Great Western War was a good time, despite the daily 90+ deg F days. Best (average) mileage I've managed with the Ridgeline yet, 28 mpg! I need to build a Vardo with a camp-size kitchen.

New hires at work are going great, managed to get caught up on backlog. May even have time to assist FlightOps again.

Next tour is set for mid June, details on that when it gets closer. I can say for now it involves a boot and wine.

For obvious reasons I was not in attendance at BABSCon this year, although they did attempt a virtual con with some of the panels. More stuff to look forward to next year, when it's reasonably safe to gather. Which is not right now, despite what all the folks at the beaches think. Ugh.

The trusty '94 Accord has finally gone off to the wrecking yard. 376K miles, and it was driven to the tow company for disposal. 3rd gear was failing, the vacuum system was failing, clutch slave was failing, suspension was failing.. it was time. New shiny replacement is a '20 Ridgeline, and I'm more than satisfied with the upgrade. It does everything I need from a vehicle, even though it's lacking in the push bumper area (future mods?).

Still working, and we're currently running a rotating / split shift. Masks and gloves are mandatory while in the facility, and we can function this way reasonably well for the foreseeable future. Anyone who can work from home is, and the rest are coming in as needed. The contracts are still coming in, so we have things to do and have established ways of getting it done.

Looking forward to: Visiting my parents, camping with friends, having a quiet dinner at a restaurant.

It's been a fast paced blur of days, these last few months. I have a satisfying job with coworkers who respect my ability, and enough time for the things I enjoy in life. Further Confusion is rapidly approaching, and I will be able to attend in full this year. BABSCon is still on my calendar, and I'm even looking into a new vehicle to replace the aging Accord. Love you all.

Off to Reno National Air Races tomorrow, bright and early. I've been wanting to attend this event for years, and the scheduling finally lined up this year. Expect a few shiny pictures when I return.

The tour went very well, but I'm glad to be back home. Overall, we visited: London, Bath, Salisbury, Portsmouth, Bayeux, Caen, Normandy and Winchester. Met up with the LondonFurs while in the area, which was grand.

There are too many photos to upload them all here, but I've posted some of the highlights from the tour.

...I keep saying I should update this more often than once per year. And yet, here we are.

Things are going awesome with the 'new' work. Still feels new and fresh, I've been there almost a year now. Glad to be part of something that makes a difference.

Threw a chain on the motorcycle, that wasn't fun. Everything survived (myself included) but will need some parts. Switching away from clip master chains from now on.

Civic is running great, although it took nearly a complete engine overhaul to get it that way.

Accord is loosing 3rd, will need a transmission rebuild at some point.

Going to BLFC!

Looking forward to 3rd international tour, this time London and Normandy.

Ciao.

Completed another cycle.

Steve Wozniak lead a Q&A panel with two brilliant ladies, Sabrina Pasterski and Simone Giertz.. and completely failed at the presentation. This panel was listed as "showing the next generation of women the endless possibilities of science and engineering", and instead was 'The Woz' asking them if they prefer cats or dogs, hot or cold, and if they could define integrity.. and questioning every answer they supplied. Nothing related to STEM came up during this brief, blow off interview.

Spent a few hours at the Museum of Aviation in middle Georgia. Fantastic, simply amazing place that I'd likely not have seen were it not convenient to my business trip. I recommend any aviation enthusiast checking this place. It bills itself as the second largest Air Force museum, and I wholly believe it. Superb exhibits, and active restoration projects.

http://www.museumofaviation.org

FurBuy: https://www.furbuy.com/auctions/1091969.html

Looking for someone to give this partial the wear and love it deserves. After mending pulled seams and updating a few things, has been displayed on a shelf for years. Needs a loving new home!

I will be attending Further Confusion again this year. While there, I will also have my partial up for sale. You can see the partial in my gallery here:

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/15633355/

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/15376835/

This is foam construction with airbrushed details. I spent some time a few years ago updating the head and doing permanent repairs.

Included with the head is hand/feet paws, and a tail. If this partial comes home with me, it will be posted on furbuy after FC. I would rather this goes to one of y'all here, but if not then auction it shall be.

I'll be up in Portland, OR next week on business. Installing some swanky new tech for a local academy. If anyone wishes to meet up for dinner Wednesday or Thursday evening, send me a note! Looking forward to being back in Oregon, even if it's only for a few days.

Further Confusion was a mad house this year. Between technical glitches and high attendence, we all worked long hours. Overall it was a good experience, and we have ideas for upcoming years. Looking forward to the new covention space and how we'll utilize it.

I managed to wrangle some free time, and spent it with people I don't get to see nearly enough. Brought Kgosi out for a few hours, but with an injured foot didn't want to run too long. Shame, ice skating was still open despite the rain.

