Month: July 2009

There is a lot of buzz about the space program right now.  With the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, the recent shuttle launch, the retirement of the space shuttle, and the new ARES program, there is much to talk about. Personally though, it is nothing out of the ordinary.  The space program is and has always been a part of mine and my family’s life. Since the earliest days of Cape Kennedy, someone in my family part of the space program.  In fact, my dad was the 1st person to work 30+ year at Kennedy Space Center.  A achievement he reached before his death in 1990.  He would tell stories of the early Brevard county, when he would see astronauts around town or even when he fished alongside the President who was here for a launch.  He and my family were among the first to be “involved”.  In fact …keep reading …

The past weekend was our “tubing adventure weekend”.  We spent the it in Gainesville so that we could visit bothGinnie and Ichetuckneesprings.  I’ve been wanting to go to Ginnie springs since I was a kid, but this was my first actual visit. We drove up Friday after work, and stayed at Cabot Lodge.  My highly recommended “Gainesville” home.   Located right off of I-75, it is unlike any other hotel.  It is more ski lodge, than hotel.  In the lobby common area of the hotel there are tons of big comfy sofas and chairs all around a center fireplace.  There are large wall mounted TVs mounted in various areas that provide a living room type of feel to them.  Each evening the adults are welcome to a complimentary cocktail social, and each morning you have a breakfast including everything from fresh waffles to Krispy Kreme doughnuts. For dinner Friday, we visited another Gainesville staple for us: Texas …keep reading …

The second day of our “tubing adventure weekend” was at Ichetucknee springs.  The last time that we had been here, was in 1991, the first year that Jennifer and I began dating.  Which oddly enough was also with Dan and Doris. After breakfast, we packed up and check out of Cabot Lodge.  We picked up some fried chicken for lunch and headed to Fort White.  With Dan and I being of the “engineer” mindset, we had already figured out the logistics of our two cars and the separate start and stop locations.  Apparently, the only option for vehicles are the “exact” way the Parks department wants you to do it.  So after are redundant scenic route around Fort White, shuttle bus trip, and a brief back-woods-Deliverance moment, we finally got on the river.

This morning, my normal commute to work was interrupted by a little pavement, a little sliding, and a mark off my motorcycling checklist.  I laid it down and slid. It was a little wet from last night’s rain, but nothing substantial.  I had just started accelerating from the intersection, when the car in front of me slammed on its brakes.  I stopped fast and the rear wheel broke free.  I worked the brake and got back traction, and as soon as I did they hit their brakes again.  I was still in a little bit of a wobble, so I knew it would break free again…and it did. A choice had to be made:  hope to gain traction and control again, to have enough time to stop before hitting the car, or laying it down so that the bike would stop.  I choose the later. I estimate I ended up …keep reading …

Hi.  My name is Joe and I’m a INTJ personality-type.   I am Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging.  Here is where you say, ”HI JOE!” My entire life I’ve felt different.  Especially in social situations.  I would see those extroverts just jumping into situations without forethought, and wonder how on earth they did it.  In my mid twenties (and a quite a few times since) I learned why.  By learning my Myers-Briggs personality type. Each and every time I have taken the MBTI Personality test, I’ve landed squarely in the top right corner.  A place shared with only 1-2% of the population. The first time I read the results, it was creepy.  It was like the document was actually written about me, personally.  It described me perfectly.  But reading it helped me become content with myself.  Those “flaws” that I’ve always had, were definable and fit into a big picture….and INTJs …keep reading …