As some of you may know I have been working on a masters degree in Technical Communication for about eight thousand years now. Happily I’m on my last class – an independent study course – and finishing up the menial tasks required to receive approval in the form of a very expensive and official piece of paper. I might actually frame this diploma – I’m not even sure where my undergrad one is… Despite the required work still to be done on my final class, I don’t actually have to be in a classroom this semester so it feels very much like… well, like I’m free! And so I’ve turned my attention…
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Consider me ignited, Raleigh
Way to go Raleigh! Last night’s Ignite Raleigh event was a very entertaining blend of technology, entertainment and education. I could go on and on about the awesomeness of the event but let me try to keep things brief by highlighting a couple of particularly fantastic contributions… Everyone Needs a Dumb Guy Chris Moody (@cnmoody) did a presentation about the “dumb guy” in the office who asks the often dumb and difficult questions the client will ask. It was a very quick look at the benefits of broadening your advisers; diversity of POV leads to more information and better decisions… sounds like he’s read ‘The Wisdom of Crowds‘! Chris did…
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National Pride
On a snowy morning in April, my Canadian-born mother and American-born father struggled through the final hours of labor. At 7:35am on April 5th, I was born in a small apartment in Belleville, a suburb of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For five years my family moved: in and out of three Canadian cities and two provinces, until finally, shortly before I entered kindergarten, my father was offered a transfer. My dad was an employee of the Toronto-based Northern Telecom (later known as Nortel) and he and my mom jumped at the opportunity to try a warmer climate and better cost of living. We moved to Nashville, Tennessee. I have not lived…
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A Year of Twitter
I have been so busy posting to my blog on a regular basis I belatedly realized that I have hit 1000 posts on Twitter! I guess my micro-blogging habit has really interfered with my regular blog updates (not that I was doing terribly well at blogging before the distraction of Twitter…). I spent some time going back through all my fascinating posts and realized that I’ve nearly hit another milestone: 1 year on Twitter. My first post was September 18th, 2008. It was at times sweet, nostalgic, painful and hilarious to read my thoughts on events of the last year. There were very few things that I couldn’t find a…
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Hopelessly undevoted to you
I know, I know. I’m hopeless at blogging. Ironically I have been doing some posting, just not that much here. But don’t be sad- you’re always be my first. Christmas was good aside from a miserable cold that hit Christmas Eve and would not let go. Wonderful to see the family and just hang out and relax. My brother and his wife have big plans to be pregnant again by next December (and keep telling everyone about it!) so that may be the last time we’re all together for awhile. Went to NYC for New Years. Had a great time with with my friends and got to see a lot…
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The General World of Jen
I love the holidays. There’s a purpose behind them: once a year we have to slow down and look around. Whether or not you like what you see it’s a chance for reflection and, hopefully, gratitude. I visited with my cousin and her daughter (cute baby at left) to exchange presents this afternoon. I won’t see them for at least three weeks and it’s bumming me out. But no present in the world can beat falling asleep with a baby on my chest while watching ‘A Muppet Christmas Carol’. That’s what life is all about right there. Sadly I can’t focus on the holidays quite yet. Heading home and seeing…
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iLove iPhone
I’m sorry, I completely glossed over this fact in my last post: I got my iPhone. Woohoo! Before I geek-out completely I’d like to state publicly, for friends and family that have had to deal with me over the last week and forever after this– I’m sorry if I’m ignoring you. My name is Jen and I’m addicted to my iPhone. (Hi Jen.) It’s just so damn cool! I’ve had the phone for 9 days and I’ve downloaded 38 apps. I have 3 email accounts, 2 calendar tools and a task manager. I’ve created 4 ringtones, taken 2 dozen photos and downloaded 10 games. It’s an addiction. I blame Apple.…
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Thanksgiving: The Horror
Yes, all right, it’s been a month since I’ve posted. I am going to add a “Post to blog” task on my “Remember the Milk” list and monitor it via my iPhone. I know, it’s hard to believe I don’t have time to post since I obviously don’t have a life. So I am one of those people that, when asked by friends and neighbors “how was your Thanksgiving?”, feel compelled to really answer. A simple “fine” is not in my vocabulary. And when I stopped to recall this Thanksgiving, it was really quite chilling. First there was the conversation at Thanksgiving dinner. Somehow I ended up sitting between my…
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An Admitedly Early Holiday Celebration
I was sitting on my couch enjoying my favorite at-home activity: browsing the web while watching TV, when I was distracted by the sound of my first Christmas commercial. Actually it’s my first Christmas anything, of the year (FYI it was the “Carol of the Bells” ad with the cash register lights but that’s not important). Anyway before I could even work up exasperation I found I was smiling. I should have been annoyed- it’s November 5th- but I’m a little impressed they made it past Halloween. I suspect I was also excited by the contrast between carols and candidate attack ads. So in case you haven’t heard your first…
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Fall Frolicking
Well, I still feel bad about having dropped my class but there’s no doubt in my mind that was the solution for me. Things have been much easier without a class to worry about, although I do still owe my professor a project from the Spring. But I am good at procrastinating and having flexibility does wonders for my mood– so much less stress! Really makes me not want to go back to grad school, too… The last few nights I’ve just been home, doing laundry and watching TV. Sure, I still work from home, check email, update Drupal etc., but it’s easier now that I don’t get home at…
