Author Archives: momdude

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About momdude

Space cadet | Family dude | Photographer | Music lover | Traveler | Science fiction fan | Hugo Award nominee | Writer | 5x NASA Social participant | KC Chiefs fan | LA Kings fan | Senior Director of Finance & Administration for ALS Network | Member & former staff Finance Officer at the Commemorative Air Force SoCal Wing | Hard core left-wing liberal | Looking for whatever other shenanigans I can get into
November 21, 2022 · 23:23

Random Old Photos – November 21st

This would be fun! Why am I not doing this instead of all of the other things I’m doing which are less fun? Why am I not maximizing my fun to the maximum amount?

According to the N-number this is a Fleet 7B, built in 1936. (If you blow the picture up and squint, that seems to be what the logo on the tail and the lettering under it confirm as well.)

I’ve flown in open air cockpit aircraft, but I’ve never flowin in a biplane, and I’ve never piloted a tail-dragger or an open cockpit aircraft. But those shortfalls in my experience and licensing could be rectified with a few lessons.

This would be fun!

 

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Filed under Flying, Photography

November 20, 2022 · 23:53

Still Photos From Our Elton John Concert

Last night. Dodger Stadium. The penultimate Elton John concert in North America.

Care to guess what songs were playing given the video display behind the band?

The concert was incredible, a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. So, SO glad that we went!

Finding Hissy in that massive parking lot and then fighting the traffic to get out? Not my favorite experience, but the price you pay. In the end, we didn’t get home until way, way after midnight and I didn’t get to bed and sleep until after 2:00 AM. Then we were up “early for a Sunday,” about 07:45, for the first World Cup game and to get rolling to go down to the South Bay area to meet friends for brunch. Then, of course, my beloved Chiefs had a big game tonight against the Chargers (I was so tempted to be unbelievably spontaneous, grab tickets off an online site, and go to the game in person since we were driving just a couple miles away coming home from brunch) and it was a real barn burner with the Chiefs winning in the last few seconds…

I’m so freakin’ exhausted right now! It’s a good thing! An amazing concert, brunch with friends, a great football game… But I could really use 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. That’s not going to happen, of course, but I could really use it!

Look out, Monday! I’m coming in hot!

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Filed under Music, Photography

November 19, 2022 · 19:56

Sir Elton’s Penultimate Concert

Elton John’s Penultimate concert – Dodger Stadium, along with what I expect to be about 50,000+ of my closest friends!

Danny Elfman three weeks ago, Elton John tonight, who knows who’s next. (March at SoFi Stadium is who??)

Lots of folks in glitter and odd eyewear – I’m an olde phart, so I went with comfort. But The Long-Suffering Wife went wild with a streak of purple!

Let the tunes begin!!

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Filed under Music, Photography

November 18, 2022 · 23:49

STILL Still Here

With last week’s rain and then a few days of sun…

…our favorite little not-a-weed is back, all colorful and happy.

This corner of the yard has NOT done will with the watering restrictions. Well, except for that ONE shoot of green up there near the top.

Normally I might consider this to be a weed, but around the corner there’s a whole 4’x10′-ish patch of them and they look like they’ve been deliberately planted. You don’t do that with weeds.

Well, maybe with dandilions if you want to make wine – but I digress. For now, just like me, our little not-a-weed is hanging in there. It might be by the last couple of fingernails, but it beats the alternative!

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Filed under Flowers, Photography

November 17, 2022 · 23:25

Nocturnal Cloud Shapes

At the time it was just a picture of the moon through the clouds in the middle of the night. But then I look at the photo on the screen and there are shapes and forms and images. The human brain is good at that…

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Filed under Photography, Weather

November 16, 2022 · 23:56

Cheap Thrills, Blue Tags

It happens every year. Last year it was December 5th. The year before it was November 13th. Before that November 12th. And November 30th. I had thought this year was actually the earliest yet, but I see that it’s not, by about four days.

I hopped on the registration as soon as it came in and got it back quickly, so while we’re still pretty much guaranteed to be the first ones on the block with the newest year’s tags, it won’t be the earliest.

As I say every year, cheap thrills for the little kid inside who spent way, WAY too much time on cross country trips playing license plate games.

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Filed under Paul

November 15, 2022 · 23:36

Artemis

That was freakin’ beautiful!

NASA’s Artemis I mission finally launched tonight, heading off planet to the moon on an uncrewed mission to prove the technology behind the Artemis rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the ESS service module. There have been delays, hurricanes, cryogenic fuel leaks, and a gazillion other hurdles. Tonight the last of the hurdles were overcome and Artemis flew!

The mission has a long way to go – it has to get to the moon, orbit there for several weeks running tests on hardware and systems, then coming back to test the heat shield in a landing off of San Diego.

I went out to check out the Santa Ana winds in the back yard and see if I could see any sign of a brush fire that’s popped up above Lake View Terrace. No sign of flames, but through that smoke in the distance was the rising moon.

There’s the target! I regret that it’s taken 50+ years to get here, but from here let’s keep going!

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Filed under Photography, Space

November 14, 2022 · 23:42

Skyscapes – November 14th

I wish I were a hawk…

…or a raven…

…or a sparrow…

…or a swallow…

…or an owl…

…or even a turkey vulture…

…so I could just soar up there all day long.

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Filed under Photography, Weather

November 13, 2022 · 23:48

Clouds By Moonlight

A week ago we were hoping for clear skies for the total lunar eclipse, but got rain and a solid overcast. The following night however, after some of the clouds had broken up, we had bright moonlight illuminating the remaining banks of clouds up over the mountains to the north.

Spooky, but beautiful!

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Filed under Photography, Weather

November 12, 2022 · 23:36

Red Leaves In Grey Skies

After this week’s rain, before the sun came back out, the light surrounding our handful of fall-colored leaves was perfect.

Now the wind and sun have returned and the leaves are mostly on the ground.

So fleeting…

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Filed under Photography, Weather