My username, Spiffy Sperry, was bestowed to me by a lovely elementary school teacher. (Or maybe it was bestowed to one or more of my brothers. Who really knows; memories are foggy.)
My interests include astronomya, climate change, and my own genealogyb. Also I am a semi-avid runner, having completed two Chicago Marathons.
Timeline edit
Notable events (by Wiki standards) which I lived through, experienced, or participated in:
- played in the band for the 1990–91 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team and 1991–92 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
- ran the 2001 Chicago Marathon and 2002 Chicago Marathonc
- the memorable March 2006 Tornado Outbreak
- the uneventful 2008 Illinois earthquake
- saw the Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 and the Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, both from Chester, Illinois
- the momentous June 2023 Chatham tornado, which went over my house (while I was at work)
Advice edit
- Be wary of insurance companies. One auto insurance company tried to lay partial blame on me for running a green light when their client ran a red light and totalled my car.
- If you run 500 miles over 6 months training for a marathon, use something more sturdy than the plastic tie they give you to affix your electronic chip.
- Donate blood, regularly. I did until I lost the ability in July 2021 due to medical reasons.
Footnotes edit
^Note a : Currently using a 3-inch, f/9.2 Bushnell Nova reflector with 20mm, 10mm, and 6.3mm eyepieces. For those unfamiliar with these numbers, it means I'm more of a reader than a looker.
^Note b : I've recorded over 3900 individuals, so far.
^Note c : 2001 - 4:11:14, 13,113th place (not in official stats, see advice above); 2002 - 4:07:46, 13,403th place