And so I turned 30...

I know…it’s been a while since I last wrote, but, in my defense, I’ve been really busy lately and haven’t really had the time (truth be told, I’m writing this while at work…shhh). Anyway, as I’ve said, I’ve been horribly busy and it’s not that I haven’t wanted to write (I have), I just haven’t had 1) the time or 2) anything really to write about! Well, I don’t really have much to say now either, but I figured I had better write anyway.

The last month seems to have flown by. I mean, I’ve been working at my new job for a little over a month and that time seems to have passed faster than I can imagine. Granted, being really busy has a lot to do with it, no doubt, but it’s still rather amazing. Does anyone else find this to be the case? I guess it’s a matter of aging and your free time. When I didn’t have a job, the time seemed to creep by and I thought I was going to go crazy for lack of stuff to do. Now, on the other hand, I think I’m going to go crazy because I have so much stuff to do! Thankfully, I’ve been able to work normal working hours at this place and here…I’m the man!

Just to give you an idea of the work that we’ve been up to: I’ve repaired the email server (or so I think) of several issues we were having. I’ve kept all the machines here running. I’ve kept the phone system updated. I’ve set the servers on some sort of maintenance schedule (hadn’t been done ever). I’ve set the Missoula office up actually on the domain (they had 3 different setups there and now they are standardized). I’ve met with Northrop Grumman geeks and have hashed out some ideas for long-term stability of our network and a more “forward-thinking” stance. I’ve done research into which machines we should be purchasing in the next 3 months…which servers we should be purchasing in the next 6 months…which VOIP phone system we should purchase in the next 6 months…and several software packages. To say the least: I’m lovin’ it!

On top of all the “work” stuff, groovy and I have been kinda busy with hiking and seeing the sights (done mostly at the same time). We have hiked to the top of Mt. Helena and Mt. Ascension here in Helena. Both were really cool and we took pictures which most of you already know about. We also went to the Stampede parade on Last Chance Gulch (I’m not making this up). If you like horses, fire trucks or politicians, the parade was the place to be!

Several other things to think about Montana (or Helena in particular):
1) There are rumored to be 500 deer living in the city limits (I believe it as I think I’ve passed most of them at least once on the way to work).

2) When it rains during the summer, there is an 80% chance that no water will actually reach the ground. It’s warm enough that the water evaporates before it reaches ground level.

3) July and the first half of August are the “warm months” during which time temperatures will reach as high as 106 degrees. Couple this with the fact that most homes here don’t have AC…and it’s hot no matter where you are.

4) The temperatures are high so long as you are in the sun. Step under a tree and you’ll experience the goodness that is “shade”. Shade is there to make life bearable.

5) When it DOES cool off, it does it REALLY FAST. It was 106 on a Saturday as the high and Sunday’s high was 85. That night was supposed to be down in the high 30’s that night in Missoula (don’t know if it got that cold, though).

6) Supposedly the winters here are brutal. -30 to -40 in the valley where the winds blow. Bring it on, I say…bring it on.