Teeny tiny tats

Prepped!
Ow ow ow.
Key to my heart. <3
This felt better than I expected…almost soothing.
Finished! Celtic love knot.

I may be addicted to tiny tattoos.

After my first tattoo last year, I knew I wanted more, and this year’s meetup was as good a time as any. After much deliberation and experimentation, I ended up with two designs, and I couldn’t choose between them.

I knew I wanted a skeleton key of some kind. I love old keys. I also wanted something small behind my ear, but the key idea didn’t fit there.

I also wanted to acknowledge that Tim got his first tattoo this year — a Celtic knot on his wedding ring finger — and finding a way to incorporate that connection into the tattoo, whether directly or indirectly, was important to me.

After much iteration, I decided on a heart-shaped key on my right wrist to balance the tattoo on my left, symbolizing the love part of “amor fati”, and the Celtic knot behind my left ear.

I’m so happy with the new work, and now I’m having all sorts of new ideas for more tattoos. I didn’t believe Tammie when she said tattooing is addictive, but she may be on to something…

😃+

Automattic Grand Meetup, Whistler, BC

Where's Waldo? Credit to Donncha for the photo.

Where’s Waldo? Credit to Donncha for the photo.

What an amazing week.

…but we still got to see a coyote!
Photo discovery tour was canceled…
Scenic waterfall
Hello, Mr. Bear!
Gwen sent Hallie to keep me company on the trip.
Themes Division Memory Wall.
Whistler’s fall colors are coming out.
Key to my heart. <3
Painting mountains with Zealous Art Party!
Flash talk time! Mine was “On Loving the X-Files”.
Design Town Hall with John Maeda.
Yes, my current job title is “Theme Mama”.

I didn’t take as many photos as in past years; I blame Pokémon and soaking in the experience rather than trying to capture it. But my friends and coworkers took lots of photos and I have plenty of memories to share.

I walked a 5k, I got not just one but two tattoos, I saw coyotes and beautiful mountain scenery, and painted my own version of said scenery. The afterparty included tasty drinks and dancing. There were lots of meetings (so many meetings) and lunches and dinners and discussion, and now my head is full and I want to sleep for a week.

😃+

I did the WWWP5k!

Automattic runs/walks/hops

Where’s Waldo, #wwwp5k edition.

And it begins!

And it begins!

I’ve never been a runner. I will probably never be a runner. I tried Couch to 5K once and got about a week into the program before I decided to save my knees and walk instead.

But I’ve been doing a lot of walking lately (thanks Pokémon!), and my endurance has improved. Each year, Automattic does this world-wide WordPress 5k, and this year they’re donating to a good cause, so I figured what the heck; let’s do it!

Scenic Whistler

Scenic Whistler

I was with a small group of other walkers, and I had my trusty Pokémon to keep my mind occupied when I wasn’t chatting with my walking buddy (who was also playing Pokémon). It was chilly and rainy (45℉/7℃), but the scenery was beautiful and the company made it so much fun.

I may have found myself a new Grand Meetup tradition. 🙂

 

Post-5k Soggy Walkers selfie. Photo by Jen Hooks.

Post-5k Soggy Walkers selfie. Photo by Jen Hooks.

😃+

Summer adventures

The end of a season is always bittersweet. On one hand, I adore fall and all the wonderful things that come with it; on the other, it feels like summer flew by. The hottest days were relatively few and far between up here in the north, there was not nearly enough lake time, and I could have taken a few more weeks’ vacation and not felt the pull of work.

Dorks 🙂
Library work buddy.
Time to get the hairs cut!
Sophisticated and seven.
Post-haircut treats in the park.
Post-Pokewalk selfie.
Playtime at Monument Park.
Hmm, I don’t think that’s how it works, girls.
Hello, Ms. Moose!
Northern Maine lakes country.
Lake time is good time.
Hill-rolling is a new favorite pastime.
Swinging sisters!
Swimming in the clouds.
Hoping the rain will let up (it didn’t).
Rain, rain, go away!
Playground time.
And LEGOs, of course!
Letters from camp. <3
Life at the lake.
Lake time.
The Boy and the Boot.
Treats from Darling’s ice cream for a cause.
Selfie with my favorite kids.
7 Wonders of God Warriors
Jesus’ parking spot.
End-of-camp celebrations.
Rainbow!
Presque Isle explorations with my big girl.
Gymnastics antics.
Sisters, reading.

The kids are clinging, driving both their father and me nuts, so it must be time for them to go back to school. Tomorrow we’ll put them on the bus and restart the school-year routines. I feel entirely unprepared and frazzled. I may be in a bit of denial, particularly with regards to Gwen, who turns five in two days. So many mixed emotions!

September also begins a three-month-long string of events that will probably make the rest of the year fly by. There are work trips planned to British Columbia and Spain, my brother’s wedding, more home improvements, birthdays, and holidays.

It was a good summer, a solid summer. Looking back on these photos and thinking about everything we’ve done, it’s clear we made some new memories. Bring it on, autumn. We’re ready for you!

😃+