🐾 J.C. & Monster Tiggarelas: The Feline Buddy Cop Chronicles 🐾

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Breaking mews: our eldest and youngest cats have officially formed a crime-fighting duo… or at least, a “keep the house mildly under control” duo. 😹

J.C., our 12-year-old white-and-grey gentleman (a.k.a. “Just Cat”), came to Brandee and me when my mom went to heaven in 2022. He’s extremely special—originally my dad’s cat, then my mom’s, and now he’s ours. Basically, he’s family royalty with a PhD in Charm and a black belt in Side-Eye. 👑

Tigg, our 11-month-old orange fluff (a.k.a. “Monster Tiggarelas”), came from the wild streets—a feral alley cat who spent his nights sneaking around, getting into scraps, and surviving on sheer pluck and leftovers. We trapped him a few months ago with realistic expectations that taming him, especially with five other animals in the house, might be… ambitious.

Fast forward four months: J.C. is the wise, responsible “detective,” teaching the ropes and rolling his eyes at Tigg’s antics. Tigg? He’s the rookie with endless energy, occasional bad judgment, and a complete lack of respect for personal space. Together, they prowl the house like they’re tethered by an invisible rope—J.C. keeping order, Tigg keeping things interesting. 🕵️‍♂️🐱🕵️‍♂️

It’s heartwarming, hilarious, and just a little chaotic. One responsible adult, one obnoxious but loveable brat… and somehow, it works perfectly. Watching them bond reminds us that miracles come in the form of fur, purrs, and unexpected friendships. ✨

Here’s to more adventures, mischief, and unforgettable memories from our Neal Family Farmhouse! 🐾💛

2025 in Review: Furry Family, Fun, and Focus

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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!

Back to the Beginning – Black Sabbath

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The ‘Back to the Beginning’ Black Sabbath concert was awesome last night for many reasons. First of all, it was a 20th anniversary gift from my Rockin’ wife, so that was most radical! \m/ \m/. What kinda badass wife does this for her husband?

Next, I thought the concert itself was well-produced for a 11 hour festival with like 15 bands and super groups, this couldn’t have been easy to coordinate. They were quite efficient transitioning form one set to another. I like nearly all of the bands and the song lists because it was a good mix of original tunes plus many Ozzy and Black Sabbath cover tunes. Axel Rose was the exception because his voice is horrendous and he’s just plain annoying, but he didn’t do anything obviously stupid so I’ll give him credit.

Highlights were absolutely Steven Tyler because I thought he retired from throat issues?!? Then, the most touching moment was when Ozzy sang “Mama I’m Comin’ Home”, without a doubt. It was so clear that he appreciated this final show after being “laid-up for the past 6 years” and the crowd in the stadium at Birmingham England was also so clearly appreciative of him. It was very special and the intermissions were used to share Black Sabbath and a lot of Birmingham history which was quite well done.

Can’t wait to get my t-shirt and do some more head bangers ball with Brandee! Rock on! \m/ \m/

Being a Decent Person – like Dad

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I must be honest that I’m extremely disappointed in certain people sometimes. I simply can not stand lying, cheating and dishonesty; yet some people live their lives this way.

My Dad was a wonderful person and of the highest quality of character. I try and make him proud every day, in all my dealings personally and professionally. It’s a great honor and not a burden because it’s not hard to simply be a decent person.

However, even blood relatives who grew up under the same roof can’t simply be decent, honest or trustworthy.

I will have a lot more to say soon but, for now I must be quiet. I still believe in decency for most people, and I will continue to be the good person that my dad would be proud of. At the end of the day, we are all mortal people and when my time is done on Earth I want to go to Heaven with a clear conscience and be with the rest of my decent friends, family and furry children.

God Bless and be a decent person,

Kevin