Is Renewable Really Doable?
I’m flattered that a favorite high school English teacher of mine likes my books; in fact, Mr. Perrott (as I call him to this day) is currently working on “Is Renewable Really Doable?” I’m also taken by this comment he made in email just now: “I was pleased to observe your grammatical/usage correctness – even including such unknowns as using the possessive pronoun with a gerund.”
I responded:
I have to laugh about that aspect of grammar. A quick story if I may:
I wasn’t much good with the ladies when I was young – especially when I was in high school, for a bunch reason’s I’ll omit here – but I remember I happened to be kissing a pretty girl in my parents’ backyard, late one hot summer night when I still lived in the Philadelphia suburbs. When my new-found girlfriend and I paused for a moment, she looked up at me rather seriously, and began, “Craig, I don’t want you to take offense to this….”
Of course, I thought she was going to tell me I wasn’t a good kisser – something I rather suspected might be true. But she then continued – and I swear to God I’m not making this up — “I know you value good grammar, so I feel I have to tell you that you need to modify your gerunds with possessive pronouns.”
Needless to say, I hadn’t seen that one coming. And of course, the fact that her attention was on my use of the language confirmed the fact that she wasn’t exactly enthralled with my kissing.
Oh well. Live and learn. It certainly made an impression — one that carries with me 42 years later.
Craig: You never know who is listening, what they are listening to, or even what they are paying attention to. Experience is like one of those puzzles, many pieces put together which make up a whole as it gets completed. I am sure you still get a surprise once in a while that leaves you thinking. That is why it is so important to be yourself in every way and everywhere, because all these experiences will make your image complete at the end of the road.
God has brought us through our lives through roads that we don’t understand in the beginning, but later in life, you look back and see.
I studied architecture and have worked in furniture design, interior design, architectural design all my life, but all through I have always been moved by science and technology, I am an inventor of renewable energy systems and fighting to get my patents through, although I have about 20 more on the list, I know that one good hit will bring the rest into perspective, and who knows, right?
You have written 3 books now, right? I bet you didn’t think you would get there before the first. Your road is just beginning. I wish you the best.
Steven
Craig, Tell Steve to keep trying and not give up.
I know his problem too well. Under pressure from a DOE director, I created a BIPV system that results in a solar roof costing less than a non-solar roof BEFORE tax credits/rebates/etc. It has gotten high praise from leaders in the industry including the gentleman whom many consider to be the Father of Solar. But, when I took it to the DOE director, he apologized and said he couldn’t get the couple million it would take to bring to fruition.
Hopefully, both of our innovations will come to fruition.
technotard