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\large{\textbf{Winter Solstice Greetings \hfill 2022}}

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Greetings to all friends and family.
It's been a busy year!
The holiday season has snuck up on me this time.
Nice to have this opportunity to sit down and review the year that was.
Hope each of you are finding similar opportunities for quiet contemplation in this season.
Snow has come to Madison, but it's above freezing at the moment.
This tends to cause a thick white fog, very quiet and still.
The sun rises late and sets early.

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On March 25th of this year I bought my first house.
Here it is (pictured, right) in May---the front yard just bursting with wild violets.
I participated in ``no-mow May'', of course.
What a crazy thing it is to buy a house.
Losing most of my life savings to a down payment, taking on debt, committing to Madison long-term.
Yard work, utilities, neighbors.
Rhubarb in the back yard, a kitchen with enough room to chop and dry dishes simultaneously.
Fisher Street has come to feel like home.
What's the point of owning a home if not to take on overly-ambitious home improvement projects?
My father has incredible construction skills, and he has been generous enough to spend many days helping me learn the basics.
The first two big projects are a fence along the north border and wood floors in the bedrooms.

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This year's big vacation was a June trip to Maine with my boyfriend Kevin.
We were able to see Kate \& Steve, and visit the Bates Campus (first time since graduation).
We hiked Katahdin and explored the Maine coastline.
Kevin helped me to enjoy the birds of Maine, which I did not properly appreciate as a student.
In total I saw 76 bird species!
My favorite bird was this elusive ruffed grouse (left), which we were able to observe ``booming''.
A wild spirit of the wild forest, for sure.
Also this year I was very lucky to be the best man in the wedding of Felix Radford and Kendal Musgrave.
What a power couple!
All the best to them in this new phase of life.


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Professionally I am ``keeping on''.
There are still mountains of things to learn about software and hardware development, instrumentation, and teaching.
I now have two job titles: ``Instrumentation Engineer'' and ``Lecturer''.
I continue to have enthusiasm for both of these domains.
Here I am (right) in my shop, mostly renovated but always more to do.

Family and pets are doing well.
I continue to dote on dear Ridgeback (my turtle), who turned 23 this year.
I separated the endlers by sex to keep them from breeding so quickly.
Home ownership and improvement projects have brought my parents to Madison often this year.
Hope that all reading have a restful holiday season and a wonderful 2023.
Keep in touch, visit!
Remember, I have a guest bedroom now.

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Blaise Jonathan Thompson \\*
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1813 Fisher St. \\*
Madison, Wisconsin 53713 \\*
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1-424-225-2493 \\*
blaise@untzag.com \\*
https://blaise.zone

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