Back row: Vyan, Chiwere, susans, Otoelbc, mommyp00ka, Ducktape
Front row: Robin, 714day, Little Loner, Moody Loner, jakedog42 and grandaughter, SanFernandoValleyMom.
Our first field trip inspired several people new to Los Angeles Kossacks to join us for the first time; our numbers have increased by 40% in the last few months and we will soon be able to challenge Northern California in the first annual tug of war contest. As long as Navajo doesn't compete. She spins.
There are four places in the U.S. to see retired space shuttles and one of them is at the California Science Center in Exposition Park near downtown Los Angeles. During a recent brainstorming session, someone (I think it may have been SanFernandoValleyMom) suggested a group visit to the shuttle. Los Angeles is very big, our members live all over the city and in surrounding areas, not all have cars and it takes a very long time to travel by bus. The challenge becomes finding places to go near a train stop and Exposition Park is one of them.
You pass through a small museum before going into the room where the shuttle lives. Among the exhibits is a mockup of Mission Control and a movie showing some of the shuttle's last flight and highlights of its trip from the airport through the streets before arriving at the hanger that would be its temporary home until the permanent exhibit was constructed. The day it landed for the last time, it was flown all over Southern California and many of us saw it pass overhead.
jakedog42 and grandaughter, Ducktape
It was a pleasure meeting Vyan and Robin, eztempo and his guests and I'm sorry to have missed Just Saying and his/her son who missed us where we lined up to go in. There will be more meetups and more opportunities for all of us to get to know each other better.
Shuttle as seen from the side; Vyan as seen from the back.
Seven of us went for an early dinner at Mercado La Paloma http://www.mercadolapaloma.com/ later where we talked for such a long time I was very surprised how late it was when Otoelbc, Chiwere and I finally got home.
Fried plantains from the Yucatan food stand at Mercado La Paloma
Field trips are a great idea. 714day, SanFernandoValleyMom and I formed an impromptu committee to come up with ideas for future outings. Send me a message if you have one of your own.
For August, Shockwave has arrange something very special. Navajo and Meteor Blades will be joining us; MB will be one of two speakers. Long time political activist Bill Zimmerman will be the other. AFAIK, both will be talking about their connection with the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee.
All Kossacks are always welcome at all Los Angeles Kossacks events, although be warned I will try to sign you up if you live locally. You are encouraged to bring friends and relatives. Visiting from out of town? We're looking for any excuse for a party, send a message to me or Navajo.