Category Archives: News

Just the news, big deals, not-so-big deals, birthday, anniversaries, announcements, mostly timely stuff. The news that applies to the personal world around me, not what you watch on cable or listen to on the radio.

We owed the IRS four digits this year

I may be a Liberal (or as they say in areas outside of Austin, Librul) but even I find paying taxes to be on par with mosquito bites. Nobody enjoys them (short of Ned Flanders) yet they’re an inevitable fact … Continue reading

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Uncle Maggi with the Lowry Girls!

…plus their cousin and Steve’s noticeable gut! Yesterday I had a great lunch with the younger faction of the California Lowrys at Catfish Parlor. I also had the opportunity to give them their pirates who were appropriately named (by age) … Continue reading

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Sixteen years at Apple

Holy buckets, where did the time go? I can’t even remember if being at Apple this long was the plan either. Probably not then again I don’t know what was the next destination. Good thing it has worked out given … Continue reading

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RIP Geoffrey Lewis

Another one of the great supporting actors who also had the misfortune of being that guy, you know, he was in insert film/TV show here. Geoffrey was often in Clint Eastwood movies as a sidekick (Every Which Way But Loose) or minor villain … Continue reading

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RIP: Stan Freberg

Being a great satirist and cartoon voice actor were his contributions in my life. Cartoons? Yes, he was Peter Puma and one of the overly polite gophers in the Looney Toons. Stan was an early influence on Weird Al Yankovic, The … Continue reading

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My nephew Nick is doing fine

Last week Nick and the family were in San Diego enjoying Spring Break, I got a few updates. Then his dad (my brother) informed me about Nick’s successful eye surgery. I was like…whaaaaa? Nothing major like cancer, just something needing to … Continue reading

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Sandstorm in Qatar this week

Holy Crap! I didn’t think these natural occurrences happened so close to the sea/ocean. My sister-in-law Anje informed me of it via WhatsApp. I thought, they probably happen occasionally, they’re probably on par with smog or ozone alerts in Austin. Then … Continue reading

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RIP: Gary Dahl, inventor of the Pet Rock

Not an April Fool’s joke! Hence, why I’m posting it today and according to the New York Times, Gary passed away over a week ago. I could’ve sworn seeing Pet Rocks later than 1975 but regardless, I was under 10 in those … Continue reading

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2005: We almost moved to Phoenix

What?!?! Yes, we were in the process of scouting out the city ten years ago and around my sixth anniversary as an Apple employee, we flew there to scout prospects for both of us. Why? Somara and I figured there … Continue reading

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Happy belated birthday to Ethan

It was two days ago but by then my pre-written string of stories had run out and let’s face it, I’m still adjusting to Daylight Saving(s) Time. I think he had a great day off from work, his wife Kelly … Continue reading

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Welcome Vivian and Winston!

Another co-worker became a first-time father and boy did he show his dedication, no waiting, have two at once! Not really, the odds of twins are relatively more common than you think plus their occurrence has risen through numerous good … Continue reading

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Belated welcome to Kora, the new Avatar of Austin!

This sweet little person is the daughter of a wonderful couple. Kora’s mother is not a member of the Water Tribe that lives around the South Pole, but a key leader for why I enjoy eating at work. I even … Continue reading

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Super-crazy-busy week mostly over

After my three-day stint as acting Team Manager went pretty well despite a half-day caused by icy conditions, I received another chance for a full week. It was pretty cool, I mean even cooler than past times. I learned more things … Continue reading

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Super-belated birthday wish to Nelson

Nelson has been an awesome friend of mine since 1991, I just rudely never saw him that way until 1993 because he’s a tenacious dude! OK, I think the verb is appreciate. Either way, he celebrated last Saturday with Pi Day … Continue reading

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Happy birthday Brian

Another little celebration in California with the better weather in store for him. Hopefully the food matches. As always for me, his card will be late yet I don’t think he counts on me too much there. According to his … Continue reading

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