Hal Stern's thoughts on the economy, software, services, technology, and snowmen. Hal Stern: The Morning Snowman

Ran into Sun's very own MaryMary in New York during our launch event on September 21, and found her enthusiasm infectious.

Have fielded half a dozen calls from our PR folks, wanting to know what I'm thinking about these days, and I didn't have a single URL to email back. Until now.

The single biggest reason, though, is because the " Jeff Halpern Story" isn't written yet. Google away, and you'll find he's a Jewish guy who went to Princeton and plays for the NHL's Washington Capitals. Three years ago, I lamented the lack of any ice hockey books in the (rather thin) sports sections of the annual Jewish book fairs -- you'll find Moe Berg, Hank Greenberg and even Shawn Green representing the nation's pastime -- but nothing that might even involve cold weather. My wife, Toby, challenged me three years ago (jokingly, of course) to write the first book in the genre -- perhaps allocating my own Dewey Decimal System number -- as soon as I finished the 2nd edition of "Blueprints for High Availability".

The HA book has been off the presses for over a year.

I've been keeping notes, scribbling ideas, and outlining the "hockey book" for over two years. Jeff Halpern figures into it, briefly, and it will be 90% based on real experiences I've had on the rinks and that my son has had playing travel ice hockey. It will be funny. It will have locker room humor. I want my own cameo in the movie adaptation, probably as a Zamboni driver -- kill two fantasy birds with one stone.

But it has to get written, and writing is a skill that requires practice. So I'm blogging to remember what it's like to turn out ideas for public consumption on a regular schedule. Adding to the morning routine of vitamins, asthma medicine and my first eBay fix of the day, I'm going to write.