Since arriving back in PA we have been having a terrible time trying to actually get work done, you know, the kind that puts food in your belly and fixes doggy legs. Do not misunderstand what may follow, we have been having a wonderful time laughing, eating, and drinking with friends and family, but that type of situation is not always the most conducive when you are trying to start a company. Compound this with the fact that my parents’ house has the slowest broadband known to man, and you have a recipe for a technological breakdown, which to date, Butterfinger has had about 5 of.
Taking matters into our own hands we started by trying to utilize FiOS and high speed broadband at various locations in the Philadelphia area. We tried to work at a friend’s house and Butterfinger’s dad’s, but each had their own set of issues. The friend came with a roommate, and while she would never admit we were putting her out, it was pretty apparent that our presence in the middle of the living area of their tiny apartment was not pleasing. The dad is a smoker, much to Butterfinger’s dismay, and trying to get anything done in an ecosystem similar to that of an ashtray is just not going to happen, especially when the TV is constantly blaring various soap operas and the dogs are going crazy.
We have now taken to the open road, turning Grimace into our office on wheels. Until we have our EVDO connection up and running (which I will write more about tomorrow), we can be found driving around and parking outside of friends’ homes and utilizing their internet connections from our Volkswagen workstation. The middle seat of the van has been removed and replaced with a $10 Sam’s Club pop-up table. If power becomes an issue we simply fire up the van and plug into the power inverter for all of our charging needs. Need a blanket or a pillow? No problem, just reach into the trunk and make yourself comfortable!
So if you are in the area and see a purple van with heavily tinted windows and what appears to be two people in the back seat, faces lit by laptop screens, do not be alarmed. I know our appearance may remind you of child abduction stories you may have heard, or covert FBI spy operations, but I can assure you that all of the activities taking place in the mobile office are kosher. I swear we will not steal your babies, get you for tax evasion, or expose your illegal basketball gambling ring, but we may end up giving you some free calls by the end of the week if all goes well.
