web-goddess

Category: Photo Post

Images and videos that I’ve taken on-the-go

Christian Heilmann at Yahoo!

Well, that was fun! A few weeks ago I finally signed up for LinkedIn, after realizing that EVERYBODY else in the industry was on there. I found a few former co-workers, including Christian from Netdecisions in London. (I voluntarily took a layoff package in 2001 to save Christian’s job, which also allowed me to emigrate to Australia. The rest, as they say, is history.) Anyway, I added him, he added me, and then I visited his blog. To my surprise, I saw that he was now a fancypants “Developer Evangelist” for Yahoo! and that he was coming to Sydney this week! The Snook and I quickly signed up to attend.

The Sydney Yahoo! offices are stunning. They also won immediate points with me by not requiring me to sign an NDA just to walk in the door (like Google did). They had good beer too. There were maybe 40 or so of us there, and Christian’s talk was entertaining and enlightening. He succeeded in getting me to think seriously about using some Yahoo tools and libraries for my next site redesign. Afterwards there was food and everybody mingled, and we got to catch up a bit. Man, was it really that long ago? When Snookums and I lived on Rannoch Road with Alex and Condie, and we spent the cold nights in pubs arguing over the finer points of HTML? Good times, good times.

April 22, 2009
Geek Girl Dinner Sydney

Tonight was our long-awaited Geek Girl Dinner Sydney event. I met up with Issy and Tia at the new Googleplex in Pyrmont. (Not the same one I interviewed at in the CBD. Note: My double Goog-rejection was much on my mind.) The new building is gorgeous, and the emcee mentioned a couple of times how “green” it was supposed to be. We checked in and picked up our swag, then were directed out to the “verandah” for drinks. We had champagne and beer while looking out over the gorgeous Sydney skyline. We made some new friends. There was much mockery of Joomla. Then we were all directed down to the meeting room for the “lightning talks.” I got instantly recognized by @misswired, who it took me a few minutes to place. (One of the perils of having a blog; being recognised by strangers. Within ten minutes had worked out that we have, like, 20 of the same friends.) Anyway, the talks. Eight different speakers gave five minute speeches about everything from Twitter to Adobe Flex to helpful command line utilities. (I’d offered to give a speech on the Australian online knitting community, but the bill was full. I think my speech would’ve been better than at least half of them.) Several of the speeches just seemed to be plugs for the chick’s business or employer. Also – there were a lot of guys there! I had no idea that it was kosher to bring partners along. I twittered and knitted throughout the speeches. Afterwards we were herded into a (very small) room for more drinks and nibblies. There was much pounding of free Google booze, and much stalking of super-cool Google coder chicks. (I covet those t-shirts with the Google logo with the female symbol as one of the o’s.) Thankfully Issy was available to drive me and Tia home. Thanks, ladies! It was a super fun night. I’m definitely up for the next one.

April 15, 2009
An Evening with Kurt!

The Snook’s sister and brother-in-law were going out for a special dinner tonight so they asked if we’d mind looking after our nephew. We confidently said, “Sure!” while secretly fearing that we’d be lost trying to entertain a nine-year-old for three hours. But then we remembered, hey! We’re ALL ABOUT the nine-year-old mentality. So we fed him cookies and hot chocolate, played some Wii, jammed on Guitar Hero, and messed around with Photo Booth.

We all had a great time. (I got some video of him dancing while playing Guitar Hero that his father has specifically requested I save for his 21st birthday. That’s quality entertainment.) And hooray! We looked after an impressionable youth for several hours and he came out unscathed.

April 8, 2009
Highly Commended… Again

So I didn’t get the friggin’ blue ribbon. I told the Snook on the way to the Arts Preview tonight that me knitting Na Craga was pretty much the equivalent of Kate Winslet doing a Holocaust movie. I was pandering, and I knew it. If ever I had a shot, this was the year. We arrived and immediately ran into a couple Ravelers. “We won’t spoil it,” they said. “Go look for yourself.” I dragged Snookums through the throng to the knitting cases. And there was my beautiful jumper, completely bunched up and mangled with fishing line… and with a red “Highly Commended” ribbon on it. Again. I know I am a complete and utter ingrate, but I had to strain to be cheerful. Despite my protestations to the contrary over the past couple of weeks, it appears that I really did have a lot vested into the outcome of the contest. I know it’s silly. Still, I couldn’t help but look upon the blue ribbon winner – a cream cardigan with BOBBLES, for god’s sake – with scorn. Don’t they know how hot Snookums looked in it? Grrr. Anyway, I quickly drowned my sorrows at the open bar. (Hey, if they’re going to charge me $25 plus transport to get out there, I’m going to make it worth my while.) There were loads of Ravelers present, and we even managed to get together for a group picture. Congrats to Donna and Ailsa and Sally and Emma and Gemma, and everyone else who exhibited and who I missed in my irritated drunkenness. HOWEVER, I was extremely pleased to see that Gary Gentle has continued his wonderful tradition of naked lady marquetry. His 2009 entry was exceptionally exquisite!

