Embracing the Summer Heat in Michigan

Summer has officially arrived here in Michigan, and the temperatures are definitely rising! I just installed an air conditioner in my office window—couldn’t handle the afternoon heat combined with the warmth from my computer setup. Thankfully, the bedroom unit was already in place, ensuring a comfortable night's sleep. Now, I just need to take care of the living room and the boys' room. The living room stays fairly cool on its own, so it hasn't been a priority. The boys' room, on the shadier side of the house, is also pretty comfortable.

Despite the heat, I've been thoroughly enjoying the pleasant weather. I make it a point to spend plenty of time outside with the boys, aiming for at least an hour or two every day. We've been frequenting the park every few days, and they absolutely love it. We’ve already had one barbecue and are planning another one tonight, with hopes for another this weekend. It's always a delightful experience.

Overall, life is going well. I'm taking each day as it comes, cherishing the moments with my sons. It doesn't get much better than this. Here's to a fun and memorable summer!

The Balancing Act: Web Development and Fatherhood Under One Roof

As summer fades, Michigan's long winters loom ahead. While this typically boosts my work productivity, it also leaves me pondering how to fill my free time. With the kids back in school and shorter days, I often find myself at a loose end. And this year is no different.

My recent venture, Worldstone.io, hasn't been as successful as I'd hoped. Although it's faring well for a two-month-old site with roughly 100 daily visitors, it hasn't seen the steady traffic or loyal visitor base I'd anticipated. This, despite my Diablo IV browser extension (Chrome) (Firefox) boasting over 5,000 users, all linked back to my site. As a result, my initial plans to enhance the Diablo fansite have taken a backseat. Instead, I've opted to maintain regular content updates and let the site run on auto-pilot for the time being.

This pause has me contemplating my next move. Should I embark on a fresh website project, revisit past ventures, or perhaps dive into an entirely new realm, like game development? It's an open question, and the answer eludes me.

Financial stability is a growing concern. While a few of my projects still generate some income, it's not as much as before, tightening my financial belt. My ideal next project would offer a reliable monthly income, even if it takes a while to establish.

The life of a self-employed web developer and full-time father to two young boys isn't easy. Balancing work with parenting is a juggling act, fraught with challenges. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Soon enough, my little ones will join their older siblings in school, and I'll be back to solitude in my office.

Financial ups and downs are part of this journey. But I remain optimistic, knowing that when the time is right, prosperity will find its way back to me.

What Is It About Camping?

My family and I recently embarked on a camping adventure, though it was more "glamping" than traditional camping. Rather than pitching tents in the wilderness, devoid of modern conveniences like electricity or running water, we opted for something more comfortable. We rented two small 10x10ft cabins at a campground, each equipped with a table, two chairs, two bunk beds, and a nightstand. Joining us were my mother and stepfather, necessitating the two cabins.

Initially, I was concerned about the weather. Michigan has been experiencing a wave of intense heat and humidity, which usually leads to an uncomfortable time outdoors. The thought of being stuck without shade, a breeze, or, most crucially, air conditioning seemed unbearable. However, as it turned out, the weather was nearly perfect.

Our camping trip began later than planned on the first day, as we had to wait for my wife to return from work and pack. With our car's brakes out of service, we made two trips to the campground in our van. Once settled, we enjoyed dinner, a brief swim for the kids, a campfire, and then headed to bed.

The second day of our camping trip was cooler, with some rain in the morning that later gave way to the perfect summer warmth. Our children spent most of the day splashing around in the pond and pool. Fishing was a challenge due to the strong current, making both regular and magnet fishing difficult. But the day was special as we celebrated my stepfather's birthday with ice cream, brownies, and, naturally, another campfire.

The final day was reserved for packing up and reflecting on the experience as we headed home. I found myself pondering the appeal of camping. Although I have a pleasant backyard where I can set up a tent and enjoy a fire, the idea of "camping" at home never entices me. Perhaps it's the enforced simplicity and connection to the moment that makes camping so appealing. I'm already looking forward to next year's trip, although my wife and I have decided to forgo the cabin, as they were not as enjoyable or comfortable as we had hoped.

About Me

Hello there! My name is Ryan Spegal, and I'm excited to share a bit about myself. I've been immersed in web development for nearly 25 years, watching the internet evolve from its early, clunky days to the incredible, fast-paced digital world we live in now. Along the way, I've stayed sharp, continuously learning and adapting to new technologies to stay ahead of the curve.

My journey into programming actually started because of my love for RuneScape. I was completely captivated by the game—its immersive world, mechanics, and the community around it. I wanted to become a game developer myself, but at 13, creating a full game felt way out of reach. So, I decided to start smaller. In my mind, the next best thing was learning to create websites. I figured I'd build a RuneScape guide website, which would help me learn how to code while sharing my passion for the game.

