So Beautiful
February 5, 2007 Posted by Al Castle
5comments Categories: Must Listen, OSX, Squirrels
I love my Mac, and this song really brings a tear to my eye. Enjoy.
Joe Discovers Google Can Be Cool
February 4, 2007 Posted by Al Castle
add a comment Categories: Insider
Many of you probably missed it, a giddy Beaulaurier strolls into my office last Friday and begins asking everyone if they use gmail. I’m assuming he’s about to tell all of us Google has been selling our emails to the NSA or something equally as insidious. After most of us reply one way or the other and Joe excitedly mentions all the exciting additional features having a gmail account entitles you to, such as docs & spreadsheets, photos, groups and so on.
This is odd I think, Joe has always been a stout Yahoo supporter. Making sure to mention that Yahoo did XYZ years ago, or this is better in Yahoo and so on. It gets weirder when he pronounces his forbidden love for the Google Calendar and all of it’s delicious features. He’s really smiling now as he goes on about it’s hot interface and easy importing.
No doubt he’ll now spend more time with some of the other Google services. I wonder if he’s discovered the ability to share and collaborate documents while tracking revisions?
I’m Fat
February 4, 2007 Posted by Al Castle
2comments Categories: Castle, Squirrels, gnash-teeth
I’ve been telling people for awhile now that I’m overweight. Most people seem to think I look alright with the extra pounds but I think they’re just being nice. I’ve even been trying to fend off the advances of younger women (I couldn’t believe it either) by calling them chubby chasers.
Great Grandpa Dan actually walked over to me at our family Xmas party and the first words out of his mouth? “You’ve gotten fat.” He’s obviously not one to mince words. My mother is much kinder saying that I look “healthy”. Shanna thinks I look the best I ever have, but I think she’s just trying to avoid hurting my feelings.
I caught up on my Paolo antics this morning, his posting about his own issues with being a lard caught my eye and I decided to follow the link to a Body Mass Index calculator. Sure enough at 200 lbs I’m pushing maximum density. I’m not obese yet, but I’m solidly overweight for my height.
Unfortunately I lack the interest to lift weights or otherwise exercise. It’s all down hill from here folks. Thanks for the memories.
Its Awful But Perfect
February 3, 2007 Posted by Al Castle
add a comment Categories: Squirrels
I might have to just start a blog category dealing with LittleHands phobias. This news article is completely awful but so perfectly suited to the topic I have to share.
In Hillsborough, FL Lynnette Brooks living room window exploded at 2 am in an act of vandalism. Upon investigating, the object thrown through the window was a frozen raccoon carcass.
Lynnett is quoted saying, “Absurd. Totally absurd. I don’t know what kind of mind would come up with something like that,“.
Agreed, we need to see if this guy is for hire.
Raccoon Dog
February 3, 2007 Posted by Al Castle
add a comment Categories: Squirrels
In my ongoing effort to keep Cari traumatized, I discovered this fearsome and odd looking creature called a Raccoon Dog. If anyone wants to ante up to help get one through customs this would be an awesome going away present.
Tuesday vs Libby
February 3, 2007 Posted by Al Castle
2comments Categories: Castle, Squirrels
We have three cats, WeeWee, Izzy and Tuesday. The first two are about a year old sisters and Tuesday is a devil creature that we picked up about 10 years ago. Izzy is the chew toy, WeeWee is so traumatized by the dog she runs and hides and I’m not even sure she still lives here anymore. Last time I tried to pet her it looked like she’s developing a bald spot from the stress.
My one joy in all this upheavel since we purchased the dog, is my arch nemesis Tuesday. The two of us have never gotten along well. He is this giant fat, black cat that’s half retarded from an overdose of catnip a few years back.
That said he’s either too lazy/fat to move when the dog confronts him - or he’s simply such a phenominal bad ass - I really can’t tell. The dog is completely terrified of him after getting sliced up on a few initial confrontations. What’s awesome is that Tuesday won’t move, he just lies there in whatever position he’s already in, usually facing in the complete opposite direction, emitting a combinations of hissess and deep growls.
A perfect example of their relationship is this. Shanna poured some tuna juice on Libbys dog food trying to get her to go eat. Tuesday having supper feline tuna receptors dashes from wherever he was lurking, pushes the dog out of the way with a slap and starts eating the tuna soaked dog food while growling at the dog. Libby sat in the corner and whimpered despite the fact she’s significantly larger than the cat now.
I’d post pictures of Tuesday, but I’m sure if you’ve seen evil before you can just picture something smaller, furrier and that sheds everywhere.
Puppy For Me
February 3, 2007 Posted by Al Castle
add a comment Categories: Castle, Uncategorized
Note: This was written awhile ago and unpublished.
A few weeks ago we decided to get a yellow lab puppy. She’s about 12 weeks old now and sleeping next to me. Currently we’re working on potty training, obedience school and attempting to mitigate the damage her teething attacks are having on household objects and my shoes.
Update 2007-02-03: Libby, is really Shanna’s puppy as it turns out. She was supposed to be my dog, but it seems the two have bonded and neither one much care for my attentions. The current damage includes multitudes of items with teeth marks or chunks missing - coffee table, rocking chair, shoes, socks, underwear, one of the smaller cats, the mini vans steering wheel and a chair.
Shanna is currently reading Marley & Me by John Grogan, subtitled “life and love with the worlds worst dog”. She laughs while reading it, but shakes her head and says I probably shouldn’t read the book as I’ll get upset. The little beast is about 80lbs already and big, really big, and with the puppy temperament still. When I walk in the door she can almost knock me down.
We’ve had two instances already where we ordered pizza and she’s been clever enough to steal it off the counter and eat most of the toppings before anyone can stop her. Shanna’s dad being a man of grit, doesn’t let some dog slobber bother him and was the only one who enjoyed the pizza. Another recent instance with my lasagna being completely devoured from the stove, meant another night without dinner.
I should have just caved in and agreed to get the poodle.
Since the dog is now the newest member of the family, the grandparents come over to see their “grand puppy”. Si, read it again, “grand puppy”. The house is now devoted to all things Libby, including keeping her out of the cupboards, bathroom, well actually every room because she eats everything. In fact the mini van now has a special seat cushion just for Libby. It doesn’t matter the vehicle is a small troop carrier, Shanna believes Libby should ride shotgun at all times and the rest of us can just mill about in back.
The Camera Loves Me
February 3, 2007 Posted by Al Castle
add a comment Categories: Insider, PRWeb
Note: This was written several weeks ago. Forgot to publish.
As I type a camera crew from WBR World Business Review are setting up to film me. I’m supposed to look busy, actually I have a ton of work to do, but it’s a bit unnerving having this crew hovering over me with the camera lens two feet away.
Fortunately David called me and I spent the whole time discussing statistics measuring with him. By the time the call ended we were done filming.
About half an hour earlier Joel, David and I were having a meeting at Davids conference room also under the scrutiny of these big hot lights and the crew. Again we were supposed to be looking busy, but I had trouble coming up with conversation that didn’t involve competitors, new features, or anything that we wouldn’t want recorded.
I actually have pictures somewhere of all this too. Can’t find em. I should clarify that the crew consisted of two people, one of which was about 4 ft tall and in tight black leather pants. No it wasn’t Karl or Cari.
