A break but here we go again

So we did make it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to celebrate our 50th birthday! Tanzania was majestic a well as full of contrasts… We promised each other to return one day.

Besides travel and work (including the purchase of a supersonic Mig-21 jet to add to our space training center), we have the pleasure to announce that Alexander graduated from high school with an International Baccalaureate diploma; has just turned 18; and is headed for Loyola University this coming spring!

Nicholas continues doing well at school, playing saxophone and his favorite game, League of Legends.

Sadly, Chip’s dad Chippie passed away last year, followed by Hubert, Chippie’s brother. Veronique’s relatives are doing well…

Not much else to report except that we were disappointed the Virgin Galactic spacecraft exploded recently. Dangerous business, but we still hope to make it up in a few years on board the Xcor Lynx II after they prove to have a stellar safety record!

So there you are for those curious about our latest news. Stay put for more later on, and our best always,

Chip, Veronique, Alexander, and Nicholas

Birthdays & Boys

 

What exactly defines a “good summer time”?

At the risk of repeating ourselves, there is always the delightful catching up with Alexander and Nicholas once their IB Program school year is finished in CA and they spend fun times with us in Florida. We have as many healthy and entertaining activities as we can, including as usual getting in the pool and jacuzzi; paint-balling with friends; tennis; bicycle-riding; fishing on Piranha; beach and bonfires; ice-skating; church-going (Catholics oblige); homework (yes, always some); and so on. There are a few pics available, although we were not that dutiful in taking photographs this time around…

Over the summer, we had good news and bad news: Our old fat cat, Beavis, disappeared one evening, and despite posting signs everywhere, we did not have any closure ever. That’s the way with cats sometimes. He was 17 years old and we all loved him. On the other hand, fish in our aquarium are popping out babies right and left. Bets are on for how many will survive the turtles’ feeding frenzy!

The Rockwell Commander aircraft was down for repairs so we didn’t fly to the Bahamas as we usually do. We also had to postpone a trip to DC so the travel highlight was our trip to Canada, which according to the boys, was awesome. It’s true, we had a really incredible time there.

Chip was showing off his university days to us in Toronto and London, Ontario–so we began with a stay at the Ritz-Carlton which was centrally located at walking distance to the CN Tower and the piers for some outer islands tours. We then spent a day visiting the Niagara Falls (obviously on the Canadian side), which included a very wet and exciting ride right up to the falls on the “Maid of the Mist”, and an evening dinner overlooking the lighted falls at the “Skylon Tower”. It turned out that just a few weeks before our trip, one of our Aurora Aerospace clients, Nik Wallenda, was crossing the Falls on a tightrope after coming to practice some parabolas with us!

We also hooked up with one of Chip’s University of Western Ontario’s physician/musician friends, Rob Thibert. He invited us to his lovely home, and together with his family, toured us around the university with many fun stories about their past exploits.

Rob is a professional saxophone player and he played some tunes for us at his home studio, which definitely impressed Nicholas who is set to play sax in his school band this coming year. We hired a coach for him during the summer, and we hope he’ll do well once school begins–he’s scheduled for an entire band camp right now!

Nicholas also received the gaming laptop of his dreams by the way, so he was extremely busy with friends all the way in Newfoundland or closer by, like Trevor who again showed up for our party—and stayed up all night gaming with Nicholas! Way to go boys!!

Alexander was another party animal this summer: Firstly, he welcomed a friend over with her family (they were visiting from California) and we treated them all to our dinner/pool/bonfire/etc. fare; then, he prepared the most awesome effigy to burn up at our 50^th Birthday Party Bash; shot the loudest fireworks ever; took over the music with our live “Mellow Vibes Band” when he sang his rap rendition of Vanilla Ice; and last but not least, he killed Alduin in Skyrim! Both boys are outstanding, and we admire and adore them both.

So we’re ending this update on a very happy note, our 50^th BD party!

We had quite a turnout at our Hawaiian themed event, and we thank everyone who attended, gifts and all! Apologies for not taking many pictures, I was busy dancing wildly like all Brazilians do, while Chip was mingling smoking his cigar…

Happiness comes down to special moments at times, those one remembers over the years no matter what else happens otherwise. I believe this summer was a great one, and we made sure it wrapped up with a bang!

The boys presented us with wonderful gifts, including a Tiffany ring that reads “I love you” which will definitely give me strength when we climb Mt. Kilimanjaro later this month (we are scheduled to summit on our real birthday). Both Chip and I have been training regularly, so we believe we have a good chance to make it to the top.

Life with Chip is wonderful, and we have definitely something very special together. Blessed we are, thankful too…

Written by Veronique

 

 

5-0

Once Chip was invited to join the Explorer’s Club in February, we flew to New York to attend their yearly Gala Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria the month after. It coincided with St. Patrick’s Day, a treat with the parade. The dinner itself was a stupendous black-tie affair at the hotel’s Great Ballroom, and Aurora Aerospace happened to fetch the highest bid when it came to the live auction items. So we enjoyed it all, as well as a tour of the Explorer’s Club itself the next day (see Shackleton!). Before the week-end was over, we managed to squeeze in Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum, so it was an intense trip…

Next came the boys’ Spring Break, so of course we had to catch up with a ton and also do as much! The day after Alexander and Nicholas arrived we attended the Renaissance Fair. Then there was also tennis, fondue at home, zoo next door, glass blowing at the Chihuly Museum (where we got to take home the artwork we created ourselves), deep-sea fishing, indoors sky-diving in Orlando, paint balling, pool & jacuzzi, bonfire, kayaking, bicycle-riding, and homework… Let’s not forget time cuddling with Luna, the stupid kitty, or feeding the fish and turtles, playing games, and so on… Back to school after that, and they are both doing great in their International Baccalaureate programs. Soon back home with us for the summer!

Once they left we were soon after on a plane again, this time flying all the way to Germany. Destination Jena. It’s surprising how interesting this city is: Former East Germany, unfortunately a gateway to the Buchenwald concentration camp—we actually stopped at the infamous Weimar train station where past signs of triage were still visible. But much more positive sides to it as well, if only because both Goethe and Schiller lived there for some time.

We were traveling on business for Chip’s Atlantis Clinic, namely to attend a training course on the Asclepion Laser, which he recently acquired in order to expand his services. The entire trip was very well organized by the factory, and we not only got certified in the utilization of the laser, but we also had some free time to explore the surroundings. We visited the Zeiss-Planetarium (the oldest one worldwide); the Botanical Garden with some truly exotic plants; St. Michael’s Church; the University; the main market with the founder’s statue; and last but not least, the Leuchtenburg Castle, where we had a delightful lunch overlooking the Saale Valley, while at the same time witnessing the most dreadful torturing chambers in the building next door! This castle had some dark history…

Hawaii is of course a lot merrier, and the destination we chose this year to celebrate our anniversary. We arrived May 1st, and for the next twelve days we enjoyed sights and activities neither of us had ever experienced before. Our first stay was at the spectacular Waikoloa Hilton on the Big Island, nestled within 62 oceanfront acres with breathtaking gardens, canals serviced by Disney-like mahogany boats, a monorail, deluxe spa, walkways flanked by 1,800 Polynesian and Asian artwork, and its own tranquil lagoon where wildlife was free to come and go from the ocean. We both agreed this was the best resort we ever stayed at, period!

We spent our first day discovering the entire property, and delighting in swimming with gentle sea turtles (honu) or the famous Hawaiian fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a! We then booked different activities for the other days, providing us with the opportunity to drive around the island to discover varied sites like the sacred Waipio Valley with its black sand beaches; the charming town of Kona and its popular Kailua Pier; the larger city of Hilo on the wetter side of the island from which to reach the volcanoes; and closer by on the Kohala coast, ancient Hawaiian petroglyph fields and the traditional Hawaiian party, the Luau.

We flew to Oahu for the second part of our trip, staying once more at a Hilton resort, this time in Waikiki. Again, our first day consisted in exploring our surroundings, namely the entire stretch of Waikiki beach all the way to the Aquarium. Dinner at Duke’s followed to wrap up a full day! As before, we also scheduled daily activities around the island: Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay; swimming with sharks; and sky-diving. All extraordinary! The last day in Hawaii, a few hours before our departure time, Chip had to have a last go at surfing. He’s now hooked, and we’ll definitely be back to explore the other beautiful islands of Hawaii.

Our last bit of traveling before the summer when Alexander and Nicholas are back home with us is to Washington D.C. for our yearly presentation at the International Space Development Conference, held at the Grand Hyatt. Aurora Aerospace will unveil our newest business plan: Supersonic flights to the Edge of Space. More on that in the near future. For now, another more social plan is to hopefully meet with Commander Scott Carpenter at the Governor’s Dinner and Gala (he is the astronaut who co-sponsored Chip for his membership in the Explorer’s Club). And of course, a visit to D.C. would not be complete without spending quality time with our dear friend Sharon and her family…

That’s it for this first half of the year! Family and friends are well, our health and business too, and we are looking forward to celebrating our fiftieth birthdays (the big 5-0) summitting Mt. Kilimanjaro. Wish us luck–but not to break a leg, we’d never make it to the top!

February 2012 – New beginnings

February 20th Post on Facebook:

Today was the day Chip and I were hoping to be launched into space to celebrate the 50th anniversary of John Glenn’s first American orbital flight…

Well, the private space mission known as “Americans-in-orbit 50 years” is no longer, as usual, because of funding issues. The original premise was great, and as time went by, the non-profit mission was upgraded with a better capsule, higher payload, and a much-needed educational purpose to carry scientific experiments into space. All these valuable goals were unfortunately not met with the necessary financial backing.

Nevertheless, we will continue moving forward in the direction of outer space activities, first with our training center, AURORA AEROSPACE, which was recently awarded the FAA endorsement for high-performance flight training; and in the very near future, by offering our own tickets into space. We’re both building our hours in jet training, so stay tuned!

The date came and went and we did not launch into orbit. We’ll have to take it from there and keep working hard toward our ultimate goal. Door closed, another opens. And at least this month there was a new development in the fact that the boys were allowed some free time in California, which we made the best of!!

Here is an outline:

For the first time since I divorced my ex-husband in 2006, everything worked out so that I could manage to negotiate some time in CA with the boys and spend a long week-end in La Quinta, where they go to school.

I flew in the night before I was to pick them up at their respective International Baccalaureate schools (John Glenn Middle School for Nicholas and La Quinta High School for Alexander); rented a Lincoln MKS (who knows, maybe because the holiday was Lincoln’s Day); and settled in a comfortable suite at the Hilton just five minutes away from the schools.

The desert scenery was just as I remembered it: High, pure skies with occasional gusts of wind picking up sand to feed an ever-increasing beige tone; a dramatic range of barren mountains surrounding a fake fertile valley where every palm tree and golf course was planted purposely for entertainment; and amidst it all, a somewhat wealthy retirement community enjoying the planned environment that would suit them well until the end of their days. Clean, orderly, unsurprising stuff, just not for everyone.

On Friday morning, I had scheduled in advance a tour of each school, as well as meetings with their principals, counselors, and teachers, before picking up the boys and their luggage. I was welcomed so warmly at both schools as the real mom, and had many of my questions well answered. When I picked up Nicholas first, he had brought with him at least three bags, a very large one containing his radio-controlled car and accessories; Alexander, being an all-honor-courses student, carried a very heavy backpack full of books and homework.

We dropped off all their gear then headed toward The River, a gorgeous outdoors mall where we had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and watched the 3D Star Wars released in Extreme Digital. I wonder what will come next, this technology is out of this world already…

The next day, we attended an Arts Festival at the charming La Quinta Old Town, then ate big burgers at one of Nicholas’ friend’s restaurant, Bobby’s Detroit Coney Island. After that, we drove on the main highway (111) to a R/C racing field where Nicholas wanted to try out his car, but we soon realized the competition was a bit too fierce for a young newbie. This was a serious business, with teams of adults setting up individual stations with various car/truck models and their accompanying repair crews.

No problem, we opted for plan B which involved hiking a mountain trail right above the racing field, with Nicholas’ R/C car leading the way. We had a lot of fun!

We went shopping afterward for Nerf swords for Alexander to duel with a friend of his, and browsed through Uncle Don’s Hobby Shop where Nicholas is a regular. It was great to be able to share in their local preferences, including dinner at the California Pizza Kitchen at El Paseo, another posh shopping area.

