A Tough Month of Work

This month had more than its share of team building events and meals and days.   This month we had a day to celebrate Charles Melton's moving to a new role at Vogtle 3&4, a Cyber Security Summit, and many random free lunches.

Charles selected that we would do K-1 go-cart racing, and I immediately starting getting scared remembering my only time on these things back in Dothan.   These carts will fly, and I thought it was very fun until I hit one of the sides and spun about 270 degrees, realizing quickly that these are NOT the beach go carts that give you just a little bump.   Later, I believe it was David Brewer from Honeysuckle Road that slammed into me, making my knees knock, and leaving a bruise that stayed for weeks, and mental trauma that lasted until this day in Birmingham.

So I began sandbagging and telling everyone that this was not my thing, and it really is not.   But when I got into my group of 5 for the qualifying races, I felt a little more secure in these carts, then when I got on the track, I noticed that the side walls were a little more forgiving if you bump into them.   So I let loose, and slammed down the accelerator, passing many in my tear through this track.   It was exhilarating, and not to scary as they would wave a flag to the person in front of you if you needed to pass.   And at the end of the two qualifying races, crazily I had the fastest lap, and would have the #1 position in the final race.

In the final race, they did not let us space out to begin, but placed us in actual racing positions, just like what I have always seen in Mario Kart.   I had the front inside position, and needed some water, as I was slightly dehydrated.   The adrenaline started ramping up when the green flag was dropped, so I slammed down the gas and immediately jumped into 1st place out of the 5 fastest drivers.   I held that lead through the first lap and some serious banging and bumping through the first set of 2 180 degree turns.   But on lap 2, I was passed, then the next lap had someone from behind clip me and I spun out and rammed directly into the side wall.   But I immediately remembered my intense 15 minute training session they gave us, slammed it in reverse, and repositioned myself going forward while the cars were still in a cautionary slower speed.   

And thus I began the final 8 laps in 4th place looking for an opportunity or wreck so I could pass.   And I found a good angle to basically push one person into the wall if they did not get behind me, then after a collision up front, I found myself in the 2nd position.  At this point in the race, I could not breath, and had to pull my racing mask down to get in any air.   My heart was racing faster than my cart, with my throat screaming for water.   I remembered the fear from my first time, but this time it was because I am now 46, and may have a heart attack on this track.   But I saw that Orlando was taking a wide turn at one spot and found a place to pass.   Fortunately, something behind me must have happened with Gary and Orlando, as I hit the last lap glancing over my shoulder to find no one...Orlando was a good ways behind me, so I knew I just had to drive smart and not make any dumb mistakes, and I finished the race #1 at the checkered flag.   

Everyone was ragging on me for my sandbagging remarks at the beginning that this was not me, and I don't think racing is for me.   I am pretty sure that two more laps and I may have left in the hospital, but it was fun to stand on that podium as the #1 racer on this day.   Josh Seales did end up with the fastest lap on the second race, and while Charles did not place, we were all thankful he invited us to this fun day before he left town.

With all of our cyber team in Birmingham for our "Cyber Summit", Deidra (or rather Joey) planned a fun event at Top Golf for our team.   And while I did not have any #1 moments, using the "Sure Thing" Driver, I did get close with the longest drive.   At 198, it was not super long, but it bounced to the net, and I will call that about as good as I will ever hit a driver.  Lorenzo captured my pose shot and that whole bay would laugh at my ridiculous swing and pose each time.  I think Champlin was the only one to smash balls directly right into the ball box.  Dallas LeMaster won the long drive, but only because they didn't let Deidra drive from the women's tees.   I would send pictures of both of these days to the Junkin Function (now with Noel) text group, and all realized that dad was not working as hard this month.