Our Family A to Z

Getting Ready for Christmas

2008-12-24T19:38:00.000-08:00

Great shots of Christmas parties and Christmas eve.

xmaseve08

Meet Pikachu

2008-11-25T19:45:00.001-08:00

Halloween and Paris Photos

2008-10-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

Lots of new photos to share:

Halloween08

Paris.brussels2008

My job:
Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS testing) require constant testing in order to verify the device is working properly. Every new software upgrade and/or signature set completely changes the way an IPS will perform in your network. In all cases, the data derived from any test must be objective, qualitative, and consistent.

A new generation of content-aware network equipment has forced testing to move up the stack to more realistic Layer 4-7 IPS testing. You simply cannot rely on the same tools and methodologies once used to test routers and switches for IPS testing.
IPS testing

Fun Weekend in Salado

2008-09-07T11:40:00.001-07:00

Had fun with the girls in Salado. Captured this great pic of Alina swimming.

From SaladoSept08

10 Gigabit testing tools

More Fashionista Action

2008-08-31T09:08:00.001-07:00

Posted with LifeCast

Shots from Aruba

2008-08-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

Better late than never, here are a bunch of photos from Aruba. ">

2008-08-28T17:13:00.001-07:00

The girls really love the gift baskets the Flahartys gave us! Thanks

Posted with LifeCast

2008-08-28T17:11:00.001-07:00

Posted with LifeCast

2008-08-26T14:43:00.001-07:00

Posted with LifeCast

New Event

2008-08-26T14:36:00.001-07:00

Posted with LifeCast

layer 4-7 testing

2008-05-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

BreakingPoint Elite provides comprehensive Layer 2-7 testing for network equipment and application servers in a high-performance and easy-to-use product. Unlike legacy testing tools that are designed for HTTP-only test environments and struggle to generate realistic Layer 4-7 traffic for testing content aware devices, BreakingPoint provides authentic application traffic blended with live security attacks at speeds of 20 Gigabits per second and faster More on layer 4-7 testing and testing tools.BreakingPoint testing tools accelerate the development of next-generation content-aware network devices by focusing on application, performance, and security testing.

We hold the number one slot for the term “testing content aware devices” but Google optimizes YouTube much faster and with what seems far greater relevance.

Deep Packet Inspection testing

2008-05-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

Check out my new company. We provide testing toolsand application performance testing.

Yaya Gets a New Dress Too

2008-02-26T17:29:00.001-08:00

View the photos.

Practicing with My New Camera

2008-02-15T18:48:00.001-08:00

Happy news for the family. I just bought a fabulous new camera. Here are some examples of the quality.

ValentinesDayChineseNewYear

Quick Trip to Dallas

2008-02-11T20:36:00.000-08:00

The family made a great short trip to Dallas to the Great Wolf Lodge, the Galleria and the American Girl Bistro where we took this photo: >

The Mickelson Christmas 2007

2008-01-08T18:48:00.001-08:00

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Austin Holiday Lights

2007-12-19T08:40:00.000-08:00

My company, NetQoS, has built and posted a handy Google maps mashup of Austin holiday lights.

Writing about work: NetFlow Monitoring

2007-12-12T07:38:00.000-08:00

Posted this story about Cyber Monday shopping to Network Performance Daily.

"The good news is, it’s not too late to mitigate the risks associated with the upcoming Super Bowl blitz that we wrote about on the Network Performance Daily blog last year. By putting your network monitoring tools to good use now, you can examine exactly how your network performs when a large spike in traffic occurs - so that you know what to do to be ready for the next spike in traffic when it occurs. Specifically, NetQoS advises network engineers to take action now to:

analyze network traffic flows with to identify recreational network traffic
quantify its impact on network performance
and implement quality of service policies to ensure business-critical applications have priority access to network resources
Admittedly, this is not the trickiest of problems to solve. You just need the right tools. As we detail in this best practices white paper on most of this online traffic is fairly easy to identify and measure if you are using NetFlow and a NetFlow monitoring NetFlow Monitoring product like NetQoS ReporterAnalyzer to analyze traffic. It’s also, in most cases, predictable – you know that every Monday after Thanksgiving, there will be a higher volume of Internet traffic. You know that the Super Bowl and March Madness will also have an impact. But do you know how much of an impact and how to prevent it from impacting application performance for those workers who are actually working? Do you know what you will need to do to mitigate risks?
network management software

