Week 10 (August 25 - August 31)
Saying Goodbye is Tough to Do
Week 10
Donald T. Olinger
Monday August 25, 1997: Softball Mania
"A day is a good day if you woke up" - Pat McKenna on many occassions throughout the academy.
Monday morning, we woke up tired (big surprise) after staying up late last night working on the collage and preparing for the Scott Hubbard presentation, among other things. The important thing to note is that we woke up. Thus, Monday was a good day.
"This is my week off. I'm doing the summary so I can say anything and still get away with it" - Don to Eric on the way to Don's first lunch without chocolate in a long time. At lunch, Kim brought out the real reason Don wanted to censor, saying that Don wanted her to give him her "permanent".
"No Thank you. I'll sit here on the couch. If I sit at the table, I'll get action items" - Doug telling it the way it is before the group meeting with Scott Hubbard to discuss the group project. The meeting went well with Scott, who seemed to approve of our project, but was some what puzzled as to what we needed him for.
That afternoon, we discovered that while we were great at team work, science, and partying, we were not all that good at playing softball. We did do better than the odds-makers had predicted, losing only 22-13 in a highly controversial game. Most of the controversy centered around us not getting a five run head start and the lack of obvious bases. The game would have been a lot closer had not Hank swallowed his gum and said "Oh sh*t" while going after a grand slam that ended up traveling half way to Sacramento (or whatever direction that was". All had a great time, especially when we scored a run. Most drank some beer while Kevin went all out and drank seven cans on his own.
After the game, we socialized with our worthy opponent at the St. James Infirmary where most in the group took the opportunity to get a long deserved meal after a hard fought battle on the field. Upon arriving back at the French House, Don, being closely followed by Kathy and Kevin, made a mad dash for the M&Ms which he had been deprived of for so long. Within seconds, the M&Ms were hit.
"Hey Drug Lady, give me some drugs" - Jeff to Andrea while anxiously awaiting Melatonin or placebo. Monday was the start of the Melatonin study. Sweet dreams.
Tuesday August 26, 1997: Last Night at Dougs
We all woke up on Tuesday so Tuesday was yet another "good" day.
Tuesday was also another PI day. While some worked fast and furious to get everything done, others relaxed and feasted on the thirty something (literally) e-mails that the group put out today. Kathy went home sick due to a stomach bug obviously caused by a Mac. She should have eaten more apples!!!
Tuesday evening, we all got loose in preparation for what was to be the final evening at Doug's. Kim's van left early and stopped at Safeway for ice while Hank's van went directly there and beat Kim's van. Kim's van was late arriving due to Jeff deciding to be the family man and run in real "quick" to by some greeting cards. The gals in Kim's van didn't seem to mind the wait because right after Kim got back with the ice, two guys pulled up in a black sports car and flirted with them. "Where are you from? We're from all over" - the dialogue between Kim and one of the guys. Kim said that the guys, who were fourteen or fifteen, were flirting with Melissa, but that obviously was not the case. Robbing the cradle aren't you Kim?
After arriving at Doug's the group talked for a while with Kristi's niece, Brandon, Bob Zimmerman, and Keith Cowlings , who is Golden's number one underground enemy. After a great discussion, we feasted on salad, a wonderfully prepared BBQ salmon, and some rice.
Then the goodbyes officially started with the breaking out of the "Good Luck Ames Academy" cake. Before the cake was cut, we presented the O'Handley's with the collage as a gift of gratitude. Doug was obviously impressed and in awe. "You guys have set a precedent that is going to be pretty darn hard to beat". After a great deal of photos with Doug, Kristi, and the sleaker-looking Vimi (after his hair cut) behind the collage, we dug into the cake and all enjoyed its rich chocolate, except for Kathy who was having stomach problems.
"I look like Kramer" - Bean, with fuzzy hair, after the cake.
Next, we watched as Kevin battled the slide projector to show us some of his awesome slides. Kevin eventually let slide master Doug take over and so that he could concentrate on being tour guide. Then Kathy "wow"ed us with her video from her KC 135 flight. Surprisingly, she spared us from watching all of the interviews and tv shows on it. She made sure to show us Dan Dick, the tv guy, throwing up in mid-flight. She also snickered every time her name was said on the video. So did the rest of us. Isn't it ironic that the night we finally got to watch the KC 135 video is the night that she had a sore stomach?
After the video, Jeff kept the laughs going by reading his weekly summary. Then some hit the spa while others engaged in a serious discussion with Keith Cowlings. Eric and Don did another episode of "Da Doug", this time in front of Doug They were quickly interupted by singing. "Sweats are much more hydro-dynamic than jeans are" - Don after getting pulled into the hot tub by Christen and Andrea. This marked Don's second fully clothed dip of the academy and his third of the year. I'm begining to wonder about him…
After a relatively "calm" night in the hot tub, we said our good byes. This was the last academy night at Doug's. Thanks Doug and Christie for the great hospitality. I'm sure we'll all be back for more.
Wednesday August 27, 1997: Dancing on the Last PI Day
On Wednesday, we all woke up. So guess what. Wednesday was also a "good" day.
