molly.com
Thursday 9 October 2008
I CAN HAZ TAN!
This is Honey Bunny, insisting on having a tan right in front of my monitor.
Filed under: family, humor, just fun, lolcats, photos, pop culture
Posted by: Molly | 03:19 | Comments (27)
Tuesday 19 August 2008
Jewish Milestones Along my Way
So in the basement of the Ala Moana hotel, owned by Outrigger, there is a storefront where each morning 3 Jewish men daven.
It was a completely unexpected view of Orthodox Judaism in practice. I asked a hotel staff member and she told me that the Outrigger chain is owned, at least in significant part, by Jews. I’ve been to Honolulu SEVEN times and this is the first time I saw religious Judaism in Hawaii.
Then, on a shuttle bus at LAX from overseas back to mainland I met a young woman with a Hebrew saying and a star of David tattooed on her arm. Of course I had to ask. She was with her Mother and half sister, and said it was in honor and remembrance of her Jewish father, passed.
She told me she works at Trader Joe’s and gets asked the same question a lot. Many older women tell her, apparently, “your grandmother is rolling in her grave!” (That was my first thought, To Be Honest. 
)
I wonder sometimes what truth the “faith” I was born into holds for me. I know this: I love that Judaism has no mediator between the self and G-D. I also love the idea that G-D does indeed watch my every step.
Travel. Live. Talk to people. It doesn’t make you smarter, just more aware of milestones along the wayl
Filed under: community, conferences, creativity, cults of personality, faith(less), family
Posted by: Molly | 01:45 | Comments (18)
Monday 14 July 2008
Child Labor Laws Questioned, Holzschlag Says “Start ‘em Young”
In late-breaking news it has been learned that Web standards advocate and educator Molly E. Holzschlag has been found using what appears to be child labor to help solve Web site issues. Here, we see a photo of Holzschlag’s youngest team member, who at 7 months old is hard at work:
“Lil’ P” has advanced skills in HTML, CSS and even is apparently learning some JavaScript. Despite his age, Holzschlag is confident that educating front end developers from early childhood does not equate to mistreatment toward children.
“If anything, starting children in computer technology this young is going to assist in innovative and rapid advancement of our industry. Start ‘em young, and train them right, and a lot of the mistakes we’ve made will be avoided in the future.”
While Holzschlag insists Lil’ P is well provided for, his father, Big P, expresses his own concerns:
“The problem as I see it is that Lil’ P was always a bit big for his britches, and now he’s speeding far past old dad here. How can I effectively raise my child when I can’t even understand the words he uses? Frankly, while the public might question child labor laws for the safety of the child, in a case like this I’m far more concerned about the parental mistreatment that will ensue.”
Clearly the subject of considerable controversy, when asked his opinion on the matter Lil’ P smiled, laughed, picked up a handful of mushy peas and smeared them all over his face. After significant analysis we are still uncertain whether this was a profound statement of Lil’ P’s sentiments on the matter, or if he was just ready for his mid-day snack.
Filed under: family, humor, just fun, web design and development
Posted by: Molly | 01:23 | Comments (31)
Tuesday 27 May 2008
Love and Hate
A long time ago someone told me it was impossible to know love without knowing hate. Is that true?
Filed under: community, faith(less), family, molly asks you, religion, society
Posted by: Molly | 23:00 | Comments (50)
Wednesday 20 February 2008
There’s No Place Like Home
It’s been said that “home is where the heart is.” Well, this heart has been very blessed, because I’ve found heart in so many places, and with so many people.
Tonight I get on the plane that will take me to the plane that will take me to the other plane that will bring me to my physical home in Tucson, Arizona. I’m looking forward to seeing my cat Honey as well as all my friends and loved ones there.
But as I sit here in Cairns, Australia, nearing the end of a month-long journey throughout the southern hemisphere, I’m deeply moved to know that the Aquarian age of ideals has, while always shaped me, proven out in real life.
I feel a true part of the family of humankind, and a part of this beautiful earth that I am so fortunate to travel and experience.
So, it is with my sincerest thanks and all my love to each and every person, and with regard to each and every place, to have helped me find out this amazing fact: There truly is no place like home.
How lucky I am to have found out what that really means. How grateful I am that you have shown me.
Filed under: community, family, society, travel
Posted by: Molly | 21:24 | Comments (21)
Saturday 19 January 2008
I Used to Have a Guitar
Many years ago, sitting on the front step of my dead grandma’s house, I knew I should make myself play a song. The voice I had been given was a good one, and my ear good too. Nothing great, but I could sing and harmonize.
Things happen in life. You’re walking down the road and a person walks up to you – it changes you forever. Or maybe nothing happens in life. Maybe you’re destined to be huddled up in the back of the Starbucks in your grey and black coat. Coffee, brewed too hot, burns.
