What would you say it is you do here?

The new product that I am working on, Sendhub, has been something that hasn't been trivial to explain. But now that I've been down here for a nearly two months, I think I can do a better job than before.

Sendhub is about creating a better way for professionals (and other consumers) communicate. We allow you to add a second line to your cellphone for two way voice calls and texting. The idea is to allow people to keep their work life separate from their personal life but only need to carry one device to do your communicating. For standard consumers, this means getting a second number on your cellphone in any area code (currently US only) so you can have a phone number in your home town and stay in touch without incurring nasty long distance charges.

The next main use case of the application is to allow organizations to communicate more effectively with members/users. Sendhub makes it super easy to send messages to large groups and because of the decreasing relevance of email, texting has become a key way to reach many people with urgent messages. This could be a hockey team texting parents or players when the next game is during a tournament (or where the team dinner is). Another example is school teachers texting a Math 12 group to remind the members that there is a calculus exam coming up.

The product is every evolving and improving as we hope to move into new countries in the coming year, add more collaboration, enterprise features. I'm really excited to move this thing forward.

I know this sounds like a sales pitch but this company is really excited about building a product that people love to use and ultimately to help make peoples lives easier. The company is blowing up, we're sending more and messages and adding users at a rate that is making us all really excited. The next year should be quite a ride.

Natty Light

Prior to this new job, in my ten years working as a professional, I have had natural light at my desk for a grand total of about four months. This sunlight thing is pretty sweet.

A week and a day

There is a certain amount of excitement and trepidation that comes with starting a new job and this past week has had good sized helpings of both but I'm happy to report that after a week and a day at SendHub, I am very very pleased with my decision to make this move. And that is even accounting for a day that included both rain and Justin Bieber on the Sonos. It was the only day of rain since I have been down here so I'm ok with that but the Justin Bieber must stop :)

My first day at Sendhub - That's me near the window on the right.

One of the funniest things about my introduction at the new job is that I am the oldest person in the company. I'm NEVER the oldest person at anything. In fact, almost without exception, I am usually the youngest person. So, it made for a hilarious role reversal when the nick "grampa" got added to my name on the seating chart on the wall. "You've got to be kidding me."

Working in a company with this kind of drive is infectious. Nine or ten hour days just fly by right now. I know it's early but it really seems to be a product of the energy in the room and not just the newness of the situation.

SendHub itself is still very fledgeling and I was fortunate to have joined just in time for our kick-off team getaway to Lake Tahoe. What better way to be introduced to and get to know your team than by spending it on one of the most beautiful spots in the US.  We spent the weekend getting to know each other better, wakeboarding (uh schucks... yea, i guess i can try this wakeboarding thing), lounging at the beach, and hitting the casinos across the border in the Nevada. Oh yea, and we did actually have some work to do. Without a doubt, the work part was the highlight of the weekend for me as it really helped me see how open and dedicated to success everyone at this company is.

Tahoe is beautiful

Great eats

Reading on the beach

Enthusiasm is infectious and there is enough to go around at this company. Here's hoping that this trend can continue. 

In which i am sad

Andrina left for home today so I'm on my own for the next few months (with the exception of a few weekends here and there). I know this new few months is going to be insanely tough but I can always look back on gems like this:




Miss you AB.

Moons Over My Hammy

We have arrived in Redwood City and am partially moved into my new place! I have a couple of pieces of furniture which will be delivered later this week and then the move will be complete. The last couple of days have not been without trial though. The transmission in my truck did indeed take a dump about 30 miles north of Eureka, CA. General Motors had me towed to the nearest dealership, Opie's,  in McKinleyville. I still don't have a firm ETA on the completion of my truck but it won't be until next week. 

Hanging out in McKinleyville was not a Paleo dream. At the Holiday Inn Express, the eggs were expressly made from a box. Our best option was the local Denny's. Yikes.

As a result of my truck blowing up, we rented a minivan and loaded it up with stuff for the remainder of the drive. 