We started out the day later the next morning, so we opted for a large brunch at a very popular and delicious restaurant, Elmer’s. By the time we drove all the way to the outskirts of Palm Springs where windmills filled the landscape, we were ready to jump onto ATVs and brave sand dunes and pits. It was the first time for us, but with our previous experience in dirt-bike riding, we mastered all the gears and sped through the entire course, covering ourselves with sand and dirt as time went by. Not the best of looks to attend a magic show at the Mc Callum Theatre, but we had no time to spare since we entered the theatre just as the show was beginning! Outstanding performances, it was well worth the rush.

After well-needed showers at the hotel, we stepped out again for dinner, this time at the “infamous”–just joking–Taco Gonzalez Taqueria, a hole in the wall where the food is excellent and plentiful, but only cash payments are accepted. I had decided to go along with whatever the boys preferred, so there we were!

And up the next morning at dawn to fly in a scheduled balloon ride over the Coachella Valley, covering the multiple cities we had been driving past such as La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Indio, and a few more. I’d mentioned Highway 111 as the main thread, but there were also Highway 10 and 74, combining to cut through the valley in different directions. Again, all meticulously well organized…

Just like our balloon ride, except for the unpredictable factor, weather. Upon arrival at the meeting point, we were told by the pilot that it would be a no-go–too much wind. Oh well, there will always be another time.

Instead, then, I suggested we drive around looking for an impressive church I had spotted, built in the California Mission style at the side of a mountain. It turned out to be the Saint Francis of Assisi church, after the patron of animals and birds. We walked through the pristine patios and found a modern statue of the saint with his famous prayer, which we read together:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

It was a special moment, with a spiritual connection I always try to inspire in the boys when we go to church in Florida despite their lack of regular religious practices. Since it was still so early and everything else was closed, we returned to the hotel for a bit so the boys could focus on their homework. After a while, we went out once more, and drove up to the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains where the boys volunteered as Junior Rangers at this National Monument trails. We pretended I was a tourist so they could demonstrate to me how they perform their duties as guides on the Randall Henderson Trail, and it was interesting to witness how they could both describe the different types of cacti and the remote landscape, or show me around the visitor center like young pros.

After the exercise, we were ready for a hearty lunch at a Korean Barbecue restaurant where Alexander ran into an old friend. The rest of the afternoon was spent purchasing a late Christmas gift for Nicholas, the PSP Vita which was just going to be released. As usual, he ended up negotiating a great deal at Gamestop, and fulfilled his latest gaming wishes. In return, I have his solemn promise that he will lend this newest console to his brother…

For our last evening, we opted for a French meal at a bistro called Cafe des Beaux-Arts. As so often occurs, there was no French staff that evening whom we could notice or speak to, but the food at least followed French recipes like roasted stuffed quails and broiled filet mignon. Fouquet’s it was not, but we made do!

Valentine’s was the next day, and so was back-to-school for the boys and flying back to Florida for me. Since the schools were so close to the hotel I’d picked, we spent as long as we could together before saying our goodbyes. We’d had a wonderful time ( photos are on Flickr), and hope there will more opportunities like this one…

Spring break will be next, when the boys come home to Florida again.

In the meantime, I have finally been introduced to their local and school environments, to some of their mentors and friends, and left my two sons to resume their demanding studies, knowing that no matter their challenges, they’ll reach the end of the tunnel, and I’ll be there to welcome them with all the love they so deserve.

2012 is here!

Christmas is a great time to celebrate life and love, family, friends and faith…

We had a wonderful two-week celebration with Alexander and Nicholas as always. The 13-foot/year-old tree was ready when they arrived (that was work), as well as a program full of activities ranging from the Nutcracker ballet at the Performing Arts Center to several paintballing sessions; The Ripley’s Museum in Orlando and feeding alligators; an Egyptian artifacts exhibition and a lunch at a “haunted” restaurant in St. Petersburg; a nature preserve and a Victorian Stroll at the University of Tampa; and of course, the distribution of charitable donations and lots of bonfires–just a bit of everything!

The night before Christmas we attended a beautiful church service, then wrapped it up with a fancy dinner at our favorite restaurant, Mystic Fish. The next morning, the boys couldn’t wait to unwrap some items they were looking forward to, as well as some that surprised them! Alexander got his first electric shaver and Nicholas his own fish tank, and so on… Alexander presented us with a special “Shirtless Kirk” cologne and a top-quality fondue set, while Nicholas had chosen a military watch for Chip and a book collection of Veronique’s favorite TV series. We were busy enjoying it all and preparing the traditional Christmas meal. Later that day, we brought freshly-baked cookies to our friend Nick at the Oldsmar Fire Station, and went to a new movie theater. A good Christmas indeed…

Both boys took turns helping out at Aurora Aerospace, as well as preparing a fondue evening and quesadillas. But overall, they had a lot of playing time indoors (Skyrim and Sims) and outdoors (tennis, bicycle, kayak, etc.). New Year’s Eve followed at a nice waterfront restaurant called Bon Appetit where Chip and Nicholas helped retrieve a stuck cell phone, and that was it. We stayed up as long as we could on December 31^st since they had to fly to CA the next day at 6 am, so we enjoyed every bit of late-night fun with fireworks!

Now it’s onto a New Year… We’ll keep you posted. Enjoy 2012, and if you believe in the Mayan prediction, enjoy it even more while you can!

Happy Holidays!

Since Fall, we have both been busy pretty much with work but also caring for our respective parents : Chippie (Chip’s father) staying here at our house with severe health complications which eventually required surgery; Josette (Veronique’s mother), thank goodness in much better shape,  renting a suite nearby at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa for a three-month “healing waters” treatment. We put a lot of our personal activities on hold, but it was worth it because after three months, they are both returning home healthier than before!

Now it’s time to focus on a happy holiday season with Alexander and Nicholas, arriving this week-end. We just got a thirteen-foot tree, so it’s time to get the holiday spirit going!

Sending you all our Season’s Greetings with love,

From Chip, Veronique, Alexander, and Nicholas

Summer 2011

Written by Veronique…

Not much time elapsed since our last update, so we pretty much continued to work hard, preparing for a more leisurely summer with the boys. Alexander and Nicholas arrived in June right after their school year ended. Nicholas was sick with an untreated respiratory ailment, so that was taken care of immediately. We also set out to organize their summer schoolwork so they could do it all without any stress, and have lots of fun at the same time.

There was the usual fare of activities: Tennis, bicycle, boating, paintballing, go-karting, swimming, bonfire, fireworks, Aurora Aerospace, Atlantis Clinic, and so on, to which we added a visit to the new Salvador Dali Museum, and a day at Busch Gardens. Alexander was at the top of his game, daring to ride all the roller coasters, including the newest Cheetah and the hair-raising Sheikra! Nicholas found his groove instead at the paintballing field, enjoying extra time negotiating new gear and improving his skills. Every summer, the boys take part in the Library’s Reading Program, and this year they also attended a Job Skills Program, during which they not only learned how to get hired, but they won prizes too–Nicholas scored the most gift cards!

We spent a short week in theBahamasto visit Chip’s relatives, and once more, we had a wonderful experience… Chippie is always quite the character, and he was joined by Charles, Chip’s cousin, to show the boys how to enjoy life the Bahamian way! That means lots of time in the water. Nicholas went spear fishing with Charles at every opportunity and there was a lot of fish being caught. Not just fish but also lobster and conch shells. I had to go a bit deeper but I still found another King Conch, hence I can keep deserving my nickname of “Queen Conch”.

Chip had many additional hospital shifts this summer due to three other ER doctors being off on maternity leave, so the boys and I left for the Netherlands without him because it had been a while since we had seen my sister Elizabeth and my mother Josette, and also because it was the first time we were going to meet my niece, Christine, who was visiting from Brazil. I found her to be a lovely young lady, and it was so new to have someone call me “auntie”!

Elizabeth lives by a canal in a beautiful Dutch house with five floors. It is situated right next to the American and French Embassies, and conveniently close to a large park where we rode our rental bicycles. Public transport in The Netherlands is first class, so it was easy for us to visit The Hague with its Escher and Maurits Museums (with the original Vermeer “Girl with a Pearl Earring”), both housed in former royal palaces; the miniature Madurodam featuring famous Dutch places on a scale of 1:25; and the Panorama Mesdag, a cylindrical 360 degrees painting more than 14 meters high and 120 meters in circumference. We even took the tram as far as Scheveningen, where we got to walk on the sandy dunes of the beach and touch the North Sea.

We took a train for our trip to Amsterdam, where we began our tour with the impressive Coster Diamond Factory; next to it was the Rijks Museum with the very best of the Dutch Golden Age; and further downtown, the weird Torture Museum with all sorts of Medieval instruments of torture used by the Inquisition (of course, the boys chose to see that one instead of the Van Gogh Museum for which the tickets were sold out). We also walked past Anne Frank’s house, the flower market, many stores selling substances considered illegal in the US, and tasted delicious Indonesian cuisine to honor the past Dutch connection.

Delftwas another full day’s tour, with churches, street fairs, and the mandatory purchase of Delft blue earthenware. Although we did a lot and got to see so many sights, there is plenty more to explore in The Netherlands, so we hope to go back next year!

I taught the Space Camp again in August for the City of Safety Harbor’s Museum, with students and parents very enthusiastic and pleased with the curriculum. It’s such a pleasure to share my passion for Space with young people, who knows how many will be inspired to go further…

The boys would have joined us on our trip to Russia if the father had agreed to it, but no, so we reassured them there’ll be many other opportunities in the near future. Very near in fact, since in just a few more years they’ll be adults and totally free. Everyone knows that, so for now they’re good no matter what, having begun another school year in CA.

So here are my candid comments about a first trip to Russia:

First of all, it was originally a business trip we made the most of in terms of going non-stop to enjoy sightseeing time as well. That being said, the country is not as unfriendly and unsafe as I was told—Russians are willing to help out, and anyway, there is some form of security everywhere, all the time, whether it’s a guard, a cop, a member of the military, etc. At the same time, it is not easy for tourists when it comes to buying venue tickets (lines are infinite, and the only way to move along is if someone actually gives up queuing in front of you!); ordering food when there is no English translation on the menu, or worse, no pictures; or catching public transport, which tends to make you feel like you’re back in the Soviet times with hoards (or herds) of people pushing their way forward. Unlike in the US, there is but a vague notion of “personal space” inRussia.

It was still all good: Moscow is a mind-twisting capital with contrasts galore, ranging between the ever-present historical legacy of the tsars and their extravagant buildings to the austere marks of the revolution; the rich artistic legacies of the Pushkins and icon painters, to the modern, shallow, oligarch-driven culture and establishments… Our hotel, The Metropol, was right on the Red Square/Kremlim compound, so one step out and we were in the midst of it all. Our photos do more justice in terms of portraying the grandiose scale of the sites than my vocabulary ever could, so enjoy our Flickr pages!

A visit to (fill in the blanks) would not be complete without (fill in more blanks). In this case, indeed, when in Moscow one absolutely must see St. Basil’s and the Cathedral of the Assumption, as well as the smaller, more intimate Kazan Cathedral. Despite attempts from past governments to subdue it, religion seemed to be strongly present everywhere… And there was no shortage of icons for sale, including a St. Veronika!

We had to line up twice before we managed to see the State Armory with its priceless treasures like the famous Faberge eggs and the Orlov diamond (it was well worth the effort!). By contrast, we found the superb Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts almost deserted, despite showcasing classic masters and a rare collection of Egyptian relics. Unfortunately, the Bolshoy Theatre was closed for renovation.

We did walk through the splendid Alexander Gardens beneath the Kremlim walls, and further underground, through equally unforgettable metro stations, and although we never visited any of them, Stalin’s “Seven Sisters” or towers, were visible from many points around the city.