I used to have a guitar. I used to sing, write songs.
I used to sit on the front step of my grandma’s house. Playing a guitar, remembering how beautiful she was and that she, too
used to have a guitar.
Filed under: creativity, family, poetry & fiction
Posted by: Molly | 17:20 | Comments (27)
Sunday 29 July 2007
Honey
This is my one year old kitty, Honey.
Honey is very good natured, has a great sense of adventure and humor, is getting fat. Oh, and she talks a lot.
I have no idea where she got those qualities!
Filed under: creativity, family, photos
Posted by: Molly | 15:30 | Comments (23)
Monday 4 June 2007
Passages: Leaving the Web Conference Circuit
I sit here in Orlando, Florida, exhausted from not sleeping enough before the day’s begun and many more miles to travel before I rest.
It’s been a wonderful ride, amazing – I’ve met great people and seen parts of the world I’d never even imagined I’d get to visit. But I’m very tired, and my passions are changing. I’m moving toward a time where I want, and need, my life and work to be a bit more quiet and focused.
So, as a pre @media07 London announcement, I want to let folks know that this will be one of the last major public Web events I will be appearing at. There are a few more smaller events, but as of October, I will no longer be speaking or keynoting any popular Web conferences.
This doesn’t mean I’m leaving public life, however. I will continue to present at specific, technically-oriented conferences, and Microsoft-related events. But my main focus will be shifting away from the globetrotting and toward the hard work on interoperability and Web standards both within Microsoft and on-site at companies and organizations worldwide such as AOL and the BBC.
This way, I get to sleep in on more days, and spend a heck of a lot less time in pressurized air cabins. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find the inner peace that’s eluded me since, well, pretty much my life began some 44 years ago.
So I’m off to yet another convention center in yet another city, spending a day with my good mates from Microsoft who have been keeping me together in ways they probably don’t even know, then getting on a Virgin Flight to Gatwick.
By Tuesday morning I will be cozying up in my Bayswater studio and visiting my English kitty friends Zeus and Hera. Then on Saturday I go to Budapest, followed by Amsterdam, Zurich and Cannes before returning to the UK to visit with friends, and an unexpected surprise: My youngest brother, who just received his Ph.D. (on top of his MA, BA and JD) will be in London at the same time so we are planning a day together to celebrate his success.
Filed under: announcement, conferences, family, professional
Posted by: Molly | 04:14 | Comments (44)
Thursday 31 May 2007
Not Me But You: “Maybe”
There are people in my life that are so incredible.
Today I honor the friend who has stuck by me for nearly a decade no matter what. Michael is a musician, and several friends like Eric and Jeffrey have met Michael. No easy personality, but it takes one to know one perhaps. He grows. I grow. We grow.
Here’s a song called “Maybe” with a link to a directory with the m4a version and some photos. There’s an MP3 version in there now as well as a compressed RAR, courtesy Face and Thacker (thanks guys)! In the meantime, I hope you’ll appreciate the people around you as much as I’m learning to do, again.
Maybe
By Michael William Forkan
I love a girl and her name is Maybe
she doesn’t have the power to save me
and everything
is exactly what it is
All of my life it’s been the same way
can’t help falling on the dark days
that make you wanna die make you wanna sing
This tarred and feathered beauty
this tattered compromise
has torture in her past and kindness in her eyes
bark out your judgement calls to souless, empty halls
teach me how to lie, I’ll teach you how to sing
I love your baby’s breath
I love you half to death
which is half
of what you really need
Come to I’m all alone
died by the telephone
confessing sins that I really didn’t need.
I love a girl and her name is Never
broke her heart to last forever
so anyway
I’m not as clever as I dream
All of my life it’s been the same day
can’t help falling on the always
and make you wanna cry make you wanna scream
this scarred and weathered beauty
this perfect sacrafice
has madness in her kindness and wisdom in her lies.
I love your baby’s breath
I love you half to death
which is half of what you really need
Come to I’m all alone
Died by the telephone
Confessing sins
that I really didn’t need
I love a girl and her name is Maybe
She’s no longer out to save me
and everything is exactly what it is.
Filed under: creativity, family, music, nmby
Posted by: Molly | 21:22 | Comments (15)
Monday 21 May 2007
The “I’m a Technologist but my Significant Other Is Not” Issue
So you’re doing great as a computer person. In most instances, you probably really enjoy your work, get paid at the very least a living wage to do it, and are able to have wonderful collegiate relationships, as well as great friends met.
But your significant other(s), who isn’t in the technological world or doesn’t have interest in it for whatever the reasons, well, he or she or they’re often left out of the passion and enthusiasm we exhibit when we are with those great friends, met.
