Hildi and Beagle Communication

Every now and then I open the window in the living room facing the front yard and road in front of the house. I don't like to do it often, because the dogs go nuts anytime a dog walks by, which occurs like 6 or 7 times a day.

Something else strange happens as well. Hildi will flat out attack the beagle with full hackles up, growling, and teeth to bare. I have also noticed this when walking the dogs and we come across another dog. Everything is fine with Hildi playing with the other dog, until the beagle starts barking. That sets Hildi off and she attacks the beagle. She has yet to draw blood, but she definitely pins the beagle down and many times punches her in the face. There are other times when the beagle barks, like at people or birds or at other unseen dogs barking from somewhere in the neighborhood. Hildi does not attack the beagle in these circumstances.

So I guess Hildi feels she needs to show other dogs her dominance over the beagle to other dogs. Either that or the beagle is trying to tell the other dogs to join her in a fight to bring down the Doberman once and for all.

I'm not sure of the reason, but it is really embarrassing when I meet people on the trail and my dogs inevitably starting fighting with each other pretty hardcore. I've also noticed that the other dogs look at them like they are insane as well.

To confuse things I attached a picture of Beagle attacking Hildi, and Hildi just jumping around and probably laughing it up.

Proud History of Wolfpack Football

I found a website that has every result of NC State football. In 1903, NC State beat the Deaf and Dumb Institute 33-0. I don't know why we took them off our schedule.

Link

Myuppus

On Sunday, Mom was finally forced to euthanize Kelsey. Kelsey had to live a tough life. We were best friends when I was in High School. I used to take her on jogs and then nap on the couch with her sleeping on my chest. Best of all, she was a frisbee dog. As the picture shows, she could really get up for a frisbee. I have tried to train my current dogs, but beagle looks at me like I'm crazy and Hildi just eats the frisbee.

We used to affectionately call her the myuppus. She lived her first years as the only dog in the family. Then I brought a beagle home from college and Kelsey quickly became a subordinate to a beagle pup that loved to bite her ears. Next, Kendall brought home an even more evil dog to terrorize her. It was a tough existence for a dog that so loved life.

She would always look at you with this inquisitive expression that to me just said, "what are we doing next?" And she would be up for anything.

Wolfpack Basketball Sadness

State has finished another forgettable year. I didn't have much hope for the team at the beginning of the year. We have the same group of guys that lost 8 in a row to end the 07-08 season and finish last in the ACC. Well we managed to move up to 10th and big 16-14 record.

It is hard to criticize too much because when you suck like State, you don't get to play on TV in Boise. So I only got to watch their opening ACC tourney game. From the articles I have read during the season, it appears we still have a point guard problem. In the game I watched, we started Julius Mays. Julius Mays had played 1 minute in the last 8 games. The regular starter, Javier Gonzalez, was healthy. Seemed like an odd choice.

State got out to a quick lead, but as soon as Maryland went into a zone, it was over. We have no ability to penetrate. It looked like every made basket was a fantastic shot or a long three. The defense appeared to lack effort at times. And sure enough we lost.

Now I can look to next year. We are getting a top 25 class led by forward and a shooting guard. Of course, everyone agrees we need a point guard. We are in the running for number 1 prospect John Wall, who goes to school in Raleigh. He has already stated that he plans to play for one year and then off to the NBA. It is State's and I think Sidney Lowe's last hope. Without him, I think we are looking at another losing season in the ACC, but possibly a NIT appearance. Uggghhh

Engineering Career

I started cleaning out a closet full of all my old college notebooks. I guess I thought there may come a day when I would need to reference back to them. Nope.

I went into Materials Science and Engineering thinking I would most likely change my major when something I was actually interested in came along. And if not, then an engineering degree can at least give me the middle class life I have been accustomed to. Well nothing sparked my interest for long enough for me to actually commit my life to. So I obtained my Matsci degree and landed a job as a real engineer.

Eight years later, I've quit my job and stand at a cross roads. Should I pursue engineering further? Well I am giving myself a month to figure it out.

Final Micron Email

My final email at Micron:

As you all know, Micron has failed to meet my demands of moving PCRAM R&D to within a 2.5 hour drive of Carter-Finley stadium. I guess I should have considered that could happen before I accepted the job 8 years ago.
I don't have a lot of work experience to compare this to, but working with yall was better than my days at Fuddruckers. And those were good times, so you should take that as a compliment.
In all honesty, I hope Micron turns things around and each of you get to leave this place on your own terms.
Hampton out!

Seedorf Out?

I just got the news. Seedorf is not playing for Holland in Euro 2008. Seedorf is a fucking awesome player for AC Milan. Both defensively and offensively, he is a superstar. But really suprised me is how upset I am. I really fell in love with that country this past summer. And their national soccer team is such a great team to support. I mean you have this really small country and have made 2 world cup finals. And that through the inventiveness and greatness of Johan Cruijff. He came up with Total Football. From wiki:

In association football, Total Football is a system where a player who moves out of his position is replaced by another from his team, thus retaining their intended organizational structure. In this fluid system no footballer is fixed in his or her intended outfield role; anyone can be successively an attacker, a midfielder and a defender.

And then breeded players who could do this. Play ANY position on the field as you flow through a game. Imagine a team of players who can do that against a team that just plays defined positions. And then defending against a team that you have no idea who is attacking. Just brilliant.

I always knew the name "Cruijff" as a soccer move where you fake a big kick, step over the top of the ball and pull it back. A fun move, relatively easy to do, and very effective. And the one move I have really mastered. So yeah, he invented that to. Really a hero of mine before I ever knew who he was.

I like all the guys they have on professional teams. One of the best players on the US team has far less athletic ability than the other players on the team, He is only on the team because he went to Holland when he was young to learn the game.

And yeah, I love that country and look forward to returning. I would really like a lifestyle where Christina and I can live there 4 months out of the year.