Houston, we indeed have a problem

Houston we well and truly have a problem. After 24.5 years of marriage, it has been confirmed without any hesitation, that I am indeed married to a complete nerdy geek. Heck I may as well be married to Sheldon Cooper. Today, someone (I won’t point fingers) was in his absolute element in space geek heaven. Having made the 4 hour drive (in treacherous weather none the less) specifically just for a visit to the Kennedy Space Center, we headed off bright and early to make the most of the day.

Not that I will admit it to the space geek (as if he reads my ramblings), the place was pretty cool. Seeing the actual crafts that had been into space is quite a humbling experience. It gives you a reality check of the intelligence, and bravery, that exists to develop something that can withstand the unknown. My question was always going to be ‘was it worth the stressful driving, two nights in a 1980s motel and the time and money to visit?’. I have to say yes.

One of the displays was a mock up part of the International Space Station. Entering this seemed a good idea at the time and I am just grateful that nobody had a camera on me. Mind you the kids that climbed in it after me had their phones pointed in my direction but they got a stern ‘you better not be photographing my butt’. To say it was cramped is an understatement. To say you needed to forget all modesty is a bigger understatement, especially if you have a dress on and trying to crawl along. What I didn’t take into consideration when entering was the totally clear (yep see those kids crawling through) section where you were exposed for all to see below. Don’t forget I had a dress on! Note to self: wear shorts or decent undies.

All in all a great visit. I even increased my intelligence at the same time. I might just be prepared for any future space questions that might pop up on our next cruise’s trivia. Funnily enough, I always thought that Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Centre were one thing. They may be closely located but are indeed two separate areas! Trivia I am ready.

It’s raining and it ain’t men

A merry-go-round ride (I never liked going around in circles) in an UBER started our morning adventure to pick up our rental car. Apparently, me, not being from Miami, understood the map a little better than our slightly challenged UBER driver. After repeated circling of the same streets we finally arrived at our destination, slightly frustrated and a little giddy. I have a feeling that it would have been quicker walking there, even as packhorses with suitcases and hand luggage.

Our slightly slow start was turned around with those words you always want to hear when picking up a rental car……’free upgrade’. Being just the two of us, I had booked the cheapest possible car and had visions of piling all of our luggage on the backseat if it didn’t fit in the boot. Never fear, an upgrade to a comfy SUV with plenty of space was granted by the upgrade fairies and we were set to make our way to Titusville. Yep I know, never heard of it but it is a small place just outside of Cape Canaveral (in prep for the space nerd tomorrow).

Many a time I have shared that I am a terrible passenger (it’s that control freak in me). Put me in the wrong side of the car on the wrong side of the road and it’s a combination for drama (aka pending divorce). What could possibly make the situation worse? Being on the wrong side of the car, on the wrong side of the road, in the rain, with lightning and a crap load of thunder. Yes you guessed it, just as we pulled out of the rental car car park (on an upgrade high), the mother of all storms let loose. I guess visibility is highly overrated and if you have no idea where you are going what difference does it make if you can actually see or not? I might have permanent nail marks on my palms from squeezing, but we are still married and no domestic broke out.

For a short period of time it appeared that the storm gods had retreated and there was some (if you squinted) blue sky. Perfect for checking into our motel (yep the really classy 1980s type) and making a pit stop at the bargain chain Marshalls. Our reprieve was short lived as not long after returning to the comfort for our motel room, the thunder, lightning and torrential rain returned. We breathed a sigh of relieve, at least we weren’t driving.

We may as well have been driving, as our classy motel room (that just happened to be beside the pool) started to transform into a pool of its own. One would think that when one builds a motel (yes I should have been a developer), the first thing to do would be ensure that the rooms are above the level of the walkway. Or at least put in some drainage. Epic failure on this motel’s behalf as the torrential rain turned into a river outside our doorway and flooded into our room soaking our carpet. We could have spent the night sloshing (and not the naughty waterbed type) but they were kind enough to offer another room upstairs. Things just got even better. Do you think classy 1980 motels have lifts to get upstairs? That would be a negative. Rain, heavy suitcases and traipsing up wet stairs. Excellent! I am sure it will all be worth it to see nerd boy tomorrow at the Kennedy Space Centre.