Starting my 20th year of teaching this semester, I still love my job. Even though I've been teaching the same set of courses, the new cohorts of students always keep things fresh. There's always new things for me to learn, too. So, it was all the more meaningful to start this year as a full professor. My promotion was approved and granted after spending all of last summer writing and building my case.
To start the new school year, I replaced my 18-year old car. I really loved the old car, hoped to keep it for at least 20 years, and hated to let it go. It was starting to get really needy and cranky, especially when the weather changed. Deciding between a hybrid and a fully electric car, I chose the Volvo C40 Recharge (fully electric). No more gasoline, oil changes, emissions tests, and rusty belts... Nice to have a car built in this decade.
2007 S60
2023 C40
As for other family updates: Bun Bun started the new school year as a high school freshman. With the exception of her school bus breaking down on the way home, I think it went well.
We had a pretty nice summer. As soon as school let out, we drove to Charlotte to visit family. We stopped in Monterey, VA, away from light pollution, for some star gazing. This summer, we visited 2 caves, rode some roller coasters, caught 5 ground hogs, saw baby orangutan & tortoises, and ate too much donuts & water ice. Last week, Bun Bun and Daddy went to the Disney Descendants Zombies Worlds Collide Tour to round out the summer fun.
