Ack is back

Ack was back in DC all last week chairing a NASA Senior Review panel. He and Alana got to spend some time together. They saw "Wolverine" which had some pretty good special effects. It also helped to interpret some later movies. For example, the woman he fell in love with, before losing his memory, sure looked a lot like Jean of the X-men. On Friday I also visited some museums, including the Museum of American History. This picture is of a tree that was 'cut down' by bullets in a civil war battle in a woods. I remember first seeing this with Tom Fusco and felt it was a good way to image how many bullets were fired during a rush through the woods.

Another visit

Ack and Anne visited DC (and Alana) again in late March 2009. Ack had a couple of meetings - one with NOAA, one with NASA and one with USRA. We stayed the weekend to visit with Alana, enjoy the cherry tree blossoms and look and houses/condos to buy. It was very nice to experience spring again!

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! Ack was at the Smithsonian and watched the fireworks with Alana on the Mall. Ack even watched a parade - without Anne.

We are Back...

... into DC. Anne came over the weekend to see a bit of the Smithsonian Festival, where Alana is working. She is now on a cruise with the Pryor family. Ack came on July 1 to first work with the American Meteorological Society workshop for teachers. He then is working at the Smithsonian Festival as a panel participant in the NASA exhibit. On stage on July 2, 3 and 4. On Wednesday night Ack went to the Shakespeare Theatre Company to see the Imaginary Invalid by Moliere. Argon was played by Rene Auberjonois - the changling in Deep Space Nine. Wonderful play. It is a bit amazing that a play written in French in the 1600s could be so funny today.

The Drive Back

We had a wonderful visit with Erin and Al on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning but after we left Bloomington, the trip became a challenge. What was normally a 50 minute drive to Indianapolis turned into a 4-hour drive trying to avoid flooding. Many roads were closed or washed out by Saturday rains. Thank goodness we had a detailed atlas on Ack's Palm Pilot. We eventually made it to Illinois by taking county roads in relatively high terrain. Here are some photos of the flooding.

Once we got out of Indiana, we spent a relaxing night with old friend from Fort Collins days, Alison Bailey, in Bloomington IL. On Sunday, we raced to Madison, making it between two big storms - just in time to empty the gutters and see another storm roll into town in from the NW.

Leaving Town

After cleaning the house and packing the car, we finally left DC around noon. We traveled to Monticello. Unlike Mount Vernon, Monticello is was worth the visit. An interesting house. We then drove into West Virginia and stayed overnight just outside Charleston. On Friday afternoon we made it to Erin and Al's in Bloomington, Indiana. We had a wonderful lunch downtown and some rich chocolate ice cream from Blu Boy chocolate shop. Then visited the very nice Art Museum at the IU campus.

Last Blog from DC...

Well, we are heading out and back to Madison. With stops at Monticello, and Bloomington, IN (Erin and Al's) and Bloomington, IL (Alison's). We should be home by Sunday. We enjoyed DC tremendously and encourage all to visit this great capitol city of ours (and to have as many wonderful family and friends in the area too -- they certainly helped make our stay so great).

We'd add a picture but Anne's camera is packed and Ack's accidentally got washed.

Now, on to a new blog...