I’ve always had SO’s in my life who were at least somewhat interested in what I did. But maybe that isn’t the best focus. Maybe I should be taking a closer look at the curly haired handsome and affectionate chef who wants to open his own restaurant in the Yucatan but could care less about the Web related services he’ll need?
Where’s the balance? Is there one? Is it better to have one partner into it and one not? Have you had an experience to share about this?
Because I so want to know.
Filed under: faith(less), family, humor, molly asks you, society
Posted by: Molly | 03:30 | Comments (65)
Monday 30 April 2007
Debugging Molly
After several insightful and supportive conversations with friends, family and wise counsel regarding personal issues and my challenges with clinical depression, I’ve decided to take a technological approach.
I’m going to debug myself.
Essentially, this means repairing the negative, self-hating thoughts of shame, guilt, and sorrow for pain I have caused others and pain I have caused myself, and learning to forgive myself. Funny how we humans are, eh? I have forgiven all wrongs committed against me, but have been very stubborn to forgive those I committed against myself.
Steps to debugging Molly include: making sure I’m eating and sleeping as regular hours as I can within my lifestyle; avoiding alcohol and caffeine; and learning to gain better work/life balance. I will also commit to doing yoga again each morning, swim more frequently, catch negative thoughts and replace them with celebratory ones, and remove all disrespectful, problematic relationships from my life.
Readers here have long known me to be a very passionate character, with a dark side that has frightened and concerned others, at times. I hope everyone reading knows if my words and my behavior have not always been the best that I’m capable of, I hope you will forgive me too, and know that my heart is in the right place and I am sorry.
One thing I will also work on is to decrease the rumination stuff. That’s a tough one for me. Alas, it’s a symptom of my illness, but I’m being treated and part of that treatment is doing the hard work of becoming a better person.
Thank you all so very, very much for your patience, understanding, support and kindness as I have gone through this very difficult time. I am a very, very fortunate person to have so many caring friends and colleagues. Truly blessed.
To bed with me, to wake to do my session here at MIX and get back to the technology, topics, and people I hold so dear.
Filed under: faith(less), family, society
Posted by: Molly | 23:27 | Comments (45)
Sunday 22 April 2007
The Online Tribe : Three Commitments
Lately, things have been so busy, and so difficult in many ways.
I still believe in my online tribe. Are you with me? Here are my commitments:
- I will not give up.
- I will not stop blogging.
- I made mistakes and I shall steady on.
Are you with me? I need you. Claim your truth in comments below.
Filed under: Blogroll, blogging, creativity, faith(less), family, innovation, poetry & fiction, policies, pop culture, professional, society
Posted by: Molly | 16:15 | Comments (77)
Sunday 1 April 2007
Welcome Home Honey Bunny
So I’d been thinking about working through depression and despondency and confusion and right and wrong and all that groovy stuff and realized one of the things I’ve been missing is having a kitty cat. Many readers know I lost my cat of nearly 18 years, Tara, back in August. Add to that a completely crazy schedule and out of focus life, and it just wasn’t time.
I called the Humane Society yesterday and told them about my busy travel schedule and to ask whether that would be fair to bring a young cat into. Their advice, which is actually advice I’d also heard earlier, was to avoid adopting a kitten, but rather looking for a feline friend around 1-4 years old.
After eating breakfast with my brother Linus, who came to town to do some work on his house and our friend Eric (who is now my neighbor) on a bit of a whim I stopped by the Humane Society and went on in. The feline room was filled with cats, but only two got particularly happy upon seeing me. Mike, a little black and white kitten who was adorable and already adopted, and a beautiful red tabby female, around a year old, with golden eyes who got right up in my face and let me know it was not her, but rather I, who was being adopted today.
That took about a minute. Filled out some paperwork, went through the counseling routine, and then I saw the page with her name, which was Honey Bunny! As Pulp Fiction is one of my top most loved films of all time, I just think it was all a wonderful bit of fate. I was told a bit of her history, that she’d been at the humane society once before as a stray, a family came in to adopt her, and gave her back because she wasn’t getting on with their dog! To think this beautiful and very sweet natured cat would have been euthanized and has been in kitty lockup twice makes me so relieved and happy I met her today.
So Honey is now here, being a bit shy and cautious and keeping to herself in between brief sprints of exploration as cats will do when first settling in. I’ll get pictures once she’s more at ease.
And here’s the amazing thing – my house feels like home for the first time in a very long time, back before Tara got sick and to a time when I had health, peace, happiness and joy in my life.
April 1st might be fool’s day for some, but for me n’ Honey over here, well, let me just say here’s to new beginnings.
Filed under: family
Posted by: Molly | 16:26 | Comments (50)
Thursday 22 March 2007
Happy Birthday Molly’s Mom
Today is my mother’s 74th birthday. I love my mother, oh yes I do. Happy Birthday Mom!
Filed under: family, general
Posted by: Molly | 12:52 | Comments (30)