I know this guy.

Okay, so I realize that most of my followers here are the same people who follow me on Twitter (and who can see what I like on Facebook--creepy, btw), but I had to share it again.

This? This is my friend Kevin:

Fostering Tech Talent in Schools

A few years ago--like, after I knew him--Kevin needed an extra challenge on top of his day job, and he started teaching first period (actually, I think it was technically zero period) Computer Science at a high school near his apartment. Then he decided to use his master's in education (may we all make such good use of those graduate degrees that we feel so compelled to collect), and that other CS grads like him should be doing the same thing if we really want to continue matching the hiring needs of tech companies around the world. Then he found a way to make that his job while remaining a full-time employee at Big Company That Pays The Bills(tm) and using the company's resources (people and money) to grow the program. *Then* he was featured in the BCTPTB's recent yearly company meeting...and then in the New York Times.

I'm so insanely proud, you guys. To know someone who's stumbled on their life's calling, and then made it an official job, and then got a ginormous company to throw some money at it (maybe not directly related, but still a nice connection), and then got recognized in a world class publication? Add that to the variety of excellent people that I've met between high school, college, and beyond, and damn. We're good people, guys.

...And one of these days I'll convince my husband to start getting up early so he can join this program. Time to use that CS degree (in addition to your current job, whatevs), sweetie!

A new project

A few months ago my good friend and future bridesmaid Elisabeth (who is recently married herself) were talking, and we hit upon the topic of marriage and children and how occasionally our brains and bodies would demand babies RIGHT NOW but other times we would thank our lucky stars that we were still (mostly) well-rested, (mostly) independent women. One of us (it might have been me) mused aloud, “Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a blog that just featured terrible, gut-wrenching stories about how pregnancy and parenthood could be miserable?” Our thinking was that such a blog would function as a good barometer of readiness: If you can read it and still want babies, then it’s time. If, on the other hand, the stories make you clamp your legs tight and look upon your significant other with fear, then perhaps you should hold off on the babies. Well, it didn’t appear that such a blog existed…but now it does.

Introducing So Not Ready, the blog full of stories that will help you be positive it is baby time before you take any steps to procreate. Elisabeth and I (mostly Elisabeth so far) are combing the Internets for stories that make our biological clocks skip a beat, and then we post them for all to read. (Think of it as an almost-mommy blog.) Heck, even after we start building our own families I fully expect that we will be sharing our own stories with future generations of readers who are not quite ready.

Don’t get us wrong; we love babies and children and we totally intend to raise our own families when the time is right. We just want to make absolutely certain that we know what we’re getting into before baby-making time begins, and maybe you do too. If you run across any articles, blog posts, or real-life stories that should be featured on our site, please let us know. Enjoy!