicists and instrument designers here... it feels more like we're planning for the eventual proposed lunar surveyor mission in 2010 than for an ordinary technology project.

At the same time, one of my other projects is in a field deployment, and I miss being in the thick of things there... but fretting does no good, here. At least it is sunny and warm today. And the guy who was trying to run NASA's exploration program as though it was a military procurement (Steidle) has been forced out :).

It is laid-back and comfortable, here in northern Vermont... green and rolling and lush. Last night's dinner was at a tavern with community theater brochures and Trivial Pursuit cards on the bar, as well as microbrews... there's apparently a great used bookstore in Fairlee... in a pharmacy(?). Hopefully I'll get to meet noelfigart and possibly other household members tomorrow.... off now to dinner (lakeside BBQ) and an evening talk about rover designs.

Comments

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

sounds like you've got a really interesting crowd of folks there, and I am glad that you might get to do some socializing with a friend-of-friends and someone local who might be able to, if nothing else, help you with suggestions of what to do with your down time.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

So far, there hasn't been much downtime... this afternoon's session was eaten-up by longer-than-expected presentations. There's a gym, which was useful last night, and hiking trails... the lake is very pretty.

[dangerpudding.livejournal.com]

You miss this? You cracksmoker! Off playing with lego, while everything here is insane, and they change plans every 20 minutes, usually without bothering to tell everyone. And why not, they'll just change again!

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Actually, the Legos come out tomorrow... I'm not surprised about the flux, although email traffic is down from yesterday (someone smothered SS?). And remember, I *like* being on edges... as well as still feeling responsible, while unable to do anything about it from here.

[dangerpudding.livejournal.com]

Ahh, well... only K'nex today? ;)

Nobody smothered him, AFAIK, but I almost lost it at him. Still want the These are not the breasts you're looking for shirt.

Being on edges is great, when the problems are fixable. Today, I seem to be stuck with the dependancy-tree from hell. Oh well, it'll work out. It's not going to stop the mission, even if it doesn't, y'know?

You're back next week, though, right? All the best parts! Media and actual drilling and stuff... hopefully.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Eh. Actual drilling is fun, media require carefulness...

[ame-chan.livejournal.com]

Oh dude, did you eat at Seven Barrels? My favorite beers are from there. If you get to go back, knock back a stout for me, eh?

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

It was called "The Third Rail", but thanks for the tip!