Revelry Reverie

Grant made another great drawing and dedicated it to the cats. It says, Dear Socks, 11, Stark you are cut(e) if your free (three) aren’t killen (killing) the dog and I will lo❤️e you free (three) forever. you guys have a giant hart (heart) He did admit that he couldn’t quite figure out how to…

I completed one (1) drawing and am proud. I don’t usually use toned paper, but I have been struggling with highlights on pure white paper, so I got myself some toned paper and decided to try a drawing. Here’s a strawberry from 2021 on pure white paper. I average one strawberry every 5 years.

I found this in Grant’s homework the other day. The definitions for these are on the other side of the sheet, and trust me when I tell you that “an emotional end” is not included. Things I love about this: This is tho sort of thing that brings me joy. And it’s why I look…

I’ve spent a lot of time over the holiday break in hockey arenas (or at outside rinks), and been able to witness a simply incredible breadth of examples of both icing and offsides. I, like nearly everyone else who doesn’t play the sport, conflate the two pretty much non-stop. So I’m periodically looking up their…

Note: I first posted this internally at work. I shared a draft with my husband who encouraged me to post it publicly. Empathetic leadership is often framed as a personality trait. You either have it or you don’t. You’re warm or you’re direct. You lead with care or you lead with clarity. That framing has…

Today marks thirteen years since I was hired at Automattic. I’m always in a reflective mood this time of year, so I’ve been reflecting on what these thirteen years have brought me. I’ve been able to be a good mom. Grant used to toss out, “you’re the best mom ever!” And I would tell him,…

Grant and I share an enthusiasm for the work of Oliver Jeffers. While I don’t think we have all his children’s books, we have a pretty substantial stack (including at least one missing one which is illustrated by him, The Day the Crayons Quit. Fittingly, the book seems to have quit our house. And another…

Some time back, on some flight or another, we had to route around a big storm. I took some photos.

I was reading this Open Questions (by Joshua Rothman) post about whether the phrase “six seven” is brainrot or not. My kids have used this phrase; the twins for a short while, and Grant for longer. The older kids seem to be mostly over it (and since they don’t have any social media, they may…

Henry and Eleanor turned 14 this past Saturday. It was lovely, and they said it was the best birthday yet. Eleanor did specify “top 14!” I’m glad they’re growing up, and proud of them and the people they’re becoming, but fourteen is really real. They’re really going to be driving soon, and moving out soon,…