We shopped here and there, from the popular Arbat market to the more upscale GUM mall; meals were both delicious and adventuresome, swinging between a high class dinner at the Pushkin Café to a still-to-be-determined fare at an Azerbaijani restaurant! And so on, one almost contradictory but undoubtedly surrealistic experience after another…

At night, there was no shortage of restaurants, bars, and cafes (with or without adult entertainment) for the standard oligarch with bodyguards and beautiful young Russian women looking like supermodels; while during the daytime, we crossed paths with poorer and more varied ethnic people from the former Soviet Union countries, and the homeless drunk man or Babushka-like older version of women. Russia might have some issues to resolve when it comes to their social health…

Well, we were not there to preach but mainly to promote Aurora Aerospace at the MAKS Air Show or International Aviation & Space Salon outside of Moscow in Zhukovsky. Just getting there was a feat considering the traffic since we went by public transport. Then once on site, we were faced with another 200,000 visitors, all present during the so-called “Days of Mass Attendance”. We had planned on attending the show Saturday and Sunday, having obtained our tickets from our friendly partner inEurope, Flavio. But Saturday was enough of a full, action-packed day, during which we got to see flights by the Russian Knights (Sukhoi), the Strizhi (Mig 29), and the Rus and Baltic Bees (both L-39) teams. We also saw the T-50 (PAK FA) fighter, taking part for the first time in the flight programme, as well as the Airbus A380, which we had already seen at the Paris Air Show. In my opinion, the best performance was given by our very own American F-15, which wowed the crowds with its loud and raging, but also very skillful demonstration.

There were many interesting static displays, and an enclosed area with space’s latest designs for stations and capsules. We networked and stayed until the very end of the day’s show, and it was worth the trouble. It turns out Sunday was a mess with rain and technical problems, so we were right about our decision to skip it.

In comparison, our visit to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City was a breeze since we hired a private driver and tour guide for the occasion (actually, it’s the only way to do it as it is a highly restricted military facility northeast of Moscow which requires an additional visa clearance).

Our guide was a knowledgeable and friendly Russian Air Force Major, who began our tour with the different Soyuz simulators; followed by the Mir and ISS modules; the world’s largest centrifuge; and my favorite, the Hydrolab. Every part of the tour was well described to us, and we were allowed to climb onto capsules to get a real feel for the conditions involved. We even witnessed a real-time training session, during which I took a quick photo before we were kindly asked to leave the premises… Busted! Finally, there was the customary gift shop stop, where I purchased one of Chip’s birthday gifts, a very well-crafted metal model of a Proton rocket for his model rocket collection.

I don’t have furs anymore, but before we left Moscow for St. Petersburg, Chip got me a typical Russian hat, an Ushanka. Who knows when I’ll get to wear it, living inFlorida! We also bought a Matryoshka doll (typical Russian nesting doll), just because they are everywhere and they end up getting under your skin! There is of course an entire tradition behind the creation of Matryoshkas. So many other souvenir items destined for sale to tourists, like the Palekh boxes for example, have a deeply-rooted cultural origin—all of which is fascinating when you read more about it.

We traveled on Aeroflot toSt. Petersburg, and were happily surprised at the quality of the aircraft and the service aboard. Far gone are those days of criticism. If anything, Delta could learn a few pointers by comparison!

Again, one has to do his or her research on Russian history prior to experiencing the real deal. St. Petersburg is almost overwhelmingly alive with the reminders of its creation and past events, and as soon as we landed, we dropped off our luggage at our hotel on the Nevskiy Prospekt stretch, and headed straight toward an embankment for a boat tour of the city. Why? BecauseSt. Petersburgis otherwise known as “The Venice of the North”, so it was fitting to first discover it from the water.

Our boat took us under many ornate bridges until we arrived at the Neva River, where all of a sudden the proportions of St. Petersburg hit us. Everything seems grand there, from The Hermitage ensemble comprising different royal palaces, to the squares, churches, theatres, avenues… The Peter and Paul Fortress epitomized the founding image of the new city: Blindingly powerful enough to fend off the Swedes in the past. Today, it is still mesmerizing!

One is advised to allocate a minimum of four hours for a first visit to The Hermitage Museum–the largest in the world–and an average of eleven years to examine every one of its exhibits. We opted for the four-hour tour…

After passing by the Alexander’s Column in the Palace Square where the “Bloody Sunday” massacre occurred, we began our tour with some unique antiquities from Siberia, then moved onto Ancient Egypt and Early Eurasian Culture. We climbed to the next floor where the European arts reigned, namely with Da Vinci’s “Madonna Litta”, Rubens’ “Bacchus”, Rembrandt’s “Abraham Sacrifice”, and a vast collection of works by Impressionists. The third floor housed Picassos and Gauguins, as well as other artists from the 19^th-20^th Centuries. In the midst of it all, there were sculptures by Henry Moore and a temporary exhibition of Annie Leibovitz’s photographs.

That day was full of distinguished art, so we thought we would try going to the Mariinsky Theater for a ballet since the Bolshoy was out inMoscow. Well, so was the former Kirov, their dancers were actually on their way to Brazil! I guess we were left with the other extreme, aiming for a local night spot. It was advertised on our travel guide with a picture of a serious sax player as including “live music every night—jazz, blues, rock—with DJ and dances on the bar”. There was the remote possibility that “on” the bar was a translation mistake, but no, there really was dancing on the bar. With a pole. And girls taking turns on that pole. To the beat of some Euro/pop music, the taste of caviar and vodka, and the heat of a packed dance floor. We had a fun time!

Our next, and last day in Russia, we not only walked around the Peter and Paul Fortress, but we also found a Space Museum within the premises, which held true space gems (like an exact copy of the Apollo 8 mission commemorative coin I received from my uncle who worked for NASA, which helped inspire my passion for space!). Again, it was another great business opportunity to network and promote Aurora Aerospace.

Continuing with the synchronicity, we ended up aboard a historically charged cruiser responsible for firing the signal for the 1917 storming of the Winter Palace (ie. the revolution!), called “Aurora”. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped by a restaurant with a hunting theme called “The Beast”, which served bear, wild boar, and so on. Chip had bear.

We had to leave the next day by 4 am, so the last evening was spent recapping the events, ours and the world’s. Ironically, during our stay the two Russian launch systems failed; Irene was becoming dangerous, and we certainly felt some of it during our return flight into Atlanta; and many more news we were eventually going to catch up with.

I’ve described this trip to Russia openly and with respect, for that is how I perceived Russia and its people. Simply true, or truthfully simple, and deserving of admiration for their accomplishments, in history or in the present times as they struggle to re-adjust their identity in order to fit into a more modern world. Hopefully, they won’t have to let go of their traditional, well earned, and tried treasures for the sake of one more tourist shop…

 

Our 5th Anniversary and more!

            Dear Family and Friends,

A lot of important, and at times dramatic, events have occurred around the world since January; so we hope everyone is well and safe. Our company, Aurora Aerospace, has also seen its share of new developments–but thank goodness, it’s all good actually!

To start with, the L-39 jet was not damaged during this year’s Sun N’ Fun Air show since we flew in after the devastating winds had already flipped over dozens of aircraft. We have also been lucky to be able to expand our client base from our frequent American and international individual clients to entire crews from Germany’s Next Top Model; theDiscovery Channel (special on Nik Wallenda); the Travel Channel (first episode of “Mancations”); and most recently, an Indian painter, Ankita Joshi, who became the first woman in the world to paint in zero-gravity. They can all be found on YouTube for those curious to see the action…

We also participated in the Next–Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference earlier this year, and just made a special presentation as sponsors at the 2011 International Space Development Conference, as well as Space Ambassadors alongside Virgin Galactic and Space Adventures.

 

            During that occasion, we also announced our new partnership with the Jules Undersea Lodge (www.jul.com) thanks to our friend Mark Ward. We met with the owner in Key Largo, Ian Koblik, and dived down to his venture thirty feet below. It was an extraordinary experience, which led both teams to further develop a joint package soon to be offered by our companies in an effort to strengthen the link between Sea and Space.

In April, we had the joy of welcoming the boys home again for their Spring Break, during which we celebrated both Easter and Nicholas’ thirteenth birthday in advance. He is pure awesomeness, and since he’s into baseball and electronic gadgets lately, we presented him with goodies from both sets.

Alexander is doing wonderfully well as usual, with straight A’s all around and a developing height of 5’10” feet (for now!). Both boys are the best, and Mother’s Day couldn’t have confirmed it more with their lovely and loving wishes…

We spent that day in St. Petersburgenjoying the new Chihuly Collection, with the artist present, which was a special treat. Another unexpected treat was the rescue of a new turtle, this one with a broken shell in the middle of the road.

We immediately superglued it, named it Squishy, and dropped it in our big aquarium with the other survivor turtle, Scurvy, where both have been best friends (and at times more) ever since!

About relocations, Auntie Elizabeth has also found a new home this month in The Hague, where she is to become “Chargee d’Affaires” soon after her diplomatic transfer. We are all looking forward to visiting her and Vovo Josette this summer! And we’ll go visit the Chipmans in theBahamas too, of course!

Finally, we have just celebrated our fifth anniversary! At first, we had looked into renting a sailboat through The Moorings to tour Belize, but then we chose to stay at an Adventure and Dive Resort, Hamanasi, which turned out to be the better option considering the local heat and lack of infrastructure.

We benefitted from comfort and excellent foods, as well as “roughing it” in the jungle during daily tours to wildlife preserves, caves, waterfalls, or Mayan ruins—see more great photos on Flickr! The aquatic adventures were fantastic too, and we got to film a lot of underwater species we had never seen before in the wild, like squid and yellow spotted rays.

The people of Belize are very varied and warm: Garifuna, Mayans, Creoles, Mestizos… We were told many tales from our resort hosts and guides about their ancient civilizations, customs, medicinal plants, animals and birds, and even about powerful shamans who can either bless or curse others.

There were some parallels between our previous trip to the Brazilian Amazon andBelize, but this time the contrast between the haves and have-nots was sharper. As tourists, we enjoyed our air-conditioned tree house and rides in private vans; a la carte meals and on site PADI scuba gear. But at the same time, we were deeply aware of the general population’s poverty, right outside our resort as we rode on bicycles to the nearbyvillageofHopkins.

The locals need to burn their trash in piles because there is no pick-up service. The local Laundromat is by the side of a red dirt road, with a washing machine advertising what is really a down-by-the-river rinsing of clothes. “Houses” are built out of a few wooden planks, usually a one-room, elevated unit combining up to three generations. And yet, there was enough care to build a doghouse too, and children of those households go to school in spotless uniforms, sometimes walking in the rain, barefoot…

This site might not be the right vehicle to translate our deepest emotions—we shall skip those comments for another essay, perhaps in another less family-oriented blog. Just be assured that we are thankful every day for our luck (sometimes it’s that simple!), and we recognize that life for some around us has many more challenges every day than the ones we might have to face every now and again.

Back to reality, then, we wish everyone a great summer, after which we’ll reconnect with more news about the entire crew! Our best always,

Chip, Veronique, Alexander, and Nicholas

Happy 2011!

The boys, of course, were “Home for Christmas” as the song goes, with the traditional turkey meal and merry toasts; a thankful prayer and Michael the Archangel church visit; lots of decorations and favorite gifts; carols and calls to absent friends and relatives; and loving hugs and kisses!

New Year’s was spent in a Suwannee River Hideaway, a three-hour drive from home and a perfect spot for what we each wanted to enjoy: forest walks; relaxation; paintball matches; canoeing; fire. Even Nick came by to help out with the pyromania!

The house was wonderfully well furnished with all the amenities we might have wished for, and thank goodness, the weather cooperated, especially considering what was going on elsewhere… We highly recommend this place, and for those interested, do contact Peter & Willie (a Dutch couple) at: “Suwannee river” <Suwannee_River@att.net>

This year will be like the previous ones recently, b-u-s-y. We will continue on our personal paths towards Space while offering others their own space training adventure at Aurora Aerospace. We have some interesting clients lined up, ranging from television crews for foreign programs with the “Next Top Model” template to Indian artists experimenting with zero-gravity painting methods…

Alexander will be finishing his first year of high school in CA, and Nicholas is already planning his next stay in Florida, having declared this was the best time he had ever had!

And so the year 2011 has started happy, and we hope it will end that way! To all our dear friends and relatives, have a great one too! More when it’s “Summertime and the leaving is easy”…

 

 

 

 

Still going strong!

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick update before the end of the year… Unlike the last one, when we had opted for a snowy time in Colorado for Thanksgiving, we went to Las Vegas instead to meet with Chip’s mom, Sandi, and his sister, Suzanne. Veronique and the boys had never met Sandi, and Chip was long overdue seeing his mother again, so the occasion became quite significant!

