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The Tower of Unspoken Horizons
A lone gunslinger trudged across a wasteland where reality frayed at the edges. The Tower loomed on the horizon, an impossible spire whose apex shimmered in endless twilight. Whenever he gazed upon it, his mind twisted with the knowledge that what he sought was beyond mortal grasp. Yet he pressed on. Each step crunched over…
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My Brain’s Trying to Adult
So, life, right? It’s like… a Roomba that’s been given a map of the entire universe and told to clean it all by Tuesday. Utter chaos. For me, that chaos was reaching critical mass. I was basically a human tumbleweed of anxiety and misplaced keys. Something had to change. ChatGPT suggested “organization.” It used a…
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Identity Crisis? Nah, Just a Name Change
My website has always been a reflection of the many phases of my life. It started as “Bill’s Web Lodge,” a space meant to bring people together, but like me, it has evolved. Over the years, it has changed names, focuses, and purposes, following the twists and turns of my journey. When I came out…
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Code of Defiance
Bill Martin was one of those rare dreamers who dared to challenge the dystopia he was born into, a visionary in a world where aspirations were rationed and reality was monopolized. By 2095, the United Corporations of OmniCorp weren’t just pulling strings; they were the puppeteer, having fused government and corporate interests into a single…
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Willy and the Frustrations of a Different Brain
Once upon a time, there was a well-meaning, slightly scatterbrained donkey named Willy. Willy had one important mission on his mind: delivering a special birthday gift to his daughter. After days of wandering around the bustling marketplace, he finally found a perfect gift, one that he knew would make her smile. Confident he had it…
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How Not to Lose It in a Meeting
Imagine this: you’re at a meeting, cradling your coffee, barely awake, trying to focus on the discussion. Then, out of nowhere, your boss says, “Hey, I need you to take on another project. Jamie’s swamped, so it’ll be a huge help if you can just add it to your list.” You blink, trying to process.…
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Cross Country MTB Fork Analysis
When it comes to turning my Framed Adventure Bike, Orca (gravel bike), into a cross-country workhorse, the fork is key. After a deep dive into contenders, here’s how the top choices stack up to find the perfect balance of performance, durability, and maintenance ease. The goal: enhance the bike’s capability without sacrificing the efficient, smooth…
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Meet Snuggles
The Adventurous Soul Let me introduce you to Snuggles—one of the most spirited, kind-hearted adventurers you’ll ever meet. Hailing from the East Coast, she’s now completely in her element in the Mountain West, where she embraces everything the outdoors has to offer. From mountain biking and backpacking to capturing tiny details with her camera, Snuggles…
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Asperger’s May Not Be Correct
The term “Asperger’s syndrome” is no longer used in formal diagnoses. The DSM-5, the standard manual for mental health diagnoses, now categorizes Asperger’s under the broader umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism presents a wide range of characteristics and histories. Traditional Differences Between Asperger’s and Autism Historically, Asperger’s syndrome was differentiated from other forms…
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Montana Misunderstanding
Maggie & Marvin’s Tale Maggie, a sharp-tongued Black-billed Magpie, and Marvin, a laid-back Yellow-bellied Marmot, made for an unexpected duo. You know how they say opposites attract? Well, this pair was living proof. Maggie, diagnosed with autism later in life, had a knack for turning nests into works of art—think Frank Lloyd Wright but with…
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Why boneshakerbike?
Okay, so here’s the thing. Labels and expectations, they never really sat right with me. It’s like everyone’s on this paved highway, cruising along, and I’m stuck on this new but rugged “Boneshakerbike”—a bike built by my friend Andrew Wellman, who worked at the Burton Snowboard Factory and built bicycles at night, trained by Ted…
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Divergent Resources
My #Neurodiversity I wanted to take a minute to share some of the YouTube channels I’ve found especially helpful. Why YouTube? Well, because I relate best through stories and experiences. These channels, all hosted by autistic creators, each offer something unique and bring different perspectives on what it’s like to be autistic. My favorites are…
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Oh, THAT’S Why I Did That
Time Travel Through October 18ths Reflecting on October 18th across various years, it’s wild to see both the changes and constants in my life. These snapshots help piece together my evolution, showing what has shaped who I am today. Early Career Focus and Social Life: Passion for Mountain Biking and the Outdoors: Health-Conscious Lifestyle: Content…
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The Story
About Me Hey, I’m Bill Martin. I’m usually out on the trails or, well, hitting the jumplion 🙂 Due to my recent discovery of who I truly am, I realized I need to come up with a different ‘About Me’ page. I’ve stopped pretending to fit in, and life is a lot more interesting that…
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Insights From a Podcast
I recently listened to a podcast featuring Paul and Claire, two autistic individuals, and honestly, it was like finding my people. You can check it out here: https://youtu.be/N3vM_tidi2g?si=DAhtqBB_KF6j_rdJ—but only if you promise to come back! Embracing Individuality Paul and Claire talked about embracing autism as a positive part of themselves. Now, I’m trying to do…
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Organizational Turmoil at Work
A Neurodivergent Perspective The transition involving the remote work agreement quickly became overwhelming. They framed it as “standard procedure,” but with the questionable connections among senior management, I could sense something was off. I didn’t fully understand all the implications, but the lack of clarity, mixed messages, and the pressure to comply made the entire…
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Saint Mary Lake
The sun slouched behind the jagged peaks cradling Saint Mary Lake, smearing the sky with molten orange and lazy lavender. A soft breeze skimmed the water, sending ripples toward the shore as we rode in our tourist boat, the hush of waves against the hull the only sound. She rested her head on my shoulder,…
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The Descent into Freedom
Dust curled up behind my tires in lazy spirals as I pedaled deeper into the Montana wilderness. Our last day at the campground outside Bigfork, and I needed… no, I needed… one final ride to seal the trip. Something smooth, something that would leave me grinning like an idiot, the kind of ride that wraps…