Max

I've found out that the editing features don't work with Safari, but they do work nicely with Firefox. So I'll test out the photo upload feature with this picture of my adorable dog, Max. Feel free to respond with comments about how cute he is.

Racing in Topeka

This week I'm out racing in Topeka at the SCCA ProSolo Finale and Solo2 National Championships. I was able to just fly in and drive, because some nice folks from Texas are allowing me the use of their cars. The ProSolo Finale finished yesterday. I drove an MR2 Spyder, which I had no relevant previous experience driving. Saturday night I was sitting in last place due to hitting pylons. Fortunately, the results are not cumulative, but are based on your best time through each of the two courses. On Sunday everyone got two attempts at each course, and I was able to turn times good enough for 3rd place in the C Stock field of thirteen drivers. That finish was also good enough to put me in third place in the year-end standings!

Today is a break before the Solo2 Nationals start, so I will do laundry, walk the courses, buy snacks and Gatorade, and otherwise get my act together for the competition on Tuesday and Wednesday. For the Nationals, I wil be driving a Miata that's just like mine excet for a significantly different suspension setup. It should be fun!

More generally, I am still living in Sunnyvale, California, and working at National Semiconductor. Ellen has found a great job in Baltimore, so we have been flying back and forth across the country and looking for a job in Baltimore that I'd like to do.

Update: On Tuesday it started raining right at the start of my first run, then I was a cone-head on Wednesday and couldn't complete a run without bopping a pylon. A disgraceful performance compared to the ProSolo, but I had fun doing it. The photo above is from my last run on Tuesday.

Dumb, but Lucky!

I was somewhat shocked, when reading Nuvo, to learn that former congressman Andy Jacobs now writes for Indy's hip alternative newspaper.

But the shock of that was nothing compared to seeing a review of
this book. Remember Mrs. Curtis? Beth Curtis, who taught U.S. History? This is her husband.

"My husband flew a P-51 during the war, you know," is one of the few things I remember hearing in class. I'll have to get the book soon and read the entire story.

It's kind of funny. After reading the review, I really wish I could look back and say "you know, she was one of my favorite teachers." But I can't, and I don't know why. I think she was a kind woman - she seemed to take an interest in us - I think she was downright amused by me & Milele. I don't think she was a bad teacher - aside from the dreaded Hofstadter papers, I can't remember anything terribly boring. And I obviously like the subject.

I can only think that being a stand-out teacher is harder than it sounds - that there's more than just being a good person. But what is it that makes the good ones so good?

Love the class or hate it, it's certainly nice to know that the Curtises are still well and happy and together - 60 years of marriage is pretty impressive!

Welcome!

Why wait for the vacation-time group e-mails to say "oh yeah, I should keep in touch"? Here's the Flying Armadillo Free Blog, a place for former troublemakers to chat.

Looking for a good first post? Why not a reminder of contact information - and your birthday!