I am looking forward to doing some 3D printing at work this week. I prefer designing my own parts rather than downloading something from the internet. It has been a while since I used a 3D CAD program so I spent a few hours re-familiarizing myself with the one I use most. I designed a number of useful items that I will print tomorrow including the one pictured. Try and guess what it is. The answer is below the photo.
Right angle bracket to hold the inductive charger for an Apple Watch
As is our tradition, we start Christmas Day by removing the stockings from their hanging spots on the fireplace mantle and taking a seat on the couch. Each person in turn extracts a single item and tries to guess who it is from. This usually lasts for an hour or two and then we sit down to breakfast featuring from scratch popovers. Every year Jeanine worries that they will not come out just right and every year they do. Fully nourished, we return to the living room and begin the serious business of the present opening. We use a Secret Santa system (each adult is assigned one person to gift) which in theory should cut down on the number of presents to be opened. Even so, we manage to stretch things out for a couple of hours after which most of us are ready for a nap. This year Nicolai took the lead on adding a late afternoon charcuterie course to the dining menu which had the net effect of delaying dinner until 8 pm and even rounder bellies.
I suggested a nature walk this afternoon and quickly had three willing participants. Consensus built for a hike out to the Devil’s Staircase, so named for the rock formation leading to the top of Fairhaven Hill.
Once to the top we posed for a dronie after which Nicolai did a bit of rock climbing while Maya and Kyle took turns flying my quadcopter.
On the way back, Maya announced, out of the blue, that she could carry me out of the woods if I ever became injured. Fifteen seconds later I turned my ankle and thought it might be necessary to test her theory. Even though I had no trouble continuing under my own power, the kids deemed it necessary to test who could carry whom to safety. Kyle was able to run uphill with Nico over his shoulders. Maya scooped up Kyle like she was throwing on a shawl. Nicolai was more than strong enough to pick up Maya but they never managed to achieve a satisfactory state of balance. Nicolai had better luck with Kyle hanging on to his back but that combination ended quickly when it began to look more like a mating act than a rescue effort. Suffice it to say, we returned from our walk convinced that all family members could be extracted from the wilderness should the need arise. I would venture to say that no other family on the planet spent Christmas Eve in this way.
All three kids have picked up their mother’s passion for cooking and good food. Nicolai is particularly good at breakfast dishes, seen here preparing something wonderful that his father did not get to sample. The family spent most of the day relaxing, eating, and playing games. Jeanine’s sister, Susan, arrived from Burlington and among other things got us hooked on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Nicolai suggested the entire family go out for an afternoon of wall climbing. We packed up the crew and headed down to Brooklyn Boulders, an excellent climbing facility very close to my office. Nico has the most experience and coached his siblings who demonstrated remarkably good innate skills. Jeanine did a cardio workout while I handled the photography. I have a slight case of carpal tunnel syndrome and thought it best to give my wrists a break. Everyone had a great time and I am hoping this becomes a holiday tradition.
Karuna, Nico’s girlfriend, has been creating some amazing images which combine her athleticism and photographic flare into what I am calling Karunart. These are truly amazing self-portraits and I think she has a future both as a model and a photographer.
Cengage, the company Kyle works for will be moving to a new office in May of 2019. It is located across the street from his apartment, literally. He and his colleagues had a chance to tour the 14th-floor offices with a commanding view of Boston Harbor. Photo courtesy of Kyle.
When I worked near Central Square, street art could be found everywhere. Somerville does not have as much, but this recently completed wall mural is quite interesting and can be found along my commute less than a half mile from the office.
Maya returned home from Olin for the holiday break. She promptly fell asleep on the couch to begin recuperating from the demands of her sophomore fall semester. Maya has been thriving at school and we love to hear about her many projects. She will be joined by Nico tomorrow and Kyle at the end of the week. Jeanine and I are looking forward to having a full house again.
Roughly once a month, Formlabs has a Town Hall meeting during which the entire company (close to 500 employees now) assembles in person and by video conference for an update on varying topics of general interest. Today the meeting focused on our 2018 financial performance and a new printing material for the dentistry market. I was also introduced and spoke briefly about my background and objectives. One of my slides included a collection of the logos of the companies I have worked for (not including Formlabs). This is my 38th year working in high tech and my 32nd managing engineering teams. I started my career wearing a lab coat over a suit, using a slide ruler for calculations. Today I am dressed ready to climb a mountain, wearing a watch that will answer any question I ask of it including what is a slide ruler. When I pause to think about all the technical and cultural changes that have occurred during my working life it is almost incomprehensible. I feel fortunate to have lived at this time in history and am proud of my journey.
I found this Concord Journal clipping today on the kitchen counter. I must have missed it when first published.
After being posted for 4 months on Craig’s List, our grand piano finally sold today. The market for large pianos has really collapsed in recent years. Even so, we got one-third of the price we paid nearly 25 years ago. Not bad. The buyers drove up from Mystic, CT, and were joined here by a piano technician they hired. He did a thorough inspection before declaring the piano “as good as new”. Pictured above is the entire keyboard assembly removed from the piano for closer scrutiny. Jeanine and I were very sad it will not be here for Nico to play, something we look forward to every time he visits. Professional piano movers will arrive next week to pack it up and ship it to its new home.
Nearly 25 years ago, Jeanine and I commissioned this bed, designed by her sister and built by an Indianapolis woodworker. I was too busy with work at the time to do it myself although I later constructed the canopy section. As part of our year-long preparation for downsizing, I have been selling off items that don’t make sense in a more compact footprint. With the kids out of the house, we are looking forward to finding a smaller home located nearer to Boston to shorten my commute. This evening I shot the photos that will accompany the listing on Craig’s List.
Nicolai and Karuna have taken up rock climbing, a very popular activity where they live in Colorado. I believe she was responsible for capturing this video recording that was posted to his Instagram account. Karuna’s strength-to-weight ratio is probably higher than any human I know and Nico’s upper body strength makes them both naturals for the sport.