April 7, 2009
Recession Beards?

“Recession beards“? Not in this house! The Snook celebrated the start of his new job last week by shaving his beard off and going back to the hipster mutton chops. He also bought a new electric razor so he can keep it maintained. My husband is one well-manscaped geek! (Link courtesy of Max.)

April 4, 2009
Happy Anniversary, Snookums

Nine years ago tonight – just about right now, in fact – I was in the Distillers Arms in Hammersmith celebrating being granted a British work visa (which meant I didn’t have to go home in a week). Pretty much the whole office had ended up there, and we were partying it up. Half a dozen of us decided to kick on to the “Leopard Lounge” in Fulham to do some dancing. The place was pretty sad, actually, and not very full, but we made the best of it. At one point I was dancing with the cute boy from the office that I had a crush on, and I just decided to go for it. We smooched and held hands. It was an incredible rush, yet at some level even then I knew it also felt completely comfortable and right. We’ve barely been apart since.

It’s been a great nine years. Happy (real) anniversary to my best friend…

April 1, 2009
Na Craga

It’s finished! I dragged the Snook out for a photoshoot this morning. There’s a slight visible line from my drying rack across the front, but I’ve already steamed it out for Show delivery. The light was too nice not to go for the photographs right away.

As I said on Ravelry, I kinda feel like crying a little bit, like when I finished my first half-marathon. This WAS a marathon. Getting to the finish line is just such a relief. Regardless of whether it wins anything, I think this may be the knitting project that I am most proud of. Thanks to all you guys for your great comments, advice, and encouragement.

More photos are on my Ravelry project page and on Flickr.

The pattern is “Na Craga” from Alice Starmore’s Aran Knitting. Unfortunately the book is out-of-print and used copies sell for hundreds of dollars. Luckily a kind Raveler was willing to share hers with me so I could knit it.

I ended up using 19 skeins of Naturally Harmony 10ply. The last skein (used for the collar) is a different dye lot, but I can’t spot the difference at all. The twisted ribbing was done on 4.5mm needles, with the body and sleeves being done on 5mm. It took me nearly four months to do the actual knitting, and then the sewing up took another two weeks. It’s being entered in the 2009 Sydney Royal Easter Show Arts Competition in class #119 (Aran Knitting). I’ll update if/when it wins a prize!

March 28, 2009
New Hair!

I took the day off today to get my hair done, have a massage, and generally just take it easy. I told my hairdresser Desiree that I wanted something a bit shorter, and I wanted a more interesting colour. She did foils in “vibrant purple” and “hot pink,” and then did the re-did the base in aubergine.

And there it is! If you’re in Sydney and you need a new stylist, I can’t recommend Partners Hair Glebe enough. Desiree’s taken me blonde and short, allover pink, my chocolate Katie Holmes bob (Why can I not find a photo??), and even retro as Lucy. I love her!

March 16, 2009
Happy 50th Anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa!

My mother’s side of the family are gathering in Indiana to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my grandparents, Jim and Soon Harter. This is their wedding photo, which ran in the paper with the announcement. Aren’t they gorgeous? Grandpa looks so dashing and strong and handsome, and Grandma looks exotic and beautiful and brave. I like to think I can see a little of myself in them. I’m heartbroken that I can’t be there to help them celebrate at the party my Mom has organised. My sister is going though, and she’s taking their youngest great-grandchild along. I’m going to try to get up early Monday morning and call them during the party. I love you and miss you guys!

March 14, 2009
Inner City Guild Meeting

Today was my first meeting as Convenor of the Knitting Guild’s Inner City Group, and it was also our first meeting at our new location in Customs House Library. I was stressing out a little bit beforehand, but I shouldn’t have worried. It was one of our best meetings ever. Everyone was in such a good mood! We had 31 people in attendance (plus Rae’s adorable baby Zara), and several of those were brand new members. Our new meeting format worked well, and folks seemed to appreciate our aim of finishing off the business quickly so we could just knit and chat.

Of course, the best part was that Fiona made me special cupcakes for my birthday! And then she made the whole group sing to me. It was very sweet. Thanks, Fee! Kate also brought a cake, and I made a Spanish tortilla. (I used these two sites for tortilla recipe guidance. Flipping that thing on my own was, like, the scariest culinary feat I’ve ever attempted. It came out really good though!) Thanks to everybody who came to the meeting, and to my fellow officers Rosemary and Geraldine for all their help. I’m looking forward to next month!

March 14, 2009