Last day thoughts

I got several compliments on my departure email, so I thought I'd share it with the rest of my blog readers (certain stuff left out due to Garmin corp policy)

It seems like such a short time ago I started at Garmin. There were six developers, four analysts, one data architect, and their manager all in the 2nd floor of the old building. It wasn't the IT of a multi-billion dollar company on a shoestring – it was on a thread. As I leave, I see an IT organization that has grown in size and capability that would have astounded the one I was part of four years ago.

I would like to thank the following people for my time here at Garmin.

Bert Pappas: without whom I wouldn't have known there was an IT developer opening which turned into a tech lead which turned into a system architect which turned into an opportunity to pursue a dream
...
Dr. Min Kao: for founding a company that has allowed me to expand my career and personal growth. I remember meeting Dr. Kao in the elevator during my orientation and thinking 'huh, he's just like another engineer - wow!' You don't meet many genuinely humble and human CEOs of billion-dollar corporation.

There are so many wonderful people I'll be leaving and so many memories I take with me that I can't thank everyone enough. If you make it out to Santa Monica, please drop me an email, text, or phone call.

Best regards and warmest wishes on everyone's future endeavors,

Happy Birthday Josie!

Today is Josie's fifth birthday - Party on Princess!

Party time

Our farewell event has been posted on FB - if you're not on our FB friends list - you should be - this should be much fun.

Great things are afoot!

That is one of my favorite lines from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Slartibartfast is telling Arthur Dent that machinations he barely comprehends are underway.

This may be one of those times.

As some of you may know, I have worked in the KC IT industry for quite some time. It has been interesting and at times even fun and rewarding. I cannot complain about the more than fair wages I have been paid or for any of the wonderful people that have tolerated my employment.

A few years ago, Janet and I made our first trip to LA. This was work-related, but we met some great folks out there and got our first taste of the West Coast together. Janet and I went out and got another taste. Then we took our kids out and all tasted it together. We had an awesome time in what I consider to be one of the best cities on earth.

At some point during our last trip I made myself this bargain. I would work ten-hour days if at the end of each day I could come to the beach and just chill out for one hour. To say the least I had fallen in a stupor with west side living. However, the only companies on that side of town were Google, to which I hadn't the courage to apply, and a whole bunch of studios that weren't hiring. I wasn't going to move out to LA to spend two hours per day in traffic to work at a bank/insurance company/government agency and on top of all of that wages were down due to the recession so it looked like LA would just be a vacation spot in the near future.

Then time passed.

As luck would have it a company on the west side was hiring recently. I applied, interviewed, and after a few rounds of negotiations we came to an agreement. They would move me and my family to LA and I would work for them for them. I have high hopes that this is the right thing to do - to move to someplace that I want to live the rest of my life for a new company that seems like a very good fit for me. I hope this works out well and that I can keep up with LA.

It is not without trepidation that I leave this fair city and region that has been my home for my entire life and has shaped my person. I will miss being close to my family, friends, and local online community. There are too many to list in this one post, but if you're reading this, then you're probably one of them.

June 6 is my start date. I've called my family and turned in my notice at work. I'll blog about my new circumstances and the incredibly stressful time that will be the new job, moving, family transition, social adaptation, and a huge urban landscape.

So long, and thanks for all of the fish Kansas City. I'll come back from time-to-time.