Alina's Soccer Team Takes the Championship

2007-12-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

Here's the scrapbook I made to celebrate Alina's Soccer Championship.

Make a slideshow!

Soccer Princess.

Alina in Cheetah Girl Video

2007-12-03T19:46:00.000-08:00

Alina is in the video coverage of Sabrina (Cheetah Girls) at Steiner Ranch elementary. Check it out at kvue.com.

Zara's 2nd Birthday Party

2007-12-02T19:33:00.001-08:00

Thank you to everyone for making Zara's 2nd birthday special.

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

Alina's Graduation Scrapbook

2007-12-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

Alina's preschool graduation.

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

More Digital Scrapbooking

2007-12-02T19:01:00.001-08:00

Ran across these really old pictures of Alina and her best friend when they were only 20 months old. too cute!

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

Digital Scrapbooking

2007-12-02T18:03:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to get some time to build a few digital scrapbooks to capture some of the exciting moments in our lives. Here's the first one I put together to chronicle Alina's first day of school.

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

Getting Ready for the Holidays

2007-11-18T13:31:00.001-08:00

Shot some beautiful photos of the girls in their holiday finest. Check

them

out.

The B2B Lead - My New Blog

2007-11-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

Check out my new B2B Marketing blog.

Disneyworld 2007

2007-10-02T19:14:00.000-07:00

Just returned from one heck of a trip to Disneyworld with the extended family. Lots of ups and downs, but overall a real blast. Here is the evidence:

Disneyworld07

Fall 2007 Update

2007-09-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

With a new school year, new teachers and a new curriculum, the girls are flourishing. I can't believe the progress they are already making. Zara has begun to use more and more words, and multi-word sentences. She is also more confident and happy.

Alina is making outstanding progress on reading and can now quickly sound out words and write letters if we spell the words out loud to her. We are packing today to head to Disneyworld.

There should be many new photos upon our return. In the mean time, here are a few to hold you over:

Photos of Zara Before Adoption

2007-09-11T11:29:00.001-07:00

We were so blessed to have been given these beautiful photos of Zara. They were taken each month over the course of her first year of life by the organization that facilitates foster programs in Changsha. She's such a beauty.

ZaraBefore

Back to School

2007-08-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

Alina started kindergarten last week. She absolutely loves it! Zara is also growing up quickly too. Here's a shot of her with the older girls.

Summer 07 Updates

2007-07-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy summer of traveling, recitals, graduations and parties. Rescuing and fostering dogs has also kept us busy. Alina also attended an awesome Harry Potter party where she won a special edition of the book by guessing the number of beans in a jar. Photos below.

Zara is really growing and changing. She now says words like Mine, Shoe, Boo, ByeBye, Toe, Tea, etc. And, of course, her favorite word "NO!!" She also likes to sing. She's quite feisty right now and entering the terrible twos but I can tell she has attached fully and is doing really well in her new life.

I just received a nice promotion to Senior Director of Marketing Communications and Paul is doing well in his new position. We were both in Anaheim this week and had to jump through a few hoops to make sure the girls were taken care of during the transition. Thank God for Mom.

It has also been a Summer of sickness thanks to the constant rainfall that we've been experiencing. I cannot imagine what it must be like to live in Seattle! I'm the latest to come down with this week's nasty virus. Here's hoping that the rain clears up and we all get well so that we can enjoy what's left of the summer before Alina starts Kindergarten at the end of August.

