long time no write. it has been a while since i last updated my journal. a lot has went on in that time. i figured now was as good a time as any to update it so what the hey …


i have been working in my free time learning about xml and xsl and messing with the apache cocoon project. i have been working on redesigning my website using xml and these technologies. i am about 60% of the way done. in rewriting the site i have completely separated the content of my site from the display logic using xml and xslt. i am using the cocoon web publishing engine to perform the xslt transformations. the greatest thing about it, is that every single page in my site is rendered from a single xslt transformation file. this allows me to change the complete look and feel of my site without having to go through every single page and change the html. right now i am trying to get in contact with some old friends to see if i can get a cocoon server set up to run my site on. i am trying to cut my costs and in doing so i am going to nix my dreamhost account. they are not worth the $25+ i am paying per month.


i am having a bit of trouble with my exercise program. i usually do well about 4-5 days out of each week. i can focus and get things done and not worry. but the other 2-3 days something happens. i know … excuses excuses. and your right … i am getting soft. but i don’t want to, i want to be that focused, dedicated, goal oriented sean that i was last year when everything was working. i don’t see myself ever falling back into my old habits for good … but i often get side tracked or thrown off course. so i know i have said this a few times already. but i am going to refocus. regroup and take this thing on again. here’s to a new set of goals in a new time frame.


amy and i went to the cabda bike expo yesterday. it was a lot of fun and has me itching to get my bike back out and use it. i am so looking forward to spring. amy and i are planning on doing some mountain biking this summer. paved paths are neat and all but i have been dying to get offroad and go on some trails and use my friggin mountain bike as a “mountain” bike and not a road bike. we picked up a ton of literature for bike trails in wisconsin and illinois. it looks like there are some nice trails within a few hour drive from us. here is a reference site that has info about some of the better trails in wisconsin. it has maps of the paths, event information, local bed and breakfasts and other stuff. there are also some good reviews of some of the trails in wisconsin like the john muir trails which look really schweeeetttt. we are planning on camping while up there but you never know, one weekend we might want to live comfortably. i want to go on a weekend trip 4-5 times this summer … the great thing is all we really would have to pay for would be the camp grounds (figure $30 for the weekend), the gas, and the food. i bet we could get away with $80 for the whole weekend if we plan it right, bring food, and take her car (better gas mileage). i am really excited about it … i hope she like riding offroad. we shall see …


lots of things are going on at work … some i wish i could share but i cannot. to get an idea, check out this article about divine interventures changing its name and changing its focus. it should give you an idea about what i am going through at work. even though there is a lot going on we are staying focused and kicking ass on our next product release. i am really excited about getting our 4.0 product out.


amy and i are doing really well … as you can see above we have been doing a lot together. spending time on the weekend, goofing around, just getting to know each other and hang out. we are getting closer the more time we spend together. this year we decided to help each other out … i am her personal trainer and she is my financial advisor. since she is much better at managing her money then i am i figured i could use the help and since she is working out more a little guidance couldn’t help.


i have been cutting down my expenses more and more … i am pretty much down to saturdays when i go out and do stuff. the rest of the week i spend little to nothing. i cook my meals, plan ahead, and don’t splurge any more. trying to make this house thing a reality. i am getting closer and closer to the goal every day.


i went snowmobiling with a bunch of people about 4 weeks ago. it was me, my roommate rob, kelly, dad, my cousin randy, brian, steven, and my cousins buddy. anyhow, we had a blast but during the weekend my roommate fractured his wrist. he is having the worst of luck. from 3-4 accidents, this wrist thing, as recently losing his job from mypoints he has horrible luck. the kind you would never wish upon anyone else …


well there is not much more to tell.