Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday at the Neal Zoo🐾

Everyone that knows Brandee and I, knows that we are huge animal lovers. They are not animals, they are our family.

Recently, Brandee surprised me with an AI-generated portrait of our furry family. Like most AI artwork, it took a few creative liberties. Some faces aren’t quite right, a couple of species seem to have been mixed up, and I’m pretty sure AI invented a pet or two along the way. But honestly… that’s part of the fun. It captured the spirit of our home—a place that’s always filled with wagging tails, curious cats, laughter, and just enough chaos to keep life interesting.

No family portrait would be complete without remembering Misty, Bella, and Jack, who are now waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge. We still smile when we think about them, and they’ll always be part of our family. Every pet leaves behind a unique story, and those memories never really fade.

Meet the Current Cast

🐱 Bleu

Bleu is our beautiful black cat and one of the quietest members of the family. She doesn’t demand to be the center of attention—instead, she prefers to observe everything happening around her with calm confidence. She’s mastered the art of finding the warmest place in the house and has perfected the look that says, “Yes, I know you’re talking about me.” Beneath her independent personality is a sweet, affectionate companion who enjoys being close to us, even if she pretends otherwise.

🐶 Gracie

Gracie takes her job as Chief of Home Security very seriously. Every visitor, delivery truck, squirrel, rabbit, or unfamiliar sound deserves immediate investigation. While she can be wonderfully dramatic, she’s also incredibly loyal and affectionate. She loves being with her family and somehow manages to keep the entire household on schedule. If Gracie approves of you, you’ve officially passed inspection.

🐱 Ella

Ella is one of the sweetest souls you’ll ever meet. She has a gentle personality that brings a sense of calm wherever she goes. Whether she’s curling up nearby for an afternoon nap or quietly following us around the house, Ella simply enjoys being part of whatever we’re doing. She’s proof that sometimes the quietest companions leave the biggest impressions.

🐶 Finn

Finn approaches every day as if it were a brand-new adventure. Boxes, cabinets, shelves, open doors—everything deserves to be explored. His curiosity is endless, and his playful personality keeps us laughing almost daily. If something unexpected happens around the house, there’s a pretty good chance Finn was involved somehow. He certainly knows how to make life entertaining.

🐱 J.C.

J.C. is the wise elder of our feline family and has earned every bit of her senior status. She’s graceful, confident, and has absolutely no interest in unnecessary drama. While the younger cats race through the house at full speed, J.C. prefers to supervise from a comfortable chair or sunny window. She’s a gentle reminder that experience brings wisdom… and the best nap locations.

🐱 Tigg

Tigg is the youngster of the group and has enough energy to power the entire household. Everything is a toy, every room is an adventure, and every day presents another opportunity to discover something new. His curiosity is matched only by his mischievous streak, and he somehow manages to make us laugh even when he’s causing trouble. Watching him grow has been an absolute joy.

More Than Pets

People often refer to pets as animals, but anyone who’s shared their life with one knows they’re so much more than that. They’re family members. They celebrate with us, comfort us during difficult times, greet us at the door as if we’ve been gone for years, and somehow make even ordinary days feel a little brighter.

Our house may have more fur than most vacuum cleaners would recommend, and there’s always someone asking for breakfast five minutes before breakfast, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thank you, Brandee, for creating this fun AI portrait. It may not be a perfect representation of every whisker and every tail, but it perfectly captures what matters most—the love, happiness, and wonderful chaos that fills our home every single day.

From our family to yours, we hope your home is filled with just as much love, laughter, and a few muddy paw prints along the way.

Kevin Neal 🐾❤️

Brandee and I protecting our energy

A legacy of decency, kindness, and positive impact

In my wisdom, I find myself appreciating something that has always been true, even if it becomes more visible with time: quality of life matters.

For Brandee and me, this next chapter is about being intentional. After spending our entire careers working hard, building businesses, solving problems, and pursuing ambitious goals, we are continuing that journey with a renewed focus on enjoying the life we’ve built.

That doesn’t mean anything is slowing down. If anything, we’re doing what we’ve always done—just with even more clarity about where we invest our time, energy, and attention. We’re both workaholics by nature and genuinely enjoy building things, creating opportunities, and making an impact. That part of us isn’t changing.

