Time for a catch up and a Mars landing

Have had a really really really (or 'tellement' as the French would say) busy few weeks. I've been completely exhausted for the last week and a half, leading to dry eyes and bed times of 8.30pm.


Have finally got a day off, and being a weekday have got it all to myself. Bring on the multiple cups of tea, the knitting and Phryne audio books.


Relaxing as I'm planning my day to be, I've also got a dentist appointment this arvo to get a couple of little fillings - oh the shame!

So, what's news? Well, mos tof it isn't news any more. Niina has joined the smug marrieds club (well, is engaged). A most pleasant engagement party followed closely on the proposal. I must admit I'm a little bit glad the trays of Tall Blonde vodka weren't going around or I wouldn't have been feeling quite so chirpy the next day! Not that I was feeling all that chirpy - late night, singalongs and a ride home from perhaps one of the scariest PE teachers I know was followed by a day of sloth as husband and I watched DVDs all day.

I've been to Brisvegas and back for work (lets not talk about how much I'm NOT loving engineers right now) and I think that really tired me out last week, so didn't really recover enough for my seven days straight that has just passed.

The L word has recently blossomed for a deliciously lovely friend for whom I am extremely happy.

Am thinking of Fitzie-girl who is scheduled for a c-section this week. Wishing I could be back home to be there.

There have been murmurings of a ten year high school reunion - facebook turns up so many random things doesn't it? I'm looking forward to it as it means an excuse to visit home.

Cher maman is working hard to finish her thesis before trundling off to Canadia avec papa et petite soeur - all I can say is you had better be delivering all my lovely presents in person! Bon chance with the thesis maman - you always wanted to be the world's leading expert in something, and you are so very very close now! Just think of all the lovely papers you'll be able to publish over the next year and the book you'll be co-authoring - you are so very clever.

Husband's birthday was a week ago. I was sooo excited about giving him his pressie - a lovely official Luke Skywalker light saber - so I gave it to him two days early. It went down very well! Although he isn't really all that keen on sharing his toy... (^_^) We had dinner with BB and HP at Jim's Greek Tavern, and I left feeling full but not physically ill as I did last time.

Here is a little video of the man himself wielding said pressie. It has motion sensors so makes all the right noises when you swish it around and hit things.

Cooper and BB have been joining us on our morning walks with HP, so it is doggie central down here at the moment. Buster had a little doggie seizure resulting in a trip to the emergency vet at Essendon (all is fine now), and Beans had a swollen eye, so a pleasantly expensive vet week. Ah me. Who can afford to buy a house when you have dogs?

Have been house hunting on the net, but not been to any inspections as things have been slightly out of control. Finding it quite depressing knowing what I can and can't afford, and looking at the pretty pictures of houses I can't have.

I've got my three month review coming up for Big Brothers Big Sisters, I'm recruiting new staff, I've got a stint of higher duties coming up at work, and had a weird weekend at work which reminded me of how much I dislike people sometimes. Work-wise I'm also a bit panicky about how busy I am going to be over the next few months. I had a look at my calendar, and I won't be freed up until October. I'm hopign to take some time off then as I really need a break.

Some actual news today, Phoenix landed on Mars this morning - hurrah! I'm excited about Phoenix - one of the problems working in a Planetarium I suppose. I spent the weekend telling visitors how exciting and important the whole thing is, so I guess that has made me interested too! So sucked in to you, here's what I know about it:

The Phoenix mission is different to the Mar Rover expeditions which explored the surface of Mars, sampling different rocks (they were ‘scratch and sniff’ missions according to NASA). The Phoenix mission is more specific and is closely related to water. Mars’ surface is too cold and the atmospheric pressure too low for water to be liquid. Water is integral to life here on Earth, so finding it on other planets (or evidence of it in the past) may help find out whether there has ever been life, and whether there could potentially be life.

The Phoenix has landed close to Mars’ North Pole which has a polar ice cap of water ice. The Phoenix is not highly mobile so will be closely examining its landing site. It has a robotic arm which will sample and test the surface soil around the landing site. It will also (most importantly) be digging into the first metre of soil, which they believe has about 80% water content. This will (all going to plan!) be the first time we (meaning something we made) will touch water on another planet.

The mission is looking to answer these questions:
Can the Martian arctic support life?
What is the history of water at the landing site?
How is the Martian climate affected by arctic dynamics?

For more info on the science objectives see: http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/science03.php

The Phoenix took seven minutes to move through the Martian atmosphere before touching down on the surface. It used the friction of the atmosphere to help slow down, followed by a parachute. When the parachute opened it began radar transmission and to locate itself. At about 1km above the Martian surface the Phoenix underwent free fall, finally using rocket engines to slow and then touch down.

Communication between Earth and Mars takes 10mins, so the Phoenix had actually landed by the time mission control got first transmissions of its descent.


So, have communicated some science, some news, and am now going to communicate with my CD player and knitting needles (and possibly pat the dogs) all in my big red dressing gown.