Space Shuttle Challenger

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Nicole

Daily writing prompt

What major historical events do you remember?

Disclaimer: I’m describing events from the POV of 6 y/o me. Who was not necessarily sensitive nor cognizant of the gravity of the event. So I’m sort of mocking myself here.

January 1986. I just started my second semester of school (i.e. kindergarten). I remember in school we’d been talking about the impending launch of Space Shuttle Challenger. Space shuttles and anything space related of course spoke to me at that time (who am I kidding it still does today).

I remember constructing a paper replica of Challenger, except you know, it was how you’d expect a kid to draw a rocket- with windows and view of the people inside like it was a bus.

*Photo from tenor – but I think my paper rocket was better than this.*

I planned to show the class at the next show and tell. And then, the debacle of Space Shuttle Challenger happened.

If you are unfamiliar with this event, Challenger exploded about a minute after lift off, killing all 7 crew members on board. This was especially notable as one crew member was a civilian – a teacher. If you’d like to read more about the “why” behind the crash, history.com has a good overview.

https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/challenger-disaster

Well, a few days passed and it was show and tell day. And… I still planned to show off my paper rocket. But I cut up scraps of orange paper into essentially confetti. Because I thought – why not re-enact a current event.

So my mom asks me at breakfast what I’m doing for show and tell, and I excitedly…no proudly put on my show. With my paper rocket in hand I guided into the air then let it drop while throwing orange confetti to represent the fire from the explosion. 💥 Given my budget for show and tell, my performance would be somewhat of an interpretive performance.

I remember my mom calmly yet authoritatively responded “yeah – it’s too soon. Your audience won’t “get” what you’re trying to do. Let’s find something else for you to show and tell “

I already knew what that meant. I’d be stuck taking some rock or mineral. My mom kept a box full of rocks and minerals that we either found during excursions to desert walking trails or at this local museum that sold them by the bag to make sure we’d never run out of teacher approved items for show and tell.

https://youtu.be/tA8wKgRr4JQ?feature=sharedhttps://youtu.be/tA8wKgRr4JQ?feature=shared

*Me- in Bart Simpson form. I’d already taken a geode for show and tell prior to this incident.*

This wasn’t the first time my mom thwarted my selected item for show and tell. Previously I tried taking brass knuckles, then a gold coin, then a fishing hook- all items I found going through my grandpa’s house. I swear he had the coolest things.

Anyhow, after that I don’t remember what colorful rock I took instead I just remember I kept thinking how much more entertaining my original idea would have been.

Years later I thanked my mom for continuously editing my ideas that would be shared in a public forum such as a classroom.

Well, that’s my little kid recollection of the event. I’m sure some of you reading this have other memories of where you were when this happened.

Also- do schools even do show and tell anymore?

3 Things

Posted on October 18, 2024 by Nicole

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I started drinking coffee when I was in elementary school.
I’ve actually wanted to leave Phoenix several times but thus far it’s never quite worked out for me.
I took a fancy version of shop in high school and learned how to read a schematic and built some cool stuff like a light bulb that turns on automatically in the dark. I could also tell you the amount of ohms in a transistor based on the color of the bands at the end of the transistor. I have no clue how to do any of that now.

Avoidance

Posted on July 10, 2024 by Nicole

What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?

Act busy to avoid getting more work assigned. If you’re already busy, act busier. Rinse and repeat. This also works if you want to avoid chatting with coworkers. If they want to ask you questions about work stuff, tell them to throw a meeting on your calendar. 90% of people from my experience will never willingly schedule a meeting but be prepared for the 10% that will. None of this is a guarantee of smooth sailing but it helps make the daily less rocky.

Good luck!

Any vacation is memorable

Posted on July 7, 2024 by Nicole

Describe your most memorable vacation.

Any vacation is memorable as long as you are not working or checking in with work or thinking about work. ‘Nuff said.

I also advocate for taking at least a lunch break during the working day, which can be thought of as mini vacations. Taking a walk or even stepping outside your home or office for a few minutes can do wonders.

If you work in office, try to find green spaces nearby to walk around or even just sit for a few minutes and enjoy the quiet.

Here are some of my mini vacations when working at the office. These were all taken within the past two weeks.

So I know some of you are thinking -” uh isn’t it hot in Phoenix right now”. Yes! So your next question might be “how are you outside walking around taking photos?!” Well- because when I am in the office, the air conditioning is set much lower than I’m used to so I need to dethaw by mid-day and it takes a good 10-15 minute jaunt around the area to do that!

Ok so for me the motivation to get out and take a break is two fold- mental AND physical health/comfort. Because feeling like a popsicle all day is completely unproductive.

Also notice – we still have greenery in the dead of summer!