TerryT in Galveston: Confession Time!!!!!

TerryT in Galveston: Confession Time!!!!!: It’s Confession Time. For anyone in the audience that is Roman Catholic and raised in my generation, you know about going to confession...

Confession Time!!!!!

It’s Confession Time.

For anyone in the audience that is Roman Catholic and raised in my generation, you know about going to confession and especially during Lent, and will understand My Confession.

Today I did not go to church; I had committed to be at Johnson Space Center all day today to help out a friend.

Norm has asked me to be a judge in the annual Space Settlement Design contest each year for the past 5 years. The competition divides 160 or so high school students into 4 companies; each company answers an RFP [request for proposal]. From Friday at around 6pm to Sunday at 7:30am they attend mini training sessions and research the best possible way to answer the RFP [Request for Proposal]. The majority of the group drives down in 3 or 4 buses from Iowa; that is 22 hours more or less from Iowa to Texas. They bring a number of chaperones, teachers, mentors and parents along with 140 high school age kids. The remainder, 20 to 25, are from the Houston area. This is one of many activities associated with National Engineers Week to increase awareness among high school students on the numerous ways they can become involved in a variety of engineering disciplines. As the daughter and sister and niece of Civil Engineers, I understand the need for good engineers in the pipeline, so to speak. We just don’t seem to have enough of them in some areas and this is one way to promote the profession.

Each year the RFP is a bit different. This year the challenge was to create a ‘moving’ settlement on Mercury while processing a fictitious ore called Reardonium. The student teams have a CEO and managers and ‘worker bees’ and each person has a job and input into the final proposal. Certain requirements have to be met such as sustaining human life in a very hostile environment at a fraction of earth’s gravity; dealing with dust; creating a pleasing home and work environment for the permanent population and for potential paying visitors to the settlement.

The kids get to work onsite at Johnson Space Center in Building 9 where all of the shuttle mockups are located; I suspect this is for the ‘wow factor’ and for inspiration. They sleep dormitory style at the onsite recreation facility, well, as much sleep as they can squeeze into the busy time. Then after the judges have seen the presentations by all 4 companies, the buses load them up and take them to the NBL [Natural Buoyancy Lab] and to see the Saturn Rocket at Rocket Park.

Around 4pm, the kids come back to the banquet hall and they are debriefed with a general list of things to improve on and each team is given a list of things that were positive about their specific proposal. Then, the team that wins the competition is given their medals and certificates. The winning team has to choose the 12 ‘top’ members and some standby members that will represent the U.S. in the international competition at JSC in July. This is truly an honor for these kids!

When all is said and done, I know I probably should have been a good girl and gone to Mass today; but I didn’t. I will say that after my day spent as a volunteer judge, listening the high school students present their concept of a space settlement on Mercury, my heart is full and my conscience is clear. You are probably asking how that is possible. For me, I feel like some of the volunteer work I am drawn to is put in my path for a reason or the people there were put in my path, for a reason. I hope that each and every one of the students there this weekend, came away with something positive out of their experience.

Either way, I feel good about my world. If you've read this far, I hope I didn't bore you too much. I am beginning to use my blog as a way to relieve stress or just share things I would like to share with my grandchildren one day.

Until next time!!!

TerryT in Galveston: Another chapter....turn the page

TerryT in Galveston: Another chapter....turn the page: Today – February 29 th , is the last day of the ODIN contract between NASA and Lockheed Martin; this much is true. For me this contract ...

Another chapter....turn the page

Today – February 29^th, is the last day of the ODIN contract between NASA and Lockheed Martin; this much is true.

For me this contract started in early November 1999 and ended February 2012. If I tell you it’s like a death in the family, does that make any sense at all? The grief is real and palpable.

I was a teacher technologist in Houston Independent School District [HISD] in 1999 and someone told me to look at the job postings in the online Houston Chronicle – there was a job that had My Name written all over it; so I applied in March 1999. Sometime in late September of that year, I got a call to come down to Clear Lake for a face-to-face interview and I got the job for a Tech Trainer that was versed in MS Office had PC hardware and software background and MS FrontPage experience.

