Automattic GM 2018

I just realized that I didn’t do a photo summary of the 2018 Automattic GM. Since I really like these people and our time together, and Automattic is why I have and try to maintain this site, here it is! Better late than never, right?

This one was extra special because I came straight out of my sabbatical (3 months off of work). It was great to have a week to catch up IRL, recover from vacation-brain, and kick things back into high gear.

These photos are a random, disjointed glimpse of my GM, minus the work stuff. They’re imperfect, but they capture fun moments from a special week. And yes, I tend to get sentimental and excited and make people take selfies. :)

Not pictured: plenty of work and meetings, great speakers (like Cheryl Strayed!), and people I care lots about, but did not have a chance to coerce into taking photos.

GDPaRty complete with cookies!
When I discovered memoji…
and created my own!
Before…
And after he said it’ll be sad that we’ll never see each other again (since we thought this was the last GM)
I’ll never tire of faceswaps.
I’ll never tire of faceswaps.
The happiest.
Trying to figure out how to play my request. :)
Tarot card reading
Cuties
Catching rays in between meetings.
I could not stop laughing at this pitiful dinner plate
Silent disco!
Silent disco!
Silent disco!
Silent disco!
Pizzaaaaaaaaaaaa
White party!
Legal team!
Greeted with cans of budlight and not mad about it
Twinsies
Late night McDonald’s and cupcakes
Late night McDonald’s and cupcakes

 

 

Travel

Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life – and travel – leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks – on your body or on your heart – are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.

A Visit to The Burn Center

I burned myself pretty badly two weeks ago, and it wasn’t healing as expected, thanks to my stupid, sensitive body. I was reacting to everything: the antibiotic ointments, the bandaid adhesive, the nonstick pad, etc.

At my husband’s insistence, I saw a doctor. And at my doctor’s insistence, I saw a wound care specialist.

I was expecting an uneventful visit to the Bothin Burn Center this morning, but was surprised by a flood of thoughts and emotions as I waited for the staff to process me as a new patient:

  • What constant stress the staff must be under.
  • These poor folks in the waiting room, who had real issues that needed attention.
  • How absurd it was for me to take up the doctor’s time, which could be used for treating serious burn victims.
  • How stupid it was of me to be so careless, causing me to waste all this time and money.
  • And worst of all: What if my carelessness had caused me to burn someone else… or a child? The thought alone brought immediate tears to my eyes, and the concern was later exacerbated when I saw a toddler, cautiously but curiously exploring the hallway with her parents, wearing a compression garment (to apply pressure over healing burns and grafts) around her teeny, adorable face.

But as usual, the bad thoughts brought good ones — details that I can never take for granted:

  • How lucky that my loved ones and I are in reasonably good health.
  • How fortunate I am to have the healthcare and resources to take care of any issues that do arise.

Mindfulness

IMG_8295.jpg

The Calm app sent me this reminder this morning. With all that’s going on in the world right now, I appreciated it.

It also reminded me of a principle that my dad reiterated to me throughout my childhood and young adulthood. It won’t translate as well as I’d like it, but the basic concept was that, especially as a girl/woman (🙄) I should be calm, steady, grounded, and ocean deep. Take a small bowl of water, for example. Any minor disruption (a shake, an object falling in, etc.) can be catastrophic and immediately empty the bowl. On the other hand, it takes much more to cause any noticeable disruption to a large, deep ocean; it can withstand great storms and still return to a state of calm.

Despite its sexist undertones, the lesson was a good one in mindfulness, and one that I’m still trying to practice.

Automattic GM 2017

After 10 days away, I’m home. I’m excited to be with my people here and get back to my routine, but I’m also a little melancholy knowing that I won’t see my coworkers for an entire year, if ever again. (I’ve never been good at goodbyes or finalities.)

I admit that that sounds dark, but it actually makes me very appreciative for the time I do get to spend with them, which is why I do everything I can to make the most of our week together.

Here’s a random, disjointed glimpse of my GM, minus most of the work stuff. Because, well — it’s work. It’s kind of weird to take photos of people in the middle of a meeting or class… though there’s a few of those too. 😀

Gorgeous sights. Face swaps. Surprise doggos. Improvised lobby dance parties. Late-night eats. Catching up 1:1. Prom. Immature jokes. Honest conversations. Peace signs. Homeroom. Twinning. Champagne. Domains. Nodules. Surprise connections.

As someone remarked this week, “You’re really good at burning the candle at both ends.”

I was kind of obsessed with the raindrops on the leaves — made the plant look like it was sparkling. 😍
Missed the first home game of the season for this hike, but it was worth it. Also, ran into this guy. Go bears!
Homeroom meeting
Team day
Team day
All a girl needs: wine, red bull, eggs, and cheese sticks.
Twinsies
Gathering for the all-company photo.
Prime example of a bad domain choice.
Nighttime walk to try to see the northern lights. No luck, but the stars were plenty gorgeous.
Bowls of whisky.
Birthday cheers!
Will teaching us how to properly do peace signs.
#besthomeroom
Twinning.
The biggest name tag, for a role playing game in the domains class.
Stole my phone and took a selfie, but I’m def not mad at it. ❤️
Finger hearts! I mostly see weird pinchy fingers.
Ladies dinner table!
Plate of whipped cream.
Keeping tabs on the game during Townhall. We won, 27-16!
When we learned that Lori had 1,200 files on her desktop.
Ceri & Ingrid face swap.
Remake of https://jennyzhu.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/img_7686.jpg
80’s tuxes
How to make sure they don’t clear your glass while you’re away!
McDonald’s
It’s also embarrassing that I still have a dress from 15 years ago…
One of my favorite poets posted this the night I got home — was reading this as I fell asleep.

 

 

Cheers to my team, and I hope to see you all soon.