Today is the big launch of the space shuttle Discovery, two and a half years after the explosion of Columbia. I remember it was February 1 (my birthday) and my spouse and I were at Indiatlantic Beach waiting for the shuttle to land. We knew we wouldn't be able to see it (Cape Canaveral was 50miles away) but we were told that we would feel the rumble as the shuttle came back into the earth's atmosphere and that we would be able to see the flash as it landed. We waited and waited and then got a call from my spouse's niece (who lives in Florida) that we should get back to the house because the shuttle exploded. It was all very surreal. Let's hope last night's fiasco during the test run (a window cover fell off and damaged some tiles which is exactly what happened to Columbia, except with Columbia a piece of foam hit the tiles). God speed to the crew of Discovery and may they have a safe return.

Jaw dropper of the day: A nice house in Washington, only a mile from George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, manicured lawn, pretty flowers adorned the lawn, picture perfect; only what was found inside was anything but pretty. A woman, her husband and daughter in Washington were told to leave their house and it was condemned after authorities found more than 300 cats in the house. The cats, many of which were sick, feral, or unhealthy, had the run of the house. Almost half of them were dead or dying and many of them were found in plastic bags (dead) around the house. Neighbors had complained of the stench coming from the house and the woman was charged with animal neglect and disposing of the animals improperly. Disgusting!!!! The house had feces and urine all over the place and many of the cats will have to be put down. Talk about the cat lady who lives down the street!!! What happened to having one or two nice cats?

Enjoy your day,

paul