Dave Dash

You can't go home again: A year in the Bay Area

2008-11-07T00:00:00-08:00

Yesterday as I left work it dawned on me that I had been in the San Francisco Bay Area for a year. It is one of the most drastic changes in my life since going to college.

I remember announcing to my family that Katie and I were moving to the Bay Area as I had accepted a job at Yahoo! working on one of my favorite web sites, Delicious.

The decision to move, the actual move itself, the settling in period, exploring the area, meeting friends new and old... it was all an adventure. The question everyone asks is how's california... it's awesome... even after a year.

We've successfully unanchored from our house and life in Minneapolis
Took the kitties on a plane ride and had them live in 4 different places in 3 days.
Took up a position working on Delicious and helped launch the new version of the site.
Had our car shipped across country
Had movers move all our stuff for us
Moved on up to a more spacious living arrangement that has rent that costs more than our mortgage.
We're a short distance a Costco, Target, restaurants and the middle of a small town
Reconnected with friends from High School, College, Minneapolis and met new friends...
3 of our friends (2 are a couple) live a block away.
We run into people we know
We got sucked into Veronica Mars, Buffy and Angel
Bike to work regularly... otherwise shuttle... rarely drive.
Learned python
Saw some pretty trees at Sequoia National Park
Went to Apple Hill
Saw Mos Def
We can't go home again...

We've been to Minnesota three times, and each time it feels less and less like home. The home I grew up in is alien, the house we own isn't our home. Stores open, stores close. Minneapolis has changed and we've changed. It still holds a special place in our heart.

enjoy...

California FAQ

2007-10-17T00:00:00-07:00

Katie and I are "officially" moving to California. A lot of people have been asking questions about this, so I'll try to create a FAQ:

Why are you moving?

Short answer:: I got a job at Yahoo!/Delicious
Long answer:: I work on the symfony project a framework that makes building quality web sites easier. I will be contributing to this project in a way that is beneficial to Yahoo!. Furthermore, Katie and I are looking for an adventure. Moving out of our home in Minneapolis and into a new part of the country will be a big adjustment for us.

Where in California are you moving?

We are moving to the San Francisco Bay area. We will find a place when we arrive. We will likely be in Mountain View or if we can find some place affordable, the City of San Francisco.

When are you moving?

We are moving in early November. I start my job in mid-November.

That's really soon?

Yes! I know!

What will you do with your house?

We own a duplex, we'll rent out the half we live in. We're also finishing up our attic as I type. Initially our good friends Marc and Sadie will live here.

What about your cats?

We are not sure. They will eventually join us in California, but we are not sure if they will come with us right away in November, or later.

You're going to have a going away party?

Of course, just email me

What about your car/bikes?

Car is being shipped to CA. We bike a lot and intend to do so in California, so we'll be moving our bikes as well.

Are you excited?

Yes.

What is Katie going to do?

We will be getting an apartment that has a pool. I can only imagine she will spend her days making daiquiris sitting by the pool.

Flat means you're walking home ;)

2007-05-11T00:00:00-07:00

[tags]flat, biking[/tags]

I used to/still have a cavalier attitude toward flats. I figured when/if I get one, I'll lockup and bus home, or walk.

Yesterday, in 80+ degree heat, I chose walk... I went a mile to the Dunn Bros coffee shop cooled down and went a mile to get home.

Despite better judgement I fixed my flat when I got home in my very warm garage. With the right tools fixing a flat is easy, but the pouch I carry... is missing a lot... namely a wrench to undo the wheels and a pump.

Here's a tip for flats:

Place the nipple for your tube in the middle of the "INFLATE TO x-y PSI" this can be a frame of reference to find out where your tire was penetrated. Once I found the leak on the tube (conveniently on the opposite side of the tube from the nipple), I found on my tire some tiny orange glass or plastic that had sliced into my tire.

We'll see how well my patching is. Time to buy me a wrench and a pump ;)

Minneapolis Cable Internet for less than Comcast charges ;)

2007-04-10T00:00:00-07:00

You can signup for Earthlink which uses comcast of $30/mo for 6 months $45/mo after... and you get 7000 miles from NWA.

Take that Comcast!

