I just submitted my idea for an Ignite talk. And I find that I’m actually a little nervous — Did I write it up well enough to get selected? If I get selected, can I make it entertaining/funny? I’ve been on stage many times before (from meetings to amateur theater to the Rose Bowl), but I’ve never done a solo talk for an audience this size (~700).
On the good side, if my talk is selected, I get to watch Robot Chicken for research! 
Who knew business cards could be so much fun?!
My Moo cards arrived a day early — and just in time! I have a business dinner tomorrow night, and I will be very glad to have the new set (I was down to 4 cards left from the previous set).
I take such delight in these little things…
If you know me, you know that I’m taking a pause in my 17-year software career, to give some space and time to my other passions.
Professionally, I want to step back and explore some of my under-utilized skills: speaking and writing, people interactions and leadership, maybe even find a way to work in my love of languages and psychology (or is that asking too much?!).
Personally, there are a few areas that I have neglected this past two years (while Mom was sick, and in the year after). Well, I want to reconnect, to re-engage with my (seemingly) millions of lovely friends, in Seattle and elsewhere. To make more time for play. To spend time with my family, local and distant.
I don’t know what adventures will come my way. I’ve never been “off the career track” before. I went straight from HS to college to career pretty smoothly, so this is all uncharted waters for me.
Let’s see what develops. It should be quite a year.