The good byes continued on Wednesday. Wednesday was the last day with our PIs, much to the disgrace of everybody, especially Don and Nellymar. Some worked furiously to get last minute work done while others worked on their presentations while yet others attended a presentation on the Astrobiology Institute. Juliet was there, but her presence surprisingly had no affect on attendence by the academy. Jeff obviously must not have known that she was going to be there.
After all the hard Linux work that Don had done over the summer, Bob was quite happy. Everybody else around Ames seemed happy too. The world was in perfect harmony.
Speaking of harmony, we all went dancing Wednesday night for the last official group activity. After leaving Ames around 4:30, we all went back to the French House to get dressed up for a final night in San Fran. "If you have a pen*s, you have to wear a bow tie" - Hank and Jeff to Pat after he refused to wear a bow tie. So as to prove some thing, Pat gave in and wore a bow tie.
While loading the vans, Melissa tried to get in the guy van, but quickly retreated to the girl van when she learned that she would have to a have a pen*s to ride in it. After a great deal of slow traffic, we arrived for dance lessons about twenty minutes late. The guys, with their spiffy bow ties, and the gals in their slick dresses, proceeded in, prepared for embarassment from being late. When we walked in the instructor quickly commented that he thought we looked like we were together. Wise observation Mr. Gay Guy, whose assistant was "oh so fffiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnne" (according to the guys she was).
We then spent the next hour and a half learning, or at least trying to learn, to salsa. Some actually got the hang of it while others came real close to getting it. Everyone had a great time dancing with complete strangers. What was for certain is that the dance place never saw anything like us before. After tearing up the dance floor, we headed outside to have the "quickest group shot ever" - Pat. Then Jeff then commented to Nellymar: "Nellymar, you look fine". I'm sure Tato's real jealous now.
After dancing we went to the Stinking Rose, a garlic restaurant in San Fran, to have dinner. During the twenty minute wait for a table, Kim I-am-not-a-drunk Lichtenberg fell over while sitting in her bar stool while Pat taped "yeah" to his area down low. During a delicous dinner that led to bad breathe, Kevin, who was obviously not drunk (ha) took the initiative to lead (and soley occupy) the group discussion. He gave an emotional, heart filled speech, on what he would miss about each one of us while us others tried to get another conversation going. After dinner, we split the final large group tab, came up fourty dollars short and proceeded to recheck the bill. After considerable discussion, we got the correct amount and headed home.
Melissa was finally granted her wish to ride in the guy van while Kevin "reluctantly" went with the gals. I am disappointed to say there were no full moons in San Fran - maybe next time we're in town.
"Oh sh*t. We hit a skunk." - Joe, after Hank killed an innocent, stupid, smelly creature crossing the road. "Did we hit the bag?" was another exclamation. We found out soon enough, yep, we hit the bag. All the while this is going on, Hank kept saying "I killed a skunk". After turning off I-205, Hank had to swerve to miss a racoon. After this narrow miss, Eric was heard saying "Hank's driving like Kim."
After getting home, we quickly disperssed. Some did photo ops in the fancy clothes, while others decided to head directly for bed. Hank on the other hand. not wanting the people next door to get woken up by the smell of skunk and write another nasty letter to us, decided it was in every one's best interest that he take the van through a car wash. Thank you Hank!
Thursday August 28, 1997: Pure Chaos
There are but two words to describe Thursday: CHAOS and good because once again, we all woke up.
A bunch of people went in with Hank at around 8:15 or 8:30. The rest of us took the time to sleep in a little and enjoy a quiet weekday morning at the French House.
"She's been on CNN a couple of times" - Joe to Don telling him all about Ann Ehrlick. "I guess that means that she will have short hair and tons of makeup on, if she meets the typical CNN stereo type" - Don jokingly to Joe just before Ann Ehrlick arrived. At around 11 that morning, Ann Ehrlich talked to just seven of us at the French House and told us that there was no hope for the world if we keep going the way we've been going. Those are always comforting thoughts to hear early in the morning on a very stressful day! Hank and Pat actually drove back from Ames to hear her talk while Kim, who was supposed to take the late van, was no where to be seen until after the talk. Much to the surprise and comfort of Don, she did meet the CNN stero type.
The rest of the day was pure chaos. People were running everywhere to get last minute things done at Ames, work on their presentations. Some also had lunch with their PIs. Pat went so far as to have three rounds of beers with his PI.
As if the day was not chaotic enough, at a 4:00 PM group meeting, which half the group attended, Lynn and Karen sympathetically informed us that our group project was dead. Joan Vernicos decided to reject our project on the grounds of "academic competition", peer review, and the payload being already finalized. They both warned us having the astronauts fly the questionairre any way would be the equivalent of telling Washington to f' off.
Due to people staying late to work on their group project, there were three different trips home that night. The vans back were at 5, 7, and 9.
That night was the last group night together. Most spent the night finishing up on their group projects and hanging out on the roof. Others decided sleep was more important than the last opportunity to "bond" as a group. A few of us were fortunate to watch as Jeff showed us his video of him doing some awesome moves to the tune of YMCA.
Friday August 29: Final Presentations and Goodbyes
Making Friday a good day was perhaps the toughest challenge of the whole academy, but some how, some way, we all woke up.