Sweet Minivan

It appears to be always foggy on the bridge

Arrival!

Who needs a truck?

The Ice Cream Man arrived shortly after us

Six hours later and we arrived at my new place, a little worse for wear but we're here.

A Tale of Two Cities

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

Andrina's birthday breakfast in Portland started out fantastically. We went to the Gravy as recommended by the author of the MeatEats. I had the house favorite, Corned Beef Hash and Andrina had a custom scramble that was to die for. The restaurant itself is very homey feeling and I'm so pleased we came across it.

Corned Beef Blast!

The weather in Portland was rainy and gloomy (little did we know this was foreshadowing our day to come). As a result of the wet weather we hit the road early, intent on getting to Eureka, California in the evening to have a nice dinner and enjoy the remainder of Andrina's birthday.

The line-up and the rain negated us cheating on our diet this morning at Voodoo Donuts

The drive along the coast was quite beautiful as expected with the glaring exception that it would appear that people from the state of Oregon have no drivers ed. Or none of them were schooled in the art of driving. I swear that most Albertans drive better.

The license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror

Everything was going right according to plan. We got our requisite photos high above the Pacific coast line, we stopped in the Redwood forest, we even got to see the solar eclipse.

All was well. Until it wasn't well. Just about 33 miles (ask me about this distance later) north of Eureka, well, pictures are worth a thousand words.

It was the worst of times...

Everyone is ok but my truck is not behaving like the good truck it is. It would appear to the accountant and the computer nerd driving that the transmission broke. So, take that with a grain of salt.  Four hours later, we're settled into a hotel in McKinleyville and finally having Andrina's birthday wine (which by the way was $9...would be >$20 in Kamloops).

It was the best of times...

We should have some more details tomorrow.

Portlandia

The drive from Kamloops to Portland in the world of long drives is a short 750Km (approx) but the combination of having driven the Coquihalla about a million times, the I-5 being the least interesting highway in the western world, and half a dozen tequilas the night before made for a long day one on our drive to SF.

This amazing shot is rendered less amazing having seen it thousands of times

It was, however, successful and without incident including at the border.  We left fairly early on Saturday as in my infinite wisdom have planned on moving south on a long weekend. However, the Sumas border crossing at noonish had a mere 20 minute lineup. They always surprise me at Sumas. For all the bad press that the Department of Homeland Security and the CBP get, they have always been really pleasant to us at the Sumas crossing. This was no expection. We were in and out within an hour of arriving in line and had zero hassle getting my TN visa. I would suggest that this is in no small part to having carefully researched what they needed and had everything ready in triplicate. Andrina thinks it's because of her nerdy glasses.

TN'ed

A TN celebration on our lunch break

Nerd Travelling

Arrived in Portland in time to go out for beers and a bite at Deschuttes Brewery where we tasted the most shockingly good gluten free beer. It's not yet listed on the website as we were told it's on iteration number 47 and they are still working towards a final version. The pints we had suggested they are close. No bottles available yet; only in growlers for take home. They also have great gluten free service. They put a blue elastic band around the pints of the gluten free beer which serves to remind the wait staff to offer you gluten free options. It kinda feels like the scarlet letter a bit but the reality is we found an entire gluten free menu as a result. Kudos to Deschuttes for making cheating on our Paleo lifestyle a little less like cheating.

The delicious GF beer with the blue band the sampler that followed

I thought there was lots of girls around

If you're ever staying in Portland and you leave booking a hotel to the last minute and can't get in to the kitchy places downtown that you want then I recommend the Silver Cloud. The rooms are super clean and actually quite well appointed with a nice sittting area, little fridge, microwave, etc. It's reasonably priced and there are bus stops directly outside the hotel with regular service to downtown. For $4 we roundtripped to downtown for dinner. Andrina found the beds a little soft for her liking but I slept like a champ.

Ok, we're off to try Gravy for breakfast which appears to be a Paleo friendly favorite here in Portland. Then six or so hours of driving and we'll be into California and be celebrating Andrina's birthday tonight.

Later!