starting a new job

On Oct 19th, I'll be starting a new job! I will be going to work for Edge Technologies based in Fairfax, VA. I will be working in a bit of a hybrid role - part consultant and part developer.

I've known several of the folks at Edge for around six years - having worked with them at Micromuse. I've always had a great deal of respect for them and enjoyed working with them.

I am really looking forward to getting started in the new job. I'll get to work with some of my favorite technology and learn some new things. Having worked on the same thing for the past three years, a change is certainly welcome.

Macy's solo

This is a solo that Macy played recently with the home school stage band on "Fly Me to the Moon". It was her first time to solo in from of a pretty large audience. As you can imagine, Kendre and I are very proud of her.

cloud pics

I took these one evening while tending chickens.

random Blackberry photos

not something you expect to see way out in the country....


my friend Dexter's MINI with the bus


Mathias doing tricks with his eyes


the oatmeal raisin cookies I made


Lathen's interpretation of cowboy


cows through bus windshield


chicken greeting


sunset - again through bus windshield

fried catfish extraordinaire

Last Friday evening, on our now regular date night, Kendre and I met her sister Kim & brother-in-law Danny for dinner at Steak and Catfish Barn restaurant near I-35 and Waterloo.



It's the kind of hole-in-the-wall place that I love. They have excellent catfish (and some of the best hush puppies and tartar sauce I've had) and great service. And as you can see from the pics, an interesting decor! :-)

Baking school

I've decided lately that I need to learn something about baking lately. I dug out one of my favorite cooking geek references - this book:



So far I've made cherry scones and biscuits:



They were both pretty good! Oatmeal raisin cookies are up next...

my new favorite tea

For Christmas, Kendre got me some Gong Fu Dian Hong Yunnan province black tea.

Since then, I've bought two more 100gm bags and it is my primary tea now. It has an almost chocolaty taste. I would recommend it to any fan of Chinese black teas.

Gun stuff

Here's some things I need to catch up on...

I had posted previously about the Swiss K31 rifle. Back in middle of November, I was able to order one along with my buddy Dexter. Here's mine:



It was built in 1937 and is in great shape considering its age. The metal all looks like it came from a modern machining process - it's like clockwork. Dexter and I took them to the range but that's the only time I've shot it so far. It's fun to shoot and appears to live up to all of its reputation. I am very pleased with it so far.

In January I took the prerequisite class for an Oklahoma conceal carry license. As with trying to buy guns or ammo at the moment, the new administration has inspired a deluge of applications for CCL and the processing (which isn't normally fast) is backlogged. My application went in almost three weeks ago, but I expect it to take at least the "minimum" 90 days if not longer.

At the CCL class, the instructors tried to add some more real-world value by giving help with pistol techniques. I've been working on those and I am seeing a real improvement on my groups with both of my pistols.

Speaking of our new president, his plans to revive the failed policies of the past (to use one of his favorite phrases) in the form of the Brady weapons ban has served as quite the unintended stimulus package in the part of the economy related to guns and ammunition. I've decided to start my own AR-15 build project and have begun collecting parts before they are (unconstitutionally) banned again. It's amazing how difficult it is to find them now.

The cool thing about the AR-15/M-16 is that it's a modular system, so you can mix and match parts to build the gun however you like or need. There are literally unlimited variations possible. I'll post about that more later.

Finally, I started taking the kids to the range near our house to learn to shoot my .22 rifle. We spent some time learning the Four Rules of Gun Safety and practicing them. We set up a spinning steel target which makes it rewarding to hit.

Here are some pics from the range:


We had a lot of fun and will be going more often in the future.