Las Vegas? No, it's MCC!

Although I'm not formally assigned to work the mission that took off yesterday to swap out the crew and add another increment of equipment to the ISS, I'm here today, filling in for someone. I'm not complaining; a shift during a flight is a better deal than doing a sim.

What's strange is that, for the first time, my shift hours resemble something normal (9:30 am to 6:30 pm), but I don't feel any different. It could be the middle of the night, for all one can tell by looking around.

Part of that has to be the environment here, which is windowless and not very brightly lit. Except for the fact that you won't find row after row of one-armed bandits and similar temptations, this could be the inside of a Vegas casino.

Scratch that...the row after row of television monitors and computer equipment, although certainly not gaming equipment, nonetheless lends a certain Vegas-like air to the place.

(Or maybe it's the sound of the vending machine guy emptying the day's take into his coffers as I write this that's making me think of Vegas. The cacophony of pouring coins sounds like the world's biggest - and longest - jackpot. :^)

It's been fairly quiet so far. The biggest excitement has been logging in to the new setup and finding that most of the stuff I need to do my job is...well...not accessible. Ah well, I've made do before...I can do it again.

Cheers...

Waiting for 'soup' to 'cook'...

I have this seeming never-ending supply of styrofoam bowls filled with quick-cook noodles and some substance that gives the noodles, when wetted with hot water, something of a spicy, salty taste.

My lunch is 'cooking' as I write this.

I got to thinking about yesterday's post, and how difficult it is in practice to maintain a positive mental outlook.

For example, one of the key points I found in Hyrum Smith's book on time management was that the only thing any of us has complete control over at any given moment is the state of our mind (it's a theme that Anthony Robbins also beats upon).

I mean, have you ever gotten any news that has taken you from the depths of depression to the heights of happiness in a flash? I know I have.

What actually changed, however? Only your mind making certain connections, which changed what you were thinking of, or how you were thinking of it.

So, what if you learned to make those connections, and thereby change what you're thinking, without having to have an outside stimulus? It can be done; from time to time, when I put my mind to it (ahhh...the catch!), I've done it.

The fact that your state of mind is controllable, and that it is probably the only thing you can control with certainty, is something that should be pretty evident, but time and again - even knowing this to be true - I've let the content of my mind be driven by events.

Soup is cooked. I think I will enjoy it.

Cheers...