The Tischer Clan at Woodlawn Cemetary

For our summer vacation we visited the Mid-West again.  The first stop was Dayton where the family got together for a memorial service for "Noonie & Topps" (my maternal Grandparents) who were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. 

Children at Wilbur's Gravesite

This happened to be the same cemetery where Orville and Wilburn Wright are buried.  Even more significant is the fact that this is the 100 year anniversary of the first powered controlled flight. 

We also visited Columbus, St. Joseph, Birmingham for my 20th High School Reunion, and Indianapolis on the way home. 

Sebastien and his sponsor Aunt Lisa

We drove (yes drove) to Mazatlan Mexico on the Pacific Coast of Mexico this Thanksgiving for a week.  What an incredible drive through the Chihuahua desert and then over the Sierra Madre Occidental including traversing El Espinazo del Diablo!   Too much to do, too much to share, so see this link for more pic's. 

Mazatlan Photo Album

Señor Sebastien in Paradisa

It was a big year of changes and assimilation for Tatiana.  After "graduating" elementary school she starting attending Lanier Middle School.  She was accepted into a special "Vanguard Program"  for the Gifted and Talented kids of Houston.  Gone are the days of the safe elementary school.  It was homeroom, lockers, five minutes between classes, beaucoup homework, and bus rides for this "pre-teen."  She has been doing great and got straight A's the first semester. 

Tatiana & me at St. Helena's Canyon,

 one of Big Bend's Icons

Last May I chaperoned her 5th Grade Trip to Big Bend National Park.  Nothing like 10 hours in a coach full of 10&11 year olds.  We had a wonderful time visiting UT's McDonald Observatory, Lajitas, St. Helena's Canyon, and Closed Canyon.

The Bus Ride to Big Bend

Tatiana also started playing Volleyball.  With her tall stature and long arms she had no problem smacking the ball over the net.  Her YMCA team that I coached with a friend was "almost" undefeated. 

Tatiana & Meredith at the YMCA

She's turning into a young women in front of our eyes.  She loves hip-hop, rap, and things that are "cool" (whatever that is this week). 

Sebastien has had a great year playing his first team sports; Basketball and Football.  His true love and talent lie in Basketball.  He attended Rice Basketball camp this summer and won both the Camp 3 on 3 and regular 5 on 5 Championships.  He really has incredible hand-eye coordination (unlike his dad, but more like his Lutomski ancestors).  His mother helped him tryout for a City League team and he has now really begun to improve his skills.  He wants to play in the NBA someday. 

Sebasiten's Jumpshot

On this City team he is actually being coached part-time by ex-Rocket Kenny Smith.  So while his coach explained that playing in the NBA is less likely than winning the lottery, most should be able to choose their college someday. 

Sébastien Reading the Defense

Cute as ever and still working on winning an Oscar everyday, Chloe is unmatched in her ability to  manipulating the world around her (successfully) and win friends.  I'm still taking notes. 

Chloe doing what she loves to do, pose for a picture

Chloe is in First Grade this year and doing well.  She likes school and has been chasing her brother and sister around tirelessly.  Her favorite new activity is to play in the new Jacuzzi. 

Chloé Playing a While Smurf

The family returned to the Texas Hill country for the Labor Day mountain bike race.  Chloé now has her training wheels off and had a great race against her opponent.  For the rest of family we all raced the next day after a huge thunderstorm and got covered in mud.  It took me months to rebuild all the bikes. 

Chloé, second place Medal,

After 5 years of tireless work, I finally graduated from the University of Houston with an MBA in Finance.

"Can I take this hat off yet?"

At NASA I moved to a new group within the International Space Station Program (ISS).  I now have a fancy title as the "ISS Risk Manager." 

Getting Started

The good news is that the ISS has remained crewed and we are completing more science everyday in spite of no Shuttles flying.  Expedition 8 will devote more than 300 hours to research during their six-month stay aboard the orbital outpost.

However to finish Assembly and to be able to add the remaining international partners, we will need the Shuttle to start flying again.  We are hoping for a return to flight this Fall. 

The Japanese Experiment Module at the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC

Click here to see more ISS Imagery.