OMGOMGOMG!!!: Update! OMG!!!

[kryss_labryn]

DUDES. Dudes, today I high-fived Chris Hadfield.

:DDDDDDDD

There are not enough capital D's out there, man. Woo!!!

Also, we got him to sign Karl's copy of his book ("An Astronaut's Guide to life on Earth," and a very entertaining read), and also a five-dollar bill. Because, you know what? He was the astronaut who installed the Canadarm II on Mir, and

Comments

[pofflewomp]

Wow!

A singing astronaut?

I would sooo love to have been able to be an astronaut. My childhood ambition!

That sounds amazing. How old is Karl now? Is he into astronomy and astronaut things lots? I was obsessed with becoming an astronaut when i was 10 and I used to read Astronomy magazine (not sure how much i understood though) and read about stars. We had an astronomy club at school and went out to look at stars form a hill in a park here in London.

[kryss_labryn]

Had a whole big reply typed out and then I had to restart the browser. :(

Karl is into all things Science but we've narrowed it down to him wanting to design and build exploration space craft when he grows up. Which means an engineering degree and an American university from which he can transfer to the jet propulsion Laboratory; they're the guys who built the Mars Rover etc.

I was totally into astronomy (Karl has my old telescope now but it wasn't a very good one) and wanted to do that along with archaeology and robots and probably loads of other things I've since forgotten. Did want to be a writer though (and do that as a hobby) and work with computers, and I do that too; I do like the fixing things part of my job! One of the reasons my calls go on too long is that I keep trying to fix more things than they're actually asking me to, ha ha ha.

Astronomy is awesome.

[pofflewomp]

Ah yes I always wanted to be a writer alongside my other ambitions. In a way being a writer was/is my whole being and identity, while the other ambitions were things to DO, if you see what I mean. Maybe that is why I have never managed to write anything! But hey - we can still both be writers even if we can't be astronauts!

I don't know what the UK equivalent for a child becoming an astronaut would be. I wrote to the head of the royal astronomical society or something, I think, when I was 12, and got an encouraging reply. But I was never good enough at sciences. I loved physics so much but we had really bad teachers and I was not exactly a genius at it anyway.

I always assumed astrophysics was the right degree to do but I suppose engineering makes more sense, just make sure the course does the right modules within it to move into space things. I think you get much more specialised degrees than when I was younger. I hope Karl manages it! I suppose ambitions always change but what a cool one to have!

[pofflewomp]

sorry - it posted as anonymous because I forget and just click the email link!

[sabotabby]

OMG that's amazing. I'm so glad you got to meet him, and this is going to be something that Karl will remember and talk about for the rest of his life. Chris Hadfield is so cool.

[kryss_labryn]

Chris Hadfield is really is so cool. Haha, I forgot to mention this anecdote and I specifically wanted to, because in the book he mentions getting into his suit for his first space flight, and how doing so involves a diaper because they can be out there for many hours before takeoff. What he didn't mention in the book, though (but did on stage) was that the diapers are specially made for them, and have little pink and blue astronauts on them. So when, in the book, he had that moment of surrealness going, "The socks I am putting on right now are the socks I am going to wear off the planet," he then looked down and added, "...And here I am, standing in the shadows of men like John Glenn and Neil Armstrong--in my diaper with pink and blue astronauts on it."

[sabotabby]

Did you know that he had a pug named Albert? You probably knew that. But in case you don't: He has a pug named Albert.

[wednesday42]

DUDE! That is so very cool!

I have that book and I would love to meet Chris Hadfield in person.

*high fives you*

[kryss_labryn]

*damn straight high five* :D