Yes, I'll be there. I'm staffing (again, crazy right?) so look for me around Registration. When not on duty, I plan on tromping around as Kgosi Duma, so look for the spotted warrior as well.

Windows 10 has a nice feature, wherein it updates frequently and in small bits.
Windows 10 has a PROBLEM, wherein it updates frequently and in small bits.
Woke up this morning to find half of my default file associations had been changed by an update.

In other news, the new house is awesome and we're settled in here. Going to spend the day replacing a frayed control cable on Luna's FTM-10SR.

The update to Windows 10 was simple enough, although it didn't find and update my video driver. Took about an hour to update, and about another hour of tweaking to get things reorganized and tolerable. I like the pep and snap of the new kernel, but despise the 'metro simplistic' skin 10 has by default.

Charlie (not his real name) is my co-driver for my cross country 2200 mile trip.. each way. We drove from California to Wisconsin for the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. While I'm certain the show and exhibits were spectacular, we were there as vendors and spent most of the time working. I did catch a few shows in the evening, and overall I had a great time.

Currently we are at 9,042' in Frisco CO, having an excellent breakfast and enjoying the crystal clear air. Pictures from the trip will be uploaded when I RTB. I love being on the road, seeing things I may never see again.

Today, for no reason I can ascertain, every script attached to my avatar froze. Completely locked up, I can't even render the effected objects on the ground and get them to work. Any gestures on these items will run, if started manually. Every scripted object (tail, ears, AO, HUDs) is unresponsive. I have tried the following:

Detatch/reattatch all components.
Edit and reset scripts individually.
Avatar animation stop.
Place item on ground and attempt to run.
Complete clean wipe/reinstall of Firestorm.

Other avatars, or any script/AO/HUD that was not active are still completely functional. I can change to my pony avatar, and it works fine. This seems to be server side, and limited only to those items which were active at the time of failure. Rebuilding from start is not really an option, as some of the items never had a source box, and there are too many to rebuild one at a time.

Friday night at FC I received the best phone call I'd had in years. My then prospective new employer offered me the position as production technician with his small company. First week of February I began, and I haven't looked back. This flying cat now builds flight simulators in a relaxed, casual factory environment. The stress relief was nearly palpable, and the misery of my nearly 10 year previous employment is happily in the past.

I have quickly become the go-to worker for any mechanical or electrical operations, considering my life experience as a JoAT. This place is inspirational and moving forward, and our operations and product line are only growing. It's been far too long since I looked forward to my morning motorcycle ride to work.

Looking forward to this, the second year of Bay Area Brony Spectaucular Convention (BABSCon). I'll be chipping in with staff this go-round, and just might make this my new yearly staff gig. I staffed FC for oh.. 6+ years? And I worked Wildflower Communications for almost as long.

Biggest news though, there will be a grand showing of the season premier at the convention! That's right, someone knew who to talk to, and there will be an open house, no badge required, commercial free showing at 8am of the two-part premier of season 5!


If you live in the Bay area, or NorCal in general, come on down to the SFO Hyatt on 4/3 - 4/5, it's going to be a fantastic second year!

www.babscon.com

It was fantastic seeing all you crazy fuzzies, even ran into a few who'm I haven't seen in years! Saturday was a grueling 5 1/2 hours in corseted fursuit, and such an absolute blast. Sunday was only 4 1/4 hours with Kgosi, but was still equally fun (and tiring!). I'll be editing and uploading some video from the fursuit parade (from, not of) later this evening. Until then, unpacking and the usual.

I'll be assisting with registration this year, despite having promised myself I wouldn't staff anymore! It's not that I don't enjoy it, I honestly do.. just like having the free time to relax and visit friends. That being said, helping staff for FC is fantastic and were I to live in the bay area I'd probably become a yearly staffer (again).

Looking forward to bringing Netolu back, and she's been in storage for a few years as I've moved and other things. Made a few changes that should help with long term wear. The foam head was built on a balaclava, which was too tight and didn't breathe in the slightest. Removed that and most of the lining, the head is now comfortable and breathable. I'm not sure all of my garb will arrive in time, but I've done a quick fitting and believe I can make things work with everything I now have.

If anyone wants to pester me during the con, I always have notifications from email so drop a message there and I'll get it immediately. Unless of course, I'm suiting as either Netolu or Kgosi, in which case just come find me and chirrp!

It seems I have suddenly acquired an influx of new watchers. Greetings to every one of you, pleased to make your acquaintance! My FA will primarily consist of photographic artwork from myself, with occasional posts of commissioned or gifted traditional arts. Make yourselves at home, we are one.

A toast, to an excellent human and fine example of an artist. Here's to you, Robin Williams. May you find the peace you've been searching for.

Current smart phones are more capable than my office PC.

Reckless drivers persist, ATGATT.

The boss will always impede progress.