Google basically *is* the Internet for people in Europe, particularly France. In usability testing, we made it a point to have Internet Explorer and Fire Fox open to a blank page. Several people were nearly unable to begin a browsing session without the familiar search engine. In fact, several people were simply unable to type any URL at all,lacking all sense of correct URL syntax.

Some attribute this to the fact that Internet usage in France took off at or around the time Google assumed its place as victor of the Search Engine Wars. Lastly, and I do not know why, Google’s Ad Sense ads were nowhere to be found. It was odd yet definitely nice to see screens resulting in a lot less clutter.

When it rains it pours and this week was like a category 5 hurricane. Only five days into my trip to Europe, I was in Paris when I found out that I needed to get home right away, as I only had 15 hours until Julee’s unexpected C-section. Thankfully, I had hardly unpacked and I spent nearly 90 minutes canceling my travel to Italy and booking new passage back to Dallas via London.

When I landed, I spent nearly 20 agonizing minutes going through customs and nearly the same waiting for my luggage. It was a good thing Julee’s hospital was close to the airport. As they would say in London, I was nearly mad as a hatter in the backseat of that taxi.

Perspiring, out of breath and hauling way too much luggage, I burst into Julee’s room and saw the tiniest, most precious baby I had ever seen. Little Jenna, all 5 pounds 11 ounces of her, was sleeping in her mother’s arms. I had missed her arrival by six hours. At the time she was born on May 15, 12:18 PM, I was 32,000 feet above Montreal, pointing towards home, Needless to say, she has since spent a lot of time in my arms.

Always wanting to be held, she is a cuddly little thing. Skin as pink as sunburn and voice as squeaky as a door hinge. But we are now all together and Jason is on the the path of learning that he is now a big brother. I cannot wait until we can go home tomorrow.

A photographer friend told me about a cool site that rents every manner of SLR lens (telephoto, wide angle, macro, etc) at reasonable prices and without unreasonable deposits. I am thinking of picking up a a wide angle lens for an upcoming trip. Check them out at lensrentals.com.

Living in Keller puts us more in the burbs of Fort Worth, not Dallas. Lately, we have been getting out and exploring what the city has to offer. The weather has been really nice and so far, we have racked up two trips to the Botanic Gardens and one trip to the Fort Worth Zoo. So far, our favorite is the Japanese garden. Check out the photos.

My feet are cold because my socks were knocked off! This year’s Liberty Ale from Anchor Steam Brewing Company is fantastic. It received a 90 out of 100 from Wine Spectator or something but that seems low to me. ‘Hoppy’ beer is good. Short on the palate is even better.

Dear Starbucks,
I am breaking up with you. I know it has been 13 long years but really it is time for this to come to an end. It is not you. It is me. I simply do not have the stomach for that new swill you call Pikes Place brew. It is horrible. Doesn’t even matter how much I drown it with half and half. It still tastes like dirt. Well, not like Sumatra, but watery dirt.

I hope we can be friends. When I see you on the street, I will say ‘hello’ and try not to make fun of your desperate attempts at re-branding or your flagging stock price. Please stop crying. This is hard for both of us.

Ok, not really, but the Laser Stars Light Show we bought for Jason’s room is really cool. According to The Sharper Image’s website it, “Brings the wonder of the night sky into your home!” This is true especially if your night sky is akin to the skies over Iraq during a stealth fighter attack. The laser is green, so the stars are green. It would be even better if the stars were white but there aren’t any lasers that are white (which by definition, cannot be a laser). But the morphing blue/purple nebula thingie is pretty realistic.

Some of the stars move in a way that suggests a very real sense of depth. Like watching fish in an aquarium, it is pretty relaxing to lay on the floor and watch the green universe go by. I am trying to hack it so it displays the Zoso logo and plays Kashmir at 100 decibels.

I have been quite lame at posting. I promise to be a better blogger. Can I make it an Easter resolution? It’s my blog. I can do anything I want. Easter resolution it is.

Must…not…let…Twitter…replace…blogging.

This is a very late post on a most surreal of skiing trips. It was really great seeing some old friends and meeting new ones (I dig your family, JR). Highlights included:

• Smashing up my rental car by hitting a 1,200 pound elk
• Skiing some pretty gnarly runs with only about 45 mins of sleep under my belt
• Lots of insurance/police report paper work due to the rental car
• Skiing at Taos, which apparently is a Native American word for ‘heap big crazy ass steep mountain’
• Getting down Spitfire, a double diamond monster that nearly ate one of my skis
• Executing my first head-over-heels wipeout at the base of Spitfire
• Hitting the deck so hard that I saw stars

Truly, it was awesome skiing, great company and insurance claims that will last long after the bruises fade. Good times. Check out the photos.

It was a pretty busy week at work and I did not get a chance to post anything about the trip to Keystone. Weather started out kind of hot (mid thirties) but got colder as the trip progressed. Night skiing rocked. Thanks, Travis and Darren. If it weren’t for you guys I would still be stuck on Flying Dutchman that first night due to maximum Hot Damn 100.On Monday, Julee and I drove over to Beaver Creek where the skiing was outstanding (and the weather was fierce). 
Nineteen degrees + 35 mph winds = ouch. Pics are posted, if you care to see them. 

Julee and I are leaving for Keystone, CO for relaxation (Julee) and skiing (Joe). As always, there are sure to be plenty of photos for posting when we return.

Jason really likes playing in the park. That is all. End transmission. 

On the way to rehearse with a band in Arlington today, I drank a 12-ounce can of Red Bull. Several hours later on the drive home, I realized that I had not finished it and there was about a third left. I picked up the very hot can (it was nearly 80 degrees today) and drained it without even pausing. I am starting to appreciate how hooked on Red Bull I might be. 

In ancient Rome, there was poem. About a dog, who had two bones. He picked at one, he licked the other. He ran in circles, ’til he dropped dead.     Freedom of Choice - Devo

Seriously, I think I have hit my limit with social websites. I can no longer keep track of all of my accounts, nor do I want to. MySpace, CrowdVine, Vox, LinkedIn, Facebook, and several I joined and have forgotten. Even my company has its own social website called SabreTown. I would link to it but it is closed to the rest of the world unless you are lucky enough to work where I do.

 Rather than spend the rest of my life posting that little profile pic or entering my favorite movie in a text box, I should start the first ‘anti-social’ website. Yes, a giant profile aggregator that pulls all my online presences together into one single entity that becomes sentient and acts as my virtual bouncer.

• No solicitors.
• Stay off the grass.
• No dogs allowed.
• Go away.
• Driver cannot make change. 

I can dream, can’t I?