The Annual Challenge…

I have been a lifelong learner. Unfortunately, learning in school was not my favorite way to fill my mind. Some subjects in the classroom were just not that interesting. When I was able to afford one of the ancient hobbyist home computers, I learned so well that the knowledge gained was not easily measurable. Unfortunately, my grades for school were accurately measured and heading south quickly.

A career in software engineering was one of the best things for me. Learning to stay current in technologies and techniques was a constant need. My excuse to pursuing a university degree was that they did not teach most of the most interesting and new tech tools. Avoiding philosophy, physics, physiotherapy, photography, and phlebotomy put me years ahead in learning tech and avoiding mountains of tuition.

As a learner and someone who likes a good New Year’s resolution, I decided to learn something new each year. Here are some of the learning adventures in recent years.

• 2024 – Mudsox Publishing completes editing and cover work for The Presser Arc and launches the book.
• 2023 – The Presser Arc went so well, that I created a second story within the Comets of Omen universe.  Comets of Omen: The Vectri Arc will launch in 2025 after Presser Arc.
• 2022 – In 1993, I wrote a pilot story and outline for an epic science fiction story.  After resurrecting the old notes and chapters, I added 240,000 words to complete the story.  Comets of Omen: The Presser Arc is the result.
• 2021 – Brought out an old telescope that had manual aiming and focus, and automated it to track stars as they moved across the sky.  The design included 2 computers, 3 lasers, 2 digital cameras, 3 precision stepper motors, 4 device drivers and power supplies, and a customized software interface in Python.
• 2020 – In 1998, I wrote a novel describing an individual that could manipulate history who opposed an individual who could see into the future. Prophecy of a Memory was, at its root, a contest of opposite gifts. In 2020, I was able to turn this story into a board game with the characteristics of the book.
• 2019 – Writing fiction had been the “learning” effort in 1986 and continued for fun for many years. As a writer, I have been always careful to “keep the day job” as a person who is modestly talented. When my leadership role led me to communicate with a far-flung team, I found that writing was part of the day job. I created my first non-fiction book describing my leadership communication style.
• 2018 – I had been watching for a spiritual calling of some sort, but I had no idea where to go. When a friend asked if I would be willing to help lead a new religious retreat, it seemed like the right place to learn. The biggest learning is that by giving in an event like this, I received far more.
• 2017 – Occasionally, an opportunity comes along that I would never normally consider. Political Campaign Manager might just top the list. But, I helped with a grass-roots campaign to challenge a wealthy candidate who could spend and spend. Although we fell a couple hundred votes short, it was an experience to be part of an election.
• 2016 – Flying has been a long-time interest. Piloting planes has been a more recent obsession. With the Mrs. somewhat adverse to being in anything airborne with me at the controls, I put together a home flight simulator and learned to operate planes coming to and leaving my local airport. A few hundred crashes later, I was landing in one piece pretty well.
• 2015 – Using a collection of new and spare parts, and an old-school galvanized trash can, created a full-sized Bat Signal. On Halloween, it drew neighbors to the house to see the spotlight reach to the clouds. Had to cover the 1000 watt beam to stay out of the sight of passing planes.