Intrepid's SpaceFest, Music and Food :)

What a dayits been, full of nostalgia! As if coming back to the Intrepid Air & Space museum would be enough to send me back into the past, thinking aboutnthe days when I was short and had to run to catch up with my dad. He was always a hard person to catch up with especially in the busy streets of NYC with his 6 ft 2 length in legs. I went to the Intrepid a few times as a kid butafter age 11 you lose interest at least for someone like me who's always doing something interesting, something new even amongst the years of teen angst.

This particular weekend was SpaceFest in honor of the NASA programs and our space history. The Explorer has been stationed there since last year,with the exception of a temporary move after hurricane Sandy. But what found to be hilarious from the beginning of my day at the Intrepid was seeing people from both my most recent and distant past. My friend from grammer/high school, Keith, had text mr that mornjng to say he saw I was going to SpaceFest via Twitter and thought I should know he and some of the former 555 robotics members were already there. And at the ticket booth I ran into my friend Sarah who recently graduated with me at Elon. For some people that crazy of coincedences would've freaked them out but in my experience I tend to find people I know all over the world! (Not kidding its ridiculous sometimes)

 Keith and his mom playing with astronaut gloves

It was a few relaxed overcast day to spend browsing the ship with Keith and the crew. Went to see the shuttle exhibit, walked around the new modern and improved third deck, I met an astronuet, learned some interesting developments with the NASA program - what's happened after the government cut funding - playing a stamp challenge game, got a free NASA knapsack and a free lunch thanks to borrowing someone's non-descript Event Staff pass :) and went on the submarine. Overall a good day.

 Free lunch with pass :)

 Thats not intimidating at all

For all the sailors that are bakers

Museums

Yesterday was a good day spent at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum. I knew it was going to be a crappy weather day so what more perfect time to stay indoors right? Yeah that was obviously what everyone else and all their children thought too. Between a holiday weekend and it being kinda gray outside that people thought, 'let's go to the museum today.' It was so crowded that I think I have minor bruises on my arm and calf of family herds bowling into me.

Despite bodily damage, it was interesting walking around each museum. I knew my mom would've loved the Air and Space Museum because its relevance to aviation. She's always wanted to learn how to fly. So many air contraptions hanging down from the ceiling I think I was tempted to duck. I felt oh-so-small walking underneath these huge pieces.

I made a comparative analysis of New York's Natural History Museum and the one here. I think one of the most distinct similarity is the amount of dust collected on the model animals. I found that greatly annoying in the Air and Space Museum, there were videos playing footage and documentaries from decades ago. It worked perfectly with the dust and retro-look of the displays but come on people! This is Washington D.C. the country's capital! You'd think they'd get it together and revamp the place.

IMAX theater "Born to be Wild" 

With the original intent to go to the IMAX showing of 'Born to be Wild,' I decided to take advantage of free admission to the Natural History Museum and browse the exhibits while I wait. I snapped a cell-pic of a hanging butterfly for my Aunt since it was in honor of the "new" butterfly exhibit (Pretty sure that was in NY a long time ago). After a few hours almost falling a sleep (lack there of) I went to the mobbed cafe to get $3.25 cup of crappy coffee! Yea federal govn't paid food. I was suckered into purchasing some postcards at the gift shop. I realize once I got back to the main floor that I didn't need to cut time short seeing the film today so I changed my ticket for today, Monday, Feb 20 at 250pm. More time to get back and get pumped for boot camp (oh yea I'm feeling it today).

Fortunately my coffee date with an old Elon colleague needed to be rescheduled so I'm off the hook. I can go back to the apartment and rest? Nope not really. I wish but for the next two days I won't get much sleep. Too many things due for TWC, Elon, reading to do, internship work (very tedious). It will be fine though I'll have a four day weekend starting Wednesday night. Mommy I'm coming home!