Darkly Colored Felines of Fury » reflection http://blackcat.ca Personal site for Patrick Audley and Blackcat Systems. Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:11:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 A Less Twisty Road http://blackcat.ca/lifelines/a-less-twisty-road http://blackcat.ca/lifelines/a-less-twisty-road#comments Sat, 16 Oct 2010 21:07:45 +0000 Patrick Audley http://blackcat.ca/?p=519

Meadow road after a tricky cattle gridFor years I've been enmeshed in startups, enjoying the adrenaline filled funding cycles, wacky ideas, breakneck development cycles and incredible people. I've finally been tempted off the midway rides by a Vancouver post-startup, one45 Software. The promise of working on a mature project with a very large user base to solve problems that will have large societal impacts was a powerful pull. Couple that with smart people and a stable, revenue positive company in a funky heritage building and I was hooked.

I'm the new Sr. Developer at one45 and I'll be working on optimizing the delivery of medical education with the long-term goal of helping to design curricula that produces better doctors. It's a combination of efficient process optimization and predictive statistics - both of which have been recurring themes in much of the work I've done in the past. I find the prospect of working on code that is in wide production use to be very satisfying.

This also means that I'm working back in the downtown Vancouver core which makes me quite happy. There is something special about Vancouver's heart that resonates deeply with me, I can't quite explain it. It's a quiet energy that permeates the streets; unlike the high frequency buzz in Toronto, or the fast walking and driven movements of New York. Almost a fusion of the sharp Silicon Valley enthusiasm with a restrained, polite Canadian flavour. An admixture of bemused tourists, distracted suits and stoned neo-hippies. And, even better, my best friend is soon to be working but a few blocks away in Gastown. Really, what more could I have asked for?

This will be a less twisty but no less enjoyable road to follow, one that winds through old pastures and haunting grounds. A traveller returning home but with new eyes and vantages, seeing different things in the same vistas. I'm very grateful for the amazing people that joined me on the road this year as well as the ones I've parted with.

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]]> http://blackcat.ca/lifelines/a-less-twisty-road/feed/ 1 Fall is the Season of Change http://blackcat.ca/lifelines/fall-is-the-season-of-change http://blackcat.ca/lifelines/fall-is-the-season-of-change#comments Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:29:04 +0000 Patrick Audley http://blackcat.ca/lifelines/fall-is-the-season-of-change A twilight season, Fall brings change quickly and definitively. A season that cannot be ignored.As I was walking to work last week I was astounded to see the ground littered with oranges and yellows -- fall had pounced upon me like a stealthy cat. Back in my old Vancouver haunting grounds I knew that all was green and verdant but Calgary had already succumbed and the crisp air hinted of the snow and ice to come. This revelation both foreshadowed and provided background to the rest of the week. All changes bring mixed emotions; rarely in my life do they provide me with the absolutes; this week was no exception. Some good and some not good but overall, I think I'm ahead of the game.

Crowdsourced Joy

Vikings of old once pillaged foreign shores but also build massive nautical trade networks.My new job at Cambrian House has been unreal with it's stock of amazing people, it's bubbly excitement and cool technology that brings back slightly surreal memories of the startup days at GroupTelecom. I've deeply enjoyed work lately -- work has always been a large component in my life which, if the magical resonance of doing good and making money can be hit, brings huge personal satisfaction. We have very challenging problems to chew away at, crazily smart people to work beside, an endless supply of coffee and a fridge crammed full of food and beer. We're even making money (shocking for a startup I know, we actually sell things!). All of that has been great and I'm thankful that my life has yet again steered into a cool venture.

The Fairer Sex

Cloven in two, the heart sometimes breaks to grow.As often seems to be the case in our great human struggle, there is a counterpoint to such things. Kathy, my intrepid former girlfriend, and I have muddled through much of this year searching for our relationship and I think we've finally arrived at the conclusion that it not only took a vacation but indeed moved to a foreign country, set up a small noodle business and has no intention of coming home. It's been a very sad week as the we realized this -- emotions for me went the whole gambit and I'm left now with just sad and a little disappointed. Our stunningly different lives and personalities which were so fascinating and attractive in our early days had become burdens without the stability that commonality brings.

Realizations of Connectedness

Wheels within wheels, gears meshed with gears, we all form part of the unreal machine.My love woes (how's that for a loaded set of words!) served to highlight a rather shocking amount of support in my life from friends, acquaintances and colleagues. It was a thankful and uplifting experience to see just how intermingled humanity becomes in times of difficulty; the speed of this has certainly grown faster with newer technology and I'm happy to say I'll actually be working on making such things better in the future! I've often seen myself as a lone cat, a view I now consider a little mistaken, cats are colony creatures after all. Thanks go out to all my friends, new and old, for all your support and kind words.

The Coming Cold

Winter slows time and enfolds us in a her cold embrace while hinting of the Spring to come.Quite a few of my friends (and a no small chunk of my family) have asked if I'm moving back to Vancouver. The short answer is: no. I dove into Calgary with an open mind and have had my usual luck (whose magic touch never seems to extend it's sublime ease to relationships *sigh*) in finding the makings to a great life. I've made commitments here and most importantly, at least to me, I'm having a good time in general! My father expresses constant surprise over how easily I move around and this is just another chance to grow my flexibility muscles. Now I just need a few things to prepare for this new season (are you listening Universe?!?): some local friends to hang out with occasionally and explore new restaurants, a chance to dust off my snow board sometimes this winter and a dash of personal growth.

Comments

  • October 1, 2008, Pam writes: In Alberta, fall is the season of you-blink-and-you-miss-it! Looks like you're sharing Edmonton's little patch of warmth this autumn. Be well.
  • October 5, 2008, Brenda May (Audley) writes: Change is often a good thing. New beginnings, new doors to open as others close. Just another stepping stone to a new experience. If you are not looking for happiness, it often jumps out at you.... Take care.
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