News from a new state
So, as a few of the readers of this blog know, I’m moving to California (Bay Area/Silicon Valley)
Well, technically, I suppose, I’ve moved. My stuff hasn’t quite arrived yet, but within the next day or two it should all arrive. It will be nice to get my normal computers back and be able to work on a machine that isn’t a laptop, while at home. I suppose I’ll have to finally redefine home to be my new (expensive) apartment, as well.
On to impressions of the area:
- Fry’s Electronics (Sunnyvale) - what a cluttered mess. They have an impressive range of stuff, but the place just feels cluttered and disorganized.
- IKEA (I know, not really a Cali thing, but we don’t have one, yet, in Michigan) - Damn, that’s an impressive place to shop.
- San Francisco itself: Umm, bring a map next time ‘cuz wow, was I lost.
Admittedly, I haven’t really gotten a lot of impressions together yet. I’ve spent a lot of time in this first week of my new job at work, and I honestly expect that to resume after I get my stuff settled in at my new apartment, and some older commitments taken care of. So, I think I’m liking things here, though I’m still not really entirely comfortable with it all.
Anyway, I need to kill my bank account by paying all my bills (I can’t wait until the reimbursement checks hit). More later when I get some free time and something more meaningful to blog about. (When my stuff shows up, I think I’m going to be setting up a Sunray, for example)
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Unpack your broadband connection and get online to gimp around with us Michiganians.
Comment by DRUID — 2006-5-23 @ 8:52 pm
What’s so impressive about Ikea? The size? The crowds? The sheer Swedish-ness of it all? I was there (well, not the same there, but there all the same) on Friday to buy a new bed. Madness! We got in the queue to check out at 11 PM on a Friday night, and it still took an hour to make it through.
Still, great stuff at great prices. The Swedish food shop at the end is the icing on the cake, although I don’t usually have the strength or the stamina to take advantage of all that cut-rate Swedish beer and pickled herring.
As it happens, we get our revenge tonight when England thrash Sweden in Munich. That should make up for all the Klippans, and Klackbos, and Sturefors, and all those lost hours wandering the warehouse looking for out-of-stock sofa covers and bed-legs.
So what is the stock like in California? Contrary to what one might presume, their stock range actually varies tremendously from country to country. Wood (especially Birch) and bold patterns feature very prominently in the UK. I am told that the Spanish stores don’t stock any wooden furniture at all becuase termites are so ubiquitous. What concessions do you think they have made to US taste?
Comment by Scott C. — 2006-6-20 @ 9:30 am
Well, IKEA here in Cali wasn’t nearly that busy. It was crowded, but buying a few small, meaningless things only took 5 minutes, by the time we got around to wandering up there.
It’s impressive just because of the sheer quantity and variety of things they have. I can see why people make (made) trips from Detroit to Chicago, partially to shop at IKEA.
Unfortunately, the American opinion on alcohol makes the IKEA’s here not sell beer (*sigh*).
Having seen only one IKEA, I’m not sure I can comment on the vagaries of stock.
Comment by PugMajere — 2006-6-21 @ 2:01 am
Just to shop at IKEA?
Comment by Bedroom furniture — 2006-12-20 @ 12:24 am