LIFE
Gave a talk at ModevUX, and was on a panel. I was terrified but they both went pretty well. I also met some really lovely people and was really inspired by some of the other presentations. After that, I went on to Kirkland. After 5 nights in Suburbia I couldn’t take anymore, so I relocated into Seattle for the weekend. Bonus, the hotel is cheaper, and has a pool. And I got to hang out with some fabulous technical women too including one who I knew from Sydney. Treated myself to a spa session (amazing) and did a little shopping.
Been exhausted from the jetlag, and crashing so hard after the stress and build up to the talks! I now have no more talks planned until September, which feels liberating and anti-climatic at the same time. It will be good for me to focus on other projects.
My change for the AOSA book was accepted which is awesome! I have one small fix that I’ll make separately but the end is in sight and I’m really excited for this to be done. Oh yeah, and to see my name in print!
WORK
Nothing like leaving the country to get some perspective. Got this huge document to a point where I could send out a draft, and someone else is joining me on this project, which is exciting.
Being in this timezone is a good time to catch up with people, best of all the group from the leadership course I took last year, so that was awesome. Also doing some groundwork for another design sprint.
Experiencing a bout of insecurity about whether I am really cut out to be an engineer. Hopefully it will pass soon.
PLACES
In McLean I stayed at the Hilton McLean Tyson’s Corner. It was fine, nice pool no kettlebells (why do hotels never have kettlebells?), but they charge for internet – grr. I mostly ate at the hotel, the food was pretty good, but I also ventured out to eat at a P.F. Changs for the first time (nice enough, they gave me a gift voucher for next time). I was super happy to find a Potbelly’s sandwich place at the airport, first because I was so hungry after being to nervous to eat lunch, and secondly because it reminds me of the summers I spent in Minnesota.
In Kirkland I stayed at the Heathman Hotel. It’s slightly cheaper (no amenity fee) and more central than where I stayed last time. And, they upgraded me to a suite which was nice. Basically the same furniture as you would find in a regular room, but much more space. I ate breakfast at the restaurant there (jetlag and options at 630am are limited) and dinner at Rikki Rikki (good sushi, they serve the mochi with a mountain of whipped cream – very american), and Volterra (meh).
MEDIA
Finished An Absolute Deception finally! I started to appreciate again how long a time period the story is laid out over. Also read You Had Me At Hello (light escapism), The Perfect Match (more light escapism), The One Plus One (not quite as light, a lot of it about poverty and struggling to manage and get ahead, I really liked this book), and started on The Tea Chest (partially set in Australia, so that makes me nostalgic).
Finished Maximize Your Potential: Grow Your Expertise, Take Bold Risks & Build an Incredible Career (OK, not that in depth, just snippets of advice from successful people), and I’m approaching the end of 4 Hour Body.
Still re-watching Fairly Legal. Good movie, strong, relatable female characters. Interesting stories.
I got to see the world premier of The Eniac Programmers Project which was amazing. I heard of this project, I think at least 3 years ago and I’ve been keen to see it ever since. So completely worth the wait, and if you can catch it – do. It will be on YouTube eventually, but that will take up to a year.
Product links Amazon.
PUBLISHED
- On Coming “Home”
- It’s Not Me, It’s You: When Users Break Up With Their Apps
- Thoughts on Being Productive
ON THE INTERNET
- Beautiful images of China… Make me want to go back – http://buff.ly/1hV1BgY
- I love that @ellenchisa shared her HBS Application Essays, they make me want to hang out and make things with her <3 http://buff.ly/1nYdg3q
- “So don’t tell me “a little less angry, please.” I’ll be angry because I’m a woman who has been treated like shit” http://buff.ly/1jRzZOC
- “Why are people building stupid apps? We haven’t cured cancer yet, let’s knock that out first” http://buff.ly/1jSUYR6 /via @indigofire
- Fascinating, in depth look at Univ of Texas approach to closing the graduation gap – http://buff.ly/1jUBjAk /via @Jo_Miller
- “Even if your big goal isn’t within reach (yet), try to figure out a way to make progress every day.” http://buff.ly/1iX0s85 /by @katemats
- Interesting – How to Scale Yourself and Get More Done Than You Thought Possible http://buff.ly/1na5guR /via @SamBehnam
- On post mortems after not winning a deal – Embrace Your Losses – They Will Make You Stronger http://buff.ly/1iYGjyI /via @katemats
- I love the honesty, and some great insights here – Why Wesabe Lost to Mint – http://buff.ly/1vnBt7K /@by@marcprecipice
- I love this idea – Subway dress automatically repels the creeps – http://buff.ly/1vt5LG8 /via @felsull
- This is seriously the most adorable thing I’ve seen on the internet in at least a week http://imgur.com/bsVRgbw /via @JillFilipovic
- This is so, so amazing – How Internet Trolls Improved My Self Esteem http://buff.ly/1nW8q9n /by @rebeccawatson /via @selenamarie
- @ellenchisa: In my mind, this is the most important thing I’ve helped with. http://modelviewculture.com/pieces/an-open-letter-on-feminism-in-tech … If it resonates, please share it.
- .@jewelia is so amazing, I love this interview with her on popforms – http://buff.ly/1mKqGQS /via @katemats
- I like this on camera angles, and taking flattering photographs – http://buff.ly/1tbazOc /via @felsull
- The LFO just sent me this link http://www.danshapiro.com/blog/2012/02/startup-dudes-cut-sexist-crap/ … with a message saying he learned what being sexist meant from me (I had no idea).
- Continuing to obsess over racoon. If I could swap places with that cat for 5 minutes, I would be 1000x happier. http://imgur.com/bsVRgbw
- This is awesome, great pics, especially lego Grace Hopper! @skamille: How to stay in love with programming – http://buff.ly/1gh8uy6
- This is hilarious – Tim Dowling: how to be a model husband – http://buff.ly/1giCVDS /via @zoesqwilliams
- Interesting / depressing article on the glass cliff, and GM CEO Mary Barra – http://buff.ly/1gUz4O4 /via @silliecyn
- @kimhorne: for those curious as to WTF I’m going on about re #WeActuallyExist : http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/may/23/against-me-laura-jane-grace-arcade-fire-we-exist-transgender-video …
One reply on “This Week”
This Week – trapped in Suburbia editiion – http://t.co/U3rcz3ZxXR