The family reunion was wonderful… We got together early on during our stay, and concluded it with a show, “The Lion King”, which everyone enjoyed. In between, the four of us visited the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon, even stepping on the famous Skywalk, or “Glass Bridge” sitting 4,000 feet above the Colorado River.

We really hope Sandi and Suzanne will come visit us next in Florida!

Veronique’s boys continue studying hard in California, so they always look forward to a happy family time with us whenever their school schedule allows. They’ll be in Florida for Christmas and New Year’s of course, so we plan on having lots of loving and fun moments together as usual!

There are many new pics to browse through, including a couple of the Vespa we purchased recently. Chip obtained his motorcycle license and is really getting the hang of it. Who knows what’s next, he’s already asking for more power!

Veronique spent sometime in Brazil to care for her mother; then the latter flew to Florida for follow-up health exams. She is doing absolutely great! Elizabeth, Veronique’s sister, has just been promoted, so we are all excited to find out which country she’ll pick next for her ambassadorship. While in Brazil too, Veronique met with the Space Agency’s President and was officially declared the first Brazilian female astronaut. More news to come about this soon…

Our astronaut mission is moving forward: We were recently offered a full VIP tour of Cape Canaveral, and Americans-in-Orbit 50 Years has a new video on YouTube. We’ll also be in Huntsville again next year for more promotional events. Next on the schedule is our mission patch design, which we’re working on with famed Florida artist Tim Gagnon.

Speaking of work, it’s been busy; volunteering is good; both our relatives and friends are well; so we are very, very, very, thankful for that! Last but not least, we wouldn’t end this post without our warmest wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all… As astronauts say: Godspeed!

The Heat is On!

Hot summer 2010 is almost over, and we have yet to celebrate a couple of events: Our birthdays at the end of August, and a new Guinness World Record by flying the youngest person to experience microgravity in our Aurora Aerospace’s aircraft. We’ll only open the bubbly for that one once Guinness authenticates the attempt, which can take a few weeks. Fingers crossed!

Back in April, Veronique’s presentation for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University was a success. She was invited by the President, Dr. Johnson, to speak at a formal dinner about her inspirational life and career. The Alumni staff arranged a full VIP stay for us with campus visits and resort lodgings. We had such a great time we might return to Daytona Beach to fly the L-39 at the university’s air show in October…

Chip was next to make a presentation in May at the National Space Society (NSS) International Space Development Conference in Chicago. He was invited to introduce Aurora Aerospace as a NSS Space Ambassador, joining Virgin Galactic, Space Adventures, and NASTAR. While in Chicago, we enjoyed some sightseeing too, admiring the city’s most popular venues like “Sue”, the best preserved T-Rex fossil, and climbing to the top of the (former Sears) Willis Tower to walk on its Skydeck, 103 floors above it all. Quite a sight!

Chip’s new ER is working out perfectly, and Aurora Aerospace has been doing well too. Veronique wrapped up teaching the Aerospace modules for the Air Force Auxiliary (CAP), and completed the first part of her Coast Guard Auxiliary training before the boys arrived mid-June for the summer.

They are always so happy to be here with us… We flew them in as soon as their school ended, and greeted them with larger bicycles and tennis rackets since they have grown so much! A week later, their Auntie Elizabeth came to visit from Brazil for a week and we had tons of fun together. Along with grandmother Josette (their Vovo), she presented Nicholas with a PS3 he always wanted, and Alexander with savings to congratulate him on finishing middle school with all A’s.

In July, we flew to Washington D.C. to celebrate Independence Day with Veronique’s dear friend of 22 years, Sharon Freeman, and her family. We met darling Negash who just moved from Ethiopia, and visited with Hagos, Alexander’s godfather, and Sylvia, Sharon’s mom. Our stay was filled with cultural outings, good food, and of course, wonderful times with the loving care of true friends. Thank you again!

The boys were entertained all summer with friends, sports, games, flying and gliding, and as usual a trip to the Bahamas. We all love traveling there and spending time with Chip’s family. Chip’s dad, Chippie, was in high spirits, and appreciated the newest book Veronique had published about the islands. His brothers, Ashley and Tex, were also in good form, each spending some quality time with their older brother, the “Flying Doctor”. We went fishing on one of Chippie’s boats and caught our fill, including a rare poisonous fish Alexander surprised us with! Veronique dived for conch shells, finding another King for our collection–hence the nickname “Queen Conch”…

This month she’ll be teaching two Summer camps (Space and Science) for the Safety Harbor Museum; then leave for Brazil to care for Vovo while Chip studies for his big ER Board exam. Next, it’ll be the fall, with Americans-in-Orbit beginning construction of our capsule this September. Hopefully by then we’ll be seeing less oil and cooler temperatures in Florida. One thing is for sure: Global warming is real!

Summer 2010

We’ll soon be updating our blog with details about our summer with family and friends…

For now enjoy the photos on Flickr, have fun, and be well!

Spring time again!

Bula everybody! (a Fijian greeting which means hello, good life, happiness—all in one)…

Some updates: We’ve been both quite busy with Aurora Aerospace (the website is being updated), as well as participating as Board members of the Safety Harbor Museum, and volunteering for the Air Force and Coast Guard Auxiliaries.

Chip is very happy working at the new St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Veronique is starting a partnership with her Brazilian friend Susana to publish various books including some on Brazil in preparation for the future Olympic Games. Valentine was spent in St. Augustine (a surprise trip from Chip, he’s always good at that!) during which we visited historical sights and enjoyed learning more about our charming “nation’s oldest city” as it is known.

Later, we were again invited to speak as astronauts at a special event in Huntsville, Alabama, to help promote the Americans-in-Orbit 50 Years (AIO) project. It is moving forward with the latest addition of the University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, spearheaded by no other than the former NASA administrator, Michael Griffin. Although we are less than two years away from our scheduled launch date, and “our rocket”, the Falcon 9, is currently preparing for its maiden launch at Cape Canaveral, it always seems to take longer than anticipated for space projects to (literally) take off. We’ll keep aiming for the stars, whenever that happens!

In the meantime, the principal of the boys’ school in CA (John Glenn Middle School), was delighted to support our venture and promote AIO amongst the science classes. Both Alexander and Nicholas thought that was so cool!

The highlight of March was our trip to Fiji, where fortunately there was no sign of the recent cyclone which hit other parts of the country. Our package was flawlessly organized by Clif, our very nice travel agent, and included two wonderfully contrasting parts: the first involved a deluxe room in a five-star resort with a 40-acre garden, Outrigger on the Lagoon (on the Coral Coast on the island of Viti Levu), complete with daily optional activities, a personal “Talai” butler service, and massage treatments at a spa sanctuary on Vakalomalagi Hill overlooking the resort; the second had us flying by helicopter to a remote island called Castaway (ie. Tom Hanks’ film was filmed in Fiji), where there was only our resort with comfortable “bures” (bungalows) and the Pacific Ocean. Perfect!

We tried out everything… all the sports and exotic foods, coconut bowling, frog racing, Fijian feasts, so much more, and let’s not forget making friends with the most hospitable Fijians to drink “kava” with! As usual, Chip outdid everyone, beating the drums and shouting “Bula!” louder than the locals.

Besides the brightness of the stars and the Milky Way, the water world was also extraordinary. We went sailing and speed boating around the other islands, but once submerged, that is when the true beauty of that fluid environment became alive. In just one small block of coral, there must have been at least twenty to thirty different types of fish! We ended up seeing Angel, Banner, and Butterfly fish, Sweetlips, Cods, Triggerfish that reminded us of the Hawaiian “Humuhumunukunukuapua’a), Parrotfish that kept devouring the coral, Anemonefish or Nemo hiding, the long-nosed Trumpetfish and Wrasses parading about, Unicorns, Humbugs, Northern Darts that kept following us in schools, one of Veronique’s favorite, the Moorish Idol, and the more dangerous species such as the Lionfish, sea snakes, and last but not least, sharks. Those were young ones, so we were safe. Or lucky. Either way, this vacation must have been one of the most relaxing and romantic we have ever had…

We brought back all sorts of artifacts like cannibal forks and neck-breaking weapons, Fijian pearls, kava of course, and most of all, unforgettable moments of peace and love that’ll stay with us forever, or sustain us in more challenging times.

Easter with the boys was definitely not one of those times, since in some of their own words, they were finally officially back home! (“Home is where your Mom is”, the saying goes)… We began with a meat feast at the Brazilian Churrascaria Boizao, and ended up celebrating Nicholas’ 12th birthday with friends and gifts (a Kindle from his Auntie Elizabeth and Vovo, personalized M&M’s, a surprise helicopter ride, etc.). Both boys had fun as usual with new PC and X-Box games, and playing Laser Tag with Nick and Trevor. Tennis, fishing, gardening, artwork, bicycle riding, and more activities filled their days happily, but now they are returning to school in California where they study hard to get the best grades, so more good times later when it’s over!

Next will be the Sun N’ Fun air show where Chip always flies the L-39 jet in the War Birds category; a booth at the “Art in the Park” event where Veronique will exhibit her photos and books in celebration of Earth Day; and right after that, her presentation as keynote speaker for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s presidential dinner to motivate graduating seniors. We have both inspired many people through our personal and professional examples, so at times it is rewarding to be recognized publicly for our efforts, and credited for doing the right thing all along!

We’ll continue working steadily and keeping busy till the summer when the boys will be back for more fun and travels to visit our relatives. Till then, be happy, stay in touch, and much Bula to you all!

Our best always,
Chip, Veronique, Alexander, and Nicholas

Veronique’s New Year begins

The earthquake in Haiti happened and the whole world was shaken by the horror left behind… We have donated to the cause of rescuing the survivors, and I encouraged Alexander and Nicholas to help out too. This tragic event happened just as I had initially planned to visit my friend Sharon (of 22 years!), and her husband Hagos, in Washington DC at the same time as the Terra Cotta Warriors Exhibit at the National Geographic Society Museum, thus sparing me a trip all the way to Xian, China, to explore the entire dig. After considering the relative numbers in terms of seeing one thousand sculptures compared to the yet-to-be-unearthed six thousand, I felt I’d get a decent digest of this archaeological discovery.

The exhibit was outstanding, as most National Geographic productions are, but strangely enough, despite being the catalyst for my trip’s timing, it was the last one out of five museum exhibits I ended up visiting in DC during my week-long stay. On my list were the National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden; the American Indian Museum; the American History Museum; and of course, the Air and Space Museum—all located at the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Capitol.

It turns out there is always more to enjoy in the US capital than one expects to find at first. My biggest surprise was to attend a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration concert at the beautiful Kennedy Performing Arts Center, in the presence of President Obama and the First family. Everyone present paused for a moment to remember the people in Haiti, and the evening was filled with deep feelings of compassion and unity as we realized what difficult times we all still live in, forty-two years after MLK left us. Let’s count the good fortunes we have, and in turn, always do some good around us.

My friend also invited me to an overnight stay at the Hyatt Resort & Spa on Cheasepeake Bay, where we tried out the region’s famous blue crabs. Good restaurants abound in DC but one of my favorite spots was the National Press Club of which we’re both members, especially since we managed to keep business matters separate each time we met there for lunch.

I did eventually get to represent Brazil at a trade seminar Sharon invited me to attend; and I met for almost two hours with Mr. Gary Barnhard, Chairman of the National Space Society (NSS) Executive Committee, and two more of his staff members, to discuss Aurora Aerospace’s partnership and announcement at the next NSS Conference as a newly-elected “Space Ambassador” alongside Space Adventures and Virgin Galactic.

This intense and varied schedule allowed me to not only enjoy the blessings of a long-lasting friendship and the cultural riches of our nation’s capital, but also to consolidate our company’s position as one of the main players in the Space community. Within only four years of meeting each other, Chip and I have gone from mere strangers at our first Space Conference to key partners in a venture that has been recognized for the quality of its services. Our efforts paid off, and I hope my children will learn from our example of honest, hard work, and succeed in fulfilling their dreams in the future as we have been able to do so lately…

Next, we’ll be in Huntsville for another promotion round of the Americans-in-Orbit 50 years project as guest astronaut speakers; Chip will begin new ER shifts at the state-of-the-art St. Joseph’s Hospital; and of course, we are looking forward to having the boys return to their home in Florida since we are planning their participation in a Canadian television program for children featuring Aurora Aerospace. They miss us a lot, but they have been doing well in school, under strict discipline in California, so we all just think of it as doing time in boarding school, knowing it will end soon enough!

