Work at the new place, IEM, is much more challenging than my old job. I was there for 7 years so things had gotten pretty familiar. It’s hard to talk about the stuff that I like without sounding like I’m complaining about the old place. They’re different places with different cultures.
The energy level and pace seems higher. Folks seem very directly connected to their customers. Everyone I talk to seems to be really smart which is a treat. It was pretty intimidating for the first month but I’m feeling like I fit in. I’m offering help and asking for help.
There are wires on my work desk again! 
I miss wiring things together and making LEDs blink. It’s the part of programming that really excites me. When my code listens and talks to parts of the world, not just people at desks.
Work is far from stressfree but I’m enjoying it. The new rental house and living arrangements are settling. Apparently, moving homes is one of the most stressful events in life. It snuck up on me but it’s true. Adding a housemate added some stress to but we’re all adapting to our various quirks.
The cats, however, are not. There continues to be growling and hissing and inappropriate peeing. Hopefully, the prescription cat food will clear of the messes. Every time I looked up cats peeing in wrong places, the first thing websites mention is getting the cat checked out by the vet. I kept skipping over that step under the assumption that Jenny and the vet had covered that ground. Oops.
I can definately live with less of the “Where’s that smell coming from?” game.
I started playing a “freemium” computer game. That’s where it’s free to start but the good stuff in game costs real world money. This one is called World of Tanks and is fairly fun. It tries to be a fun simulation and does okay on the fun aspect.
Too much of the game play is tied to their rule system in preference to player work. For example, in a clear field, you can see enemies further away if someone else on your team is closer. So, you can’t trust your own eyes when you look across a field and decide whether it’s safe to proceed. 
I haven’t done any fencing or fighting since Pennsic. This past month, that was a good thing as we waited for our health insurance to transfer over. SCA stuff has just seemed less interesting overall. The event announcements continue to be terrible. I used to pack up and drive two hours because an announcement included the word “melee” (many on many battle). Now though, I want to know more.
It’s not just that though. My friends don’t talk about the fun that they have at events. Folks talk about what went wrong or what they’re working on in the hopes of getting noticed. I wish I had more to say about how the SCA could interest me more. Sometimes, I wish there was a group like that which included electronics. 
There are Makers and Hackerspaces and Burning Man seems to be a great museum of modern experimentation. I haven’t taken part in any of that yet. It seems interesting but there’s nothing local. I could start smething but it takes time and energy.
Climbing continues to be a lot of fun. My missing gear all turned up after being lost in the wrong bag for a month. It surprises me how much finger strength I have now. Many more of the holds are useful. I used to need the hold to be “juggy”, to have a pocket for my fingers, like a milk jug. Now, it seems to be enough if the hold has a good corner. I still can’t use slopers at all but maybe someday.