What is becoming even more important is alignment—surrounding ourselves with people and situations that are genuine, constructive, and rooted in integrity. We’ve reached a point where we are very intentional about who we spend time with and what we allow into our environment. We choose to invest deeply in relationships that are real, positive, and grounded in mutual respect, and we step away from dynamics that don’t align with those values.

This isn’t about judgment—it’s about clarity. The goal is not to define others, but to remain aligned with what we know leads to a meaningful, productive, and peaceful life. We welcome people who are sincere, grounded, and forward-moving. There is always room for good energy, good intent, and good character.

We’ll continue to work. We’ll continue to build. We’ll continue to pursue big ideas. But we’ll do it in a way that aligns with family, health, integrity, and long-term sustainability, and allows us to fully appreciate the journey as it unfolds.


Business is also in a strong and exciting place right now.

For much of my career, I’ve viewed myself as a community builder. I’ve always believed that when good people come together around a shared purpose, meaningful things happen. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to connect with outstanding organizations, communities, and like-minded individuals who share that perspective.

Those relationships are creating real momentum and new opportunities to scale in ways that are both meaningful and impactful. While the business outcomes are exciting, what continues to matter most is the ability to create positive impact—helping young professionals launch their careers, supporting students and academic communities, and contributing to environments where people can learn, grow, and succeed.

Building successful businesses is rewarding. Helping others build successful futures is even more rewarding.


At the center of everything, however, is family.

That, of course, includes our six furry children who bring so much joy, energy, and companionship into our lives every single day.

J.C. continues in his role as the elder statesman of the family—calm, confident, and steady, with a presence that anchors everything around him.

Bleu remains her beautifully independent self, observant and composed, always taking in the world on her own terms.

Ella continues to bring her unmistakable tortoiseshell personality into every room, keeping life lively and never predictable.

Finn remains our resident goofball, always finding creative ways to entertain himself and occasionally test the patience of his sisters, all while remaining impossible not to love.

Gracie continues to be the heart of steady companionship and affection in our home, offering a kind of loyalty and presence that makes every day better.

And then there’s Tigg, the newest member of our family. Tigg has brought fresh energy, curiosity, and plenty of laughter into our home. Watching him settle in has been a reminder that joy expands—that life doesn’t get smaller when something new arrives, it gets richer.

When I look ahead, I feel a deep sense of gratitude.

The path has always been clear.

Family comes first.

We will continue building a terrific business and pursuing opportunities that create lasting value. We will continue helping others whenever we can and investing in people who are working hard to build better futures for themselves and their communities. We will continue believing that success is measured not only by what you achieve, but by the positive impact you have on those around you.


Most importantly, I want to honor my mom and dad by the way I choose to live.

Their values, sacrifices, work ethic, and decency helped shape the person I am today. The greatest tribute I can offer them is to live a life that reflects those same values—a life centered on family, integrity, hard work, compassion, and service to others.

I’ve always believed that good things happen when you focus on people, keep your word, treat others with respect, and move through life with purpose. That belief has guided me throughout my life and continues to guide me today.

Brandee and I are grateful for what we have built together and excited about what comes next. We have each other. We have an incredible family. We have Bleu, Ella, Finn, Gracie, J.C., and Tigg. We have meaningful work, strong relationships, and opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

The future is bright because we know what matters—and we’ve always known.

Family first. Build great things. Help good people succeed. Protect your energy. Stay aligned with what is real. And leave behind a legacy of decency, kindness, and positive impact.

That’s the path forward.

4/4/2026 Kevin’s Barnhouse Life Update — Spring 2026: Robots, Fur, and Everything In Between


Wow. 2026 has already been a whirlwind — the kind of year where you blink and wonder how you fit all this into just a few months. But in the best way, it’s been full of breakthroughs, laughter, and those little everyday moments that make you stop and smile.

On the tech side, I’ve been diving deep into twAIn Robotics — a project that started with a simple question: what if machines could actually move, sense, and think for themselves? It’s nerdy, it’s exciting, and it’s one of those experiments where you realize the future isn’t coming — it’s already here. I’ve been playing with AI, biometric identity verification, and autonomous robotics control, figuring out how to make smart software and real-world hardware work together. Even if you’re not a robotics geek, it’s fun to imagine a world where robots might eventually help with everyday things — like maybe fetching snacks during a long workday (a person can dream, right?).

