I love my parents, but......

My parents are getting up there in age, but they are still active and in full control of their faculties.

They are both smart people, so I have to wonder what happened with the birthday present I just got.

Not to be ungrateful, I love the Red River Rocketry Predator they sent me directly from Sirius Rocketry, but also in the box (which delayed the shipping as it had to go USPS parcel post) was a pack of B6-0!!! motors.

I own 1 two-stage rocket, and they have never even seen it, and I fly it so rarely I never mentioned it to them. What could inspire someone to purchase a booster-stage motor, when the list of recommended motors is right there on the page, and B6-0 isn't listed there....

Other evidence that they haven't been paying any attention, I haven't built a BP rocket since the Screaming Green Meanie a year ago, and have only talked to them about HPR. The only rocket gifts they see me getting at Christmas are HPR (Madcow usually).

Ah, well, at least the rocket is cool to look at. I'll build it, and do a park launch for them to enjoy, but I will supply my own B6-4 motors....

G.D.

gdiscenza said:

My parents are getting up there in age, but they are still active and in full control of their faculties.

They are both smart people, so I have to wonder what happened with the birthday present I just got.

Not to be ungrateful, I love the Red River Rocketry Predator they sent me directly from Sirius Rocketry, but also in the box (which delayed the shipping as it had to go USPS parcel post) was a pack of B6-0!!! motors.

I own 1 two-stage rocket, and they have never even seen it, and I fly it so rarely I never mentioned it to them. What could inspire someone to purchase a booster-stage motor, when the list of recommended motors is right there on the page, and B6-0 isn't listed there....

Other evidence that they haven't been paying any attention, I haven't built a BP rocket since the Screaming Green Meanie a year ago, and have only talked to them about HPR. The only rocket gifts they see me getting at Christmas are HPR (Madcow usually).

Ah, well, at least the rocket is cool to look at. I'll build it, and do a park launch for them to enjoy, but I will supply my own B6-4 motors....

G.D.

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Sounds like an excellent effort for people not involved in the hobby. CHAD stage those B6-0s to the B6-? maybe?

Absolutely, CHAD stage that bad boy! And share the flight with your wonderful parents.

Hey, they tried... that's the point that counts...

I know folks who come to launches that don't understand the difference between -0 motors and other motors... and lots more that don't understand the difference between B, C, D, etc motors and what the numbers after the letter means, other than "the bigger the letter the higher it goes"... To non-rocketry people, it's all rather arcane...

Cut them some slack and be glad they got you a rocket and motors instead of a necktie or sweater...

Later! OL JR

PS... this is why I ask for cash or gift cards for Christmas/Birthday/Father's Day and such...

Personally....I wish my parents were still here to make that mistake. I would be happy no matter if a mistake. Maybe. They didn't cause this issue.....
Maybe the wrong motors were shipped??! Just be glad you have your family.

To them, you're still that 9 year old kid "playin'" with rockets !

FWIW I think the Predator is a slick little LPR.

Be thankful it was rocketry related and not socks, t-shirts or briefs! I finally threw away my last pair of socks that my parents bought me...and they have been gone 10 years now. One drawer of my dresser was filled with socks!!! Got love'em.

I enjoy socks though. There is nothing like putting on a brand new pair of socks...

I leave a tab of bookmarks for my wife, and generally give my parents a list of wants several pages long throughout the year. The long length lets them surprise me, yet it's still something I need.

CarVac said:

I enjoy socks though. There is nothing like putting on a brand new pair of socks...

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I just did that!:grin:

Rocketry is just too esoteric for my family. I request things they can understand, such as emery boards, popsicle sticks and steel wool.

CarVac said:

I enjoy socks though. There is nothing like putting on a brand new pair of socks...

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Aint that the truth!

Esp. really think socks we used to get before everything was cheaped with chinese junk.

Target said:

Personally....I wish my parents were still here to make that mistake. I would be happy no matter if a mistake. Maybe. They didn't cause this issue.....
Maybe the wrong motors were shipped??! Just be glad you have your family.

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My thoughts exactly..

