Let's Get it On...A Puppy Love Story

I learned a very valuable lesson today about my puppy: humans are not that far removed from other species regarding love and relationships. From first sight to sealing the deal, dogs share some common behaviors with us. Abby, with her stud Ajax, helped me understand the love progression through the following (NOTE: NOT INTENDED FIR YOUNGER READERS):

1) Love at first sight isn't for everyone. Sometimes a little warming up is necessary and circling your mate along with standing nervously stiff while your mate returns the favor can help break tension.

2) Baring your teeth doesn't always draw your love closer but displaying opposite emotions can be intriguing. Try showing teeth, but in the kind manner.

3) Play hard to get just enough to drive your mate crazy but not enough to drive them away. Keep them at a slight distance but allow them in close enough to nuzzle.

4) A bath or dip in the pool is enough to drive any love crazy. It's also enough to loosen you up. Just don't be too possessive of the water and let your mate soak a bit too.

5) When the time is right go for it. Of course having a bit of privacy is also grand, especially under the trampoline :)

6) Lastly, sleep it off in a nice air conditioned home while your mate spends the night in the grueling heat or in the doghouse. They'll appreciate the next experience that much more.

Hopefully day 2 for mating will be just as enjoyable for Abby and we'll have a few (8 to 15) labs in a couple of months.

Irony in Contextual Ad Embedded in Obesity Article

Contextual Ads are the bread and butter of Google and other Ad engines. Obviously you want to drive readers of web content to relevant merchants selling something related to the content you're consuming. Do you recall the days of irrelevant ads on a page? Usually static, never changing and certainly not worth their value.

Today I happened upon an article posted by the Deseret News on obesity. While the article was interesting, the ad right in the middle of the article is what caught my eye. Below is the screen capture of the article and ironical ad. Enjoy!

Whirlwind Month and Not Quite Done Yet...

Those of you that know my family will appreciate our desire to just chill and take it easy for a while. Our mantra the last few years seems to be "cram in as much as possible in as little time available." This last month was no different.

From a nice Memorial Day weekend getaway to Nauvoo to a very long road trip to WA, we've been traveling and traveling still. In the last month we've driven over 120 hrs along 6000+ miles of America roadway. We've traveled through 11 different states. We've participated in funerals, memorials, scout camps, training, work related visits and have thoroughly enjoyed each other's company.

For a couple of days, my family is separated from me which throws everything off for me. I'll join them again over the weekend and then separate for a few more days. Beyond that, Lord willing, no additional tragedies or emergencies will occur and we'll spend the rest of the summer pool side or in the comfort of our air conditioned TX home.

I do want to express with as much gratitude as I can muster through words, my sincerest appreciation for all of the well-wishes and prayers we've received over the last month. Having friends, both in the real world and in the blogosphere/twittersphere, express support to us has been incredibly supportive and helpful.

As the whirlwind of travel will soon dissipate, I lastly thank my dearest friend and wife for her constant nurturing care and patience through all of the insanity. Hang in there and see you tomorrow!

Highlight Pictures of Trip to Nauvoo

Some have asked to see pictures from our trip to Nauvoo, IL so here you go. Will blog about it later.

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Keep Looking Up

A local radio station ends their broadcast with the following line: "Keep looking up cause that's where it all is." I've often wondered what their intention or meaning of the phrase could be and I've always settled on a personal interpretation. Look to God for He is the great I Am and holds all keys to our joy and happiness.

As I write this post the phrase has entered my mind again but for a different reason. I'm now traveling high above the stormy clouds below en route to Kansas City, MO. . As we awaited to ascend into the upper atmosphere, I beheld the overcast gloom that had descended upon DFW and felt a bit melancholy. I'm not a skeptic or worry wart but admittedly when I travel I become overly concerned with those I may leave behind in the event disaster strikes. But as our plane rise above the mist and became enveloped by the clear skies, my heart leapt for joy and I was gladdened.

To see the earth, the air and the wonders of God's creations from a more celestial view adds perspective to my life. Daily grinds of task driven deadlines, phone calls that must be made, e-mails that need to be answered and all of the other frivolous items we burden ourselves with detract from our ability to feel God's love. Having an experience to reflect upon His goodness and graciously accept His live into my life is literally elevating.

Today while I travel I will keep in mind the Lord's purpose for me and that is to have joy. Having experienced this witness at a height that us almost incomprehensible hits home that much more and for that I thank the Almighty Lord, even Jesus Christ.

