Archive for July, 2008

Cisco Systems and Pure Networks

July 24, 2008

Many of you have seen this already — Cisco Systems announced yesterday that they are acquiring us! As a few news analysts have mentioned already, it’s a great fit on both sides.

It is similar to a real estate transaction in process – documents are signed, and now it’s time to wait for legal close. Cisco is known far and wide for effective integration of acquired companies, so this should be a smooth process to get us all transitioned under. As the press release states, we’ll be staying in Seattle, and will be part of Linksys, a Division of Cisco, who I’ve had a great relationship working with in the past – so this should be easy personally, both for me and my team.

Full details can be found at: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2008/corp_072308.html

SAN JOSE, Calif. – July 23, 2008 – Cisco today announced its intent to purchase privately held Pure Networks, a Seattle-based leader in home networking-management software and tools. Pure Networks’ home networking-management solution allows users to easily set up and manage a home network and connect a range of devices, applications and services within a home.

Time For Some Campaigning

July 16, 2008

You might need to visit this post to view this…

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A Very Whidbey 4th

July 12, 2008

Over the 4th of July weekend, we decided to take a trip up to Whidbey Island, for a few reasons:

  1. It is close, only an hour or so away (including ferry time), so it was easy on my back for travel.
  2. Our friends Shannon and Damon have an amazing house they built on the Island – and by that, I mean built by hand: “hammer, hammer, saw, saw”. It was great to see them and spend time with them, and their new son, Griffin (and their dog, Ebey). They are great college friends, who we do not spend nearly enough time with.
  3. Because we stayed with them, I knew I could rest as much as my back needed to; taking breaks regularly to lay flat, etc… and not feeling obligated to do too much.
  4. We happen to just really like Whidbey Island – artsy, beautiful, friendly, and close.
  5. And of course, get Molly away from the loud bangs of illegal (and legal) fireworks.
  6. In particular, Greg and Clodagh had called out, on a past trip, the wonders of Double Bluff Beach’s off leash dog park on Whidbey – a few mile long open beach for off-leash access. We wanted to get Molly into the water again.
  7. I have been cooped up in the house for a while now – I was looking forward to just getting out of here for a weekend as I move back into working more.

It was just what we needed – it fit all of those goals above, and we are really super-appreciative of the Arndt’s for hosting us. Molly had a fantastic time too – she got to run around their property, go swimming, get lots of fun new treats, and just be one happy (and tired!) dog.

Pictures – click for larger ones as usual:

People:

 Joelle and Griffin Shannon making dessert Damon and Griffin

Dogs:

Molly at beach Ebey at beach Molly exploring

Arndt House:

Casa De Arndt's

Videos – might need to visit the actual blog post to view:

Office Play Date

July 12, 2008

Jeff, one of my co-workers at Pure Networks, along with his wife, Lisa, live around the corner from us. They adopted a dog, Dolce, just a little before we adopted Molly – in fact, it was them mentioning it that got us really thinking that it was time for a dog in our lives. Conveniently, they also found us the obedience class to take – also, just across the street. After we put in the fence, they’ve been coming over frequently to let the dogs run around, play, and, most importantly, get out lots of energy. Dolce definitely is the more aggressive one – Molly tends to lay down and just take whatever Dolce gives her… It has been very nice having them around – the dogs like each other a lot – another reason why putting this fence in has been a great decision for us.

Here’s a video of them playing – as usual, you might need to visit the actual blog article to see it.

Visitors around here

July 12, 2008

We were at a baby shower earlier today, and the conversation ended up talking about blogging, and I mentioned that there are ways to track where readers come from, along with a bunch of information about their environment (non-sketchily, by the way – most companies use Google Analytics, as do I). It got me thinking that I hadn’t look at locations of people in a while; easy enough – it’s tracked for free.

Here’s the US States that I have had people read http://www.averbuch.net (at least, since I switched from Spaces) from – darker is more readers:

states

And while we are at it – here’s Europe (there’s a few visitors from other continents as well, but not enough to warrant discussion):

europe

Gold Star For Recovery == Back to the office

July 11, 2008

I had my one month follow-up appointment with my neurosurgeon on Tuesday – got told again: “gold star for recovery” so far! They are very happy with my progress, and gave me clearance to start physical therapy, allowed to take baths/start walking in pools, increasing weight I can lift, doing a bit more, and increasing amount of time sitting. Still no dog-walking, vacuuming, dishes, lawn-mowing, or most laundry for another month or two though – too much strain when being pulled, turning, and bending over. I am so far 100% happy that I went through with the surgery – I am so much better off than I was with the back and leg pain from the get-go.

So all week, I have been working on the amount of time I can sit at once at a chair, while just getting up to walk around every 15 minutes or so, but avoiding major laying-down sessions (which always relieves the pain around the incision spot).

I’ve been able to improve quite a bit, so following doctor’s suggestion, I am going to start going into office today, finally. I’ve been working at home full-time, but for next week or so, I am going to switch to half-days in office, half-days at home, with physical therapy 2x a week as well. That way, I continue to push towards getting back to “normal” (which may take 3 months or so to fully feel), can continue to be productive at work, yet still provide my back some down time by taking advantage of the comforts of working from home, while at the same time having face-time to work with my team and others. My body will tell me when it’s ready for full-time days. Hopefully soon, but the doc did caution me to take it slow and steady.

I am excited to get back – it’s been a long path of pain and recovery!

Voting: Republican. Not.

July 6, 2008

(Note: you might need to visit the actual blog entry to see the above video).

Reminder to the kids (and parents) at the park across the street

July 4, 2008

Private fireworks are banned in Seattle. You could go to jail. And piss us off. And stop us from sleeping – you were going all night, after all, for the last 4 nights or so. And scare all of the dogs in the neighborhood. And hurt people – according to the news, at least 3 amputations last year from fireworks in Seattle alone. Not cool. So stop!

Private use, sale, or possession of fireworks is prohibited in the City of Seattle. The private use of fireworks without a permit in the city of Seattle is punishable by a fine and possible time in jail.

http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/homesafety/july.htm

(Not just Seattle by the way – most of the rest of the state of Washington also bans fireworks).

Happy 4th! Enjoy your safe, public fireworks. And stop annoying me!


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