It's 4:05 in the morning and we're standing in an open field outside of the Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. There's a growing excitement in the air, and we can feel the heightening energy of the crowd despite the 40-degree chill of the weather. I've got a blanket wrapped around my head and the wifey has binoculars glued to her eyes. We're quite a sight, yes, but in just 34 minutes, the Space Shuttle Endeavour will blast off on it's mission to the International Space Station. How exciting!
Exciting, indeed, as we've been here for over five friggin hours just hanging out at the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Why? Because we were given strict instructions to be here before the doors close at 11:30pm last night. Somehow, I think we were duped because stragglers were arriving as late as 3am. 
So we've just spent the last five hours killing time looking at space exhibits, re-looking at space exhibits, re-re-looking at space exhibits, seeing a real-life astronaut, eating a $10 hot dog, and playing Doodlejump on my iPod Touch to keep from passing out. Others didn't fare quite as well and were sleeping all around the exhibit halls, making this place look like some Jim Jones death camp with bodies strewn all over the place. Hmmph, so this is what it feels like to drink the Kool-Aid. 
Anyhoo, all that hardship is quickly forgotten as we're anxiously awaiting the final countdown to launch. From what we can see on the Jumbotron, the shuttle is powered up on the launchpad and the astronauts suited up and ok-to-go like Jodie Foster in Contact [kudos... and condolences... to those who remember that suck-ass movie]. It's T-minus 15 minutes and the official word from mission control is a "60% cautiously optimistic" chance for launch. Space mumbo-jumbo for "let's get this party started!" I'm assuming. 
But, as the saying goes, "Never assume, for it makes an ASS out of U and ME." Words so true... because suddenly, it's a 30% chance, as wind and clouds appear outta nowhere. Five minutes later, more space mumbo-jumbo announcements from mission control: "Red on the range. Weather is a no-go." Umm... wait, that don't sound good. "SRO is a no-go. Launch is a no-go." Huh? What? "Repeat: launch is a no-go. Next attempt will be 4:14am tomorrow morning." Fuck.
You mean to tell me we waited 5 hours for a scrubbed launch? Arrgh. The best part is, we get to do it all over again tomorrow. Oh, joy. We shoulda drank the Kool-Aid.
Random Stuff:
- The 50-mile trip back to Orlando takes 2.5 hours due to the mass exodus of crazy traffic. Ugh. Wifey pinches me to keep me from falling asleep at the wheel.
- We have to stop and pay toll like every 5 miles. Crappy thing is... we take a wrong exit and need to pay twice to get off and back onto the highway. Crappier thing is... it's one of those unmanned toll booths where you just throw change into a bucket. Too bad we ran out of change. I pull off on the side of the road, wifey flags down a speeding hooptie and manages to get change without being abducted. Woo hoo!
As tired as we are, you'd think we'd head back to the hotel to sleep. Nope. Orlando Premium Outlets, here we come!- Dinner at Bubbalou's Bodacious Diner for some yummy BBQ ribs. We manage not to get lynched.
- Saints win Super Bowl.
Eating A $10 Hot Dog
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