US Introduction to the Swine Flu?

Stuck in Flight Delay H-E-Double Hockey Sticks

Yeah, you read that right. We've been at the airport since a little after 4pm to catch a 5pm flight. Guess what? Flight delayed. Nothing out of the ordinary for business travel right? Well the "maintenance issue" plane just didn't cut the mustard so the flight that was delayed to 5:50 was not technically canceled but had a later flight take it's place to DEN. Our connecting flight was since gone on to DFW and the plan is now to catch an 8:30 flight to DEN, lay over and fly out to DFW in the morning.

I'd take a delay any day over a "maintenance issue" as I've been through that before.

Any fabulous travel stories you'd like to share? I'm sure by the time this is over I'll have more to add.

Pictures from Afternoon Trip to San Franciso

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Bike Ride by the Bay

It's not often that I have opportunities to take business trips as most developers, unless consultants, typically hold up in their cubes and code till their hearts content. I have over the last two years found myself in places that look very different from the gray wall fabric of a cube. From Buenos Aires, Argentina to Hamburg, Germany, you could say my trips have been a bit exotic.

Today I find myself in a location I previously visited while a young developer with Sabre. San Francisco is a beautiful metropolis with hills that shoot up out of nowhere, beaches where families play on the sand and in the bay, piers once for industry but seemingly more commercial now and landmarks that are awe inspiring.

Today I took Advantageous of an early training session to become scrum master certified and came to the Bay early. At the advisement of my manager I rented a bike and rode along the Bay passing the piers, the beaches and was awestruck by the Red Beauty herself. The Golden Gate Bridge, in all her iconic glory was today not only magnificent but it represented a physical challenge; one that had to best and conquer. While the ride was not terribly overpowering, the urge to take periodic snapshots of my adventure was a temptation I gladly indulged in (I'll post the whole set later tonight, but for now you can check out my twitpics from my twitted status at http://twitter.com/austinsd).

Today I am grateful for so many things and among them the God given blessing of good health which enables me to enjoy an up close and personal experience with God's crowning creation's (humankind) handiwork.

Thankful Heart This Peaceful Morning

Have you ever been up early and just soaked in the peace of the stillness of the morning? That's me right at this moment. After getting about 4 hours of sleep, I'm up early to take care of some pre-game business as I've got another very exhausting day ahead. With all of the likely stress that 4 soccer games and a trip to the temple with our church youth will ensue, I'm still amazed at just how peaceful I feel.

It's been a while since I've publicly expressed my appreciation for the wonders of my life and I feel, especially during this peaceful moment, to express my gratitude so here goes.

First and foremost, my greatest appreciation come from the love my Savior has given me and for the wonders of His creations. From the beauty of the blooming blue bonnets of Texas to the natural wonders of Iguazu, all of His handiwork truly amaze me. Just the other morning as I was dropping my kids off and fretting about a rain cancellation of a soccer game, I declined to ask my kids to pray for no rain as the rain provides so many blessings and what is a soccer game worth in comparison to the value of balancing out His creations and keeping harmony in the tiniest of ecosystems designed by He who truly understands best.

I would be an idiot to not realize the great joy and happiness my only true love, my wife, brings to my life. We've walked the road of marriage for almost 14 years now and I can only think of one troubled time that caused us to really become hurt with each other. 14 married years of bliss and wonderment is truly an amazing task and I hope to boast of an eternity of joyful moments. I am, in great measure, the individual I am because of this beauty and encouraging queen. What a blessing she is to me and praise the God in Heaven for blessing me with her!

My children, in all of their whirly dervish, pig-pen, moody and giggly glory bring me an absolute fulfillment of joy. From their soccer games, to excitement over positive achievements on their report cards, their toothless grins say it all and warm my heart. I love them dearly and treasure each one.

The peace the Holy Spirit brings is such a powerful experience and right now I'm filled with His light and glory. How I love feeling close to God and having His influence in my life. I'm grateful for the guidance the Spirit brings me daily and having this gift is praiseworthy.

Certainly enumerating my blessings would take up volumes of posts and we don't want Google to choke on just how expansive I could make it ;) My heart just feel content and good and experiencing the fruits of the Spirit when it's so peaceful in the morning is a blessing in an of itself.

What blessings are you experiencing and have you expressed your gratitude lately? Link back to this post if you right your own gratitude list. I'd love to read it. Please share in the comment section.