What drives me most is building — not just projects or products, but an ecosystem where everyone can gain something meaningful. I’m passionate about connecting ideas, technology, and people in ways that make life easier, more fair, and more engaging. Whether it’s through robotics, writing, or experimenting with new tools, I want the things I create to ripple outward, helping not just me, but anyone who interacts with them. For me, creation isn’t just personal fulfillment — it’s about leaving a space where everyone can benefit and grow.

Earlier this year, I went to the Executive Connection Summit in Scottsdale, which was full of inspiration. From stories of veteran resilience to innovators building the next big thing, it was a reminder that curiosity never goes out of style and the world is full of opportunities if you’re willing to tinker, explore, and sometimes fail spectacularly.

Back at the Neal Family Farmhouse, life is a mix of chaos and charm thanks to Bleu, Ella, Finn, Gracie, J.C., and Tigg. Finn’s mischief, hallway sprints, and random bursts of energy keep us laughing (and occasionally ducking). Bleu’s calm, judgmental stare, Ella’s quiet side-eye, Gracie’s nosy curiosity, J.C.’s old-soul wisdom, and Tigg’s unpredictable antics make sure there’s never a dull moment. They’ve become my co-pilots, my sounding boards, and sometimes my little saboteurs — in the best way possible.

This year also marks another chapter in my 15-year habit of blogging life as it happens. From robotics experiments to the small, silly moments at home, I’ve shared the wins, the fails, and everything in between. The goal has never been perfection — it’s about curiosity, learning, and sharing the chaos that comes with living, thinking, and sometimes tinkering just a little too much.

As we roll into the rest of 2026, I’m looking forward to more robot experiments, more quiet farmhouse moments, more antics from the six of them, and more of those little surprises that make this ride worth every blink, laugh, and head-scratch along the way.


🐾 Life at the Neal Barnhouse: Fur, Fun & a Few Plot Twists 🐾


If there’s one thing we’ve learned lately at the Neal Family Barnhouse, it’s that life is never boring when you’ve got six furry personalities running the show. 😄

Finn continues to live up to his reputation as the resident goofball, bringing a daily mix of energy, curiosity, and just enough mischief to keep everyone on their toes. His favorite hobby is still “lightly annoying his sisters until someone gives in and plays,” and somehow, he always wins. Whether he’s zooming through the house or instigating a playful standoff, Finn keeps the entire crew entertained—and maybe just a little exhausted.

Bleu remains our sleek and mysterious queen, gracefully navigating the chaos with quiet confidence. She has a way of observing everything from a distance, as if she’s analyzing each situation before deciding whether it’s worth her time. But every now and then, she surprises us with a playful burst or a perfectly timed interaction that reminds us she’s very much part of the action—just on her own terms.

Ella brings her signature tortoiseshell sass, making sure everyone remembers that she runs things (or at least strongly believes she does). Her personality is as bold as her markings, and she’s never shy about voicing her opinion or inserting herself into whatever is happening. She adds just the right amount of spice to the household dynamic.

Gracie loving her car ride

Gracie, our sweet Chinweenie, continues to be the emotional heartbeat of the farmhouse. She’s always nearby, ready to offer comfort, keep watch, or step in when the energy gets a little too high. Whether she’s curled up for a quiet moment or alerting us to something she thinks we should know about (which is often 😄), Gracie brings a steady, loving presence that balances out all the feline antics. 🐶

Now for the headline act…

J.C. (Just Cat)

J.C. (“Just Cat”) has truly embraced his role as the wise and dignified elder statesman of the group. With a calm demeanor and a lifetime of experience, he moves through the house with quiet authority, rarely needing to assert himself to be respected. Having been my dad’s cat, then my mom’s, and now part of our home, J.C. carries a legacy that makes him incredibly special to us. Watching him now step into a mentor role has been both meaningful and, at times, unexpectedly funny.

Tigg (“Monster Tiggarelas”), our once-feral orange fluff, continues to be a source of endless entertainment and amazement. Not long ago, he was navigating alley life, figuring out survival one day at a time. Now, he’s discovering toys, routines, and the joy of being part of a family. His energy is boundless, his curiosity unstoppable, and his personality larger than life.

