Recent Developments

It's been a week or so since the last entry. It has not been a week of inactivity. I spent six days in Indiana somewhere riding around in armored humvees, wearing battle vests and helmet, and witnessing sights in the latrine no mortal should ever have to see. Plus, I didn't have my laptop, nor have I gotten around to uploading photos yet. So information on the Indiana portion will have to come later, perhaps this weekend. In the meantime, today began the "Crash and Bang" course. I still believe "Crash and Burn" is more accurate in most cases. Numerous conal homicides were perpetrated throughout the course. I personally am responsible for three, though I don't think the one in reverse really counts, since even in real life driving conditions, you're allowed to run over pedestrians in reverse, especially if they're just sitting there right in the middle of the damn road. I discovered I am pretty good at emergency braking and slaloms, as well as Y-turns. I am reminded that I am not good at driving in reverse at over 25 mph, since I can't keep the car straight. Another car had an "incident," as the instructors called it, with the restraining wall. Overall an enlightening day - we got to practice what to do if the driver is incapacitated, which works even in non-war zones. Say, for example, he had a heart attack, or perhaps dropped his beer and was determined to retrieve it. Either way, the front-seat passenger must take the wheel and even control of the pedals.
Also, burning tire rubber is not as attractive a smell as it may sound.