Hello World! I just put up this site and am now facing the idea of blogging head on. I didn't think that it would be this difficult! I have been struck by a startling awareness that I am about to begin writing things that will be available for the world to see. I'm really not expecting that much traffic, really, who knows, but those who do stop by -- well, it just seems that I should write something that has some significance. Maybe not, perhaps I'm taking this all too seriously. We'll see how it plays out in the coming days.

Speaking of things of significance, this week has been significant--to put it mildly. Life has a way of interupting our best laid plans. Things can develop that can suddenly put everything in your current life and circumstance into a radical new perspective. I work in a high tech industry, creating cutting edge software solutions for internet based video delivery. We have a great team of software engineers, project managers, technical broadcasting engineers, etc. On Monday of this week, Jagan Kodali, one of our Senior Developers, came into my office to tell me he was leaving early for a Dr.'s appointment. He was feeling fatigued and had been feeling rundown all weekend. He didn't look well either, his face was swollen and his color was a bit off. At his appointment that afternoon the Dr. had him admitted to the hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, he called me to tell me that he was being transferred to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The news came in rather quickly, in a day or so, that he had cancer. Specifically, a type of blood cancer or Leukemia. It will be a couple more days before the stage and treatments plans are known. Suffice it to say that this was a shock for him, his family and for all of us who work with him everyday. Jagan is probably in his mid thirties with a wife and two kids. He is a gentle and kind man, not to mention an extrememly intelligent and talented software engineer. Please keep Jagan and his family in your prayers.