The Web-based photo software powering this site (Gallery2 v. 2.3) has a PicLens plugin for showing slideshows.  However, PicLens has been replaced by the much fancier Cooliris, which works with this site as well as tons of other blogs and some commercial sites (like Flickr and Hulu).  It is available as a free plugin for Firefox (which you should be using to browse the Web) and Internet Explorer (which you shouldn’t).  It is super slick, so I recommend installing it before exploring the galleries here.  It’s also just fun to play with.

Click to download Cooliris.

Soon, Sam and Mari will be replaced as the, er, “top dogs.”  But for now they are wonderfully spoiled pups who get walks through the Arnold Arboretum at least every week.  The Arboretum is absolutely beautiful any time of the year, but perhaps never more so than after a snowfall.  An opinion I think the dogs share.

Here’s some pictures of them frolicking in the snow.

Click to an image go to the full gallery.

Well, our due date is today, and the text messages have started coming in…as of now (6:30 pm) there’s no signs that Roszlynn’s arrival is imminent.  When she does come, I’ll post something here and, of course, there will be email and phone message chains in place to notify everyone.

Still, there is a palpable exitement today!  I feel as thought it could happen any second!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Below is video I shot of the 2nd annual Brookline dog park Christmas party.  Enjoy!

(Double-click the video once it’s playing for fullscreen)

So, here it is, the first post.

I am now using the hosted version of WordPress, so I shouldn’t have to worry about keeping it upgraded and secure.  I hope that’s true, because last time I got hacked and then flagged as an attack-ware site by Google.

What is this site?  This is the home page of The Akula Family, James branch.  It is the site where I can talk about all the things I love (see, where “I’m” in ecstasy). We are expecting our first child any day now (official due date: December 27!) and I thought this would be a good place to communicate with friends and family.  However, I’m not big on putting my information up on any of those social networking sites with dubious privacy policies, so I’m going to be hosting my own site.  That means that lots of these posts will be public, but those that contain private information will be locked only to those members with appropriate privilages.  That’s what I’ll be working on getting up-and-running next.  Anyway, there’s not much here yet, but we’ve got a digital camera and a camcorder, so I’m sure the content will come pouring in soon (just, hopefully, not too soon).