Midnight drives

I've sold my SUV to my sister and bought another car recently, something a little more suited for my current needs. I love my car. Don't get me wrong, I've loved my previous cars too but none of them have inspired me to go for midnight drives just to be in her. She's awesome.

I've been out late before, usually after a late session of amateur astronomy or returning home after a weekend out of town. I've never been out just for the heck of it - there's usually a destination in mind when I'm out past midnight. So, this time since I'm mostly out for the fun of it, I've a more relaxed mind and can enjoy the ride. It's interesting - the types of cars and the drivers change noticeably that late at night. For one thing, I saw quite few sports cars and custom jobbies, nifty-looking heavily modified cars in bright colours. I don't think that my city has a drag racing problem but one can't tell - those cars look fast.

I've also been driving around with the windows down, feeling the night air stream across my cheeks - it's a very sensual feeling, mixed in with the very distinct smell that seems to only come at night. It brought back memories of returning late in the evening after a trip to a relative's home when I was a little child. I miss the glowing neon signs of my childhood, especially the ones that "moved". I remember looking eagerly to some of my favourite ones whenever we had a late night trip. It added a certain magic to the city that was absent during the hustle and bustle of daytime life.

I don't go very far on my night drives, usually just my normal route that takes me out and back in around half an hour at a very leisurely pace. It does wonders for my stress level. I never thought I'd love driving and now, with my new car, I think I'm starting to understand the special relationship that we North Americans have with our vehicles.

Back again

My dad worked in electronics. Having had his education rudely interrupted by WWII in the form of a surprise Japanese invasion followed by a brutal occupation that killed a fair chunk of my family, he didn't quite get the "normal" education that most of us take for granted these days. So, he studied for and received a correspondence certificate in electronics, quite a respectable certification back then seeing how most schools were in ruins from the war.

To say that my dad loved electronics would be an understatement. So, it was quite disappointing for him when he discovered that none of his offspring shared his interest. I can't say for my brothers but I was certainly interested, at least at first. However, the shouting and the abuse I received whenever I made a mistake got to be a little too much so I stopped trying.

So, I'm feeling a little odd going back into electronics again after a hiatus of nearly 30 years. I'm trying to program Arduinos because I think it's time for the kids to get into something a little more challenging for their age. I've got an Uno as a primary test platform and a LilyPad for fun. For the kids, I've got an Earthshine starter kit which should get them well on their way, should they have the interest to do so. If not, I'm sure I'll find some way to repurpose them later.

I'm still feeling around the capabilities with my Uno - part of being successful with my kids is to find lessons that pique their interest. Although most adults will find making the pin 13 LED blink to be of interest, it simply won't help with getting the kids started, so I'm working on a set of tutorials that will lead them (hopefully) to bigger and better things.

The LilyPad is fun. If the kids take a serious interest in this, I'm giving my Uno to them so that they each have one to program. However, I'm keeping my LilyPad! I take a far more playful approach when I'm tinkering with my LilyPad. I've got an idea on how to make a scarf into a sensor station but I'll need some time to play around with it first.

It feels good to come back to programming after several years of being management. I had forgotten just how much I miss it.

Changes

Not surprisingly, things have changed quite a bit since the last time I posted. For one, I'm now seeing a gentleman from a nearby city and things are looking rather promising thus far. I admit that I wasn't too sure when he began courting me but it sorted itself out. We're well past the honeymoon phase - we've survived at least one major argument so neither of us are still wearing our rose-coloured glasses. We're also both still with each other, so I guess that's a good sign.

He also got between my coffee and me a week ago. He's still alive, so I must really love him. Or he's that he's too tall for me to really get a chokehold on his neck. One or the other, anyway.

Life's been very hectic. I've shifted divisions at work, quite a major thing. I'm now working downtown which is both good and bad. Long story short, I'm in a maelstrom of change...and I can't find the calm middle anywhere. Story of my life, really.

There are many things that I've sacrificed to make things work. Ballet and bagpipes (I got some smallpipes for Christmas - thank you, sis!) are now on a partial schedule as they demand a level of dedication that I simply cannot afford at this time. So, I'm working my ocarina, which has given me a lot of joy.

As I'm typing this, the kids are playing in the living room, my dear sister is out working and I'm listening to the Zelda-themed ocarina music by the St, Louis Trio. A really pedestrian scene, all things considered. I have a moderate fever as I appear to have caught some kind of bug and my to-do list is stupidly full.

Not a bad life. :)