Category: Blog Posts

Morning, folks from the splashy side of the globe! Guess what? The WiFi gods have finally smiled down on us – kinda. We’re talkin’ internet access that’s more tease than treat: a whole hour’s worth, and you gotta sweet-talk someone for the login. But hey, it’s perfect timing because I’ve decided to kick off my mornings with a job hunt session right here before diving into the daily grind. If there’s one thing my recent tumble taught me, it’s that my wallet needs a serious upgrade. Next time I’m on a first-name basis with the ER staff, I wanna roll in like a VIP, no compromises.

So, here I am, bright and early, on the hunt. It’s like déjà vu from last year, scrambling for a job in Missoula. But this time around, I’ve got a gig – not the dream job but hey, it beats the panic. And who knows? Maybe this means you’ll be getting more upbeat posts from me. So, off I go, into the job search jungle, and later, clocking in at the MARS.

Had a blast hiking last night and I’m hitting the trails again tonight. And guess what? Tomorrow’s the Thursday Night Ride Group, and I’m pumped to get back on my bike. Feeling good, feeling ready. Here’s to a great day ahead, everyone!

Yesterday I was sent home from work and that was very disappointing. What happened is that I was overdosing on Ibuprofen. I had a headache and generally felt like I was going to die. I headed home and went to bed for 6 hours. I awoke feeling better!

Today after being kept awake by my noisy landlord upstairs I am feeling the dull pain in my neck and back. It is a much better feeling that yesterday and the headaches. It is improvement because I don't have a headache today. It is the first day with out a headache.

Tonight I hope to go hiking with my dog Marcy and I am thinking of doing Jumbo Saddle. That is all depending on my condition after work. Already the stress is high at work today.

Hello from Bernice's Bakery! I woke up around 5 Am probably due to going to bed early. Still dark outside and patrons and neighborhood dwellers are slowly filling up the cafe. What a nice place. When I rounded the corner and saw the lights on (the only ones on the block), I thought to myself, “Ahh home”. It seemed warm and inviting.

I had to cut short a checkers game short with mom last night because I knew I had to rest up. I did not feel well yesterday but I tried to do the daily routine as normal as possible. I still have a headache and when I stand up it feels like my head is suddenly under pressure. I guess when I go to work Ill learn if my focus is better.

Yesterday I could not focus on anything and found myself lost in la la land quite often. Last evening I took Marcy for a walk up Mount Jumbo and found myself feeling nauseous. I stopped by Chuck's house to drop off some CDs that I had borrowed. Now I am reminded of some CDs that I have to do for Larry.

Tonight I am hopeful that I can do a hike with Marcy up Waterworks Hill. Tomorrow I will go cycling again and I am thinking about returning to Marshall Grade to finish my exploration. That, and to pull that small boulder off the singletrack.

It's a cold crisp morning here in Missoula Montana. I notice that the mornings are getting darker and I guess I should not ignore the fact that winter is on its way. When I first woke up my thoughts were to drive to work but as the time neared I felt good enough to ride my bike. So here I sit at work after riding my bike one handed and grimacing when I would hit a bump. It's a good day, and a good thing my swollen brain didn't kill me last night.

Oh yea, did I mention that I had a major concussion headache all night. Yesterday I called a friend for a ride and was reminded of a place I wanted to explore. So I went mountain biking and I not only explored this area but its rocks too. Close Up!

I was riding in the Marshall Canyon area. Its mostly overgrown and the single track weaved in and out of visual contact. On one corner there was a basketball-sized rock and when I saw it … well, it was too late. I vaulted off the bike and smashed head first into a bunch of little boulders. Not good-ol-smooth-boulders. These boulders where square and had sharp edges.

It was a hard journey home and I had wished I had some phone numbers with me. I figured I was ok because I got my self out. At first however I thought I was real messed up considering where I landed. At home I assessed the damage and was relieved to only have a few bumps and bruises. The only dangerous this was this brain sensation that I had. It felt like it was real large and my headache was tremendous.

I ended up with a puncture in my elbow (produced way more blood that it should have) and my neck. I have contusions on my legs, forehead, nose, and jaw. The evening was miserable and I really pumped the Excedrin. I knew that my headache and weird sensations were due to my brain sloshing around as I rattled my head off a few rocks. That is why I was happy to wake up this morning. I hear so many stories about what a concussion can do.

So now I sit here at work, with a headache, feeling pretty raw. But, I did ride my bike to work and that says all is well in Missoula Montana.

Woke up at 3 AM, couldn’t sleep, so I decided to snack and ended up online. Noticed a bug in Firefox 1.5 beta’s print dialog. Just had an interview for a testing job and realized I’ve never really contributed to projects with bug reports. Decided to join Mozilla’s efforts by reporting issues on Bugzilla.

