The cherry blossoms are in bloom.  We never got a winter this year.  Friday my knee tricked out for the first time in 20 years.  Today, finally the swelling is subsiding.  I ordered another hot tub spa cover from Apollo Spas and I'm experiencing similar troubles to ones I had with them 4 years ago. 

I've been going on interviews at some great companies.  I haven't found a new job yet but I'm pleased that I finally have enough experience to be applying for the jobs that I've aspired to for my whole high tech career.

I've been intending to do an overhaul of my external links pages but I've been too busy.  Maybe soon.

Tom pointed out that my RSS feed should deliver the text of my blog, or some of the text of my blog, not just a link. I'll be working on that next week.

NARGS NW wants me to enhance the database.  This is good news.  They are using it.  I just set up MySQL Replication for the first time.  I'm excited about learning to set up new functions on MySQL.

Tom is making his final push on the boat to get it in the water.  I'm very excited about it.  In many ways it feels familiar;  our camper van on water, only much better. 

I've started going to more Users Group meetings again.  I even returned to SPUG.  I don't think I've been back there since the technology didn't let me do my presentation years ago.  I think that giving that successful impromptu talk about Roadnav at GSLUG gave me the confidence I needed to return. 

SPUG is a particularly tough nut to crack.  Many of the regulars, list members are world-class perl programmers.  It isn't a place for beginners (maybe Seattle needs another Perl Users Group that is for beginners?).  Sometimes it feels like it isn't even a welcoming place for experienced but not expert perl programmers.  But I learn a lot each time I attend, and I retain bits of it. 

This is going to be another big pinesiskin year.  I can hear them already.  The garden is confused, winter and spring blooms at the same time.  My winter daphne and fragrant clemetis are both in bloom in the shade garden.  The viburnum is still in bloom.  The elder in front and peonies in back are showing new leaf growth.  The tansy is coming up. 

We'll need to be extra vigilant this year for mildew and tomato blight.