Status Report for March, 2025
Apr. 1st, 2026 02:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tuftearsBeware the Ides of April... Tax Day!
I took care of my taxes on March 1st, using FreeTaxUSA because the last thing I want is AI hallucinating my taxes. There are probably some issues with my estimated tax worksheet because I wound up paying more than I calculated last year, but nothing I can't handle. FreeTaxUSA isn't completely free--I needed to pay for it filing my state taxes--but the experience was very similar to TurboTax last year and I don't begrudge paying for software expertise as long as it's not genAI.
I drew up and posted a promo comic for Timecrossed Engineer: Back to School, which you can see here! It got remarkably little engagement, so I clearly need to do better promo art. Again, why do they make introverts market themselves in today's society? x.x
I started working on Shakedown Cruise, the sequel to Timecrossed Engineer: Back to School, because the outline was just too much fun. As of today, it stands at 22,045 words, and I'm most of the way through the first "mission". Unfortunately while there are three missions planned for the outline, the first is both the simplest and shortest, meaning the other two will be lots longer. I estimate it could hit 200k words.
On the home front, I was going to call HVAC Gurus up but... Seems as if they've closed up and forwarded their numbers to a different service, TRIO Heating & Insulation. The TRIO guy came by and found few issues but there was one baffling point: the last guy to work on the heat pump had evidently bent a 14x20 filter to fit into the return vent. He advised me to get and install a 12x24 filter.
Which I have done. It wasn't even very expensive, and now I have a few filters in the closet for next time. Praise me, I have successfully adulted! Twice even if you count paying taxes.
Speaking of which, I got a bill from California claiming I owed a few thousands more than expected. After careful inspection, it looks like they didn't take into account that I'd actually paid them already, but there was a late fee as well. I've paid that separately, and sent a note in to this effect (that I had paid them already, with receipt/proof of payment). We'll see how that goes.
I distracted myself from Spiderman: Remastered with Shapez 2. It's a masterpiece of factory building, strongly recommend if you enjoy factory building games. While it retains the 'build as much as you want' feel as the original Shapez, it constrains you in available space and adds a new system of organizing, building platforms in space which you then fill with useful factory bits, and you can easily copy-past-flip these bits.
It's a really thoughtful and relaxing exploration of factory gameplay. It will officially release April 23rd, with a new mode available at that point to keep me investing even more hours. Do recommend!
I have continued to run Starforged on Caturday evenings for Jared and Boingdragon. I drew up a map for the next sector by taking a public domain space picture of the Doradus nebula and overlaying a hex map on it. Worked surprisingly well. ^.^ Not that the map plays a huge role in things, but I wanted the players to have a good idea where things are.
The new World of Warcraft expansion is out. Took me a week to get to max level and start gearing up for the raid. We've got to (not yet beaten) the last boss in the first raid, so my guild alliance is doing pretty decently.
So what's next? I plan to continue writing Shakedown Cruise. I should finish the cover for the Rose's Crime Spree in Nova Paree, and either get a first reader or two, or start posting it on Royal Road to drum up interest in my other books, or something.
If my primary interest is just getting people interested in my words, I don't think self-publishing and then flogging it with a post or two on social media is cutting it... Royal Road is oriented more toward progression fantasy though. It's kind of difficult finding the right place to get my words out there. I don't have a great answer yet. (for those advocating traditional publishing, if you have links to people who would be interested in my work specifically, I'm certainly all ears!)
But first and foremost, more words!
... and I should schedule an annual physical exam too.
I took care of my taxes on March 1st, using FreeTaxUSA because the last thing I want is AI hallucinating my taxes. There are probably some issues with my estimated tax worksheet because I wound up paying more than I calculated last year, but nothing I can't handle. FreeTaxUSA isn't completely free--I needed to pay for it filing my state taxes--but the experience was very similar to TurboTax last year and I don't begrudge paying for software expertise as long as it's not genAI.
I drew up and posted a promo comic for Timecrossed Engineer: Back to School, which you can see here! It got remarkably little engagement, so I clearly need to do better promo art. Again, why do they make introverts market themselves in today's society? x.x
I started working on Shakedown Cruise, the sequel to Timecrossed Engineer: Back to School, because the outline was just too much fun. As of today, it stands at 22,045 words, and I'm most of the way through the first "mission". Unfortunately while there are three missions planned for the outline, the first is both the simplest and shortest, meaning the other two will be lots longer. I estimate it could hit 200k words.
On the home front, I was going to call HVAC Gurus up but... Seems as if they've closed up and forwarded their numbers to a different service, TRIO Heating & Insulation. The TRIO guy came by and found few issues but there was one baffling point: the last guy to work on the heat pump had evidently bent a 14x20 filter to fit into the return vent. He advised me to get and install a 12x24 filter.
Which I have done. It wasn't even very expensive, and now I have a few filters in the closet for next time. Praise me, I have successfully adulted! Twice even if you count paying taxes.
Speaking of which, I got a bill from California claiming I owed a few thousands more than expected. After careful inspection, it looks like they didn't take into account that I'd actually paid them already, but there was a late fee as well. I've paid that separately, and sent a note in to this effect (that I had paid them already, with receipt/proof of payment). We'll see how that goes.
I distracted myself from Spiderman: Remastered with Shapez 2. It's a masterpiece of factory building, strongly recommend if you enjoy factory building games. While it retains the 'build as much as you want' feel as the original Shapez, it constrains you in available space and adds a new system of organizing, building platforms in space which you then fill with useful factory bits, and you can easily copy-past-flip these bits.
It's a really thoughtful and relaxing exploration of factory gameplay. It will officially release April 23rd, with a new mode available at that point to keep me investing even more hours. Do recommend!
I have continued to run Starforged on Caturday evenings for Jared and Boingdragon. I drew up a map for the next sector by taking a public domain space picture of the Doradus nebula and overlaying a hex map on it. Worked surprisingly well. ^.^ Not that the map plays a huge role in things, but I wanted the players to have a good idea where things are.
The new World of Warcraft expansion is out. Took me a week to get to max level and start gearing up for the raid. We've got to (not yet beaten) the last boss in the first raid, so my guild alliance is doing pretty decently.
So what's next? I plan to continue writing Shakedown Cruise. I should finish the cover for the Rose's Crime Spree in Nova Paree, and either get a first reader or two, or start posting it on Royal Road to drum up interest in my other books, or something.
If my primary interest is just getting people interested in my words, I don't think self-publishing and then flogging it with a post or two on social media is cutting it... Royal Road is oriented more toward progression fantasy though. It's kind of difficult finding the right place to get my words out there. I don't have a great answer yet. (for those advocating traditional publishing, if you have links to people who would be interested in my work specifically, I'm certainly all ears!)
But first and foremost, more words!
... and I should schedule an annual physical exam too.
