Pink Asparagus

Tomorrow is my last day at Wire One Communications, formerly V-Span, formerly Peer Digital, formerly 1800-Video-On. (Our Senior VP just reminded me that our URI was one800videoon.com, blech.) I’ve accepted a position at InComm beginning Monday, October 2. For those of you temporally challenged, I’m taking two days off between jobs.

I’ve been here, well not really here because we’ve moved buildings, for nearly six years. I’ve done this longer than any other one thing in my life. I got married while working here, bought a house, had kids, bought another house. I’ve also made some wonderful friends.

And that’s what I will miss the most. These smart, smart people.

I started at 1800-Video-On as a Junior Database Administrator. I’m leaving as a Database Architect, walking into a Senior DBA position. When I resigned my manager said the best thing you can do for your staff is to make them good enough that they can go on to other things. The people here have done that for me. They’ve all made me better at what I do. I can’t imagine working with a more talented group of developers and systems people. But it’s time for me to go.

Elliot is three today. Three years ago right now I was in a hospital room, happily enjoying an epidural. Many hours later the decision to have a c-section was made and Elliot was born at 10:31 PM. He was perfect.

Now he’s a kid. Not just any kid, a big kid – or so he tells me. He plays soccer, has friends, has sleep-overs. He’s a great big brother. He’s great all the way around. And so much fun. I used to think that 15-months was my favorite age, but three-years-old is fun! And opinionated. And non-stop.

Elliot and I were on our way to the store Friday evening, and we had this exchange:

E: if I am a good boy, you will buy me a whoa?

me: a whoa?

E: Yeah! a whoa!We’ll have to check that they have a whoa first.

me: What’s a whoa?

E: Whoa is Ramone’s friend.

me: oh, Flo!

E: Yeah, whoa.

We took our first vacation since Audrey was born over Labor Day weekend. We spent three days in Colorado Springs being good tourists and consumers. On the first day we went to Cave of the Winds and rode the Royal Gorge Train. The second day we went to Garden of the Gods, took a nap and attended the Balloon Festival Glow. On the third, and final, day we went to a dinosaur museum and took a drive through the mountains.

The kids were great. They were as well behaved as we could expect for such a big change. It’s difficult to express what a wonderful time we had. Breakfast was great fun because there was so much to choose from; you want yogurt AND waffles? Okay. You want yogurt AND cereal? Okay. Elliot couldn’t believe his luck. Cave of the Winds was fun, but not being allowed to run/jump/touch made it a little boring to the preschool set. The train ride was fun, no one had to be put in time out. Climbing rocks was fun, no one got hurt (although Elliot did take a digger while running and chipped a tooth). We all got lots of sleep, but that’s what happens when everyone sleeps in the same room and half the residents have an 8pm bedtime.

Even George had a good weekend. Not only was he not being chased by two fast moving humans that LOVE him, he was living large at the Cheshire Cat Hospital. Never has he come from from being boarded looking so… relaxed.

Don’t believe me about the fun? Of course, I have proof. Peter posted about it too.