Do I know anyone in San Antonio?

Drill tests are going along, albeit slowly. I'm calling airlines and others about travel and logistics and shipping...

And I got an invitation to speak at the Society of Petroleum Engineers annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, set for 24-27 September in San Antonio, Texas. I have a half-hour presentation on space drilling and resource prospecting, to give as a keynote to an auditorium of 250 high school and 200 college students, being introduced by the current SPE president and SPE is covering all of my travel costs. They need a bio, headshot, etc. for media interviews later. The energetic conference organizer said they were "determined to make this experience fun and interesting for you." and even invited me to arrive early and hang out around San Antonio if I liked. I may see if I can ship the DAME drill there after the field season, before it goes to Georgia Tech again.

This is a bit... bemusing, as I'm not used to having such a fuss made over our work here. Hopefully I'll do a good job of exciting those students about planetary drilling and future exploration.

growing concerned...

Today was James's last day of school for the summer, and his last two (and toughest) final exams. He made no mention of after-school plans. He still isn't home yet, at nearly 7pm. I'm growing concerned...

[Update: he shuffled in around 7:20, six hours after school ended... he went to a garage band practice and then met some friends in a park and lost track of time... told us nothing. Sigh. Now, to come up with appropriate consequences, finish dinner and try to call geekchick...]