Hey!
My giant bucket of personal stuff.
2024
Another pivotal year.
Mom passed (MomMartin.com and Call Your Mom).
I had to evaluate what I wanted to do professionally. Even this late in my career, I found I want to do Growth (vs Core). I'm pursing that focus as part of a team vs independently (it surprised me that I found joining a big corp advantageous). Interestingly, I'm with the company that I worked with when Dash was a baby.
It was great to have Dash home for the whole summer.
He's back at school now. It's been a lot easier as he's living on campus with three roommates he chose. Sending us frequent photos of the meals he and his roommates cook...
2023b
The year 2023 must be broken in two. A huge life milestone for Leigh and me and Dash as Dash gets his second address ever. He's now at Cal Poly SLO as an Industrial Engineering Major.
Empty Nest.
A milestone in my life unlike any other. The great joy and pride with each of his accomplishments (sweet!) is accompanied, apparently forever, by the melancholy of his absence. Sweetancholy ("bittersweet" is wrong (sweet is first, and it's not a bitter ache)).
But "Launch a bird, gain a flock". The Cal Poly Mustang Parents group on Facebook kept me sane. An amazingly supportive group. I've got excerpts of my posts here: JeffPen.net/launch (Note: the responses were the best part, but they belong to the responders, not to me.)
2023a
2023a - Dash At Home - was highlighted by the capstone of Dash's amazing two-year volleyball career. Leading his UCHS Indoor Volleyball team. He was expected to carry the team, but he great exceeded the high expectations.
(Eighteen months later, these memories remain very moving. I think it's because once he started driving, we just didn't see that much of him. But we knew where he'd be during volleyball matches).
He finished the season with 61 Aces (1st in the League) and 357 Kills (2nd in the League).
- Goodies at UCVolley.com
- Dash highlights at UCVolley.com/dash
2023 Coach's Remarks and Awards
2022
A great indoor High School Volleyball Season:
Christmas 2021: Christmas-2021
August 27, 2021
For the first time in two years, UCHS had a Sand Volleyball Match. Then, Dash was a new player paired with a new player. Way down in the JV pecking order.
This year, he and his friend Trevor started the our first match as our Varsity #1 Team. They swept Parker's #1 Team in true Dash fashion, by the scantest of margins (by 3 and by 2).
full-story: Sand VB v Parker 210827
March 2021
Just got back from SpaceX Boca Chica to hear the Starship SN11 Launch.
Detail Pages: Cusco Area Photos | 2019 Peru: Trekking the Salkantay Trail | Amazon Jungle - Peru
2017
August: Eclipse 2017 - Totality in Oregon
December:
The Loop of Betrayal (2012)
Congrats alex !
My giant bucket of Dash Stuff (dashpotato.com)
I'm posting Photo Dumps of Dash at: Dash Stash