I began by teaching myself HTML and CSS to design the site and quickly moved on to JavaScript to add interactivity. That's when I got the itch to try something bigger—an RPG inspired by RuneScape that I (very creatively) called RuneScape Battle. It was ambitious for its time, but I wanted to push it further. I wanted players to be able to save their progress and, most importantly, prevent cheating (since people could just edit cookies to change their stats, not that anybody who played it knew that (or how to do it)).

To solve those challenges, I dove into learning PHP and MySQL. With those tools, I could move the code to a secure backend and store player data in a database. This also opened up exciting new possibilities, like enabling chat between players and even trading functionality, which eventually became part of the game. That's how RuneScape Battle was born.

The game gained a small but loyal following, and seeing other people enjoy something I had built was surreal. Over time, it grew far beyond what I ever expected, with over 110,000 users creating accounts and trying the game—a pretty big feat for teenage me back then! A couple of years later, Jagex sent me a cease-and-desist for using the name RuneScape (thanks for that, Andrew! 😜), so I rebranded it as RsBattle. But by that point, the project had already cemented itself as a pivotal moment in my life. It gave me a deep love for programming, taught me how to tackle problems creatively, and showed me what was possible when passion meets code.

But my life isn't just about coding and technology. I'm also a proud family man, navigating the beautiful chaos of life with my amazing wife and our five kids—one daughter and four sons. We live in Michigan, where our backyard has become our sanctuary. Whether we're playing games, grilling up something delicious, or unwinding around a bonfire, it's our place to make memories. Life with little ones is a full-on adventure, especially since two of them are still in diapers. Being a stay-at-home dad to my four youngest during the day while my wife works evening shifts can be a lot to handle; juggling housework, meals, playtime, work, and the rare moments of relaxation or gaming—but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Still, I won't lie; it's stressful, and finances have definitely taken a hit with less time to focus on work. I'm looking forward to having more time when the kids are in school, but I'm also soaking up these precious baby years because they'll only be little once.

When I'm not knee-deep in work or parenting, you'll probably find me out on my RadRover eBike. It's my way of blowing off steam—zipping around town at high speeds or hitting dirt trails in the woods. My wife and I both have eBikes, and now that our daughter is getting older, she's starting to join in too. My four sons tag along in pull-behind attachments (we've got three different ones to switch out, depending on who's joining the ride), making it a fun and inclusive family activity that everyone can enjoy together.

My RadRover out on the forest trails.

Another hobby I've dived back into recently is 3D printing. A few years ago, I had a Creality Ender 3 Pro, but it was such a headache—constantly needing tweaks and failing prints. It ended up collecting dust. Then a few months ago, I got a Bambu Labs A1 with the AMS Lite combo, and wow, what a game-changer. This thing just works. No fiddling, no frustration. Just find a design, hit print, and it's done. Since then, I've been printing everything from holiday decorations to toys for the kids, replica props, functional tools for the house, and gifts for family and friends. I've already gone a little wild, stocking up on filament during Bambu Labs' Black Friday sale so I can print in every color imaginable. It's been such a rewarding and creative outlet.

Gaming has always been a huge part of my life, though I don't get as much time for it now as I used to. Over the years, I've had some pretty cool achievements, like being the first to hit 99 Prayer at 15 combat in RuneScape and reaching top ranks in World of Warcraft boss fights. While my gaming sessions these days are fewer and farther between, whenever I do find the time, I make sure to dive in and savor every moment.

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A video someone captured of me playing on my character, Teh Unseen, back in 2007.

My passion for gaming has also opened doors to some incredible opportunities. I've created official fansites for many of the games I love, which led to unforgettable experiences—like being flown out to press conferences and massive gaming conventions, completely all-expenses-paid. These events allowed me to meet developers, go behind the scenes, and connect with others who share the same enthusiasm for gaming.

An old official Diablo III fansite that I created, D3Sanc.

At one point, I even took things further and became a full-time Twitch streamer. I earned Partner status and was fortunate enough to become one of the top streamers for multiple games during my career. Streaming was a thrilling chapter in my life, letting me share my love for gaming, build a close-knit community, and engage with people all over the world in real-time.

Lately, I've been completely hooked on Brighter Shores; a new MMO by Andrew Gower, the person who created RuneScape over 20 years ago. This new game is his passion project, and it's quickly become mine too. I even run a couple of websites dedicated to it: BrighterShores.Pro, where I post news, guides, and tools; and BSTrades.com, a platform to facilitate in-game trading between players. I've also got a YouTube channel for BrighterShores.Pro, where I share guides, update summaries, and more. Plus, I'm active on the community's various Discords, subreddit, and even help out with the Wiki. This game has a bright future, and I'd love the opportunity to work with the team at Fen Research one day.

At the end of the day, everything I do—from web development to parenting to my hobbies—I approach with passion, dedication, and a desire to create something meaningful. Thanks for taking the time to get to know me a little better. If you share any of these interests, I'd love to connect!