Ted’s essays

unfettered, con-brio driving

I have registered for “March Madness” March 26th-27th in High Performance Driver Education group 1 (HPDE 1), which is the only option for drivers who have not driven with NASA previously and who do not possess a race car driver’s license. In this group we have an instructor who shows us the track in their car, then rides along in ours making sure we understand the rules, the track and how to drive where there are no speed limits, overtaking only where allowed. At some point along the way, first timers shed the ride-along added weight, but are still watched a bit for adherence to expected norms. Early March 25th, I expect to unload into Garage #7 which I reserved […]

Dance, Freddy, Dance

When I was a Daddy, I would tell bed-time stories to my daughters … made up on the spur of the moment, out of my head, just as my daddy did before me. Fast forward a bunch of years to a mid-twenties daughter who needed artistic expression and purpose in her life. So I wrote a story about my brother and asked her to illustrate it. This is our collaboration. I am happy enough with the result that I fancy it could be a published book … if anyone could share with me how to take the next steps, I would appreciate that boost. It already served its designed purpose. Anything past that is gravy. P.S. The formatting here […]

A Car Guy and the Sports Car Olympics

With a little help from my friend I produced a series of animated interview videos discussing sports car competition, the life and times of a G-Force-Junkie, a car guy and the joy of sharing times with other car guys. My wife really enjoys how enthusiastic I get when telling tales of the fun and excitement I have had whilst driving infernal-combustion-propelled vehicles. While of no interest to Yogis, meditators and poets, Car Guys and motorcycle buffs will get it. Sports Car Olympics 1 of 4 – Funkhana, venues, autocrosses I discuss the Funkhana, a competition that took place only at the Olympics, plus a bit on Olympics venues and autocrosses Sports Car Olympics 2 of 4 – Concours de Elegance, […]

The Road Taken

We all do it – That is, look back at decisions made, actions taken, paths we followed that could have been chosen or handled differently. I know I am not the only one regretting mistakes made, insults given, opportunities missed. I have liked to remind myself that the other path could well have had me run over by a train. We play the hand we were dealt. Another is not among the choices available. I also consider myself to be in a good position, location and time. As ugly as things are for those choosing to see the darkness instead of light, we are living exciting times. We get to find out what we are made of, and extend […]

web hosting bill comes due

I am one of those fixed-income retirees of modest means that you hear about from time to time. I have not quite figured me out, but I am working on it. I enjoy puttering in my woodshop, metalshop, inventor/creator space. I also like playing trombone, upright bass and elementary artistic painting … and a few other hands-on-type things, mostly creative. What I do with much of my time instead is what I consider to be my community service… rewarding in their own ways of course, but not quite as much FUN. In that category are the classes I taught through the Darby Adult Education program to help people earn and upgrade their amateur radio licenses, understand Linux operating systems, […]