To the moon, Alice

I didn't talk about it much because its work but I met an astronaut while out in Pasadena this year. He's actually the brother of my buddy Lance that I work with on my gardening account. Rex is a NASA astronaut and probably one of the coolest people I've ever met. Very down-to-earth (no pun intended) and easygoing, he made for a great addition to the parade events this year.

And if you're wondering why a NASA astronaut was at the parade, it's because Rex took a rose up into space for us on his last mission in February. Then that rose actually rode on our float this year. Very cool stuff.

But even cooler, Rex will be in the Inaugural Parade in Washington, DC on Tuesday. He's riding the "Moon Buggy" and at the end of the parade, he will detach from the buggy in his suit with an American flag and salute the new president. Here's an article about it.

So now I have my own personal connection to the inauguration because I have a gen-u-ine autographed picture of my favorite astronaut hanging in my office right now.

Okay I admit, my job is very cool.