Blog Archive
Inkscape is great – December 17, 2025
Below is a recent illustration of a model train I made that was part of a friend's Christmas album artwork. I'm pleased with how it turned out: For years I've used Inkscape, an open source vector graphics application. It's a really awesome tool for vector illustration. And being open source, its fre...
Gift guides galore – December 13, 2025
Well it's almost Christmas which means it's time to frantically do some Christmas shopping!!! Every year I start thinking about what to get as Christmas gifts very early on in the season, and then procrastinate until the last minute. It's a thrill! Part of my extended research phase of thinking abou...
Figuring out Disney – November 20, 2025
Making sense of the Magic Kingdom My wife had a conference near Disney World not so long ago, so that afforded us an opportunity to spend some days in the Magic Kingdom. Going to Disney World is ... complicated! Figuring out the best strategy for where to go, and when, can seem like navigating a lab...
Cord Cutting: Streaming sports in Charlotte NC – August 30, 2025
The never ending quest to watch as much sports (but pay as little) as possible. TL;DR – jump to conclusion . Almost a decade ago I ditched cable TV. It was one of the best feelings handing back the old cable box I had been renting, and joining the crowd of cord cutters. All I needed was a decent alt...
Cheap date night idea – August 29, 2025
It doesn't get much cheaper than free. Charlotte has some phenomenal museums. And many of them are FREE on Wednesdays after 5. The Mint museum (both locations) and the Bechtler museum open their doors to anyone after 5 on Wednesdays, it's hard to pass up this cheap date night opportunity. The Uptown...
A Recent trip to VA – August 22, 2025
I made a recent trip back to Harrisonburg and of course I couldn't resist getting dinner at the best Thai place in the burg. We went mostly just to spend some time with my mom. A lot of that was just playing games. Some of our favorites include Splendor and Kingdom Builder. We also love Azul. It's a...