Be safe, be happy… And a farewell with King’s words: “The time is always right to do what is right.”

So far, so very good

Greetings everyone! And latest news…

Atlantis Clinic won an award for best business, and Aurora Aerospace has been quite successful with our hard work—Veronique as President and ground trainer, Chip as CEO and flight trainer. After the Cocoa Beach Air Show and the AOPA Summit, we are now adding Upset Training to our services.

Also been busy renovating the house and aircraft, participating at an art conference in Ireland with Vovo, and best of all, having a great time with the boys during Thanksgiving in Colorado.

Since Alexander and Nicholas only had a four-day break from school, we opted to meet them closer to California for a snow vacation instead. Our trip was filled with non-stop fun, starting with a visit to a former gold mining town outside of Denver where we ate buffalo and Chip purchased collector knives.

Next, we arrived in Winter Park and found our lodge at the Bear Crossing resort (picked by Veronique because of her bear collection!). It turned out to be a good choice: Five stories; two fireplaces; Jacuzzi; and all the amenities of a luxurious home…

We drove around to explore our mountain surroundings and shop for sleds before voting for dinner at a genuine Irish restaurant (Guinness, anyone?). That first blissful evening was spent just chatting by the fireplace drinking hot chocolate and feeling happy about being all together as a family again.

We had made reservations to go snowmobiling the next day, so after a hearty breakfast we geared up for the adventure and took off on a two-hour tour in the woods, all the way to the Continental Divide. It was very exciting, like dirt bike riding in the snow!

Later on, we took a gondola ride and found the perfect spot to witness the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle crossing the evening skies during a precise three-minute period. After that incredible sight, we were on time too for our Thanksgiving dinner at a popular restaurant.

No reservations needed the next morning to go inner tubing at Fraser Park, the huge facility operated from 10 am to 10 pm all season long. We were lucky with the weather considering there was enough snow for all the activities we had planned, and yet the temperature and sunshine made for pleasant winter conditions.

Besides tubing, we spent time every day sledding, finding different slopes to test our unconventional styles, the best one being an unspoiled forest trail we came across by chance. After a delicious dinner at a traditional eatery, we continued the evening with a French game called “Mille Bornes”, and wrapped it up with a soak in the Jacuzzi and a dare run in the snow!

Saturday was perhaps the most challenging and rewarding day for Chip and the boys: Downhill skiing for the second time in their lives! Veronique’s skills were never lost since her training in Switzerland and further skiing in Lillehammer, so at some point she headed higher to 10,700 feet towards the blue and black runs while Chip and the boys worked their way up the beginners’ hills.

By the time all lifts were closing, everyone had exceeded their own expectations, skiing with confidence and no broken bones! The ski resort was very well organized, with scenic runs, courteous staff, brand new rental equipment, and no lift lines. We all decided to make it a yearly tradition to go to the snow, so we’ll be back, definitely.

Christmas will be spent happily at home, whereas we’ll go to the Plantation Golf & Spa Resort in Crystal River to swim with manatees over New Year’s. With all the blessings we have had, it is only fair to care about the ones who are struggling, so we will again be donating to UNICEF’s Darfur cause to name a few, as we encourage others to do so.

We wish to thank our families and friends for the love you have given us, and hope you will have a wonderful holiday season.

Yours always,

Chip, Veronique, Alexander, and Nicholas (St. Nick!)

Up, up, and away!

Last time, we’d announced our anniversary would be celebrated in Canada since Chip wanted to share the beauty of his other country of citizenship–indeed, it was beautiful! We first flew to Vermont where we rented a car to drive across the border and enjoy all the wonderful natural sights on the way to Montreal. Once there, we stayed at the historical Reine Elizabeth hotel where John Lennon and Yoko Ono had held their bed-in; coincidentally, there was a fascinating exhibit on about them, along with another on Napoleon at the Musee des Beaux Arts.

Montreal vibrates with cultural events, great restaurants, and stores, and of course, impressive monuments like their own Notre-Dame Cathedral. We toured the entire city, and even added side trips to the Canada Space Center and a day at the lovely mountain resort called Mont Tremblant.

Veronique really had a good time speaking French in Canada; and her anniversary celebration was complete with a stop at the Vermont Bear factory on the way back home, to add yet another bear to her collection!

Chip repeated good times with a trip to Gadsden, Alabama, to attend the “Jet Blast” organized by International Jets. There were more than a dozen jet pilots ready to train in formation flight. The event culminated with a newly-formed “Jet Blast team” of L-39s flying in formation at the local airshow. Chip was at the controls of his jet with another trained pilot, and he’ll definitely repeat the experience–yes, it was a blast!

Back home, we were invited to participate in the Space Investment Summit Conference by Robert Jacobson from the 62-Mile Club, in order to introduce Aurora Aerospace formally as a Space Training Center doing business out of Florida. Chip was the presenter, and he blew the audience away with the description of our services. The day was well spent networking, with Per Wimmer (future Danish astronaut) booking a training flight in the L-39 that same week-end.

So far, we have been able to secure partnerships with outstanding companies such as Mig-Flug (in Europe), Incredible Adventures, and the Millionaire’s Concierge. They’ve helped us expand our activities along with the interviews we gave to the local Fox and ABC television networks. Online, more news about www.aurora-aerospace.com have been circulating through articles by Space.com and Space News. We’ve been busy since our official launch on May 1^st!

News about our other space -related activities: Americans-in-Orbit 50 Years (AIO 50) has procured a space capsule which is now at the US Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Check it out at: www.aio50.org. Plans are still on for a 2012 launch….

In the meantime, we’ll get together with Craig Russell, the AIO President, at the next AOPA Summit here in Tampa in November to drum up some media coverage about the project. (Before that, we’ll be flying the jet at the Cocoa Beach Air Show in October. In short, we’ll be airborne no matter what happens!)

As soon as Alexander and Nicholas came back home in June, we focused on them of course, and on spending quality time having fun. We began with a trip to Paris, France, the day after they arrived. The timing was necessary due to the Paris Air Show we were attending (instead of the one in Russia, which we decided to trade for in order to be able to take the boys with us). The jet lag turned out to be easier than we had anticipated, and the boys had no problem taking in all that Paris had to offer in the short time we were there–a lot!

Right after we stepped off the plane and dropped our luggage at our hotel (situated in front of the Madeleine Church, a perfect selection which Veronique’s mom, Vovo, had recommended–she met us there by the way), we headed towards the Eiffel Tower, walking past the Place de la Concorde with the Egyptian obelisk, the Jardin des Tuileries, bridges, etc. etc. There is no point in trying to describe all the magnificent Parisian sights , the best is to view the photographs we took directly on this blog!

We were all very happy to see Vovo again, going to fancy French restaurants and taking time to connect with the French culture. The Louvre and Versailles were especially marking, with the richness of their designs and the treasures they preserved inside.
We were glad to introduce the boys to their second cultural heritage as they will soon be learning French at school now that they are done with cruising. They both already know “maman”, and they loved the French sandwiches called “croque-monsieur” they first tasted at the traditional Angelina, so that counts for a lot already, ha!

Once home again, the boys were very excited to have their own rooms for the first time! They decorated them freely with their personal interests, and it was a delight to watch them at work sorting through their collections and decorative items. Finally, they had no more studying to do this summer, so we were done with Calvert School. Still, in order to keep their skills honed, they studied robots, then had to design their own concept on paper; launched rockets; participated in the Summer Reading Program at the local library; and learned about Fire Safety with a private tour of the Oldsmar Fire Station by their friend Nick Weber.

Alexander and Nicholas also did do some non-scholarly work: They helped repaint the “Spaceball”, or “MAD” (multi-axis disorientation) Machine for use at Aurora Aerospace. Alexander also assisted with the company’s simulator, the Orbiter, while Nicholas lent a hand with the MAD Machine on Space Camp Day. Here is an excerpt of articles published about Aurora Aerospace’s Space Camp Day:

Space Camp Day began this past Saturday at 9 a.m. when twenty-five cadets and parents from four different squadrons (Clearwater Composite; Northside Cadet; Palm Harbor Cadet; and Pasco Cadet Squadrons) were escorted into the conference room of the airport’s fixed base of operation for their first briefing. Welcoming them was Chipman’s fiancée, Veronique Balsa-Koken, a University Professor and President of Aurora Aerospace, and their two sons, Cadet Alexander and Nicholas, who assisted with the operation of the simulator and MAD machine. Nick Weber, a new member of the Oldsmar Fire Department, was also present to give a presentation later in the afternoon about Fire Safety.

Following Major Chipman’s assignment of lucky cadets to the jet or zero-g flights, Captain Balsa-Koken then proceeded to instruct the entire group in Human Physiology in Space; Spatial Disorientation; and Marshalling. An hour later, the group was divided into four teams, each participating in a different activity for the next two hours. After a lunch break, the teams rotated again until the end of the event, which wrapped up successfully around 4 p.m. with Aurora Aerospace’s donation of the company’s flight patch as a souvenir.

The cadets and senior members of the CAP shared their appreciation for Aurora Aerospace’s generous offering of time, expertise, and equipment, in what some cadets expressed as “their best time ever!”

Leisure-wise, the boys got to engage in many activities every boy might wish to do: Bowling; flying; gliding; boating; driving; tennis; kayaking; swimming with new pool toys; laser-tagging; wake-boarding; bicycle riding; launching fireworks; starting a bonfire; ice-skating lessons; electronics time; and by all means, since they are part of the Chipman Family now, a mandatory trip to the Bahamas!

During this trip (the fourth one for the boys, they’ll soon be eligible for residency at this rate!), we stopped at the Grand Bahama Island to visit Chip’s dad in Freeport. He declared that he wanted to explore the Exumas, so off we went all of a sudden to Georgetown–that’s the advantage of private planes in the Caribbean, you pick another island at the last minute and you just go (checking first if the airport has fuel)…

Chip found a charming and private property to rent called Regatta Point, located at the end of Kidd Cove. The mansion came without TV, internet, or good telephone reception—too bad?—but complete with boat and equipment to enjoy fishing. That we did every day, catching enough fish to prepare our own “Chipman Fish Fry” many times over. We also toured around Georgetown, ate well, snorkeled, relaxed, went boating everywhere, and had a great time with the “famous Chippie Chipman”. The most memorable day was the one spent on Stocking Island where tame sting rays come up to people near the beach and allow them to pet them and feed them. It was unbelievable!

The summer ended with a definitely-not-uptight visit to the “Holyland”, right here in Florida! Instead of going again to the exhibits nearby—we’ve seen so many already—or the standard Orlando Disney or Universal traps, we decided to investigate a less mainstream attraction (although it did get featured in Bill Maher’s “Religulous” movie, the source of our curiosity).

Anyway, we arrived there in our Astrovan just in time to catch the simulated whipping and crucifixion of Jesus complete with fake blood. They had a pretend “last supper” with the same Jesus after they cleaned him up. Chip parted the Red Sea at some point, and everybody was enthralled by the quality tour of old Bibles and scrolls. It was an experience we shall define as weirdly tacky, yet quite valuable and entertaining. Definitely worth it, believers and atheists alike!

This is it for now. The boys are with father in California; we’ll be celebrating our birthdays next week at the Biltmore in Miami (courtesy of Vovo and Auntie Elizabeth who want to share this occasion with us); then it’ll be the start of the fall season with much to do. So let’s reconnect around Christmas, “the best time of the year”! Till then, be well, and our best thoughts always…

A Great Spring

This blog entry is mostly about the boys since we continued going about our regular businesses of Atlantis Clinic, Aurora Aerospace, etc., while Alexander and Nicholas provided us with many entertainment opportunities!

