I voted too - I went for Sunrise first (because it suggests birth or awakening) - and there's already a Dawn out there, so it fits.

If I had to put forward my own they would be :

• Eden (Garden, creation, life etc etc)
• Beatrix (name means "Voyager through Life") - or Beatrice, Beatriz - any variation
• Vivian - means "full of life" - which they're hoping for, I guess!

Helen

Ooh yes Doug's copy arrived today - after reading the comments here I just had to open it and read it (Sorry Doug!) - what a fab article - I'm so very proud

Wow that pic makes me look like I have G cups If only!

Thanks for all your kind words guys (and gals?) I wouldn't swap him for the world (or Mars for that matter).

I couldn't agree more. I'm gut-bustingly proud of my supremely talented, dedicated and intelligent other half - and I can see the results of his hard work - having met some of the forum members and read articles etc etc.

I may have felt somewhat second place at times to his work in this field, but I wouldn't have it any other way as he deserves all the success and kudos.

Astro0 - I love the new banner - very modern and shiny. *applause*

Happy Birthday UMSF!

Presenting Doug's hand crafted 30th birthday cake :



Bigger version here
Trench detail
Blueberry detail

It is - of course - the martian surface with the trench dug by Phoenix to reveal the ice below, and ratted blueberries down the many martian rock layers down the side. Yeah! Goes without saying!!

The conversation went like this :
Him : "Ooh cake!... ooh, it's got a divot in it....did you mean to do that?"
Me : "Er that's meant to be the trench that phoenix dug...it's from Helen's martian surface cakes limited"
Him : "oh"
Me : "clearly you know nothing about Mars whatsoever, you fraud..."

I might have made that last bit up...

Anyway I enjoyed making it - I hope you enjoy looking at it - if anyone wants a piece please post your name and address below and we will pop some in the post*

I do commissions!!!

Helen

*not really

Just wanted to stop by and wish my man a very very happy 30th birthday.

30 may seem old but it's only 16 martian years - so really you're just a teenager!

I figure you've already seen this - but it's an apt link for today - http://gizmodo.com/5092233/30-mars-phoenix...-show-the-world

All the love in the known universe to you today and always.
Yours, Helen
xxxxx

Ack - i just realised how dreadfully euphemistic that sounds...

Anyway Doug's home now, so I'm sure pics will follow very shortly...

Hi all

Doug's better half Helen here. Have been keeping the IRC thread up to date with news all day as and when Doug called or texted, due to the lack of ustream and tracking data.

About 15 minutes ago i had a call to say they had seen the balloon. They were hunting around a lady's paddock where they had tracked the beacon to, and she was helping them look. She then spotted the red material of the parachute in a neighbour's field, and he was around and kindly let them in to reclaim the balloon.

It was in one piece, good condition, and the camera worked a treat. The pictures, i have been told, are AWESOME - with black skies, bluey atmosphere, clouds and even a bit of the curve of the earth. The movies have worked too.

Doug says that pictures and videos will follow - but he won't be home here til nearly midnight GMT, so don't expect them for a few hours yet!

My congrats to the balloon team and hello to all those who followed the day on mibbit

Helen

Thank you so much what a beautiful, beautiful poem.



Very very true

Helen
x

Well yes, but Doug doesn't live on earth time

Happy Birthday to Doug (djellison) - my mars genius.

14.8 years (9929.5 sols) old today and still going strong

With enough love to fill Victoria Crater from Helen xxx

That would be really lovely climber... you and/or Doug can do that definately. I think a sunny slope or rock is most appropriate - or maybe a small crater or something with a dip to curl up in?

Thanks again to everyone - we are feeling very positive and happy now that we had her in our lives - she's still very much present in the house and we can imagine her doing all her favourite things all over. She was a blessing and she made us so happy that after the initial trauma of the day we lost her, i think that happiness was so strong that it kicked back in much quicker than we expected.

I'm just thankful for every day we had her in our lives.
Helen
x

Other Doug - thank you so much for your lovely kind comments - you are so right and they were lovely words.

However -


Switch "nuzzling your hand" for "clawing the hell out of whatever bit of you she could reach" - and you've got it

Thanks to everyone, truly, for your kind comments. It seems we all have a common link in our love and loss of pets and it's really uplifting to hear your stories.

Thanks again
Helen

A big Happy Birthday to Doug (djellison) who is 14.34 years (9597 sols) old today (I hope, my maths is a little rusty!)

All my love from your better half.

Am sure he'll be feeling suitably embarrassed now

Helen