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Writing Challenge Day 20: Today I Tried...
Okay, okay… I know this is one of the hardest topics ever, because when you’re quarantining (does anyone else say this like martini? Just me? Okay...), or sheltered in place, or trapped at home with your entire family, trying something new is legitimately hard. Not only has 2020 stripped us of all the fun activities, like…
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Writing Challenge Day 1: Connecting in a Disconnected World
PREFACE: To kick off this year’s Writing Challenge, I’ll address one of the most obvious, persistent, and pervasive issues we face: we’re not together. Not as coworkers; nor as friends; and not even as families beyond those who are living in our particular “COVID bubble” (which, sadly, is now a thing we say). I chose the…
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Writing Challenge Day 13: Quarantine Cuisine
Bread, lots of bread has been made in quarantine… I’m sure, like others, you’ve been trying new ideas out in the kitchen. I even signed up for a seafood and a beef delivery service. By the way, anyone need any seafood? K I’ve also watched a TON of baking shows and assumed I would be literally the best baker of all time…
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Writing Challenge Day 14: Am I on Mute? Being Heard While Remote.
I’ve had jobs where I’ve been mostly in-person, mostly remote, and somewhere in-between. But I was still unprepared for 2020. In the past, I’ve relied being in-person to get the visibility I need at work. Since that’s not an option right now, and as someone often labeled as “soft-spoken,” I’ve had to make some changes this…
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Writing Challenge Day 18: Finding Friendship
“Strangers are just friends we haven’t met yet.” While horrific to some, this is a personal catchphrase. I believe the world is filled with so many wonderful, unique individuals to meet. And think of the variety of places you could meet them! At a coffee shop, in an airport lounge, by the snack bar at a coworker’s…
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Writing Challenge Day 16: The Growing Pandemic Family
My household is small—it’s my husband, my dog, and myself. Since March, we’ve said on countless occasions how lucky we are to live in a split-level home. If it weren’t for the two floors, I’m not sure how we’d have made working from home a success with our dueling calls and responsibilities. I’m not a quiet person, Asa is…
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Writing Challenge Day 17: Pets on Zoom
What is it with pets and video calls? They just seem to know when the camera is on, and they aren't shy. Let's talk about how this seemingly frustrating distraction could be a saving grace during this tumultuous time. You don't have to be a pet lover to understand the value pets have brought to hundreds of thousands of…
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Writing Challenge Day 12: Keeping an Active Mind
The December Writing Challenge is coordinated by Leon, and he constructs the schema for the entire month. He provides the Thought Seeds for all essays. They are meant to carry the theme through the month, and each of us authors, or writers (if I dare use that word), gets to choose the seed we wish to plant. It’s my hope…
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Writing Challenge Day 9: I Didn't Think I'd Ever Need... to Plan Properly
I’ve never been very good at planning. I’ve gotten through life on a wing and a prayer. A little luck and a fair amount of determination. This year, things changed. Suddenly everything we enjoyed and took for granted was gone. There was part of me that felt a little annoyed my freedom had been curtailed. The annoyance was…
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Will Security Concerns Break Open-Source Containers?
By Omar Rafik, SolarWinds Senior Manager, Federal Sales Engineering Here’s an interesting article on some of the security concerns that come along with containers. I was surprised to hear that a third of our customers are planning to implement containers in the next 12 months. The rate of change in IT never seems to slow…