Mission Complete: Endeavour Lands Safely in Southern California

November 30, 2008

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE -– Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven astronauts are safely back on Earth after a perfect landing on a perfect day in southern California. ...

A pair of sonic booms were heard, and felt, across the southland as Endeavor broke the sound barrier and entered local airspace about five minutes before touching down.

Local authorities received a number of calls by people who thought they had heard an explosion, and one North Hollywood resident reported a broken glass as a result of the booms. ...

Two scheduled landings at Kennedy Space Center in Florida had to be scrubbed due to dangerously high winds and a stormy sky. The weather there is not expected to improve tomorrow. So Endeavour was forced to detour to sunny southern California where the weather is excellent.

NASA prefers to have shuttles return to Florida because it takes about a week and costs $1.8 million to transport a shuttle from California on top of a modified jumbo jet. Also, the families of the astronauts are waiting for their loved ones in Florida.

Full story and video at KTLA News

Thanksgiving party at our apartment

Hi all,

We felt very special and honored that you all came to our house for Thanksgiving. What a nice thing to have such great friends as you guys! Here are some pics we took. Enjoy and big hugs! :D

Love,

Aviva and Bjoern



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Brush fires in Los Angeles and Orange County

95 ° Fahrenheit (35 ° Celsius) in mid November - Temperature in Los Angeles breaking record set in 1936

On the same day around the globe (high):

64 °F / 18 °C in San Francisco, CA
53 °F / 12 °C in Denver, CO
44 °F / 7 °C Berlin, Germany
63 °F / 17 °C Auckland, New Zealand

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Barack Obama elected 44th President

New York City Marathon - My first marathon distance (26 miles / 42 km)

Dear friends,

As you know, I participated in this year's New York City Marathon - with 39,000 runners and over 1 million spectators the largest race in the world. Even though I had to deal with a knee injury (which I got 2 weeks before the race), I somehow managed to run the 26 miles (42 km) and finished the race in 5 hours and 33 minutes. After one year of intense training, this was a very special event for me and I wanted to share some pictures with you which I have taken during the race (and yes, I added some from the official event photographers). Having also completed the Los Angeles Triathlon this summer, I achieved my personal goal and finished my first triathlon and my first marathon in the same year. Now, I will rest and relax for the next couple of months, but I am sure there will be another race next year ... .

Thank you for all your support!

Björn



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Dachshund Race at Old World, Huntington Beach

20081019 Old World Dachshund Race

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Out of the Darkness - Orange County Community Walk

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your support of my participation in the Out of the Darkness Community Walk in Irvine last weekend. Your donation will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and its research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide, and assist survivors of suicide loss.

In the United States, a person dies by suicide every 16 minutes, claiming more than 32,000 lives each year. With more than 32,000 lives lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP's mission has never been greater. I really appreciate your support for this worthwhile cause.

Thanks again!

Björn

20081018Out of the Dark walk

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Out of the Darkness - Orange County Community Walk

Dear Friends,

I will be joining with thousands of people nationwide this fall to walk in AFSP's 2008 Out of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I would appreciate any support that you give me for this worthwhile cause.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. With more than 32,000 lives lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP's mission has never been greater, nor our work more urgent.

I hope you will consider supporting my participation in this event. Any contribution will help the work of AFSP, and all donations are 100% tax deductible. Donating online is safe and easy! To make an online donation now, please click here.

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

Bjoern

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My first 20 miles (32 km) run - ever!

Location: Culver City - Ballona Creek bike path - Marina del Rey - Playa del Rey - Manhattan Beach - and back
Total Distance: 20.04 miles (32.25 km)
Total Time: 3.56 hrs
Avg Pace: 11.46 min/mile (7.19 min/km)
Avg Speed: 5.09 mph (8.20 km/h)
Avg Heart Rate: 153
Other: 43 days left till New York City Marathon!

Camping on Catalina Island

with Erin, Josh, Cynthia, Patrick and Aviva

Hi All,

As some of you know, I organize a trip to Catalina Island in September. I made reservations for a group campsite on the Little Harbor Campground for up to 12 people on Saturday, September 13. Little harbor is located about seven miles south-east of Two Harbors and 16 miles north-west of Avalon (see map of Catalina Island). It calls itself "Paradise along a sandy beach" and it was rated "one of the best campgrounds in the west" by Sunset Magazine. Little Harbor is a sandy, beachfront campground with picnic tables, BBQs and fire rings. We have campsite 16a - which is located next to the ocean and close to showers (cold water only!), chemical toilets and fresh water (see map of campground).

Currently, we are three people - so there is room for another nine. If you are interested, please let me know asap. I will pay for the campsite, so there are no costs for you. However, please only sign up if you are 100% committed, since space is limited and you might keep others from going if you sign up, but don't show up afterwards.

We plan on taking the Catalina Express from San Pedro to Two Harbors on Saturday morning (7:00 am) and will return on Sunday afternoon (2:15 pm). The fares for a round-trip ticket are $66.50 (please make your own reservations online or by calling 1-800-481-3470). From Two Harbors we can take the "Safari Bus", which links Two Harbors with Avalon, including a stop at Little Harbor. Tickets are $11 and advanced reservations are required (by calling 310-510-2800).

Once the camp is set up, there are many options for activities and recreation. We plan on going on a hike to explore the Island, but if hiking is not your thing, there should also be enough to do around the campground, e.g. swimming, fishing, snorkeling or kayaking (snorkel gear and kayaks can be rented from Wet Spot Rentals by advance reservation (310-510-2229)). In the evening, we plan on having a nice BBQ together. Patrick volunteered to take care of the organization of this and will send out a separate email soon.

Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I hope this sounds like fun and I will see you there!

Björn




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My first triathon - LA Triathlon 2008

Swim: 1.5K (.9 miles)---Venice Beach
Cycle: 40 kilometers/24.8 miles---Hollywood and surrounding areas
Run: 10 Kilometers (6.2 miles)---Downtown Los Angeles



714 Bjorn Kampmann

SWIM: 35:17 min
T1: 8:55 min
BIKE: 1:26:40 hrs (17.2 mph = 27.68 km/h)
T2: 4:00 min
RUN: 53:21 min (8:36 min/mile or 6.97 mph = 11.21 km/h)
TOTAL: 3:08:11 hrs

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Tchaikovsky and Fireworks at Hollywood Bowl (and my 2nd anniversary in the US!)

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Aviva's second Ironman (Plymouth, MA)

Swim 2.4 miles - bike 112 miles - run 26.2 miles!!!
(3.86 km - 180 km - 42 km)



15 hrs 34 minutes 28 seconds - Congratulations!

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Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles)

Bernstein - Bolero - Beethoven

Walt Disney Concert Hall: "Designed by architect Frank Gehry, Walt Disney Concert Hall, new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is designed to be one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world, providing both visual and aural intimacy for an unparalleled musical experience."

Program: "Prepare to be seduced! After all, whose pulse doesn’t pound and heart leap in delight as they hear the opening strains to Beethoven’s immortal Ode to Joy with full orchestra and chorus or Leonard Bernstein’s irresistible West Side Story and Candide? As for Bolero, there’s good reason it earned 'shouts and cheers from the audience' at its debut in 1929 and has continued to do so forever after - as Cal Phil will once again prove. Maestro Vener and principals Cedric Berry, Suzanna Guzman, Khori Dastoor and Kalli Wilson will stun the audience with features Ode To Joy, West Side Story, Bolero and Candide."

20080824 Walt Disney Concert Hall

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