Found a bug: in print preview, can’t switch between Landscape/Portrait. Landscape is default, but clicking Portrait just flickers a dialog box without changing the layout. So, I reported it.

After that, heard on NPR about Hurricane Rita, predicted to surpass Katrina. It’s unsettling, and I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that. Here’s to hoping for the best.

Its my little buddy Niko’s Birthday today. It seems like just recently I was at Plattsburgh and the little guy just appeared! The big 6.0 … I am excited to see what has changed from version 5.0. Its my little buddy Niko’s Birthday today. It seems like just recently I was at Plattsburgh and the little guy just appeared! The big 6.0 … I am excited to see what has changed from version 5.0.

Last night I did an interview with Palm Inc which is next door. I have to say that it is hard to interview after a full day of work. It didnt help that I had some chocolate before I got off work. I was a blithering idiot. Oh well, what can you do … maybe go for a mountain bike ride to bring things back in line.

Not much to say as I begin another work day and my thoughts wonder off to where I am riding tonight. Hopefully Ill get a variety of stuff done today like hardware, software, and bug fixes.

I met up with you but forgot your name … sorry. Anyway you sent me an email but for some reason I did not receive it (If you use the gmail option in my contact form, it may not be working) so I dont have your phone or contact information. Please call me at work today 721-6280 ext 126, tonight at home 829-1988 (Ill be at the Brewfest tonight 5:30 – 10:00), or email me at bill at williammartin.com.

Ah, the twists and turns of life at M.A.R.S. Stout Inc! It’s like a jolt of caffeine that woke up an old project I’d shelved, one that’s all about collaborative wizardry in software development. And voilà, here comes DevTrack! Picture this: a shiny, new web-based tech tool, a kind of Swiss Army knife for tracking projects, reporting issues, and brainstorming new ones. It’s like a digital butler, always ready to assist.

What’s the secret sauce? Well, DevTrack is a brainchild of my Bortal technology. It’s a cool blend of PHP serving up XML data, while XSLT transformations do a little dance and put everything up on the web. It’s like making a smoothie with tech ingredients!

Now, this isn’t just a pet project. M.A.R.S. Stout Inc is actually using it to streamline their service development and deployment. Talk about a test drive! I’ve jazzed it up with MySQL (goodbye, SQLite!), full XSLT integration, and some nifty user tools. It’s growing up so fast, I’m getting sentimental.

I’ve got a laundry list of upgrades I’m itching to roll out. If this winter traps me indoors, well, that’s just more time for tinkering. I read somewhere – a government paper, I think – that collaboration tools are the next big thing in software. They’re like the hot new band everyone wants tickets for. My baby, DevTrack, is web-based and flaunts the latest in XSLT and XML tech. But hey, what do you, dear readers, think about it? Drop a comment, don’t be shy!

And Mom, if you’re reading this – no, this post isn’t for you. I can hear you already: “My child, the greatest programmer in the galaxy!” Yes, yes, but let’s keep that between us, shall we?

Weekend Whirlwind: From Eviction to Elevation

Friday rolled around, and it was business as usual with chores on the docket – laundry, groceries, and the like. But no ordinary Friday is complete without a detour to Kettlehouse Brewery, where Larry, Alden, and I tackled the world’s woes over some cold ones. Post-beer, we migrated to the bridge for some much-needed pizza slices.

In the whirl of it all, I nearly slipped my mind that Thursday night had me facing eviction. Coming home to the chaos of unpacking and moving back in, I braced myself for an all-nighter. Once I managed to sort my life back into boxes and corners, sleep was on the agenda, but the overpowering scent of glue and new carpet waged war on my senses, leaving me with a throbbing headache and a queasy stomach.

Saturday dawned with a trip to Superior for a hike with the Rocky Mountaineers. Despite my secret hopes for a weather-induced cancellation, due to rain and snow predictions and my sleep-deprived state, the day unfolded surprisingly well. The hike was a refreshing escape, beautiful and captivating enough to nearly lull me to sleep mid-stride.

Sunday brought me to Cares Park for German Fest, my taste buds set on brauts I’d been fantasizing about. To my dismay, beer was off the menu, sold out before I even arrived. Not that it mattered much to me; my mission was singular – a braut, which set me back $7.50. Observing the scene, it struck me – Cares Park’s festivals seem overwhelmingly focused on beer, regardless of the occasion. An ice cream festival, you say? You’d still find a sea of beer tables dwarfing the lone ice cream stand.

Now, as Monday unfolds, aside from witnessing a confusing tussle between a dog and a girl (the details of who attacked who remain murky), life’s slipped back into its regular rhythm. And that’s the scoop from my end. Catch you at F&F!