My bike was stolen

2006-07-17T00:00:00-07:00

Details are on Metroblogging

Why am I never the corrupted one?

1998-12-26T00:00:00-08:00

Quantum transportation is neat. I think it will have a good impact on Quantum Computing. I'll give you some links on Quantum computing later, I have a few somewhere.

Don't look at the TV form more than a few seconds. It will pull you in. Turn it off.

What would happen if we killed the laugh track? Television would have to be funny on its own. Note that except in mockery, cartoons never use a laugh track. They stand funny on their own. Sitcoms rely on the laughtrack to goad you into laughing and then thinking that the show makes you laugh so it must be good and must be watched again. It's a catalyst for sitcoms. It's very deceptive and clever of the TV people.

I saw Prince of Egypt. It was fairly interesting. It connected the few Moses stories I knew together and took less time than actually reading Exodus. The animation is of a high level as well.

I saw Su' today. Su' is back, and I am happy. Unfortunately she leaves Sunday, but I will see her tomorrow at the wedding pre-reception (preception) that I am attending.

War

1998-12-16T00:00:00-08:00

War. I have an aversion to war and this war. It would be nice if we could do something besides a war, like a tactical mission. Take over it's power centers without loosing too many people. The war will do. I do not believe this war has anything to do with the impeachment. The war would have happened anyway. I believe that we are going to war for the right reasons: so the weapons aren't in the hands of the bad people. In our case the bad people is Iraq. They are a threat to us. It's foolish to think that no country will have nuclear weapons. It isn't, however, foolish to think that the countries that do have them will not use them. If going to war means lowering the chance of a nuclear conflict, then let us go to war.

I wish people would shut up about Ramadan. It doesn't matter that the war may go into Ramadan. Ramadan is a month long fasting for Muslims. It teaches them to give up things or restraint. Basically you go the day without water and food, and at night you can eat and drink (although not in excess to make up for the lack of food, this would defeat the purpose). If Iraqi soldiers are mostly Muslim we may think that we are fighting a bunch of thirsty, hungry people. I have been told, however, that Islam is an understanding religion. It is absurd to risk your life in order to follow a rule so strictly, so exceptions can be made. I, however, do not really think the religious details mean that much. We are going to war. We will fight whenever we feel like. The fact that it is Ramadan, may make it easier for us. That's too bad. What if we went to war against a primarily Jewish state like New York... err Israel. Would we have ethical questions about fighting on Shabaat? I mean, the Jews can't use technology during Shabaat.

So, now that we are plunged into war, we should make it fast. We need not lose lives or inanimate resources over Iraq and its transgressions. After the war, we will install whatever government we please. The best idea would be to create a satellite government in Iraq. That, however, is unlikely. We should be conquerers, not destroyers.

Lobster Night

1998-10-06T00:00:00-07:00

Oh my.. Lobster night at UIUC. Most of the residence halls server Lobster. It was mildly incredible. I didn't eat any because lobster looks disgusting and I don't like sea food too much. Some people went a little overboard. One person was about to eat ten lobsters. For some reason all seafood disgusts me. No wonder why the Jews don't eat most sea food. They secretly want me on their team.

Day 11 No Molly

1998-08-07T00:00:00-07:00

Since many of you are going to college soon, you may need to arm yourself with this pieces of scripture:

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
-Mathew 6:5-6

This was on the KQ morning show. Some listener was complaining about football players who pray when they make a good play. I think it works well with the god people on campus.

Today I got a card stating that I've been accepted into the University of Illinois' First Year Impact program. Yay?

Actually, now I have a new NIC card and 128MB more memory... hmm that brings me to 192MB of Memory. 64MB was manageable, 128 is comfortable and 192 is luxury for me, but memory was cheap enough for me to go for this.

I broke one of our casarole dishes today. I don't know exactly how it fell, but it did. We have so many, I doubt my mom will notice.

I got a call from my roommate today. He seems really cool. He's bringing a TV/VCR and a play station. I don't require any of these things, but it's nice to know it's there. I guess we're getting a microwave/fridge. This is good... oh yeah, I can drink hot cocoa in the winter now... I can even steal food from the cafeteria!

It's my sister-in-law's birthday today. We took Kelly to Buca to eat. The food was very good. I don't think I'll eat for a while.