Inevitable that I should comment on Bret Favre

I suppose since I spent so much time on Michael Vick, I should at least mention old #4. He actually looked pretty good during the first half of last season with the Jets. The torn bicep, or whatever it was, made the end of the season pretty tough for all of us who loved watching him play so much during his career.

But there is no arguing that we all grow older, and part of that means we are not as resilient as we used to be. Even Lance Armstrong discussed it very frankly this year. He is still very very good, world class even, in that he certainly competes with the majority of the riders out there. But he admits that he is probably not the "best" anymore. Younger guys (and gals) have prepared themselves to compete at the highest levels, and they are more resilient, able to reach deeper for that last ounce of energy necessary to win.

I think the same parallel can be drawn with Bret Favre. He is still very very good. But he will not recover from a hit as quickly as he used to. He is more susceptible to a break or tear. He is less resilient, less able to reach deeper for something that isn't there anymore: the energy of youth. He must rely on cunning, knowledge, and trickery, just like the rest of us old codgers. He may have a season or two left in him, maybe even more if his linemen can protect him. But a middlelinebacker is going to break through on a blitz one day soon, make a clean hit, and ring Bret's chimes. Perhaps he will then understand that he is no longer invulnerable. I just hope he does not suffer a serious or permanent injury to learn this lesson.

Michael Vick revisited

I wrote a post a couple months back, advocating Michael Vick being given another chance. I read in this morning's news that the Philadelphia Eagles have signed him for a two year contract. I am glad he is being given this opportunity. I was somewhat dismayed that the local animal rights activists are being so negative about it, though. I do not think any of them have read or heard about what Mr. Vick has been doing to demonstrate the changes in his attitude about animal cruelty.

Obviously, time will tell, but for now, Michael Vick is saying and doing the right things. I hope he can prove that people can change for the better. Good luck, Michael, continue to listen to and heed the advice of people like Tony Dungy, and you will prove the naysayers wrong.

A Week's Respite from the Heat

We spent last week in Colorado. A new destination for us. We had been thru the Denver Airport before, but never got out to explore. I had a show to work at the Colorado Convention Center, the AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference. Lots of engineers and scientists who specialize in rocket propulsion and spacecraft attended the conference and a few actually came into the exhibit hall to look at the various booths from vendors like Lockheed, ULA, and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. Some even stopped by our booth to look at the engine testing equipment and high precision rocket parts we make. My lovely wife accompanied me on this trip, and we took a few days of vacation after the conference concluded.

We drove up to Breckenridge, and had a nice lunch in the cool mountain air. There was a small street festival going on that seemed to focus on the gold prospecting history of the area. The ride back to Denver was brutal though, as I-70 was packed with people heading back east, out of the mountains.

We also had a chance to have dinner with some old friends we hadn't seen in a long time, Tom & Julie retired in Littleton a few years ago. It was great to see them again. We had a great time dragging up old memories of our days as young test engineers, and comparing notes on how our families have grown up.

We drove up to Ft. Collins, and spent a few days with our friends Larry & Amy, whom we haven't spent much time with since we both retired from the big aerospace firm in November of '06. They are doing just fine, and gave us the grand tour of Ft. Collins, the New Belgium Brewery, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Big Thompson Canyon, and even a herd of buffalo. We got to see their new grandson and their son & daughter-in-law, as well as Larry's brother and sister. All-in-all, a really fine time was had by all.

Our flight home was uneventful, and even though we had a great time, it was good to get home and see the doggies and sleep in our own bed again.