We began with welcoming them with gifts (we were celebrating Nicholas’ 11^th birthday) such as scooters, games, and R/C toys; followed by an Easter Egg Hunt and a flight in the Commander to visit the War Birds Museum on Sunday; the always-adventurous Piranha fishing trip; and the usual pool/bonfire/fireworks tradition…

Of course, there was Calvert School work to finish for good, with the last exciting science experiments and field trips. We also introduced the boys to the Civil Air Patrol (Air Force Auxiliary Cadet Program) and a Taekwondo class to be continued this summer. And while Alexander had more driving and soaring training with Chip, Nicholas was busy jet-skiing with our neighbors and launching his A-10 model airplane.

They both organized an entire garage sale by themselves, which turned out to be quite successful. We made sure they both had thorough health check-ups (including dental and orthodontic), and in the end, they were rewarded with turns in the Aurora Aerospace simulator.

The highlight of their time with us was definitely the L-39. They each had a blast playing “Top Gun”, and this year they got to see Chip flying in the Sun N’ Fun Airshow. That was quite a special moment… He has been teaching them a lot about airplanes and other vehicles, so as soon as they become drivers and pilots, they’ll have Chip to thank by all means!

To keep up with her environmental lessons, Veronique made sure they celebrated Mother Nature on Earth Day by recycling and cleaning up a beach. They were also reminded about the crisis in Darfur Veronique has been actively involved in since 2003, which they had helped with by funding a well through Unicef through their lemonade stand profits.

We added a new pet to our family: A small water-turtle Nicholas found in our driveway (!), which we adopted after researching all about its safety issues and needs at Pet Smart. It is now fully fitted with its own aquarium, basking lamp, floating log, etc. We take good care of everything at our home! We should mention that we finally shaved Beavis, and he’s doing a lot better without his scratchy fur. Luna is still a sweet lunatic, but that’s to be expected.

So that’s the news for now… The boys are cruising to Hawaii next, thank goodness for that choice since we don’t know what’s ahead with the swine flu spread. We are flying to Montreal next week to celebrate our anniversary. Then it’s off to the Jet Blast Convention in May, and Paris as soon as the boys return in June, so that we can all attend the Paris Air Show and show them the “City of Lights”.

Well, au revoir et a bientot! Be well, stay safe… Best wishes always from Chip, Veronique, Alexander and Nicholas

Our Trip to New Zealand

Despite leaving on Nov. 11 and arriving locally two days later, our successive flights to New Zealand (from Tampa, FL to Los Angeles, CA, then Auckland and Queenstown) went like a breeze.

We had good seats, service, and weather, so that upon our arrival Chip was ready for his pilot checkride to Waunaka in the South Island.

Our first impression of New Zealand was a very friendly, relaxing one, with locals welcoming us warmly and all going smoothly as planned.

Sue, one of the part-time pilots for Geordie Hill Station (the farm property we stayed at), was at the airport to greet us and direct us in the air towards Waunaka. Once there, we met with our next pilot guide, Pete, who also runs a Tiger Moth operation. He makes sure foreign pilots are qualified to brave New Zealand’s mountain flying conditions in a 180-hp Cessna 172. Chip had no problem confirming his skills as Pilot-in-Command, and we were soon in sight of the station.

What a magnificent property! Imagine a lush valley with cattle and sheep scattered throughout green fields; a cluster of farm houses with adjacent barns and horse paddocks; a creek lined with bird-filled trees running throughout; and finally, the grass airstrip we landed on! This spectacular world was to become ours for the next twelve days…

Needless to say, our arrival had been perfectly prepared by Matt and Jo, our hosting couple and owners of Geordie Hill Station. As they knew Chip from a past booking with their Fly Inn Company, and Veronique from Oshkosh, they’d reserved the best intimate cottage on site—their former home.

It came comfortably furnished and filled with everything we needed or might have wished for, including delicious food & beverage, fresh flowers, music, and of course, wood for the fireplace… Idyllic!

That afternoon, we settled in easily, and then took to the fields to explore the surroundings and all their natural elements. By the evening, our appetites were quite built up and we were royally treated to the first of many superb dinners cooked by Jo. Her cooking was always full of personal touches and an attention to detail worthy of a true professional.

Strolling back to our cottage with lamb-filled stomachs, we breathed in the fresh evening air and admired the starry skies before collapsing in bed for the deepest of well-earned sleeps. Our adventure was just beginning!

DAY ONE 11/14/08

Chip was already fixing breakfast with fresh farm eggs and press-machine coffee at 7 am, before we headed towards the main house to meet up with Sue and organize our day.

The weather called for a great trip to the world-famous Milford Sound, and we were not disappointed!

Take-off time was at 9:30 am, heading West towards Waunaka; then South through the Cardrona Saddle onto Queenstown; following Lake Wakatipu to Rat Point; passing Afton Burn Saddle to the Von River; crossing the Marora Lakes, the Whitestone and Upukerora Rivers; to finally land at the Te Anau airfield to refuel.

Our trip continued with more saddles, and rivers, and varied topography named after a wide diversity of Maori and Anglo-Saxon origins typical throughout New Zealand’s landscape.

We soon arrived at Milford Sound where a tight pattern surrounded by steep mountains could challenge even the most experienced of pilots. Chip landed skillfully and we were readily booking a cruise on the fjord. Waterfalls, blue penguins, seals, and the Tasmanian Sea were all part of the unforgettable experience…

After a light lunch and an energetic walk through a forest trail, we flew off towards the East and the imposing Mount Aspiring. It is difficult to describe the sense of awe felt as we approached this Matterhorn-like peak… Not only was its size and shape extraordinary, but it was also home to hidden mountain lakes and splendid glaciers carving their mysterious motion through its generous sides.

We were perfectly content with the sights, but Sue had more in store for us: Big Bay, and the beach, where we landed! Not a soul in sight, and the kind of landing usually chosen as an engine failure emergency option… Yet so unspoiled and inviting. Sure enough, Chip once more aced the landing, and we were able to collect the most special seashells for our boys’ collection!

DAY TWO

Matt fetched us for a full, intense day of turbulent 40+ knots winds and jet boating on the Dart River. Add to that a flight at 12,000 feet to circle Mount Cook and its nearby glaciers—the Tasman and Franz Josef—and we were close to heaven!

In fact, once we landed in picturesque Glenorchy overlooking Mount Aspiring National Park, the entire itinerary included the kind of “Lord of the Rings” sights and trivia most tourists look forward to.

Of course, we were also taught about the real Maori history and its ecological richness. Like the Hawaiians and other Polynesian cultures, the Maoris have a close relationship to nature. Not only did they base a multitude of tales and myths on natural elements, but their survival also depended on a deep understanding of and respect for Mother Nature. Nowadays, despite much progress and its negative effects, New Zealand is very serious about preserving its past and land through ongoing conservation efforts throughout the nation.

At the end of the day, we left Glenorchy more elated and educated than before…

DAY THREE

The weather was not ideal for flying, so we borrowed one of Geordie Hill Station’s cars instead and went off on a scenic drive towards Queenstown (on the left side of the road!).

Our path took us past the towns of Cromwell for Manuka (local flower) honey; Tarras for Merino (best sheep breed) wool; bungee-jumping spots over dramatic gorges; lakes; pastures; wineries; and in the end, “the adventure capital” of Queenstown.

True, Queenstown is the alpine gateway to the surrounding Remarkable Ranges, while also sitting beside Lake Wakatipu. In short, it offers an assortment of mountain and water-based activities in one thrilling adventure package.

We had to check out the elusive Kiwi bird found only in New Zealand, and in this case, available for viewing at the Kiwi and Birdlife Park. Also unique to the country was the Tuatara, a prehistoric reptile capable of living hundreds of years.

We learned a lot about these species and their endangered status due to introduced mammals like stoats, possums, rabbits, and so on.

We enjoyed the rest of the day in town shopping for the special “Paua” shell and Merino wool products, and then headed back to the station in time to enjoy a restful Sunday evening. Not bad for a day off flying!

DAY FOUR

The next two days were spent visiting the historic city of Christchurch and getting acquainted with all the interesting spots on the way there and back…

We stopped first at Omarama to gas up, which happens to be the world’s top gliding sites. In anticipation of North Westerly winds (the nor’ wester) a few days later, we managed to book a flight for what is known as the best mountain wave lift! But that would have to wait.

We continued our way up the Eastern Coast past farming plains and through thick rain, soon landing under beautiful clear skies to check in at the Canterbury Aeroclub’s pilot lounge. Matt had already arranged to have a car waiting to take us to the International Antarctic Center (IAC).

The United States and New Zealand cooperate in Antarctic exploration through training and operation of flights in C17s and C-130s from Christchurch. Next to the training base was the IAC offering a demonstration of potential challenges faced by crews in Antarctica.

One of these challenges was a simulated storm inside a cold room, with blasting winds and temperatures reaching the low 20s Celsius. Another was a ride in a Haglund ATV, climbing inclines of up to 45 degrees, and crossing through fake crevasses and melting ice.

On a milder side, we watched rare blue penguins strutting around and swimming in their habitat, but that wasn’t enough to make us sign up for Antarctic duty anytime soon!

Following that visit, we drove to our lovely hotel, the Classic Villa.

It epitomized the thriving, attractive spirit of the city with its Gothic revival and modern architectural styles. Being centrally situated on Worchester Street, we were able to stroll around by foot past charming gardens and art galleries, or hop on an antique tramway and circle the entire downtown alongside the Avon River. Again, we enjoyed the best of foods and wines at a trendy restaurant. Kiwis know how to live, no doubt about it!

DAY FIVE

The next morning, we walked around Christchurch some more before being invited to a private demo of the Martin Jetpack. For those who are not familiar with the concept, it is a jet-propelled individual “vertical flying machine” (the closest analogy being the Bell jet belt).

Martin Jetpack had taken its prototype to Oshkosh, and since that time we’d wanted to find out more about the product. Given that their headquarters were in Christchurch, what better opportunity than to meet the makers and the product in their own turf?

After a three-hour tour of the factory and a full demonstration and presentation of the latest model, we were very impressed by Glenn Martin’s production goals. We are continuing contact with the company, and certainly hope to cooperate with them in the near future.

After this extraordinary visit, we headed back home by a different route flying through the Mackenzie Pass, and landed in time for a succulent dinner of venison prepared by Jo.

DAY SIX

The weather once again dictated our choice of activities, and as a windy trend was in place, we spent the morning on the ground farming: Sheep-shearing, livestock repositioning, and even a lesson in pasture management!

Matt picked two sheep which we named them Rob and Roy (they turned out to be females, oh well), and we each took turns shearing them carefully, peeling the warm and soft Merino wool off their thick bodies. We kept some of it to show Alexander and Nicholas what pure wool feels like…Sumptuous.

Then Shelwyn and Neville, both seasonal helpers at Geordie Hill, drove us around the farm to muster the livestock with the help of their dogs. We first moved the cattle, and next gathered sheep from the outlying paddocks closer to the main station in preparation for the “tailing” of the young ones (ie. cutting the tails off). There were over 4,000 sheep and a few hundred cows, so there was a lot of work to do, but to us it equated to fun!

After we were done with that, we borrowed the car once again to spend the afternoon in the town of Wanaka. We visited its Warbirds Museum at the same field where the international airshow is held; and while in the mood, we stopped by a nearby shooting club to try out their clay-bird option. Quite different from what we’d tried before, but we managed pretty well with four hits each.

Wanaka qualified as postcard scenery with a pristine lake, surrounding mountain ranges, and the serene charm of a small alpine resort. It reminded Veronique of her upbringing in Switzerland, and Chip of his Canadian background…

DAY SEVEN

An early start in order to reach Stewart Island before noon, as we had a complete tour with fishing and island sight-seeing booked for one o’clock.

The flight South took us past some of the most fertile plains of New Zealand, as well as a dramatic coastline with sharp cliffs and dangerous surfing shores. Once we had The Bluff in sight, we veered towards the open waters to cross the Foveaux Strait.

The minuscule Dog Island appeared first with its solitary lighthouse; then Kuapuke Island and its few Maori settlements; the series of Mutton Bird Islands; and finally Stewart Island’s Half Moon Bay. We landed at the Ryan’s Creek airfield, a simple asphalt strip at the top of a windy hill.

As usual, Matt had already organized transportation to town, dropping us off near the Rakiura Environmental Center for a quick briefing on the main “tramps” (hikes!). We learned about the endangered Kakapo parrot (only 85 left in the world), and all the preservation efforts by the residents to ensure their local habitat does not fall prey to tourism’s exploitation.

