Awkward Engineer - Blog

The AwkEng Knows the Engineers are Natural Born Problem Solvers

by Sam Feller
Hi all, Today's post is about motivating engineers and keeping them engaged and productive. The key is tapping into their natural inclination to so...

The AwkEng Writes a Book About Making Things

by Sam Feller
Hi all, I'm starting to write a book about making things (a dramatically different concept than having finished writing a book) and in particular, ...

The AwkEng Experiments with AI Assisted Meal Planning (and Voltmeter Clocks are Coming Back)

by Sam Feller
When my routine changed and I needed to get serious about meal planning, I turned to AI. Discover how I use Cursor AI to plan weekly dinners, organize recipes, and generate shopping lists. Includes real meal plan examples and an open-source GitHub repo you can use for your own planning.

The AwkEng Pahks the Cah (Revisited)

by Sam Feller

The AwkEng Pahks the Cah (Revisited)

A Boston-area engineer revisits a DIY parking map project to solve the "where did I park?" problem. After a magnetic version failed due to habit friction, the Awkward Engineer built a 3D-printed neighborhood map with key hooks at common parking spots. Hanging keys on a hook marks the location, integrating with an existing routine. The post covers the design process, using CADMapper for map data, 3D printing, and heat-staking hooks. A practical home project combining 3D printing, urban living, and habit design.

Prose Promotion, Positions, and Paw Paws, from the Awkward Engineer

by Sam Feller
Hi all, As a fan of alliteration and the unbelievably catchy Sesame Street Letter of the Day song, today's post is brought to you by the letter P. ...

The AwkEng Revisits an Old Project

by Sam Feller

They say that if a man says he'll do something, you can trust that it will be done; there's no need to remind him every six months. Something about that saying cracks me up every time, and it's appropriate for today, as I'm coming back to a project from several months ago, although this time, with a second dose of effort and a revised approach to using AI.

The AwkEng Shares Photos from the Last Quarter

by Sam Feller

The AwkEng Shares Photos from the Last Quarter

Hi all, A couple themes to today’s post, including talking about the camera on my new Light Phone III and also some ideas about curation that have ...

The AwkEng Picks Penny Quotes Over Zeros Quotes

by Sam Feller
Hi all, Brief blog post today about a project bid evaluation heuristic a mentor taught me when I was younger. It's stuck with me throughout my care...

The AwkEng's Secret Code is Broken

by Sam Feller

The AwkEng's Secret Code is Broken

Hi all, Today's post is about secret codes, children, and ice cream. If you're a parent you probably already know why. Anyway, those who know me kn...

The AwkEng Designs a (Temporary) Tattoo

by Sam Feller

The AwkEng Designs a (Temporary) Tattoo

Hi all! Today's post is hypothetical, as I'm not a tattoo person, but someone very close to me got their first tattoo. The question then came up, t...

The AwkEng Encounters the Spousal Veto, Part III

by Sam Feller
Hi all, I’ve heard that if something happens one time, it could just be luck, a second time is a coincidence, and a third time establishes a patter...

The AwkEng, AI, and Brian the Lion

by Sam Feller

The AwkEng, AI, and Brian the Lion

Hi all! Many years ago I made a book for my kid, called Brian the Lion. It started when I made up a story on the spot, during a car ride. Brian was...