MDRS Day 10 - Wildest Dreams

We got snowed in yet again. No EVAs were conducted, but everyone got a lot done for the Spaceward Bound curriculum. I finished my parts on the ATV training and the spacesuit wearing chapters, which comprises a good 25 pages of the 70 pages document (as it stands now, of course). Nothing broke down, so I didn’t have to fix anything.

We pretty much got up, ate breakfast, worked, ate lunch, watched three episodes of Da Ali G Show, did more work, ate dinner, and we’re going to watch another movie soon. I was actually able to take a nice little nap right before dinner. I also didn’t forget to take a shower last night so I don’t feel nasty (we rotate showers to conserve water, and on the guys’ days I’ve been running around too much and forgot)

I’m still amazed at all the things I’ve learned how to do and all the work we’re done. I never thought I’d be running the power systems and facilitating the use of a natural water purifying system that should be able to turn used water clean again with no added chemicals (“should” being the keyword, but right now I can’t get a filter box open to change the filter. It’s on the list of things to do tomorrow.).

It’s also hard to believe I’m even here, on a NASA sponsored vacation where I get to ride ATVs and wear spacesuits, while in return all I have to do is mark some waypoints, do a few reports, and of course fix everything that breaks. Even though everything breaks, I learn something new every single time, and I can take that knowledge back with me. It’s sad how engineering classes teach you nothing about the application of engineering principles, only the theory behind it all. I’m thankful for everything I can gain from the experience.

Tomorrow’s list of goals is pretty small, although I haven’t checked with the commander on what else I’m supposed to do, nor have I gotten word back from Mission Support when I asked what else there was for me to do around here. As of now, the list is:

-Get pictures of me on an ATV
-Get pictures of me holding a nail gun and an axe looking amazingly destructive.
-Nail the rest of the wall together
-Finish the Engineering part of the Spaceward Bound curriculum
-Replace a filter in GreenHab
-Install some shelves in the bathroom if Mission Support tells me where the rest of the pieces are

On a side note, the toilet is affectionately called The Turdinator because it actually has horsepower. There’s a motor at the bottom that shreds anything that gets put into it. Although I’m sure I could destroy it without a problem, I’ve been trying to be nice to it because if I (or anyone for that matter) broke it I would have to fix it.

Considering the laundry list of problems I started with, I think I’ve done well. I wouldn’t mind taking a long ride through Candor Chasm and through all the humongous canyons I’ve seen, but that’s probably not on the agenda. Oh well, I can dream. Despite being caged, it’s been a good day..

"And I just feel I can be anything
That all I might ever wish to be
And fantasize just what I want to be
Make my wildest dreams come true"