Something That Happened.

I think that Apollo 11 thing is a hoax; I went outside this afternoon and found the Saturn V rocket still right here on Earth!

This is just a few blocks from my apartment; I can actually see this Saturn V from one of my windows. Rockin', huh? (Or rocketin'!)

Anyway, I was taking a walk, listening to some hypernonsense being transmitted from my iPod, when I looked up and thought, Hmmm...I think I should go back and get my camera and then post to my blog! So, there you have it.

Yes, I'm still a fabulously silly man. And, unless my mind is playing a trick on me, I've been happy here -- possibly even happier than I'd been in L.A. in quite a long time. The Girl seems to think so, and I must say I agree. Like I said, though: Hopefully my mind's not playing a trick on me.

There's so much more space in the place we live -- this is the largest place I've ever lived in, aside from that summer at the Stewarts -- and that certainly helps lift some of the cobwebs from the mind. And speaking of cobwebs: There are a few, but only because we have two bathtubs -- one more than we really need -- and so the spiders take up residence in the one that doesn't get used as often. But that's a good thing! Because you see, I'd rather have too many tubs than not enough. I lived far too many years without a bathtub, and I don't believe I'll ever live without one again.

Spiders and insects (yes, there are quite a few of the latter) aside, I've really been enjoying the space of the place. Not just indoors: Rocket City is a decent-sized city, and quite a green one, too. I've enjoyed walking around, noting some of the differences between L.A. and Huntsville. There aren't as many sidewalks as I'd prefer, but I'm not letting that stop me from scrambling both over and under the city's highways. (If I live here longer than a year, however, I'll simply have to get a bicycle or a motorcycle to get around. I enjoy walking, but I'm guessing there will come a day when I tire of dashing across the freeway in order to get to where I'm going.)

Also: It's an exciting time to live in a place they call Rocket City, USA. This week's anniversary of the moon landing is a stirring reminder (around here) of this city's contribution to the space program. I've yet to actually step foot inside the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, but once I get my annual pass it'll probably be difficult to keep me out! Maybe I'll even get a part-time job there while I'm attending school.

And speaking of school: All the courses I've taken over the past two years are beginning to add up, and looking at my transcripts is beginning to fill me with a sense of accomplishment. Once I've completed the summer course I'm currently enrolled in, however, I'll need to figure out a financial pathway into a local college (which will be relatively expensive for me -- Alabama community colleges are rather expensive here in comparison to California's). There's always hope, though: Perhaps the University of Alabama will find some room for me in one of their graduate programs (and then I'd qualify for financial aid)! Wish me luck.

Anyway, it's getting late here, and the old man (I'm talking about me) is ready to get some more studying in and then get some sleep. Thanks for spending some time here, reading my words (and puzzling over the expression on my face).

Labels: accomplishments, college, cost of living, Rocket City, Saturn V, space, transportation