Broken Barriers

photo: wired.com

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Friday night we watched out first night launch of the space shuttle. We had originally planned to go to the beach to watch the shuttle take off over the coast but the crowds were so heavy so early that we knew we would never find parking. We watched it from my sister's backyard.

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We watched the TV until liftoff and then we ran outside and looked south. The sky was already lit up above the horizon (we are 50 miles away) and then we could see it. It is a unbelievably bright spot in the sky. We can see the flaming exhaust so clearly like a giant bright firework ascending before it bursts into its flower like shape. We watched it curve over the sky and then saw the separation of the 2 solid rocket boosters.

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Then the sound catches up. Low booming noises follow the sight. It is so strange what a delay it is. The shuttle does not stay in sight very long but there is such a sense of witnessing history when you watch. I am so glad that we got to see it. This was one of the last night launches as the shuttle program is in it's last stages of existence.

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And this morning we broke another barrier. Joe got gas for $1.98/gallon. We finally broke the $2 barrier here. Cassie reports that VA broke it several weeks ago. I would be interested to hear what gas is in your area, if you would leave it in the comments.

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It is going to be really interesting watching where we as a country go in the next few months. The first indicator that I am watching is the Black Friday sales and revenues. Will we spend? And to what degree? Here in Fl the stores are very empty of customers. It is not unusual to be the only customer in a store. The only stores that are doing a decent business are the craft stores like Michael's and JoAnn. My guess is that people are saving money by making this year a handmade Christmas. The department stores are a wasteland but JoAnn's is booming. Interesting!

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What are you seeing in your corner of the world???