Quoting Ben and Lou: The week was action packed and fast paced - somewhat like drinking from a fire hose. We were both successful in getting our ratings. Burt is tough, demanding, and a font of knowledge.

Well, I may be demanding but we also had some fun. Soft winter thermals to 10,000' msl, 100 mile visibility, lennies over the Davis mountains, gathering for breakfast and dinner in Marfa's new restaurants, enjoying my soaring posters, books and memorabilia collection in my hangar, touring my vintage Ludwig drum museum and the annoying but free drum solo with every checkride . . . yes, it was a good time for for all last week. Two more applicants arrive for checkrides this week, from Idaho and Pennsylvania. Then I'm off to Houston for the FEB 23 SSA meetings, the gathering of the soaring tribe, SSA awards dinner and a SSF seminar. (More info at www.ssa.org)