Mike reflects on starting a project | Ramblin' & Amblin' | Nov 3, 2026
Ramblin' & Amblin' Field Notes with Mike Hall (Staff Software Engineer)
Recorded on the move: engineering observations, systems architecture, and software craftsmanship reflections.
• Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNtb969T2-l0
• The Sound Above Curriculum: https://www.just3ws.com/series/the-sound-above/
• Canonical Profile: https://www.just3ws.com
Spoken Overview:
"It was held at, over the years, it started at the Crystal Lake Public Library, at the Cloud Developers Group in the basement, um, finding a location was kind of a month by month thing, uh, I worked, getting it into the library..."
Recorded: November 3, 2026
The Interviewer
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
It was held at, over the years, it started at the Crystal
Lake Public Library, at the Cloud Developers Group in the
basement, um, finding a location was kind of a month by
month thing, uh, I worked, getting it into the library
every time was a pain, I remember, and there was, I think
it cost money, I can't remember, um,
I was always on a budget, because I was paying for
everything out of pocket, that's the other thing, I was
usually paying for everything out of pocket, even the pizza
, uh, and there'd be, like, weird constraints in places,
like, um, Panera, Panera, uh, they were actually pretty
decent, they had a, had a, uh, projector
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Thank you. Thank you. Every comic. Every issue is somebody's first issue.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
So trying to always be there for the people. Um... Um... You know, I'm not sometimes sitting there and...
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Trying to, uh... Trying to make something... Or even I'm like... Yeah.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
This feels silly. Let's just go home. What is the point? But...
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
I was trying to start something. Just didn't expect to be... The way it worked out. I'm glad that they have it.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
It's, uh... It's like... Losing your childhood home. And, uh...
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
You know it's still there. But you can't go. You're not welcome. I don't know what to do anymore.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Maybe I'll get a job. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll stay in tech. Maybe I won't.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
I don't know. But... The things that I thought mattered... Don't.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
The things that I thought other people would see... They don't. How they see is... How I felt that more.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Um... Came up short. I don't know. Alright, thanks.
Mike Hall
Host, Ramblin' & Amblin'
▶ Speaking
Bye.