Can't please 'em all, can ya?!  Thanks, Pat... I'm just trying to stay in communication, and not leave good patient folk hanging out to dry with no news. I know people are excited about QRP Labs kits, and the service Hans is providing us; I am too, which is a large part of the reason I try to help out, but this last year has been a bit topsy-turvy, job-wise, and I've slipped a bit while delivering on my enthusiastic promises. The longer-than-usual winter here in Minnesota caused some unanticipated challenges too. As software manager at my new job I've been involved in an amazingly aggressive hiring spree, too: I've been interviewing, onboarding new talent and setting up new activities... very time intensive. I was planning on going to FDIM this year, but can't even manage that :-( 
In general, however, I've "reached the altitude at which the cabin crew can start to deliver cabin service" and the backlog is shrinking.
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Julian, N4JO.