Aly and AJ Concert

2007-07-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

Alina had an absolute blast at the Aly and AJ/Corbin Bleu concert last night. She even got to meet Aly and AJ as a friend of mine scored back stage access!!

Summer Highlights

2007-07-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

Here are a few cute shots from the Summer including Zara as a surfer girl at the Texas coast.

Alina Graduates!!

2007-05-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

Alina graduated from Pre-K last week. She'll start Kindergarten in August. This Summer will be full of fun and learning with Swim lessons, Gymnastics and Dance. She'll be part of the cast of Cats at the Performing Arts center this summer. Check out her beautiful photos from graduation. Here's she's pictured with her BFF Samantha R.

Graduation

Precious Little Fairy Princess

2007-05-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

A dear friend and co-worker of mine painted this wonderful portrait of Zara. Hope you enjoy.

Austin Photographer Blog - Pictures of Alina

2007-05-22T19:39:00.000-07:00

Local Austin Photographer and friend Jennifer Sparks Harriman has featured a beautiful shot of Alina on her web site. Check out this beauty.

Beach Babies

2007-05-01T19:55:00.001-07:00

Zara and Alina had the best time in Sarasota this last weekend. Zara's first trip to the beach and first time in the pool were terrific. She truly had a blast. Check out the photos.

beach07

Zara's Christening

2007-04-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

We attended a beautiful service this morning at Unity Church of the Hills. The music was exceptionally uplifting this Sunday and we were all so happy to be together as a family. After the service we went to the small chapel where they held Zara's christening. It was wonderful. Enjoy the photos.

Christen

Alina's Birthday Weekend

2007-04-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a whirlwind of a weekend. First Alina's 5th birthday party followed by a smaller slumber party. Then, a big Easter egg hunt. We also stopped to take a few bluebonnet photos. Enjoy the web album.

Bluebonnets and Easter Eggs

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S

It's Virtual Daddy!

2007-03-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

Paul's recent short notice trip to Singapore (following on the heels of the week in Switzerland) has prompted me to investigate the Giraffe Video conferencing gadget at http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/07/giraffe-video-conferencing-robot-to-weird-employees-out/. The applications are amusing.

Virtual Daddy

Zara Playing in the Park

2007-03-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a recent shot of Zara having fun at the park.

Recent Shots

Zara's First Words

2007-03-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been 3 months since we returned from China and Zara is adjusting to her new life beautifully. She wants to be just like everyone else in the family and mimics everything we do and say with precision. However, the only English she utters consistently with the exception of "Mamamamamamama" is "uh-oh." I can truly tell she understands the meaning of the word. Too cute.

At Last - An Update

2007-03-04T18:59:00.000-08:00

Things have been insanely busy as we settle into normal life. But, we're having lots of fun and Zara is doing so well. She's healthy and the happiest toddler I've ever met. You can see in our new photo album that she's always smiling.

BackintheUSA

We could not be luckier.

Making Plans for Chinese New Year

2007-02-05T12:37:00.000-08:00

Things have gone so well since we returned from China with our new baby girl. I'm pleased to report that the whole family is adjusting well to the changes in our lives. Zara is doing beautifully. She has attached to both Paul and me. And I can tell that she thinks her big sister is the best. Both girls are now attending the Children's Center in Steiner Ranch and LOVE it!

We are making plans to celebrate Chinese New Year next week. Just got back from the MT Supermarket, Austin's first large Asian grocery store, with banners, ingredients for Chinese New Year cake, red envelopes for gifts and a large golden pig full of candy.

When we returned home and opened our mail we found a wonderful envelope full of photos of Zara beginning at 3 months of age. Apparently Families Through International Adoption, the organization that makes foster care possible in China, carefully monitors the kiddos in foster care and takes a photo of them each month. I am going to start donating to this wonderful cause as they are expanding their foster care program and I would like to make this available to as many children as possible. It's such a wonderful cause.

