After 20 years as a software engineer building CAD tools for physical VLSI design, I made the switch to hardware engineering. Intel decided to consolidate the effort in a 3-site software project, leaving my team without a project. Consequently, little or no CAD development was going to occur in Hudson. I chose to join a cpu team developing a future IA-64 architecture processor, in November 2005. Learning the hardware side has been quite a challenge. I have no lack of available resources. In the area of expertise I find myself less accomplished of an engineer than a recent college hire who has been on the job 6 months longer than I. I'm the oldest member of my team with the most longevity, but also the least experienced.
Susan closed her party planning business after several years of trying unsuccessfully to grow it to profitability. She has sold some painted silk item such as prayer shawls, scarves, and neckties.
The charter school of which we spoke so highly two years ago did not pan out. They talked the talk, but did not walk the walk. When we pushed for more rigorous math content for Daniel, they were unable to provide it. Brenna was drained at the end of each school day, and not able to face the homework, and dreading the next school day. By taking them out of the formal school setting, we are able to customize their content as appropriate. Home schooling has been challenging, but we are hopeful that our kids will reach their potential with less frustration than they might have experienced in a formal setting.
Brenna is nearing her Bat Mitzvah this December. She has studied diligently, and has grown quite a bit. She has remained a voracious reader, checking out books from the library by the pound, occasionally bumping up against the fifty-item limit. She has read many of the Star Wars novels. In addition to enjoying published fiction, she has devoured fan fiction for Harry Potter. I encouraged both Brenna and Daniel to write up in some form a treatment of Harry Potter volume 7 in which they resolve all the unresolved issues. So far they haven't shown this as much enthusiasm as I'd hoped.
Daniel has begun piano lessons. He plays the same piano I used as a child. It has finally been tuned to concert C for the first time I can remember. He and Jonathan take karate, and have moved from White to Yellow belt. He enjoys riding his bike and playing computer games
Jonathan is gaining comfort in reading, although he compares himself with his older brother and sister. Jonathan is fascinated with construction toys like Zome http://www.zometool.com/ and Lego. All three kids have a marvelous sense of humor.
Last summer I paddled a canoe for the first time and enjoyed it. Since then, I've paddled a bit more, usually in combination with orienteering. I also readily admit that I camped in a tent last year for the first time also, and I look forward to doing it again. I've continued to orienteer, although I'm average on a good day. I am a better runner than I am a navigator, so I do better in O events where following is permitted, or in a team effort. I've continued to run, but not do triathlons. I have kicked around the idea of trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon for a few years. In the qualifying window for the 2008 Boston Marathon, I can run as a 43- or 44-year-old to post a time (3:30 or better) that would qualify me to run as an M45-50 in 2008.
Late last November, I had a dream in which I was back at the fraternity, speaking to Ed Arenberg, with whom I had previously corresponded about how he worked to qualify for the 100th Boston in 1996. In the dream, I was explaining to Ed that I could qualify in October 2007 for Boston 2008; that I wanted to do it at the Bay State Marathon http://www.baystatemarathon.com/ ; that I wanted to run Bay State in 2006 as a warm-up; and that that meant I would begin my training ramp soon after November, before January 2006. Ed did not speak in my dream, that I remember.
In 2005, my brother Mike appeared on Jeopardy, finishing second. http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=643 In his new year's message, he spoke of having satisfied a 35-year dream to appear on Jeopardy, and encouraged me to pursue my dream in 2006. When I combined the vivid dream with my brother's message, I decided to go for it. I pursued a couple of local running coaches whom I know or who are affiliated with my running club, Central Mass Striders. http://www.cmsrun.org/frameset.html No one replied to my requests. I began training without a coach over the winter. I had another disappointing run at Covered Bridges, http://www.coolrunning.com/results/06/vt/Jun4_15thAn_set2.shtml, running it in 1:41.
By coincidence, I met another MIT alumnus, Steve Balzac, (Assassins' Guild) at a conference on gifted kids. He has stayed in touch with Jeff Arenberg since they both fenced at MIT. He told me of Ed's news. I got in touch with Ed, learned the whole story, and now I'm working with Ed to qualify for Boston. At least Ed returns my emails.