Here I am, 12 years later; my kids have moved from high school to college to medical school and a surgical residency…….college to working political fundraisers and an HR Professional; I picked up a MS in Instructional Design and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and the stuff I achieve doesn’t mean a damned thing to anyone but me. Go Figure!

My kids have become productive young women and I am so very proud of their achievements. I never imagined that I would become a causality of this contract change over; I always thought I had developed a wide repertoire of skills and knowledge that would be valued on the follow on contract and I would be employed.

Sadly, that is not the case tonight. I am among the many millions of unemployed in our great nation. In one sense, it is very liberating to know I do NOT have to wake at 5:30 am to begin my day; rather, I can begin my day when either I wake up OR my dog wakes me to go out. On the other hand, I feel like a piece of drift wood cast upon the waves to wander the coastline.

I also feel like I am mourning a death in the family. I knew the patient was terminally ill for some time; the doctor had pronounced the terminal diagnosis some time ago. I have been preparing myself for the inevitable demise of the patient but there is nothing in my previous life experience to prepare me for the devastation I feel tonight. The terminal patient was pronounced dead at the close of business February 29, 2012. The wake/funeral was attended by so few as to make one wonder; did anyone else feel the devastation and loss I felt today? Why am I the only one? OR did everyone else just take the loss in stride and move on?

So, I will grieve in my own way; I will figure out how to move on and I will survive. That which does not destroy me make me stronger; I know this. But for tonight, I grieve.

I grieve for the companionship I will miss each day; I grieve for the friends that will fade away for lack of nourishment and I grieve for my losses.

Tomorrow, I will regroup and do the things I need to do to survive and move forward. The true friendships I’ve made the last 12+ years will survive. The rest will be distant memories to be revived when several are gathered to reminisce. So, to those who choose to nurture our friendship, I am honored! To those who do not, I grieve for what could not be because you made that decision but everything in its place and for a reason.

Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, I will return stronger and better for the experiences of having worked at NASA for 12+ years and for the support of all of the people I’ve met and whose lives have touched mine.

THANKS for the memories, JSC!!!!!

T minus 8 days and counting.....

Well, it is T-minus 8 days and counting to Unemployment.

My contract at NASA ends at the close of business on February 29, 2012 after 13 years on the same contract. The new contract did not make provisions to hire a trainer, conflict resolution specialist, customer liaison person aka jack of all trades, master of none. Layoff notices have been served - desk is pretty much cleaned out - all that is left is to say goodbye and turn in the rest of my equipment.

Over the last 13 years I have picked up certifications in Lean Six Sigma, a Masters Degree; seen both of my girls graduate from their respective undergrad programs; seen one kid go on to Med School and then Residency - get married and go into private practice.

I've met astronauts and rocket scientists and NASA upper management folks and the workers that make the space program really work and then I discovered that for the most part, they are just like the rest of us. I've made friends, lost a few, seen some move away but the lifelong friends will be with me always.

I've lost family members in that 13 year time and lived out of state for 18 months.

I've learned a lot about myself and how I respond to short, impossible deadlines; how I respond to catastrophic events and that I am strong enough to outlast them all.

And I am very uncertain as to what my future holds. For the first time in my life, I am approaching a major crossroad and neither my Mom or my Dad is here to be my sounding board. I feel like a sailboat with no centerboard - able to move but drifting with the tide.

So, I will dry my tears, put a smile on my face, hold my head up high and keep moving forward to whatever window or door is opening for me. I hope I don't miss it; I think that is the most frightening part of all of this venture. I hope and pray I recognize the open window or door when it appears.

On March 1st, I will sleep in, have my coffee and a long walk with my Maggie dog then apply for unemployment.
On March 2nd, I will get my hair trimmed and my nails and toes done.
And on March 3rd, I will get on the Triumph and sail to Progresso and Cozumel and enjoy the warm sun and clear blue water of the Gulf of Mexico. To paraphrase Scarlett O'Hara, I'll think about the rest of it when I get back from my cruise!!!

I hope to have some wonderful stories to share when I return and maybe find that centerboard for my sailboat!!