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\large{\textbf{Winter Solstice Greetings \hfill 2025}}
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Winter greetings from Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Lots of snow here---first storm the weekend after thanksgiving.
Feels seasonal.
Find left a cute picture of my fence (completed this year!!) covered in snow.
The fence looks great and I'm really happy to have that edge of the property ``buttoned up''.
Thanks to dad, mom, and Mark for helping so much, it was a lot of work to make a final product that looks so simple.
Probably the only fence in the neighborhood with custom galvanized hardware.
Also this year, I completed the drainage retaining wall project on the south side of the house and upgraded to 200 amp buried electrical service.
Hopefully next summer I can start the long-dreamed-of front porch project in earnest.
I might have to take an off year to build up my savings, trying not to overextend myself.
I'm currently half way through my second year as ``Instrumental Lab Director''.
Academia is stressful right now--lots of threats from all sides.
I will be personally affected by the reduced teaching assistant budget, the smaller number of accepted graduate students, and the less flexible teaching workload policies (please, educate yourself about Wisconsin Act 15).
Feels like existential crisis every month.
I must admit, however, that institutional momentum is large enough that I haven't suffered.
I am grateful for my immediate coworkers and department leadership.
My old position in the electronics shop has still not been backfilled, I worry about the future of electronics design service.
All in all I am waiting, seeing, and doing what I can.
Excited for several projects and conferences happening in 2026!
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In January Uncle Jim and Mom were kind enough to visit me in Madison.
In May, Mom and I took a one week vacation to NYC.
We rode Amtrak from Chicago to Grand Central.
My favorite part of the ride was hugging the Hudson River from Erie all the way down to Manhattan.
Rugged stubby granite mountains and cliffs everywhere.
It really helped me to understand how the unique bedrock of Manhattan allows such tall skyscrapers and deep tunnels.
Mom was able to get us lodging at one of the Columbia dorms, very fancy.
Highlights of our time in Manhattan included: NYC Central Library, Harlem, Soho, Brooklyn Gardens, and High Line.
We visited the Lego store, here we are in a Lego yellow cab.
My favorite Manhattan moment was seeing the Met Opera (Salome) with Mom and Felix.
Mark and I are still dating, he is moving to an apartment close to my house soon.
Pets are good.
Still blessed by many local friends and activities.
Looking forward to more and more light each day.
Please---stay in touch.
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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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