I'm also reading the wonderful book The Lost Daughters of China: Abandoned Girls, Their Journey to America, and the Search for a Missing Past. I really connected with the author. The similarities in our experience were amazing and she writes of all the same concerns. I find myself crying often while reading the book.

Make sure you take a look at our wonderful new portraits of the girls.

We're Back!!!!!

2007-01-02T06:19:00.000-08:00

We're back and adjusting to the vicious effects of jet lag. We're also stocking up on essentials, organizing and trying to ensure Zara is interacting well with all of our dogs. Our plans for blogging throughout the journey were disrupted by busy kiddos, the fact that Google Blogger would only display controls in Chinese, and a very bad earthquake in Taiwan that sent China back to the pre-Internet days.

So, with a backlog of about 1000 photos, I am taking a different approach - Google Picassa. Please feel free to visit the photo journal by using the link at the top left of the blog. I will add captions during the hours that I am awake and alone each night.

Happiest Baby in the World

2006-12-17T23:55:00.001-08:00

And the parents are pretty thrilled too. I swear I've never met a happier baby. Not one tear has been cried in a very stressful day. Zara is beautiful, healthy, and full of giggles. We are so blessed and happy that she isn't traumatized. You should hear the hallways at the hotel. Definitely a different story. Here's hoping she'll remain such a happy little darling.

The trip to Civil Affairs was a real no-brainer. We met in the lobby, boarded a green bus, and 20 minutes later we stepped off the bus. Next we took an elevator to the 3rd floor of a government building and within 5 minutes we met Zara or Zara Noelle Lanxin M. She was wearing Santa pants!!! (pictures in the Travel Journal section of the blog).

Alina is so happy. She's been very affectionate, sisterly and protective. She's a huge help. When we returned to the hotel they were cleaning our room so we headed straight for the playroom (pictures in the Travel Journal section of the blog).

Well, that's it for now. Lots of site seeing, shopping at WalMart (War-Mart) and other fun things to come as we wait for Zara's passport to be processed. Then we head to the famous White Swan hotel in Ghuanzhou for Christmas. Happy Holidays everyone!!

Good Morning Changsha!

2006-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Changsha is really amazing. Its enormous. We're on the 33rd floor of the hotel so all you can see out of the window is on on sea of buildings. We are enoying extremely diverse breakfasts with a combination of Chinese, Japanese and American cuisine. Alina's favorite steamed pork buns are everywhere so she is eating well and enjoying herself. We keep waking up around 4 am but managed to go back to sleep this morning until 7 am. I think we are almost over the jet lag just in time to meet Zara tomorrow.

2006-12-11T08:56:00.001-08:00

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Need a Little Christmas, Right This Very Minute!

2006-12-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

How is it that everytime I make it to services at the Unity Church of the Hills they always seem to know exactly what I'm struggling with? This Sunday's service covered worry. Imagine that! I've worked myself into a frenzy with worry and anxiety over this trip to China. Ron also spoke of how Christmas and the love of family and friends can help resolve worries.

The service and the meditation definitely calmed my nerves. And it gave me a few tools to use in dealing with worry in the future. The big suggestion? Write down all of your worries on the left side of the paper and then on the right side list a series of responses and then put the paper away. Ron claims this allows you to put aside the worries. Then later on, go back and check on the paper to see how all of the issues you stewed over had resolved themselves. I'm going to give this a try. Will report on my results in a few weeks.

Our Itinerary - Holiday Travels in China

2006-12-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here's our family's itinerary for the trip to China. I did a little research today and it looks like the hotels will be very nice. Even found a photo of Santa Clause in the Dolton Hotel in Changsha. Check out the pix on my photo portfolio at ......