Yeah! For my last birthday I got a CASE of B6-4(ish) motors from the folks. My mom says she wasn't sure what rocketry item to get (I mainly do mid to high power) Oh well, it's the thought that counts and FWIW, I will be doing some 18mm cluster launches sometime this fall. At the very least me and my kids will have fun at the park like we did this last monday... for awhile yet!
-Ken

I will be building this rocket before 6/20, and bringing my launch gear down to my parents house that weekend. We'll do a park launch with a special payload - my dad has a small bundle of his fathers ashes he wishes to have ejected at altitude.

I'll post pix afterwards.

G.D.

You're blessed to have them!

Hope you have fair weather and a great visit!

thought that counts, enjoy them while you have them, both your parents and the B6-0's

CarVac said:

I enjoy socks though. There is nothing like putting on a brand new pair of socks...

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I'm wearing a new pair of Italian socks as we speak I once told the much younger guitarist in my band that there are times I'd rather have a clean pair of socks to wear than have a woman around...he agreed

...not that I'm anti-woman or nothing, but...

For my 40th birthday, my father made me this -



I couldn't have asked for a better gift!!

Krusty

I hate socks. But not as much as I hate shoes...

My mother couldn't comprehend what I did in the military. I was a program manager for a research and development project for ejection seats. After exhaustive explanations she finally grasped that we were doing scientific research. And since I was an officer she told her friends that I was... wait for it... a science officer. It was logical to her.

Zeus-cat said:

My mother couldn't comprehend what I did in the military. I was a program manager for a research and development project for ejection seats. After exhaustive explanations she finally grasped that we were doing scientific research. And since I was an officer she told her friends that I was... wait for it... a science officer...

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Did you have the pointy ears and bad haircut to go with that title?

Just be happy that they bought something that was in the ballpark of your interests.

FC

Obscure hobbies that require expertise can baffle gift givers who just want to get you something you enjoy. If they indicate they want to get you something for your hobby, give them some guidance or a specific wish list to work from. Links to the exact item on a web site work great. Gift cards are good too, but some people prefer to give a real tangible object.

Regarding socks, I'm loving my Darn Tough merino wool socks that I got as a gift for Christmas! Icebreaker makes great merino socks too, but the Darn Tough ones are the best!

I'm sure there are lots of members on the forum racking their brains for gift ideas for me right now, so here are some ideas:

Estes Ventris
REI Gift card
Templeton Rye Whiskey
Darn Tough socks

Thanks guys! You're the best!

krusty said:

For my 40th birthday, my father made me this -



I couldn't have asked for a better gift!!

Krusty

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Awesome! These are the kinds of gifts that mean the most!

My father used to love watching my rockets go up. I miss him a great deal. I hope your memorial launch goes well.

I'm sure glad I don't have kids...

My dad developed the solid propellant for the Minuteman first stage and later missiles. He bought me my first Alpha and launch system when I was in elementary school. I continued the tradition by buying my sons rockets when they were young, and now get them for my grandsons. I only wish dad were still here to watch us launch the big ones (although he might think, but would never say, "you should have seen the ones I built").

Jmhepworth said:

My dad developed the solid propellant for the Minuteman first stage and later missiles. He bought me my first Alpha and launch system when I was in elementary school. I continued the tradition by buying my sons rockets when they were young, and now get them for my grandsons. I only wish dad were still here to watch us launch the big ones (although he might think, but would never say, "you should have seen the ones I built").

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You and your family have a great tradition going. I am sure you are am good role model for your family.

My dad also enjoyed launching with me. We had lots of open fields then.

I usually get a gift certificate to Hobbylinc for my birthday and fathers day. It's easy for my kids to shop for and I can get what I want. I started the tradition after my son bought me an EX2 launch set for my Birthday one year. I appreciated the fact that he got me something rocketry related but he has been to many high power launches with me and should have known better than an EX2 kit. My daughter got me an Estes Magician and a pack of E9s that same year, a much better choice.

My daughter is one of those people who starts looking for gift ideas a month or two early. Last Christmas I was gifted with a combo disc/belt sander from my kids. Apparently I had mentioned a few times that I wanted to buy one and someone was listening. I was really proud of her, she used a HF coupon and got it at a really good price.

It's great to be surprised by a gift but there's a lot to be said for getting what you really want. When you are surprised with a gift that you really want it's the best.