Not @ Work

I didn’t have a place to put a 2024 Year-in-Review post, so I’m going to do it here…

“Retired”
- A real relief to get out of Software
- Miss some co-workers, but not the work
Started school full time at Austin Community College
- ARTS-1311 Design 1 Design I ARTS-1311 | Flickr
  - Started using traditional media again, ink, acrylic gouache
    - Learned to like liner brushes for painting straight lines
    - Learned that masking never works as well as I hope it will
  - Design/planning using digital tools (Affinity Designer, Photoshop)
  - Deadlines effective to stop me reworking things to death
- WLDG-1405 Art Metals Art Metals WLDG-1405 | Flickr
  - Expected this to be a survey of materials/techniques
  - Actually a coppersmithing class (with one foray into steel)
  - Almost dropped it early on, but ended up enjoying it
  - Got to a point in each project where I hated my piece and thought it was ruined, worked through that on 2 of the 3 pieces (still hate half of the third)
- WLDG-1417 Intro to Layout and Fabrication Intro to Layout & Fabrication WLDG-1417 | Flickr
  - Ended up being more artistic/expressive than I expected
  - Learned the value of simpler tools/techniques
    - Layout on paper - no math, just taking measurements off of 1:1 diagrams
    - Filing
    - Angle grinder cutting discs
    - Angle grinder sanding discs
    - F-clamps
  - New techniques
    - Transfer punches
    - Sandblasting
    - Torch welding and brazing
    - TIG brazing
      - This is tempting to continue with, but I’m going to need to invest in a PAPR if I do because of the toxic fumes
Got involved at Asmbly https://asmbly.org
- Joined so that I would not buy a welding fixture table for home
  - Instead, I have bought a bunch of tooling
- Ended up learning a bunch of machines
  - Lathe, Vertical Mill
  - Tormach CNC Mill
  - Wood CNC routers
  - Laser cutters
  - 3D Printers
    - Took class in order to make these bins
    - Learned a lot more about filament printers
    - Used resin printers for the first time
- Learned basic modeling & CAM using Fusion
  - Using the academic license. Thanks, ACC!
- Took position as 3D Space Area Lead
  - Woefully underqualified, but making progress
  - Technical part of it is fine/interesting, enjoying the people-wrangling part of it far less
    - Inconsiderate users monopolizing machines
Moved back into Triskaidekaphilia
- One year renovation turned into 2.5
- A lot about the place is great
  - Screened porch is awesome
  - Really good for entertaining
    - Nog Party/Rewarming
  - Little touches that I’m really enjoying
    - Washlet(s)
    - Sparkling water dispenser
- Endless projects
  - Strike plates
  - Weightlifting platform
  - “Smart” home
    - Finally have all of the locks/garage doors/cameras organized on Home Assistant
    - Bermuda tracking of the cats is… questionable
  - Bird protection film
- Frustrating imperfections
  - Things that will never bother anyone but me, but I know how this or that is supposed to be, and it isn’t…
- Cats are still not comfortable (except Tenzing)
Decided to sell Parkwood house that I bought to live in during the renovation
- Don’t want to be a landlord
- Don’t want to own more property in Texas than I need to
- Probably going to take a big loss on it, but it is what it is
Travel
- Hiking and bird watching in New Zealand (layover day in Sydney), Scuba in Indonesia, bird watching in Taiwan on the way back
- Total eclipse at Inks Lake SP, with an extended stay in Tourtoise
  - Work from park works
- Three other State Parks in Tourtoise
- Roatán with old SF crew
- Bay area hangouts around a Confluent offsite
- Fourth of July on Cape Cod with family
- Whirlwind trip to Lisbon
  - Sued Portugal and won
  - Finally had biometrics appointment for residency visa
  - Progress towards living outside of the US
- In Portugal for a longer trip over the new year

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