Eviction Turned Adventure: The Unplanned Packing Marathon

So, Thursday Night Ride was on the agenda, and there I was, getting my bike all prepped and ready for the evening’s escapades. Just as I’m about to head out, I spot a note by my door. Barely giving it a glance – something about moving out by Friday – I chuck it inside to deal with post-ride. Ignorance is bliss, right? Especially when you’re about to hit the trails.

During the ride, I’m cracking jokes with the crew that I’ve been evicted, not knowing how true those words would soon become. Fast forward to getting home, and what was a joke turns into an all-night, grueling packing spree. The landlady wasn’t playing – she wanted everything out, fridge included. Which is kinda hilarious, considering my fridge’s usual state of emptiness.

So there I am, running on adrenaline, packing up my life. Sleep? A distant memory. But hey, there’s a silver lining – a post-work trip to Kettlehouse is on the horizon. As for moving, that’s a weekend problem. Hopefully, I’ll find a new place to call home, assuming the landlady doesn’t lay claim to my bike too. Here’s to new beginnings, fueled by beer and the unwavering support of ride buddies.

I woke up and wondered if I was late for work. The damn clock didn’t buzz me. Then after about 5 minutes of wonder I realized that I had come home and fell asleep wondering if I should go for a bike ride or not. I was a little happy to realize that I did not have to go to work at all. I got a reprieve!

So then I decided I would stay home and enjoy the evening. I made some black beans and rice and turned on the computer. I was messing around on the web when I ran across something for a game I have had played two or three years ago. I decided to pull it out and play a little last night.

I was getting tired and decided to have a snack and wait for myself to slip into a good nights rest. On the way to the toaster (Toast and Jam time) I looked at the clock … 3:20 AM. Holy Shit.

I sit here at work now with a body buzz so strong it feels like I have vertigo. Can possibly make it through the day? Will I make the Thursday Night Ride? One moment at a time I tell myself. I expect to blog or post a lot today because when I get tired I have a lot to bitch about.

As an employer if one decides to pay someone $8 something an hour what do they expect? I am sorry but I do not feel that I can be responsible for ramifications of their unreasonable expectations. Here is what I believe and keep in mind that it will probably get me banished from the good-ol-boy employers of Beautiful Missoula.

I got an education and I need to pay for it. If an employer can not help me pay for it (with a reasonable wage) then can they really benefit from the knowledge I gained while getting my education? So if you don't think that that is like taking advantage of me …. Your Wack (a quote I learned from watching a show with Tommy Lee in it)!

What do you think of those apples? Leave me a comment!

I feel bad that I am even thinking about my situation, not having a bathroom and bedroom. The images of the Gulf States are very heartbreaking and amazing at the same time. On the news this one man was being interviewed and they asked him who all was in the house with him when he had to get on the roof. He said that it was himself and his wife. The reporter asked where his wife was and the guy said that she didn't make it. It was so sad.

I came home last night from Shakespeare in the Park to find that I had walls and a bathroom. I was overjoyed to be peeing indoors. I am happy for now that I can use facilities without going to the park now. I can step down my apartment hunt and pick back up on my job hunt. I am always hunting for something.

Today is the Thursday Night Ride and we are going to the Wallman Trail. It is not the most popular trail due to its extreme climbing. I am thinking about brining my camera but with so much going on I don't think I will any more. No more rambling got to go!

It is obvious to me that my landlady and her children want me out. They are dragging their feet and making the conditions in the (what is left) apartment unbearable. Besides cranking little furnaces to make the temps in my apartment unbearable and installing fans that are so loud a person cannot hear the radio they have also not progressed at all. It is obvious to me that my landlady and her children want me out. They are dragging their feet and making the conditions in the (what is left) apartment unbearable. Besides cranking little furnaces to make the temps in my apartment unbearable and installing fans that are so loud a person cannot hear the radio they have also not progressed at all.

Oh there is progress, let me tell you about it. I came home from work last night to find everything untouched. I was disgusted but then the landlady's son showed up and it looked like he was going to work on the apartment. So I hopped on my bike and went for a ride because I did not want to get in his way.

After a killer ride on the Turkey Trail I approached my apartment to find all the vehicles gone. I figured that they did not even go to my apartment. I went inside to find some activity. Here is what they did. They hauled a piece of sheet rock downstairs (it appeared they may have had to cut it up to get it into the apartment). And … well … that's it. That is all they did.

7 days (a week) ago my apartment was flooded with sewage. All they have done is clean it up and haul a piece of sheet-rock downstairs. These people are losers, jerks, Californians. If her sons work in any manner that my apartment has been attended to then they shouldn't have jobs. Why is it that the lazy ass resource using Californians get jobs and homes but a Montana native with a college education and willing to work gets SHIT ON!