Together, J.C. and Tigg have become the most unexpected—and entertaining—duo in the house. J.C. plays the role of patient mentor, while Tigg eagerly takes on the part of the enthusiastic (and slightly chaotic) apprentice. Watching them roam the house like they’re tethered by an invisible rope is equal parts heartwarming and hilarious. One responsible adult, one lovable brat… balance has been achieved.

From alley cat survival to full-fledged family member, Tigg’s journey has been nothing short of incredible. And seeing J.C. embrace his role as “big brother” has made it even more special for all of us.


🌱 A Little Life Update…

Behind the scenes, Brandee and I have been incredibly busy navigating both technical projects and some… let’s call them highly predictable personal surveillance.

What we can say is this: sometimes this predictable behaviour has a way of clarifying what really matters. For us, that means simplifying our lives, focusing on what’s real, and protecting the peace we’re building together.

We’re staying grounded, moving forward, and keeping our energy where it belongs: on family, purpose, and the future we’re creating.


💛 Looking Ahead

At the end of the day, this farmhouse is filled with love, personality, a little chaos, and a whole lot of gratitude.

We’re excited for what’s ahead—more memories, more milestones, and yes… probably more antics from Finn and Tigg. 😹

Stay tuned… 🐾✨

2025 in Review: Furry Family, Fun, and Focus


This year has been all about growth, joy, and choosing what really matters. Between new additions to our family, watching our older pets thrive, and focusing on work that aligns with my values, 2025 has been a year full of memorable moments and meaningful connections. Life felt busier, yes—but in the best way, the way that reminds you to slow down, appreciate the little things, and invest your energy where it counts. From playful chaos at home to rewarding collaborations professionally, this year has been a reminder that quality—of time, relationships, and work—always wins over quantity.


Home Life: Our Growing Family


Tigg – Our 9-month-old whirlwind kitten. His curiosity knows no bounds, and he just loves his new life with all his new brothers and sisters. Tigg went from an on-the-streets ally cat, to a domesticated gentlekitty nearly overnight. We all love him so much!


Bleu – Our 8-year-old black panther of a cat. Calm, majestic, and hypnotic with her perfected slow blink. Bleu continues to be our steady who’s friendly with everyone in the house and VERY particular in her habits.


Ella – Our 7-year-old tortoiseshell. The gentlest soul in the house with a knack for finding the softest, sunniest spots and loves to play with her wiggles.


JC – Our 12-year-old senior, still the coolest cat around. Loves “paling around” with little brother Tigg—always entertaining.


Gracie – Our 8-year-old canine. Thriving since adoption day alongside Bleu. Loyal, loving, and occasionally in charge of Finn.


Finn – Our nearly 5-year-old black lab, 72 pounds of pure, exuberant puppy energy. Once tried to “herd” Tigg off the couch like he was sheep—classic Finn.


Professional Highlights


2025 also marked the successful execution of our third TWAIN Converge Conference in Safety Harbor, Florida. Preparing and running the event reaffirmed why I love what I do: creating spaces for people who truly “get it” and pushing the boundaries of technology innovation for the benefit of everyone’s careers and curiousity.

My work with the TWAIN Working Group continues to be incredibly rewarding. I’m passionate about open source software and industry standards because it’s simply the right thing to do to drive technology adoption. I’ve intentionally chosen to work only with people I respect. It’s fun because we share values, debate topics openly without hostility, and surprisingly productive—clarity, candor, and alignment make strategy and execution much smoother. Quality over quantity is my motto.


Personal Reflections


Brandee and I are so happy as a family. This photo is of Buc-ee on Brandee’s wrist. I had never heard of Buc-ee’s before, but during a business trip to St. Augustine, Florida, the group suggested I visit for the experience. I did… and LOVED it! So I got this Buc-ee, and now Brandee loves having him on her wrist while she works.

Personally, I’ve embraced the same “quality over quantity” philosophy in life. I focus on meaningful relationships, both personal and professional, and let go of chasing attention or responses that aren’t reciprocated. More joy, less stress, and deeper connections—priceless.

Helping others—both professionally and personally—feels like exactly what we were meant to do. We feel fortunate to live this way, and we hope it inspires others to focus on what truly matters too.

Happy New Year 2026!