After a great plate of green-lipped mussels at the Wharf, we boarded the vessel “Aurora” and headed out towards Ulva Island to fish. Birds followed us aggressively, eating the discarded bits of fish the hired crew tossed at them. As time went on, we managed to catch six blue cods and a shark, the largest species Veronique had ever hooked!

Included in our tour was a stop at a historic whalers’ base at Prices Inlet, as well as a leisurely cruise of Paterson Inlet to view hidden coves and unspoiled beaches.

We returned around 5 pm and flew back to Geordie Hill with dinner in our coolers, counting another day in New Zealand as unforgettable…

FRIDAY

An easy-going, late start before spending the most exciting time gliding in Omarama!

Southern Soaring catered to both experienced glider pilots and beginners, “teaching the art of using lift from ridges, thermals, and mountain waves to explore some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery”. And they did as promised.

While there was a competition waiting to begin with 200+ gliders on the ground, Chip opted to accompany the company’s assigned pilot, Chris Rudge, in a special Rhonlerche to check the conditions aloft. But instead of returning soon after to switch onto a more modern glider, they decided to break an altitude record in that model, 13,000 feet! Meanwhile, Veronique was having her own good aerobatic time with Mike Till doing up to four consecutive loops near the field.

As far as we were concerned, Omarama lived up to its worldwide reputation as being one of the best soaring spots, period. No wonder it was among the late Steve Fossett’s favorites…  Read more about our day in the Southern Soaring website:  http://www.soaring.co.nz/Southern_Soaring_Whats_New.html (November 23, 2008)

LAST DAY

We had use of the car a last time so we drove to Queenstown again in order to sail on the NZL 14, a retired New Zealand’s America’s Cup racing yacht. Veronique had actually seen it in San Diego back in 1991 when she was covering the World Championships Race!

We met the crew at the Yacht Club and departed Steamer Wharf with other guests. At once, the sheer size of the yacht’s components was amazing, and the views from Lake Wakatipu were equally stunning. But what we enjoyed the most was the opportunity to take the helm, grind, and eventually push the limits of the yacht to the point of tearing both jib and mainsail! The skipper was a “wee bit” sorry about the damage, but we were all quite thrilled to celebrate the great sail with drinks ashore at the Yacht Club…

Later, we made our way back slowly with a stop at the historical gold-mining Arrowtown, and a relaxing dinner at a rustic restaurant serving lamb. Ironically, upon our return to the farm, we encountered a lone little one wandering around, its life safe for now. The reality of a farming environment is not always kind to animals, although they have it pretty good at Geordie Hill.

Veronique had initially thought about “adopting” a sheep, as she and the boys had adopted an owl at a Bird Sanctuary in Florida. However, that idea was dropped after the realization that sheep are definitely not endangered in New Zealand!

Our trip confirmed a variety of facts about this unique country, and helped correct notions we might have wrongly formed before experiencing the Kiwi world first-hand. We can only find words of praise for its land, culture, and people. New Zealand is definitely the best at “maakitanga ki nga manuhiri” (hosting of visitors)!

Latest Newspaper Article

Check out the Huntsville Times: “2012 target set for private spaceflight”

or Google: Americans-in-Orbit 50 Years

Welcome, 2009!

Christmas is our favorite time of the year, with so many festive traditions we always share as a family. As soon as December arrived, all four of us went to buy the largest tree we could find, then went to work decorating it and the whole house with ornaments, lights, water globes, and so on… Then we left for the Bahamas to wish Chip’s family the best of holiday cheer—although they are cheerful year round, really!

Auntie Elizabeth took time off her diplomatic duties to fly in and celebrate the holidays with us. We began by picking her up at the airport in the Astronaut Air Stream “Command Center”; followed by boating and fishing aboard our “Piranha”; flying in the new Rockwell Commander 700 and gliding at Chip’s Club; pool, Jacuzzi, and bonfire of course; and a great finale with Christmas gifts and dinner. In between all the activities, we also went to St. Michael The Archangel Church, and watched “The Nutcracker” production by the Moscow Ballet at a concert hall. Overall, we think she enjoyed her stay!

After everybody left, the two of us had a very nice New Year’s Eve Party in Tampa, then began 2009 full of energy and hope to get back into our projects. Aurora Aerospace has a new website: http://www.aurora-aerospace.com, and we promoted our Space Training Center at a prestigious Ferrari Owners January Reunion in Palm Beach. The L-39 Jet was one of the highlights of the evening, and we had fun mixing business and pleasure.

Another quick trip to the Bahamas when the boys returned, for some quality fishing and Conch cuisine with the Chipmans… And our next opportunity to market our facility came soon after in February, at the same time as Josette’s visit from Beijing (Veronique’s mother). We were so glad they could join us to celebrate our first public event as selected astronauts for the Americans-in-Orbit 50 Years (AIO-50) program.

We flew everybody in the Commander to Huntsville, where Craig Russell, the head of AIO-50, welcomed us with the warmest of Alabama’s spirit. He’d booked us at the posh Westin; rented a car for us; and organized the entire presentation we were to give at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

We dressed up in our official flight suits, the boys wore their newest “special occasion” clothes, and after a full day visit of the center, we were right on time to dine under a Saturn V rocket and give numerous television interviews (even the boys were included!) before stepping onstage.

The whole evening and our presentation went so well that in the end, we had the public lining up to ask us for autographs! That was unexpected, and we must mention a young lady who, despite her cancer, was present and inspired by our program. That, in itself, was worth being there!

The Atlantis Clinic is doing well, the boys’ education, Veronique’s flight training, all our loved relatives and friends, so despite the economy, we feel blessed. And doubly so, now that we have a new President we can believe in to help improve the general state of affairs.

So good luck to y’all as they charmingly say in Alabama… More later!

Winter 2008

It’s that time of the year once again when we choose to set aside the challenging moments we have lived—don’t we all have them—and instead recall the great ones, whether in exciting new destinations, or quietly, with familiar loved ones…”It’s all good”, a positive saying which is at the root of our philosophy.

Cheaha, Alabama. Who would have guessed it had so much going for it: A National State Park where one can rent a comfortable cabin in the woods and enjoy the outdoors while looking for Big Foot!

We were actually dropping off the L-39 jet for its annual at International Jets. Wonderful opportunity to extend our stay and discover the local treasures… From caves to falls and wilderness hikes, we took it all in with pleasure. Y’ all, thanks for the Southern spirit!

We rented a booth at the Reno Air Races with friends, and later also attended the Festival of Speed at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando. Chip flew the L-39 to participate in this latter event, and we set up a display stand to promote Aurora Aerospace.

Our trip to New Zealand followed. Need we say more? Veronique’s dream come true, Chip’s second stay with Matt & Jo from Flyinn. It was perfect, our very own Shangri-la.

We spent our time flying around the Southern Island, and the rest relishing in the sights, foods, and overall lifestyle we were privileged to share in. There is so much to tell, we’ll have to write more details in a separate story…

Rockwell Commander 700: Our newest aircraft. We flew it back from Virginia and it was everything we ever wanted. A pressurized, air-conditioned, King Air-alike plane so spacious it feels like an airliner. Chip took to it very naturally, and we’ll soon be ready to test zero-gravity flights as part of our space training center packages.

We also bought an Airstream (identical to those shuttling astronauts to the launch pad) to install the company’s simulator in, but in the meantime Alexander and Nicholas have been having lots of fun camping in it.

The boys had spent a longer period away because they were supposedly going to sail to the Galapagos, but it turns out during all those months their boat never moved from El Salvador. So needless to say, they were extremely happy to be home with us again!

Veronique used that free time to her benefit in order to train for her pilot certificate, which she will wrap up once the boys leave. Check out her story with soloing details on her instructor’s website at: http://www.flywithjoe.wordpress.com

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Nick, then an early Christmas with the Tampa Bay Soaring Society Christmas Party, when everyone had lots of fun exchanging mystery gifts. Alexander won a bottle of Crown Royal (which he will age until turning 21), and Nicholas got yet another free R/C toy!

The boys were also very busy with home school studies, sports, and travel, including the Bahamas for a week. We spent three days in Freeport visiting Chip’s father and fishing in his new boat. Brian Collins was the knowledgeable captain (and actor from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies) who handled the operations on board.

We had a good time at the local fish fry, the marina, boating in the canals and offshore, snorkeling, and pretty much just soaking up the local culture. We then flew off to Nassau where we stayed at the Atlantis Resort for a couple of days.

Amongst some of the activities were swimming with dolphins; incredible water slides; lagoons filled with rays, sea turtles, and sharks; unspoiled beaches; and so much more. We recommend this resort whole-heartedly, it is unbelievable!

One evening, we were lucky to meet up with Chip’s famous uncle, John Chipman, who presented the boys with his own hand-made drums to celebrate the Junkanoo with. We were sorry to leave so soon, but it was time to return home where Christmas is waiting for us, along with Auntie Elizabeth’s visit from Brazil.

At the beginning of next year, we’ll be the official astronauts presenting the project from Americans in Orbit – 50 Years at the Space Center in Huntsville, AL (www.aio50.org); and we are planning a trip to Russia in the summer; maybe also a Mazzella di Bosco family reunion… But for now, our warmest wishes to all of you for a Merry Christmas, full of joy and peace… And may 2009 be good to you and yours! Just remember, “It’s all good!”!

Happy family at the Sheraton Lucaya Resort, Grand Bahamas

Summer 2008

Once again, we had the pleasure of spending a fun-filled summer with the boys. Alexander and Nicholas are both loving, smart, obedient, and just wonderful to be with, and we are so proud they have done well with their Calvert studies while here. We couldn’t wish for better children!

In return, we certainly spoiled them a bit with all the adventures, sports, and exciting activities we engaged in these past two months (see photos!). We also returned all together to the Bahamas for ten days, including some island hopping on the Seneca from the Grand Bahamas to the Abacos.

We spent the first three days in Freeport enjoying the company of Chip’s dad (Chippie) and step-mother, and visited both ends of the island on separate occasions: The West end, where we had lunch at the famous Ginn-Sur-Mer’s Bonefish Foley restaurant, after which we went snorkeling for conch shells; and the East end, where we stopped at the secluded Bishop’s resort for conch fritters before heading down to the beach to hunt for sea biscuits. The evenings were filled with more delicious local foods and lots of Bahamian relaxation…

On the third day, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful Sheraton Lucaya Resort we usually stay at, and enjoyed Independence Day parties all around. Chip was highlighted that evening on national television with a full interview on him, which made him quite popular as “The Flying Doctor” everywhere we went thereafter!

For the next four days, we took in the spectacular Abaco Islands, known for their top yachting and fishing waters. The Sea of Abaco offers 100 miles of inshore waterways protected by fringing reefs and offshore cays with quaint villages, snug coves, and cozy anchorages. Added to those, friendly people, luxurious resorts, and some of the most attractive beaches in the world–what a perfect destination!

Our first accommodation was at Marsh Harbour’s Abaco Beach Resort, which includes its own marina where we docked our rental boat. The Boat Harbour was just finishing hosting the island’s summer sailing festival which is known for drawing competitors and spectators from around the world each year. We opted for a powered vessel since Chippie and the boys were ready for some serious fishing, and it proved to be the best choice to navigate more easily in and out of cays and near reefs.

The Bahamas has some of the clearest waters on Earth, with visibility averaging 80 feet. And in the Abacos, that meant you could see fish almost everywhere, from groupers and snappers to yellow tails and grunts–the list could go on. We bought fresh bait, but despite that and quality gear, we were not lucky enough to catch Veronique’s dream tuna! Snorkeling was more successful, especially in protected areas like Mermaid’s Reef and around different islets we anchored at.

After two days, we headed out to Elbow Cay and the Abaco Inn, a charming retreat with waterfront cottages nestled among sand dunes and coconut palms, all overlooking the Atlantic Ocean or the crystal blue Sea of Abaco. Our suite was very intimate with its own hammock and just a few steps to the beach, while Chippie and the boys were lodged just across from the dock where they could fish at all times.

Despite some scattered storms, we continued exploring the various cays for the next two days, including a delightful visit to picturesque Hope Town and the lighthouse with its fabulous 360-degree view–the most memorable sight of the Abacos.

