Issue #16: October 2025 Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners: Eugine P., Melissa L., Thomas C., Jenny W. Life Unretirement: Back at the USPTO This week marked my first week back at the USPTO. I “retired” (or really, resigned) back in January 2025 after more than 16 years of service—just before the DRP was offered. In some strange way, I actually missed being a patent examiner. Like Venus Williams, my main motivation for returning was health insurance. The marketplace...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Issue #15: September 2025 Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners: Morrison M., Angela L., Willis P., Paul K. Life Turning 40 and a couple big career changes This month I celebrated my 40th birthday, and in just a couple of weeks my wife and I will celebrate our 13th anniversary. I was fortunate to sneak away for a couple of weekends in Las Vegas and Deep Creek Lake with friends and my twin brother. We had a great time, made some memories — and got very little sleep. A big...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Issue #14: August 2025 Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners: Yuri K., Stephen K., Hyun K., and Joshua C. Life The kids are officially back in school, so I finally have some time to write. These summers are going by faster and faster as I get older. We took a few small trips this summer: Virginia Beach, Kent Island, and Dewey Beach. I think we've been to Virginia Beach every year now for the past 4-5 years. We stay at the Hyatt right on the beach and use our Hyatt points....
4 months ago • 6 min read
Issue #13: July 2025 Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners: Tae K., George H., Jae L., and Harry O. Life TTB Update It’s been just over a year since I joined TTB (The Tuesday Bros) — a group of dads who meet at 5:00 AM at least twice a week to lift heavy things and hold each other accountable. We focus on the classic SBD lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. If the sum of your squat, bench, and deadlift exceeds 1,000 lbs, you join the elite 1,000 Pound Club. I started...
5 months ago • 7 min read
Issue #11: May 2025 Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners: Jiin S., Rebecca N., James K., and Pat C. Life I'm going to keep this short this month. I know they've been a little long lately, and most people only want to see who won the gift cards :P It's been a lot of kids activities this month, from soccer to baseball to piano and birthday parties. Two of my kids have late May birthdays, so we'll have a couple more celebrations. Let's jump right into the newsletter....
6 months ago • 3 min read
Issue #12: June 2025 Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners: Kendra S., Tony C., David J., and Jejin A. It looks like last month's newsletter went to everyone's spam folder, so I'm going to trying to minimize outbound links this month. Check your spam folder to see issue #11. It's probably in there! Life This past month was a busy month of kids' activities and finishing up the school year. And LOTS of birthday parties. Two of my kids have May birthdays, and a lot of their...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Issue #12: June 2025 Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners: Kendra S., Tony C., David J., and Jejin A. It looks like last month's newsletter went to everyone's spam folder, so I'm going to trying to minimize outbound links this month. Check your spam folder to see issue #11. It's probably in there! Life This past month was a busy month of kids' activities and finishing up the school year. And LOTS of birthday parties. Two of my kids have May birthdays, and a lot of their...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Issue #11: May 2025 Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners: Jiin S., Rebecca N., James K., and Pat C. Life I'm going to keep this short this month. I know they've been a little long lately, and most people only want to see who won the gift cards :P It's been a lot of kids activities this month, from soccer to baseball to piano and birthday parties. Two of my kids have late May birthdays, so we'll have a couple more celebrations. Let's jump right into the newsletter....
7 months ago • 3 min read
Issue #10: April 2025 Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners: Seon C., Deepak R., Ray S., and Eric W. Life It's spring break for the kids right now in Fairfax County. So far, we went to Hersheypark Amusement Park in Pennsylvania with friends. The hotel we were staying at was right next to a Trader Joe's, and they happened to have plenty of the coveted mini tote bags that are supposedly sold out in Virginia. The wives took multiple trips, since there was a limit of 4. I...
8 months ago • 6 min read