What makes me blog now?

So I haven't blogged in a really, really long time. An extremely long time. In fact, it was February 1st and I was blogging about Google Reader. However, I have something I really want to share.

Now, I have a shitload going on in my life. Castfire is really taking off and our customers, integrations and product stun me every day. That is worth blogging about. I am getting married - HOLY SHIT! - next Saturday to the most amazing woman in the world. I should be sharing that. Some of my friends are exceeding their dreams and I should be blogging about that.

However, it to Scott Beale's post, from Laughing Squid (as well as Laughing Squid Hosting, which I proudly support with 2 different accounts), that has made me blog tonight. Yet again, his great highlighting of that which is challenging, artistic, underground, or counter culture has touched me.



Google Me is a great documentary about a guy who wanted to connect with each of the people that shares his name, and he discovered, by Googling his name. The twist and turns, discovery and comprehension, and contrasts are wonderful. I am impressed by Jim and even more by his support team for their ability to overcome trust issues, create an environment for sharing, and to bring everyone together to celebrate the discovery.

I blog tonight because I am touched by the chances he took and the outreach he made. I have often Googled my name, but never followed through into exploring who the other "Brian Walsh" humans are. Wow. What if? Could I? What if I? Should I?

Thanks to Scott for sharing that. Thanks to Google for making an hour + documentary available to everyone for free. Thanks to Jim Killeem(s) for taking the chance.

Here's what I really want in Google Reader

I am a voracious reader of posts, thanks to Google Reader. I can move quickly, and mark quite a few with 's' and 'shift'-'s'. Works great, as I can save for myself and share with others (which get pushed to the side bar of my blog and my Facebook account). Cool!

What do I want? To be able to customize a keyboard shortcut to share with just a group of people. Use case? I would love to hit 'shift'-'c' to share with just the team at Castfire - who also use Google Reader. Would be a great, quick way for us to share what we read and are thinking, directly inside of Reader. Right now, I need to copy the link and email.

I would also love the ability to post directly from Reader. Highlight a portion of the post, hit blog this, and a blockquote + link to article, pop up in a modal window for me to blog. I can say that this would increase my blogging a TON!

Perhaps these features are already available and I am just a bit slow? Someone make me happy!!!

Let Me Go

Wow....base jumper, Jim Corliss, gets caught before he can leap from the Empire State Building....

Honey

Honey
Originally uploaded by thepartycow.

The mass in Honey's colon became too much and it was really difficult for her. So the vet came over to our house last night to put her to sleep. That was one of the toughest things I have ever been through. I am wiping tears as I type this.

RIP Honey, RIP. You were an incredible friend. I miss you terribly.

Molly and Honey

Molly and Honey
Originally uploaded by thepartycow.

Honey is our 14 year old dog that brings us together closer and closer every day. From an ultrasound a mass was discovered in her colon - this mass challenges all three of us on a daily basis. It is being treated with very strong medication, however, the impact is not lost on any of us. Honey brings us together on a daily basis and is a reminder of the love we are capable of.

We are going through a very hard time right now.

Thanks for your well wishes.

Uh oh...it's on again

Uh oh...it's on again
Originally uploaded by JasonUnbound.

Favorite, favorite, favorite party of the year. Don't get much better than this one, folks.

No place like NY

What a funny, funny story
Originally uploaded by thepartycow.

So a little bit back, Molly and I were in NYC for her sister's wedding in Brooklyn. We had a great weekend connecting with her family and FINALLY seeing NYC together. It still holds a special place in my heart and I miss it quite a bit!

We stayed an additional 2 days for work in Manhattan. We moved from staying with friends in the Village to the Dylan Hotel in midtown. Actually a pretty nice place -- I will definitely stay there again.

On late, late Monday night I was still working away in my hotel room while Molly was out having dinner with our friends. I was quite pushed for deadlines and definitely a bit stressed (and jealous to not be out with her!) My weary eyes signaled a need to walk around the block and grab some caffeine.

With my head down and a bit focused on the proposal I was working on, I stumbled into the elevator excited for fresh air. 2 floors down, the door opens and a woman strolls in on her phone. As she stood there talking, I couldn't tell what was sticking out of her bra/cleavage. What is that? Corners? Edges?

Oh...hello, wad o'cash. That is a pretty massive stack of bills in her bra! I did my best to hold back laughing and stare at the buttons in the elevator. Amazing how interesting the buttons in an elevator can be.

I am startled by a flash of neon green - crumpled, Kinko's green - you know the type that goes on sale for copying? I look down to see her card: Professional Masseuse - "Your Pleasure."

Let's see...are the buttons round or square? What was the top floor? Weird, they don't have a separate banquet floor.

As we approach the ground floor, her conversation turns:
c'mon...let's meet up
where are you staying? I want to meet you.
let me come over right now.

OH. OH. Really?

YES SIR. Absolutely sir. MMMMMmmmm. Yes sir. Of course, sir.

On my way sir.

I burst into laughter and headed back upstairs to my room. Before I sat back down to my computer, I left Jessica's card on my fiancee's pillow and repeated, "there's no place like New York."