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Some news about Space Shuttle Endeavour reminded me that while I blogged about my first attempt at seeing its last launch back in April, I never wrote about my trip with Kaitlin to see it actually launch. So, despite the long delay, here’s what I remember.

We traveled to Florida on May 14, 2011, in preparation for the launch on May 16, and returned home on May 18.

While waiting at the airport in Moline to begin our trip, we heard over the PA, “Will Kaitlin Holt please report to the gate agent as soon as possible.” We had booked business class tickets with AirTran because they are refundable (Remember, the launch date of a space shuttle is likely to shift, so one’s travel plans need to be flexible.). The morning of the trip, when we were certain we were going, Katie canceled her business class ticket and bought a coach fare. We were thus concerned that AirTran had detected the change and was going to do something about it.

Luckily the mother of one of Katie’s classmates had seen our names on the passenger list, noticed my flying in business and Katie in coach, and upgraded her for free. The trip, therefore, began on a high note. We both enjoyed Screwdriver and Bloody Mary cocktails en route. When we landed in Orlando, there was some weather-related delay and we had to sit on the tarmac for some time. Katie had to ask special permission of the flight attendants to get up and use the restroom. They gave us a hard time about the cocktails, but it wasn't a problem. After she went, it opened the floodgates, so to speak, as a bunch other passengers did the same.

After collecting our rental car and getting our bearings, we decided to get dinner. I decided to treat Katie to a steak dinner at Ruth’s Chris, but first we stopped at Walmart to buy some things for the launch and the beach. We both bought chairs, which we used at the launch and at the beach, and I think I bought a tent (which I ended up returning before we flew home). Kaitlin bought a boogie board. We had a cooler so we had ice packs, deli meat for sandwiches, etc.

January in the Midwest is generally a cold, dreary affair. Some of my friends decided to go to the Sunset Beach resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica for a week, and invited me to join them. It was a blast and I am very happy to have gone. Not least because it snowed just before we left Des Moines, and it was about 85°F every day in Montego Bay. My photos from the trip are online in the gallery.

Jason and Elizabeth were the masterminds behind the trip, so they really picked the resort and the dates. Some of Jason’s family came too, but I spent most of my time with Remo, Kortni, Nate, Jen, Jason, Elizabeth, Jared, and Julia. The last four and I traveled together, meeting the rest of the group on the island.

We left Des Moines around 7:00pm on January 15, and drove to Kansas City (Flights out of Des Moines are unreasonably expensive.), where we stayed overnight at Jason’s brother’s house. After a fairly uneventful drive—although we did see a car pass us and then immediately get pulled over—we hit the sack and got ready for our 6:30am flight.

After connecting through Atlanta—and a few in-flight Bloody Marys later—we touched down in Montego Bay. The rest of the group had all booked their tickets through a travel agency, who had arranged for transfers to the resort. I booked mine separately, but after paying the driver $15, I was on the bus. We arrived at Sunset Beach around 4:30 or so, and Nate had fruity drinks waiting for us in the lobby. 

That first night was a blur. Between the exhaustion from our long day of travels and our exuberance at the all-inclusive nature of the drinks, we had a good time. I think I lasted until 11 or so before I had to call it a night.

The rest of the days were mostly the same. Wake up around 9:30 to get breakfast before the buffet line closed at 10. Head back upstairs for a shower and a nap. Put on swimsuit, head to beach. Enjoy the beautiful weather, drink a few cocktails, play some beach volleyball, switch from beach to swim-up bar, etc. Ya mon!

We've been in San Diego for a couple days and have been enjoying the beaches (especially the surf). Tom picked me up from the airport yesterday, and after stopping for lunch (Chicago and New York style pizza) and to change at the hotel, we met up with the rest of the family at Torrey Pines State Beach. 