Our Bahamian times were not over yet since upon returning to Freeport, we spent another three days visiting some of Chip’s many relatives (brothers, aunt, cousin). We shopped at a cousin’s store at the Straw Market and ate at Chippie’s restaurant, and wrapped up our stay with an extraordinary full-day tour of the Lucayan National Park.

Within 42 acres managed by the park, nature trails and boardwalks led to a variety of ecosystems, including pine lands, mangrove swamps, and sand dunes. The pristine Gold Rock Beach was not to be missed, and nor were two large caves, Ben’s Cave and Burial Mound Cave, part of one of the longest underwater cavern systems in the world.

We flew back to Florida definitely fulfilled and happy, and about to get happier still with a surprise birthday party organized by some friends at our house, complete with pool games and fireworks. Jill had her entire family attending, and her expression was priceless when she saw them. Congrats to Steve for pulling it off!

Unfortunately, since then we’ve had daily scattered thunderstorms, so the boys joined the Oldsmar recreation center to play indoor games with other children. They have also been occupied by the latest addition to the family, a beautiful Bengal cat (a mixed breed between the wild Asian Leopard and the Egyptian Mau). She is four months old and we named her “Luna”, and besides having come with an impressive show-quality pedigree from her breeder, her most precious quality is definitely her loving disposition.

Next, the boys will be gone from August 8th until Thanksgiving. We’ll miss them a lot, but we’ll keep busy with work on our different projects and some travel too. Since we didn’t attend Oshkosh this year, we are going to the Reno Air Races next month; and in November, we’ll be flying to New Zealand for two weeks.

That’s it, hopefully we’ll be opening the space training center before the end of the year, and possibly reactivating the art gallery with a better profile. One thing is for sure, though: There is not an idle moment when you live in Oldsmar!

Bend, Oregon with The Rocket Guy

After decades of globe-trotting, Oregon was not a destination either one of us had ever listed as a priority…We were so wrong.

Five days later, we have shed some ignorance and gained a wealth of unique memories to cherish forever.

The reason we even visited the area was to meet with our dear friend, Brian Walker. Incidentally, he was responsible for making our stay in his home state such a pleasurable one!

From the moment we arrived to when we left, Brian proved to be the most gracious and exciting host. As a resident of Bend, he was able to take us places and make us engage in activities we might not have tackled otherwise. Well, going down deep into 40-degree Fahrenheit lava river cave or shooting at targets by the side of a volcano with a personal arsenal does not really come to mind easily when traveling…

A more subdued program included hiking to waterfalls and visiting the not-to-be-missed High Desert Museum. We also went whitewater rafting on the Deschutes River, and enjoyed the best local hotel and restaurants thanks to his recommendations.

But besides introducing us to the natural beauty of Central Oregon with its myriad of rivers and striking volcanic past, Brian shared with us gems of his more private environment: The Rocket Guy’s playground of inventions.

His large property was scattered with molds and casts from spacecraft he designed; and some of the machines we will soon transport to Florida to preserve his legacy at our space training center; various engines he was working on; a catapult; a cannon; a geodesic dome with an observatory; and the list goes on…

Brian’s genius was evident throughout the backyard, and spread further into his log house with rooms full of toys, prototypes, or electronic devices he tweaked for amusement, or just to satisfy an insatiable urge for optimal performance.

In a corner of the living room, however, stood the sweetest expression of this man’s complex personality: A large cage designed for two flying squirrels he adores, “Zap” and “Shy Guy”. Amongst all the ingeniously technical gadgetry which could be, at times, on the verge of overpowering its surroundings, Brian’s human touch was candidly present in the loving bond he created with his pets. One of his most precious creations perhaps…

Our visit ended way too soon, but we hope to share more good times with Brian when he comes to Florida to introduce us to sky-diving, and for the opening of Aurora Aerospace’s Space Training Center later this year.

Until then, our most sincere thanks to the Rocket Guy for an unforgettable trip to Outer Oregon!

Arizona, D.C., Space, and our new Mascot

Summer is almost here! We have traveled some and worked a lot recently, and we recommend you look at our newest photos in the stream as far as enjoying descriptions of Sedona or the Grand Canyon. In this case, pictures will do a better job than our words ever could…

We had to postpone our Hawaii vacation for lack of time, so Arizona was a perfect choice for a week’s trip. We were in awe at the sights, colors, and sizes of our surroundings… And the entire region is filled with myths and quaint beliefs that add to its exotic nature. Has anyone heard of vortexes or shamanic journeys to one’s power animal?

That being said, we also enjoyed real scientific or historical value in visits such as the one describing the Grand Canyon formation and its ruins; the Meteor Crater; the Lowell Observatory; and the various Indian Reservations we drove past. And of course, renting a plane to fly on our own over it all was the most gratifying experience!

After that, Chip’s dad came to visit and we had a fun time together. This man has the best personality and the biggest heart, so it was a pleasure to share some days with him. Chip and him spent an unforgettable evening playing some of the music his dad remembered from his past, and Veronique pampered him to no end. We’ll be seeing him again this summer in the Bahamas.

We also spent a week in Washington D.C. at the International Space Development Conference, not only to promote the Americans-in-Orbit project with Craig Russell, its President, but also to launch our own Aurora Aerospace venture.

This space training center is quickly taking shape with the upcoming addition of Brian Walker’s brilliant machines (we’re flying to see him in Oregon soon to set up shipping details). Once his inventions are installed and operational, we’ll be ready to begin offering fuller packages besides just the flight component. Keep posted and look for our updates at: http://www.aurora-aerospace.com

Veronique’s mom, Josette, had joined us in Washington to enjoy the conference and bring Veronique the news about the Brazilian Space Agency’s interest in her space-related activities. We’ll see how that unfolds, perhaps in an invitation to represent Brazil in the future, who knows… We also discussed plans regarding Global Fine Art Online, as we have obviously been investing our energies in other projects. Truthfully, we are considering reactivating our art gallery online as soon as Aurora is running smoothly. Perhaps to focus on Space Art? So many exciting possibilities, so little time!

Unfortunately, Josette couldn’t stay long but we hope to see her again later this year. In the meantime, Alexander and Nicholas will be back with us this month to spend the whole summer, and we’re looking forward to having fun with them. They’ll probably miss Bentley, the wonderful cat we lost recently, but they might like our new pet: Yuri, the Space Tortoise. The boys will probably want to take him up with them to do some zero-g flights–and we bet those pictures will be hard to describe, ha!

Next post: Summer 2008.

Enjoy yours, and be well!

Warmest thoughts from Chip and Veronique

ASTRONAUTS!

It is official, and the news have just begun circulating recently: We have both been selected as astronauts for a private space mission, Americans In Orbit – 50 Years. It is obviously the best news we could get to start 2008 with soaring spirits! For more details, check out: http://www.aio50.org

The year also began with a victorious out-of-court settlement for Veronique, who has now legally enforced higher educational standards for Alexander and Nicholas while not in her custody. She has also partnered with Calvert School to supplement their home school work, and the first experience this last month was awesome. While the boys were in Florida, not only did we have our customary fun activities but we had a great time studying together too!

We worked on Chinese calligraphy and a unit on Egypt; poetry; design; PowerPoint presentations; science experiments; and so much more. For Easter, we celebrated with a brunch at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, sailing, and in the evening, the show Spamalot. Nicholas had a wonderful 10th birthday with exciting times at the Renaissance Fair and the Oldsmar Carnival. Finally, we also commemorated Chip’s CFII Certification (Certified Flight Instructor Instruments) with a glamorous evening at the Festival of Speed.

Chip continued giving Alexander driving lessons (this time in the Jaguar, see him on YouTube!), and attempted to fly the Cosmic Flyer II with Nicholas (the first one got lost in the sky). The boys rode their bicycles to the park almost daily, swam, rowed their dinghy to check their crab trap, and even set up a shop on the beach with natural goods for sale. Before their return to California, they got to enjoy the first day of the EAA Sun n’ Fun Airshow, during which Chip flew in the L-39 with pyrotechnics in the War Birds category. There, we met with his old friend, Brian Walker, the real Astronaut Farmer.

Next, we’ll be joining forces with Brian and government institutions to launch our own space training facility; we’ll take some time off to celebrate our anniversary while working on the art gallery; and next month, we’ll be presenting the Americans In Orbit – 50 Years project with President Craig Russel (Russ) at the National Space Society Conference in Washington D.C.–ironically, back to when it all began, except space is definitely getting closer for us all the time!

Winter Holidays

We hope you all had a good time over the holidays and that 2008 is unfolding happily…

 

We were busy since December with Alexander and Nicholas, first celebrating Christmas with family traditions such as the tree with presents galore; going to Church; a Xmas movie and show (“A Christmas Carol”); doing artwork; donating toys; eating a home-cooked feast; and of course, having a huge bonfire on the beach!

 

New Year’s was spent with our wonderful friends Steve and Jill in St. Petersburg, where we watched fireworks from the pool deck of the Vinoy Resort. By then, Chip had received the BMW from Europe and we were enjoying a warm winter with the top down.

 

The boys received their favorite Legos, X-box and board games, as well as books, photo and video cameras, the latter being used to document their Water Conservation Project. Another project was to adopt a bird at a sanctuary and go visit it (an owl called Scruffy). They helped trap and relocate raccoons too, plant a tree, and observe nature cycles on their bicycle rides. Basically, not only did we teach them Environmental Studies during the holidays, but we had to make up for their lack of adequate education in California.

 

They had daily lessons varying from Math, English Composition, Cursive, History, Geography, Science, Art, Music, to Tennis and Ice-Hockey! When they went flying and gliding with Chip, they also studied Aeronautics; and after Nicholas was taught to order his own R/C plane on the internet (even winning a bid on Ebay!), he applied his knowledge to operating the “Cosmic Flyer”.

 

Alexander, on the other hand, had his first driving lesson with Chip and he was so excited! Both boys also had lots of fun riding in the back of Chip’s military truck, squirting other cars. We visited a Military Museum on a special pre-opening tour, but the main outing was a day spent at the Kennedy Space Center where we got to try the new Space Shuttle Launch Simulator. Amazing!!

 

Chip renewed his medical certificate for flying, and also applied as astronaut for different space projects. He had been offered the back-up spot on a flight to the International Space Station but was overbid financially at the last minute. No problem, it’s just a matter of time till he makes it into space—a dream he shares with Veronique.

 

We also share a love of boating and fishing, which we did a lot of with the boys aboard the “Piranha”, although we have yet to catch a fish that we actually could eat. We’ll keep working on that, and in the meantime we even put out a crab trap to complement our seafood diet, ha!

 

Work wise, the Atlantis Clinic continues to do well (the Atlantis Hockey Team too, they won the championship in their league!), and Chip has picked up many shifts in different ERs. Veronique is teaching again, and busy with the launch of GLOBAL FINE ART ONLINE. She also became a member of the National Press Club in Washington D.C., where we will attend the National Space Society Conference in May.

 

Finally, we are looking forward to celebrating our anniversary in Hawaii, and later this year traveling to New Zealand. And that’s all for now, folks… Enjoy life, despite any obstacles or punches: Happiness depends on how well you deal with them!

Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

See our rockets behind?

See our rockets behind?

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Cape Canaveral

Cape Canaveral

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

In front of the T-38

In front of the T-38

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Atlantis on the launch pad

Atlantis on the launch pad

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Nicholas and his Cosmic Flyer

Nicholas and his Cosmic Flyer

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Ready to launch

Ready to launch

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

The boys adopted an owl

The boys adopted an owl

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

On the beach

On the beach

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Scruffy, the Burrowing Owl

Scruffy, the Burrowing Owl

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Scruffy

Scruffy

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

We caught 5 of these!

We caught 5 of these!

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Here comes the turkey!

Here comes the turkey!

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

More joyful spirit

More joyful spirit

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Christmas morning

Christmas morning

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Christmas Hug

Christmas Hug

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Wow, look at this Beemer

Wow, look at this Beemer

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Pre-flight

Pre-flight

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

The boys took this photo as we taxied

The boys took this photo as we taxied

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Squirting game

Squirting game

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

At the Military Museum

At the Military Museum

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued

Boys’ toy

Boys’ toy

Originally uploaded by Chip & Veronique – Continued