After staying up half the night talking and hanging out with the group, four brave souls named Don, Joe, Kathy, and Kevin took the early van over to Ames to make sure that all was set to go with their presentations. "You are not leaving at 6:15" - Pat the night before on us leaving at 6:15 AM. He was indeed correct. Due to a few delays, including one by Kevin, we did not leave until 6:30. After some minor, early (real early) morning wrestling with the zip drive and a few Macs, the presentations were set to go - or so it appeared. The "late" van was also late to leave. This van, originally scheduled for departure at 7:00, eventually arrived around at Ames around 7:50, which meant some had to skip their last breakfast at the "fabulous" Ames cafeteria. Big loss there!
Upon getting to the auditorium of 245, Pat quickly discovered that his Powerpoint presentation would not work on the computer in the auditorium. Neither did any one elses. Consequently a quick computer switch took place during the first three presentations, which luckily had view graphs to them. After Melissa, Eric (who was forced to use his backup overheads due to computer problems), and Christen did a great job of starting the presentations, Don "wow"ed the crowd once more - this time in a more professional way with fewer jokes. This presentation also led to the introduction of a new meaning for the word Orion (Obtaining Rubin's Important Online Needs), much to the excitement of "Bob".
After yet another netscape presentation by Don and a final group meeting to decide to try and get the astronauts to fly the questionairre any way (thereby telling Washington to go fly a kite), final good byes began. Eric and Melissa said good bye to the group with hugs and tears. The reality that the academy was soon to be over with was begining to hit.
After a short break, Nellymar took the stage, talking about her work on the roof of building 239. After her, Pat talked about his work on the roof of building 245. Then Kathy and Kevin finished up the morning with their great presentations. Kevin's presentation some how spurred an audience discussion which had to be cut off by Doug. Reason: we were all hungry.
With the morning presentations ending twenty minutes early, it came as no surprise the going away luncheon would also start early. The luncheon was held in the Galileo room of the infamous Ames cafeteria. The lunch, which consisted of pasta and dessert, was free to the RAs while others, who did not know of our extra meal tickets, had to pay. This was no big deal for some RAs (Don) because they could have easily walked outside and gotten a great meal, brownie included, for the same low price of $0.00. The RAs all sat together and had one last meal together. At the end of lunch, Bob Zimmerman told of the party he had during his last night at a dorm and how he gave the cops a six pack of beer when they arrived and told them to get lost.
The luncheon ended early so that we could "savor" our final hours at Ames. Some said good bye to their PIs while others relaxed in 245. After lunch Lynn cermoniously presented Don with a disk on Orion so he could learn what Bob should have taught him. Then Andrea, Joe, and Jeff saved us all by keeping their presentations short so that we could get out of there. After their presentations, Doug and the other staff members gave their good bye speeches. Doug wished us "aloha", while Jeff, for the first time ever, told Kim that he appreciated all that she had done. The jury is still out on whether he meant it.
"I don't know if I would include the other academies in your web ring because they seem to be a level below this academy" - Keith Cowlings, talking about us setting up webpages, during the final goodbye conversation.
After saying goodbye to Doug, Lynn, Karen, and Juliet, among others, we headed for the nearest exit. "Montana Montana, Beauty of the west …" - Don singing 'Montana' on his way out of 245.
After a photo op in front of the French House and dinner, the good byes continued. After saying goodbye to Kathy, Don asked Kevin if the bay area was going to see any more full moons. The question was answered less than two minutes later.
After saying good bye to Kathy, those of us remaining went to see Joe off and stop off at Doug's. "I figure I can sleep on the plane tomorrow" - Doug, showing signs that we had made him younger, on staying up that night. On the way home from Doug's the space campers decided to stay up all night and watch Space Camp. The idea was quickly laid to rest due to sleep study considerations.
Saturday August 30: The Last Flights
Don, Nellymar, Pat, and Jeff all made Saturday a "good day" by waking up in time to catch their flights out. Don and Nellymar caught the early bird specials while Pat and Jeff caught later flights and were dropped off by Doug.
Christen and Andrea packed for their move to TS-8, while Kevin prepared to go out and see his friend.
Sunday August 31: Post Academy Depression/Recovery
Sunday was not such a good day. Most of us probably slept in real late, recovering from the sleep depriver known as the Ames Astrobiology Academy. Once we did finally wake up, I'm sure that most of us drove for the first time in ten weeks and also made a run to Walmart without waiting for five other people. I'm also sure that we all missed each other, the wonderful people at Ames Research Center, and the warm California sunshine. Few, though, missed Kim's driving. Sorry Kim, I couldn't resist taking one last shot!!
Final Comments
Thus ends the 1997.Ames Astrobiology Academy. There will undoubtedly be many academies to follow us, but none will be quite like the first. None of the future academies will have the excitement and the pioneering spirit that we had. We have set a precedent that will be tough for other academies to follow. We have also established a good reputation at Ames that will greatly benefit future academies. Future academies will probably build on our's and do bigger and better, but we will always have one thing that they will not. WE WERE THE FIRST!!!!!!!!!