June 11, 2004
Rocket Science? Yes I've Been There
Well I just rolled back into town from a week of Rocket Science. Thiokol in Utah is the home of the RSRM (Reusable Solid Rocket Motor) for the Space Shuttle. I was there working a few test for return to flight. So yes now its official I am a rocket scientist I guess. Anyway, if you want to read about he event, visit the Salt Lake City Tribune's Site
Unfortunatly, I didnt get to actually watch the thing fire. I sat in the control room, underground, ready to fix any unexpected problems on our test. I did feel the sonic boom though even underground. I gave my approval for the firing, but passed on the opportunity to start the firing.
Also I discovered, a very notable conclusion about Utah on this trip. Food is not important in anyway to people in Utah. From the comment at one restaurant "This is not Burger King, You can't have it your own way" to the fact its hard to find a restaurant its very impossible to dine in style.
Yet today we did happen upon a classic in the area of Salt Lake City. Hires Big H. This is a drive in that was packed out, as we passed the long line made me assume we had happened upon something rare for Salt Lake City, good food. (Sizzler is their Main Chain, enough said).
Anyway, it was a unique treat. From the "Mormon Cocktail" (A rootbeer float). To the homemade rootbeer (every restaurant is proud of their root beer out here. And the homemade fries tasted like the ones Mamaw used to make! And finally the local favorite, a pastrami burger. (Everything was fresh (including the “famous bun”… a rare thing in today frozen food world). There is a reason it is famous. It was the best meal I had in Salt Lake (Yes, Hamburger and Fries). So if you visit Salt Lake, don’t expect the importance of food found in the south. No its just a side thought, oh yeah... I need to eat today sometime.