After much deliberation, I finally decided to go through with my trip to Florida for the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavor on STS-134. The launch (originally scheduled for yesterday (Well, originally originally scheduled for a number of earlier dates, but we’ll go with yesterday being “originally” for the purposes of this blog.)) ended up being scrubbed until at least Monday, May 2, due to technical issues with auxiliary power units. The APUs are required to run heaters that prevent hydraulic lines from freezing in orbit or upon reentry. If the lines froze, it could mean loss of control (since the hydraulics, in effect, steer the shuttle) or the risk of explosion. We should know in a few hours whether or not another attempt on Monday is feasible, as NASA engineers are investigating as I write this.

The scrub was disappointing for a number of reasons, but I think my travel plans will be flexible enough to allow me to be there for the next attempt. The couple sitting next to me at Kennedy Space Center won’t be so lucky—they are from Nottingham, England, and were on a two week trip based around the earlier April 19 launch date. They flew home today, and won’t be able to make it back for another try. President Obama and his family were also scheduled to see the launch, and while they toured the Kennedy Space Center facility and met with the crew of STS-134, the scrubbed launch was a missed opportunity to inspire the president and demonstrate the value of manned space exploration.

My visit to Kennedy Space Center was my second time there, having visited with my family when we made a trip to Disney World and the surrounding area growing up. I remember the trip from Orlando taking much longer than it did this time, and the rockets of the rocket garden being much bigger, but the awe I felt was not diminished. I felt giddy as I passed by the first car checkpoint and began to cross the causeway to Merritt Island, on which KSC is located. It was great fun to sit in the crowds of people eagerly awaiting the launch, watching NASA TV on the large screens set up, and paying close attention to each update. People cheered when veteran astronauts appeared on screen to take questions from another site, and applauded their efforts when they left.

A couple weekends ago, Raff, Sharma, Tom, and I descended on Canandaigua, New York, for the Black Keys and Flaming Lips concert on July 23. The concert was great, as was hanging out with everyone around Canandaigua and on the lake. Those guys took off for home on Sunday, but Nathan and I went up to Niagara Falls after dropping them off at the Rochester airport.

The remainder of my time in Boston was as excellent as the first couple days. After Kelly and I spent Tuesday together, I had the rest of the week to spend at the MIT Information Quality Industry Symposium, and then spent some more time with Kelly on Saturday. The symposium was excellent—especially the keynote speakers—and I met a number of interesting IQ professionals.

I’ve been in New York since Thursday, first in NYC visiting Devon and then in Canandaigua visiting Nathan and going to see The Black Keys and The Flaming Lips. I’ll post a more detailed update tomorrow (along with notes about the rest of my Boston trip) but I wanted to share pictures from the concert, skiing on Canandaigua Lake and my day trip to Niagara Falls.

I’ve been in Boston since yesterday, as I’m attending the 2010 MIT Information Quality Industry Symposium later this week, and I thought I’d use the opportunity to spent some time visiting Kelly. We’ve had a good time hanging out—we had dinner and drinks at John Harvard’s Brew House last night, and visited the New England Aquarium this afternoon.

Last weekend I went into the great city of Chicago to help my buddy Devon Sharma celebrate his being accepted to the New York Bar. (We were also celebrating his brother’s completion of medical school. Smart family, the Sharmas.) A bunch of us were invited to Maggiano’s in Oak Brook for Saturday afternoon.

I arrived at Tom’s apartment around 7:30 Friday night. Since the Blackhawks were about to start, we ordered some Indian food for delivery and settled in to watch some hockey. I gave Tom a hard time for eating with his left hand as we devoured the chicken tikka masala and tandoori chicken. The Blackhawks destroyed the villainous Canucks 7–4, and Tom and I decided to go out and meet up with our cousins Kelly and Kara.

Months of planning paid off in an Illini (fan) victory yesterday, as the Orange Krush (plus Kelby, Dan, and I) invaded Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Illinois beat Iowa 57—49 as the Krush chanted “This is our house” as time expired. Iowa fans are understandably bitter…

(There’s more coverage online from Hawkeye Insider and the Cedar Rapids Gazette; also, check out this YouTube playlist and the rest of the pictures in the gallery.)