About me
Hi, I'm Ray.
The tech side. I’ve spent most of the last 15 years in IT. I’ve worked as a data center engineer, a network engineer, and a systems administrator, and I write code when a problem calls for it. I like knowing how things work all the way down, from the rack to the packet to the line of code.
The science side. My degree is actually in chemistry, and I’ve never stopped loving physics and science in general. Put that together with a career in networking and you get my favorite rabbit hole: wireless communications, and Wi-Fi in particular. Radio waves bouncing around a house, interference, channel planning, why your signal dies in that one corner of the kitchen. It’s physics you can actually go out and measure, and I find it endlessly interesting.
The maker side. When I’m not on a computer, I’m usually building something. I design PCBs, tinker with embedded systems, and run a 3D printer that I built myself and keep upgrading, because apparently a working printer is never quite enough. There’s something satisfying about taking an idea from a schematic to a physical thing sitting on my desk, even when it takes three revisions to get there.
The kitchen side. I love to cook. I also have celiac disease, plus probably a few other intolerances I’m still sorting out. Rather than let that shrink my menu, I’ve made gluten-free cooking and baking into an ongoing experiment: different flours, binders, techniques, and plenty of failures along the way. Chemistry degree, meet bread dough.
The quiet side. I’m very introverted. Parties and crowds wear me out, and it takes me a good while to recharge afterward. I’d much rather have a long conversation with one person, or spend an evening with a project, than work a room. If you’re the same way, you’ll probably feel at home here.
The theater side. For someone who avoids crowds, I have a soft spot for live theater. A dark house, a good script, and people on stage making something happen in real time, with no second take. It’s one of the few crowds I’ll gladly sit in, maybe because nobody expects me to talk to anyone.
The cat side. I share my home with cats, and there are usually a few outdoor strays making the rounds too. Most recently I took in Gideon, a feral who decided indoor life might be worth a try. Cats are good company for an introvert: present, opinionated, and perfectly happy to sit nearby without needing conversation.
The llama side. I like llamas. There’s no deep reason. They’re fluffy, unbothered, and look at the world like they’ve already decided it’s not worth the effort. Honestly, kindred spirits.
Why I write. This blog is mostly for me. Writing things down is how I learn: explaining something forces me to actually understand it. Some posts will be about a project I’m proud of and want to share. Some will document a problem I struggled with, partly so I remember the fix and partly so the next person searching for it has an easier time. And maybe along the way I’ll become a better writer. If any of it helps someone else, that’s my way of giving back to the communities I’ve learned so much from.
Feedback is welcome, especially if you spot a mistake or know a better way to do something. Snide comments and pile-on criticism are not. If that’s what you’re bringing, please keep it to yourself.
What you’ll find here. Expect posts about networking and Wi-Fi, science that catches my attention, electronics and 3D printing projects, gluten-free recipes and baking experiments (the wins and the flops), whatever else I’m tinkering with at the moment, and the occasional cat update.