The Creative Nest

There comes a point in life when you realize you're no longer "kind of interested" in something. You've crossed the line into becoming that person . You know exactly who I'm talking about. They're the person who can identify every bird at the backyard feeder, explain the difference between ten varieties of tomatoes, quote every line from their favorite movie, or spend an entire afternoon organizing a craft room and consider it a relaxing day. For years, I jokingly referred to my own little obsession as my "inner nerd." I said it with a laugh, almost like it was something I should apologize for. You know the comments: "I know this is nerdy..." or "You'll probably think this is boring..." Looking back, I have no idea why I felt the need to soften it. Why do we act like being excited about something is something to hide? The older I get, the more I've realized that everyone has an inner nerd. Some people collect vintage Pyrex...

I had a plan today. It was a good plan, too. I was going to sit down, write my third blog post for the week, maybe enjoy another cup of coffee, and then spend the rest of the afternoon pretending I was going to clean the house. You know... a perfectly normal Sunday. Instead, I opened my laptop. That was my first mistake. I don't even remember exactly how it started. I think I was looking at Google Analytics and Search Console, trying to understand why they insist on giving me every number known to mankind without actually telling me what any of those numbers mean. I don't need to know I had 215 active users, 222 sessions, and a 13.06% engagement rate. I need someone to look me in the eye and say, "Girl... fix this blog post first, and then go have another cup of coffee." Somewhere in the middle of that thought, my brain decided the obvious solution was to build my own blog assistant. Because that's apparently how my mind works now. Most people spend a Sunday watch...

Somewhere along the way, I realized automation had completely taken over my life. At work, I'm always looking for ways to eliminate repetitive tasks. If I can automate a report, attach documents with the click of a button, or save my coworkers from fifty unnecessary mouse clicks, I consider it a successful day. Nothing makes me happier than watching a process finish itself while I sip my coffee and pretend I worked much harder than I actually did. Then I come home...and suddenly automation has a completely different personality. My thermostat quietly adjusts itself without asking. The lights decide they know exactly when I need them. My robot vacuum confidently leaves its charging station every morning looking like it's on an important mission, only to spend the next twenty minutes trapped under a dining room chair. Apparently, mapping the entire house doesn't include remembering where the chair legs are. Work automation is wonderfully predictable. If something goes wrong, ...