The countdown has begun

We are right at two weeks from our latest Camp Adventure and there is excitement brewing at the Camp House.
As you all know, my husband and son are space junkies. They love Star Wars, Star Trek, you name it. Anyway, NASA is phasing out the Space Shuttle Program and there are only a few more shuttle launches left. Well, Daniel decided that he wanted to see a launch. The program began when we were kids so we've grown up with the Space Shuttle. We were in the 10th grade at Dorman the day Challenger exploded at takeoff. He was the one who ran into my class and told my teacher to turn on the tv. We watched together the day Columbia disintegrated during re-entry. It has just been part of our lives and now it's almost over. So, he wants to see it in person.
He did some research and found out about the lottery to get tickets to the launch and, somehow, his name was selected to buy tickets. I tell you when he sets his mind to something, he makes it happen.
Anyway, the launch is scheduled for November 1st which creates a long weekend for Owen and I since election day has schools closed that Tuesday. So we're packing up and heading to Florida again. Sara isn't going with us because that's the same week of her State band contest so she can't/wouldn't miss practice for anything, but Daniel's sister, mom, and dad are going with us so it'll be a family affair for sure. I am less excited about the Space Shuttle than I am about seeing Owen and Daniel's faces when they see it blast off. It will be for them, like going to the Folger Shakespeare Library was for me, a surreal moment when dream meets reality. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Update

Well, we've made it to the end of the longest week ever and I thought I'd post so you'd know how things are progressing at the Camp house. We now have restored phone service (but only one of the phones actually works) and restored DirecTV (but the DVR is not functioning properly so they're sending us another one). The heating and air conditioning was fixed yesterday.

Today Daniel is expecting the electrician to do a whole house inspection, the appliance repairman to evaluate the refrigerator and stove, the plumber to check on the hot water heater, the garage door guy to install a new garage door opener, and the contractor to evaluate the structural damage.

Right now our kitchen is essentially shut down - we have the extra freezer in the laundry room and the microwave. The stove top still works, but the oven doesn't so I'm not completely comfortable using it. The insurance guy asked me to make a list of all the refrigerator contents that were lost and assess their value - it was like shopping in reverse. I did learn that we seem to be big fans of cheese and salad dressing. We had more of those items than anything else. The insurance company has agreed to reimburse us for those items and the meals we have to eat out because we can't cook at home. Sounds better than it is. Eating out is fun when you have time to go where you want and relax. It is not fun when you have to wait on everyone to get home and then find something quick so the kids can get back to do homework.

We are planning to shop tonight for a new wireless router and two telephones. We may also have to shop for new applicances. Tomorrow the Geek Squad is coming is evaluate the computer. My feeling is that we'll have to shop for another one of those too. Still, during this ordeal I have not had to visit a hospital or funeral home. Thank you God. The Camp Family Adventures continue...