Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 22:35:47 -0700
Subject: July 23 -27: Another Big Subadventure
Hello again from Palo Alto. I just got back from Tahoe about thirty minutes ago (around 10 or 10:15 PM PDT). It was another long, adventurous fun trip. I don't have my journal with me here in the computer room so I'm not going to be able to tell you all the highlights of what happened but I'm certainly going to try. My journal does do a pretty good job of summarizing this week's activities because I update it daily - no exceptions. So don't worry. The information is not lost. You just may get it later than expected. So let's go on to highlight the week's activities.
Wednesday:
Another long PI day. I was unable to get the computer done like originally expected, but I think (hope) I'm getting real close. I'd like to get it done this week or next week at the very latest. I don't know what to do on the project and orion. I should be working on Orion but all I'm doing is working on his laptop. We'll see how tomorrow goes and then we'll consider talking to Doug. We left work around four that day to come back to the French House and pack for Reno. After getting all packed, we left for the O'Handleys' (director) at around 5:45 PM, making a stop over at Walmart. We did not leave Doug's place until around 7. Then we stopped for dinner at Cattleman's, which is on the other side of Sacramento. Then we went on to Reno. Doug and Kristie (his wife) stayed at their condo with Vimie their dog while the rested of us headed in for the big Reno Hilton. We did not get to the hotel until after midnight. We didn't get checked and to our rooms until about 1 AM. I then scoped the place out. The place had a small shopping mall down stars with many small shops, a fitness center, an arcade, complete with bumper cars, a golf pond/ shooting range outside where golfers could hit balls, a Round Table Pizza Restaurant, a Subway, a TCBY, many other restaurants, a wedding chappel which didn't come in handy (at least this time), and of course my personal favorite, a fifty lane bowling center - all this inside the hotel. I also didn't mind the view. It was a 27 story hotel. My roomate and I ended up in room 2654 (26 floor). Quick elevator ride up. About the average room - nothing spectacular but the view. Wednesday bedtime: 2 AM
THURSDAY:
Got up around 7:00 to shower and get dressed up for the governor. We had breakfast at 8 in the hotel where we met John Gardner of the Nevada Space Grant Consortium. After breakfast, we went over to DRI (Desert Research Institute). We first got a tour of it and then heard two presentations, one of which was cut short due to us running behind schedule. DRI is an important research facility that concentrates on environmental issues. At around 11:45 we got in the vans and headed for Carson City and the governor's mansion. The mansion was smaller than expected, but still an awesome sight. We met Sandy Miller, the governor's wife, who already knew quite a bit about us because she read our profile book that somebody sent her. She was an intelligent and charming lady that seemed real interested in us. She said that the next time that kids ask her if anybody famous/important has visited the mansion, she no longer has to tell them only Arnold Shwarzenager. She can also tell them that we visted the place. We had dinner out in the back yard, completely catered by government chefs. Very nice dinner. No complaints. After a photo op or two at the mansion, we headed back for DRI for two more presentations. Then we had a few hours of free time. Much to my chagrin,the bowling center had a tournament and there were no open lanes until ten so I just relaxed. At 7:45 we headed over to UNR (University of Nevada Reno) Planetarium for a show there. Then, while most of the group went to downtown Reno, I went back to the hotel to prepare to bowl six (6) continous games between midnight and two in the morning. The first four were by myself. The next two were with two of the other RAs. I love that game!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bedtime: 2:30 AM
FRIDAY:
Got up at 8 to pack and checkout. We met for breakfast at 8:30. Then we headed to UNR to visit with a professor. One of our RAs, Andrea Fori, just graduated from UNR with a masters. This guy was her professor. It was an informal conversation (no overheads). He had a lot of interesting stuff to say. Then we headed to Lake Tahoe to stay in Doug's condo (friend's condo for the gals) over the weekend. The Vice President flew into Reno around 10:30 or so. On the way to Tahoe we saw Gore's helicopters flying by when we were stopped at a scenic view. Gore was staying at a private house for four days on the other side of the lake. That afternoon, while most of the others went hiking, Doug, Vimie, and I boated over to Incline Hyatt, where President Clinton would be speaking the next day. We were able to see the Hotel where he would most likely have a day room and the podium he would be speaking on. I took pictures of both. On the way back, we saw the boat he would be touring the lake on. That night, we had dinner at a nice restaurant and then had a relaxing evening.
SATURDAY:
President Clinton arrived in Reno at 8:30 AM and got to Tahoe around 9 or 9:15. A bunch of us boated over to Incline, NV around 10 AM. We arrived just in time to see what we believed was Clinton coming in and getting off the boat. There were Coast Guard all around. Had lunch at an Italian resaurant. Relaxed all afternoon. I heard helicopters while walking around outside around 3:30. I looked up and it was the President's caravan. I saw the two lead helicopters, Clinton supposably being in the first, and a trailing helicopter. Clinton and Gore spoke at a forum on the deteriorating condition of Lake Tahoe around 2:30. Clinton had a tour of the lake earlier that day and headed for LA for a party after the forum. Gore was staying around Tahoe for a fw days.
Just to clarify something for all of you who may be wondereing if we got to meet the president: Doug has a lot of connections and is an influential and powerful guy, but he is not quite powerful to arrange a meeting with the President. Doug is still the man, though!! You can gain much credibility by saying you know him. We had home cooked lasagna by one of our fellow RAs that evening. Then we relaxed again and just hung out.
SUNDAY (TODAY):
We got out in the boat this morning and two water skiied while I watched. Some went to Andrea's church in Reno. Then we headed home at around 2. Doug parted with us and went back early. We stopped for shopping and dinner on the way back. First time eating at an IN N OUt. They were packed, but it was pretty good food. That's about all I did today. Pretty relaxing. I got a lot of inspirational reading done today.
So ends another exciting week of the Ames Astrobiology Academy. We have reached the halfway point. This thing is just flying by. I expect the next half to fly by even faster than the first half. It's been fun so far. I'm looking forward to the second half!!!
Unlike most games, I never want this one to end. At the same time, the end of the game means I get to go back to Big Sky country. I can see no greater adventure in the world than doing that. TMINUS 5 WEEKS until the even bigger adventure than this begins!!!!!! Love that state. Hope all is well up in that neck of the woods and the weather is treating ya nice. Until tomorrow night, may God bless and GO GRIZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don Olinger
Research Associate
1997 Ames Astrobiology Academy
p.s. I came up with a Nevada state song on the Tuesday prior to leaving. I'll have to send the words to you some time - spin off of Montana state song. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow night.