12/14 Austin/Chicago UA6908 Lv. 640A, Ar. 913A
12/14 Chicago/Hong Kong UA829 Lv. 1008A, Ar. 350P on 12/15
12/16 Hong Kong/Changsha KA720 Lv. 215P, Ar. 340P
12/30 Hong Kong/Chicago UA896 Lv. 1135A, Ar. 1143A
12/30 Chicago/Austin UA7759 Lv. 300P, Ar. 547P

Xie Xie to My Team at NetQoS

2006-12-09T09:17:00.000-08:00

My lovely team at NetQoS threw the most amazing shower today. These guys are incredibly creative. They decorated the office in an Asian motif -- it was really beautiful--and served pink cupcakes and brownies.

I thought I was a seasoned shopper but these guys managed to find gifts that I've never seen before like a red and white onesie that said "Smart" in both Chinese and English. They also found a black t-shirt that says "Elmo is My Homeboy." I might have to go the Polkadot Whale and pick up "Word to Big Bird" for Alina. The piece de resistance (I have no idea if i spelled that correctly) was a large tiered diaper cake with red ribbons and a Panda bear on top. Plus they gave me all sorts of cute little clothes, blankets and socks.Zara will love them.

They also managed to find My Mei Mei (little sister)- a cute little book I read to Alina last night.

What a creative, fun group of people. I'll miss their stories and humor while I'm in China.

Packing, Painting and Preparing

2006-12-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

Alina, Paul and I spent the weekend preparing for our trip. We crammed 16 days worth of clothing and medicine for 4 of us in 2 large bags that could not exceed 44 lbs.

While Paul was away collecting the final items for our packing list, Alina and I painted a welcome home Zara banner for when we return from China. We hung it on the room that Alina and Zara will share.

Next, it was baking cookies, candies and other treats for the Lil' Paws bake sales next week. Medical care for the doggies we take in is expensive so we have to host bakes sales, wrap gifts and otherwise fund raise to pay for the surgeries. Alina said she wanted to bake LOTS of cookies so that we could raise LOTS of money for the puppies. I agree.

Then I read a wonderful new book to Alina to prepare her for the new addition to the family. We baby sat a 15 month old last night and I saw that she was a bit jealous. The book offered a really touching explanation that love is infinite and will never run out. Hopefully it will help her understand that we have enough love for her and Zara and a houseful of dogs. The book is called That's How Love is by Joan Howes with pictures by Charles Shaw ISBN 0-938349-62-7. Paul picked it up at our the Unity Church bookstore.

Time to go back to Target yet again for more items. This time a booster seat for Alina.

Chasing the Sun

2006-12-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

As I write this first journal entry, Paul and I are busily preparing to travel to China to meet our daughter Zara. Alina and her Nana (my Mom) will also be traveling with us. Nothing can describe how anxious I am to get that travel approval. I cannot wait to meet Zara face-to-face. We received the news that Zara was matched to our family on 11/2/06. Many other families who were also matched that day have posted the news that they have received their Travel Approval but we are still waiting. But, then again, we've been waiting for more than 2 years now. While we wait, I read and search for more answers on how to make this transition easier for Zara.

Easing the Long Wait

2006-11-29T12:13:00.000-08:00

There's only one thing that can help ease the pain of waiting for your adopted baby - a baby. My big girl Alina would be mortified to hear that I might possibly think of her as a baby, so I had to get creative.

Fortunately, I have a house full of babies thanks to Lil' Paws Maltese rescue http://www.lilpaws-malteserescue.org/, an organization that I have become involved with lately. My favorite is Boo, our 12 year old little Chihauhua/Poodle mix. She's only 5 pounds and loves to have her tummy rubbed. She will just sleep in my arms all day long. Definitely the baby fix I needed to keep my sanity. We also permanently adopted Maybelle and Junebug, twins who are a mix of Shi Tzu and some sort of Terrier. Must've been a Jack Russell Terrier because these girls can jump 4 feet vertically. They remind me of Tigger. Thanks Lil' Paws.

2006-11-29T11:53:00.000-08:00