Space Shuttle over Burbank!

Ack! They've discontinued the old Blogger interface and now I'm trying to use the new one.  But anyway... what a day!!

Like many people all over the state of California, Derek and I got to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour as it flew over Burbank!  We weren't prepared with our better camera, so here are Derek's cell phone pics.

We were going to head to Griffith Park, but realized there wasn't time, so we joined an enthusiastic crowd on the Olive Avenue freeway overpass.  It  was really, really amazing.


The gang at Derek's office got to see it, too, as it flew right over the Disney studio lot. Fortunately Brent was on the scene, so here's a movie! Thanks, Brent!  

Derek shot a movie, too, on the freeway overpass. I'll upload it if I can figure out how to do it.

As of 1:15 PM, we're hearing from lots of people who got to see the shuttle... we would love to hear your stories and see pictures!  Be sure to post in Comments!

UPDATE 1:35 PM 9/21/12:
Here's Derek's movie!

And here's a great picture from Mary!

Sepulveda Fire: EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE

Special thanks to Brent, who from his sickbed at home just shot this footage of a Super-Scooper plane on its way to attack the fire currently burning at Sepulveda and the 405 freeway:

Brent just informed us that he could hear the Super Scoopers at his house and waited outside to film one, but it was taking too long, so eventually he just gave up and went in and filmed this off of his TV.

So far no injuries or structure damage... stay tuned to the AFB for full coverage as special international and disaster correspondent Brent stands by to take actual footage of the actual plane whenever it passes over his house.

BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake, 4.1 Yorba Linda

Derek and co-worker Mary just felt an earthquake at work. Minor monitor-wobbling, no reports of damage or injury. The quake was not felt here at AFB HQ.

Thanks to Brent for instantly providing the location and magnitude. No thanks to Derek, who says he can't access the CalTech website.

We'll keep you posted on any further developments of course.

First Day of School!

I still have one more vacation day to post, but I thought I'd quickly put up some pics of the kids from this morning. It's their FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

3rd and 5th graders!

A milk crate was among the items on the school supply list.

Accepting her fate...

Deacon's 5th grade classroom with Mr. Nehls!

Deacon starts organizing his stuff. There is a LOT of stuff.

Miss Stone and her new 3rd Graders!

I guess with a Kindergartner you're entitled to take hundreds of pictures on the first day of school... it gets harder to not look obnoxious with the camera as they get older. Especially by 5th grade. So Derek had to take some "stealth" pics this morning. Looking forward to a great 2012-2013 school year!

San Diego Adventure, Day 4, Part 2: The Presidio and Ricky's Restaurant!

Welcome to the 2nd half of Day 4: Thursday, August 16th.

Deacon was really, really excited to visit the site of the San Diego Presidio, subject of his big 4th grade history project last year!

Maren was, too!

Nothing of the Presidio is left today, and it's just a park. In the distance, you can see Deacon...

Right there.

We hadn't heard of this statue guy before, but it's a cute pic of the kids!

The plaque under the statue.

According to the online Spanish-English translator, it says:

DONATED TO THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO

BY THE MR. LICENCIADO

GUSTAVO DIAZ ORDAZ

PRESIDENT OF THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC

NOVEMBER 1970

After all our adventures, we were hungry.

Ricky's Restaurant seemed like a good bet. A Hotel Circle institution.

Mmmm, a vanilla milkshake!

Maren finally runs out of steam.

As does Deacon.

One final timer shot of the family for the day.

Next up, Day 5, Friday - more Safari Park, and sad farewells to the kids' favorite things on the trip, like the hotel vending machine.

San Diego Adventure, Day 4, Part 1: Safari Park!

SO many pictures from Day 4, I decided to split it up into two posts. Here's Part 1!


Because of the Escondido heat, we decided to split our trip to the Safari Park into 2 mornings. Here are the kids planning their first day at the big map!

Look what just hatched!

At the foot massaging machines early; preparing feet for lots of walking.

Maren on some (fake) lily pads!

I just like this picture.

The appropriately named Shoebill Bird!

Deacon and Maren spot another fascinating creature!

A "giant" roly-poly.

In line for the Africa Tram Safari (the only vehicular tour that doesn't cost over $100 per person), the kids get to see an antelope horn up close.

This truck tour that gets you a bit closer to the animals is $137 per person. So we didn't do that.

Hold onto that hat, Deacon!

Apparently these Cape Buffalo are the most dangerous animals (to humans) in Africa, killing more people per year than rhinos, hippos, lions and crocodiles do.

These African Donkeys were playing, and put on a good show!

An endangered Northern White Rhino, one of 8 left in the world.

These bulls are prized in Africa for their wide-set horns, which can be as wide as a car.

Some non-endangered rhinos.

The kids with our driver/guide! There's one thing missing, though...

Deacon's favorite hat, which blew off just before finishing the tour. Fortunately they recovered it quickly!

So refreshing on a very hot day...

Maren dumps some water on her head!

These birds have eyelashes.

Maren and Deacon with the East African Crowned Crane male.

The female, on her nest!

A little Southern Gerenuk!

The Okapi was once thought to be extinct, or even mythical! All I know is that now there's a toy version in my house.

Taking a snack break. After the first day of theme park-priced meals, we brought all our own food.

It soon became unbearably hot outside and we decided to cool off before leaving with some A/C in a gift shop. The kids didn't mind at all!

Nice lighting for pics in the gift shop, too!

I would have paid this lady just to cool off in the store, but we got some toys, too!

A short movie... Deacon played some drums early in the day. The movie seems to want to appear here on the page, so I'm not going to try to move it to the beginning of the post!

Next, we'll have Day 4, Part 2: a visit to the old Presidio site and (unrelated) Ricky's Restaurant. The original Spanish soldiers who inhabited the Presidio didn't have a Ricky's Restaurant on site, as far as I know.