How many O's?

[jbailey]

img_8498.jpg
Originally uploaded by jbailey

Well, I've hinted at it and told enough friends, I should get around to posting it: As of the end of this month, I'll be moving on from Canonical. By my calculations, I was something around employee #30, the first support tech, and I've had a great chance to build the support organisation up to where Linux Format magazine rated us as tied with RedHat ahead of Novell in this August's issue.

So what's up?

Well, those of you following along might remember a cute little bundle of joy entering my life. A couple of months in, I've realised that I can't stay on top of being with him and growing a 7x24 operation at this critical time in Canonical's growth. I'll be taking the month of August to be with Angie and Leif, and in September will start a new job with Google in the Open Source Program Office. I don't know the details of what I'll be doing there (The Google Omertà, as one friend called it... *g*), but Google as a company is well aware of what happens with brand-new parents and the mad readjustment of priorities.

Angie and I are currently selling our place in Montréal in prep for moving to San Francisco at the end of August. I want to make sure I see people before we go, and if you're interested in buying the place, give us a call. =) Also, if you're in the Bay Area, a vegan, a parent, into Yoga/fitness, speaking French, etc., we'd love to meet you for tea sometime!

Comments

[sfllaw.livejournal.com]

That's great! I can visit San Francisco and you and Leslie.

(Well, it's terrible that you're leaving us. But I understand.)

Whoo!

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

Yay! There's so much computer stuff down that way anyway I'm sure I'll see you occasionally, plus I'm more likely to make the trip up for OLS / GCC summit if I'm further away.

[diluvienne.livejournal.com]

Don't leave without seeing me! We shall have tea and discuss in French!

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

J'aimerai bien ça!

[dcoombs.livejournal.com]

Good luck with everything! I hope to be able to swing by SF at some point, and have someone else to visit!

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

It would be wonderful! Part of what I'm happy about is that geeks usually wind up in SF or near on a semi-regular basis. It's hard to stay away. =)

[wonderbadger]

Cool! You'll be a lot closer to Vancouver, too.

I have an lj friend, naomi_traveller, that I've met face-to-face once, who lives in San Francisco. She's not a parent, but I think she's from Montreal originally, and might be into speaking French and drinking tea with you. :)

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

Hey, that would be cool! It's always nice to meet friends of friends.

We checked prices to Vancouver. $200 round trip by train. =)

[annie-linux.livejournal.com]

It's not in San Francisco, but if you make it up to Seattle ever, make sure you check out The Globe; it's the best vegan restaurant in the world. Oh, and Mighty O's (Vegan) Donuts. :-)

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

Ooo! Thanks for the tip! I was in Seattle last weekend for a wedding, but will be back through that way after the Ubuntu Live conference. I'm carpooling with a friend up from Portland to Vancouver.

Hey, just read your profile and I see that you're a UU! Are you coming to Opus this year? My wife and I are two of the cooks. =) Darrell Duane from All Souls did the drive last time if you want to ask someone who long it takes.

Good Luck

[(Anonymous)]

I would like to wish you the best of luck raising your kid to speak French. My wife was born and raised in Montreal, and French was her first language (mother was an anglophone, so she speaks both languages, but spent her time in the French school system). Anyways, her family moved to Texas when she was 14, and her French reallly suffered. At university, she majored in French. Most people thought this was just the "easy thing to do". But, she was exposed to all sorts of French authors she had never read, in addition other aspects of French culture (as in the country France). Even though she "already spoke French", her studies allowed her to keep up with her French (her brother and sister don't speak very well). My wife is saddened by the fact that she can't speak her first language as well as her second. I see through her that speaking French is very difficult to do in the US. My wife's French identity is very important to her, as I am sure it is for you. I hope that you are able to hold onto that part of your identity.

[(Anonymous)]

Aw, all the best people leave! ;)

But yeah I TOTALLY understand your reasons... Canonical ROCKS but just doesn't work with a young family unfortunately. All the best at Google I am sure it will be FAB there.

Keep us posted with pics of your beautiful family :)

*huge hugs*

JaneW

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

Thanks Jane. We'll probably open up a few more photos. We ran out of time this morning. =)

[motherinlawtree.livejournal.com]

Maybe you'll visit Vancouver when you're on the West Coast! If you do, let us know so we can get together.

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

That would be cool. We've been out a couple of times since Leif was born, but it's been all power visits with family and such. It's apparently quite cheap to go from San Francisco to Vancouver, so the visits should be a bit less rushed.

[mmmmtino.livejournal.com]

Holy moly--San Francisco, huh? I guess we won't be within driving distance anymore! *sigh*

I'll have to visit you there. Lots of luck with the move...and love to Angie and Leif.

m

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It should be piles of excitement. The plan right now after Opus/ConCentric is to keep heading west, down past the creationism museum, the along the old Route 66 to SF. But being in the US means I'm more likely to wind up at a conference near you. =)

[mmmmtino.livejournal.com]

You do know the old Rte. 66 runs from Chicago to LA, not San Francisco, right? Interstate 80 will get you there much more directly!

-m

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we're trying to make it scenic and catch a number of stops we would never otherwise do, like the Oral Roberts university and All Souls Tulsa, showing her the buildings that I didn't get pictures of in Albuquerque. Take a quick stop in vegas, and then up to SF. It only seems to add 700km surprisingly, so it's a couple days drive.

If we feel short on time when we leave, we'll keep I80 as a fallback.

[mmmmtino.livejournal.com]

Awesome--it will be a pretty drive. As your resident map geek, you had me worried for a moment.

-m

[angorian.livejournal.com]

I hope you will love your new job and new city! I'm, of course, sad that you will be leaving Montréal, so keep in touch. I definitely would like to see you before you leave.

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

We're having an open-house on the 7th while the packers come do their stuff. Anytime from about 1pm on. We'll post it closer to the date so that people remember. Please come by!

Thanks for your hard work and good luck at Google :)

[(Anonymous)]

Hey Jeff,

thanks for your hard work on Ubuntu and Canonical. I learned a lot from you and it was a pleasure to meet you in Montreal and in Wiesbaden during LT 2006.
But to see you with your baby in your arms, I know why you have to leave Canonical. It's sad, but it gives you and your partner/wife/spouse (I have to be careful these days ;)) new opportunities to evolve your life :)

Good luck at Google, and hopefully I will see you once in a while during some OpenSource conferences I think...so take care.

\sh