zchamu dot com

We’re having a good summer if it kills us all.

zchamu — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:50:49 +0000

For years, I haven’t really enjoyed summer. (Enter the pitchforks and rotten eggs.) I know. What’s wrong with me, right? Summer! Outside! Heat! Fun! GODDAMMIT! GO HAVE FUN!! Exactly. Summer is SO MUCH PRESSURE, and I’m lazy. I’m not a planner, so every weekend seemed to roll around with nothing on the offer. Then the [...]

Is Your Blog The Show Or The Commercial?

zchamu — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:10:52 +0000

Because whether we’ve meant to or not, we’ve turned the social media landscape in to this: Every day as I scroll twitter, looking for the interesting/thought provoking/funny things my friends say, on every screen I will inevitably be hit – blam! – with another tweet that’s nothing more than an ad. “Our <insert brand name> [...]

My 13 Year Old Self’s Dream

zchamu — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:54:35 +0000

I’ve thought often lately about how my 42 year old self has, at times, been living my 13 year old self’s dream. It happened last August when I was walking along the path in front of the vast concrete hulk of the San Diego Convention Centre, leaving one fabulous party and heading to another. I [...]

The Potty Is My Alamo.

zchamu — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:11:25 +0000

I am pretty sure I’m doing this potty training thing wrong. I mean, I think I know “how” to do it “right”, or at least “right” by various wise people’s definitions. When one has a toddler who does not know that feces go in to the toilet instead of in their trousers, one must show [...]

I’m not having lunch alone.

zchamu — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:49:12 +0000

Yes, I’m at the restaurant by myself. I’m sitting alone at a booth for two, nary another human being within twenty feet, munching on calamari and staring at my phone. You may think I’m sad and pathetic. And perhaps you’re not wrong. But one thing I am not? Is alone. I’m having lunch with Robin, [...]

I Hereby Resolve To Get My Shit Together

zchamu — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:15:55 +0000

Look, I know. I know that I am ignoring this blog. I have this space. It is mine. This is my own stage. This is the spot that I have carved out for myself. Yet I’m not using it.The epic irony of paying for hosting yet hosting nothing is rather like making a car payment [...]

What can Social Media do, anyway?

zchamu — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:10:51 +0000

This was my video from our Social Media for social good session at BlissDom Canada 2012. Sometimes we don’t realize the reach we have. Sometimes we don’t know how easy it is to touch people, to affect people, to change lives. And sometimes we need a reminder.

Ways In Which I Have Just Gotten Stupider

zchamu — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:00:42 +0000

Look, I know we’re not supposed to be all down on ourselves as a general rule, it’s bad for our karma or something, but this isn’t just me being all Eeyore-y. This is fact. I have gotten piles stupider as I have aged. It doesn’t appear to be due to anything other than sheer old-ness. [...]

Excuses, excuses

zchamu — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:39:44 +0000

Look, I’ve been busy. No? Crappy excuse? Yeah, it IS a crappy excuse. We’ve been going nonstop since the beginning of August, and it’s not like I don’t have things to write about. I have L-O-A-D-S to write about. Every time I’m away from the laptop, blog posts write themselves in my head, streaming against [...]

Just A Small Town Girl

zchamu — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:15:25 +0000

They’re clever, these conference organizers. They don’t just fill three days with interesting sessions and networking opportunities and swag-filled expos and then arrange long, late nights with raucous, hugging, crazy parties for the sake of, you know, our own health. I mean yes, you learn. And yes, you hug. And yes, you get the swag [...]