Tonight after Mike got home from work I got to go out. I got to leave the house.
Those of you not held captive by a small child 24 hours a day might not get the significance of that so let me repeat it for you: I got to go out with no kid on a school night and hang out with my friends.
As I sat there in the bar surrounded by people, some that I know and love, some that I’ve only just met, I realized how lucky I am. I’ve said recently how amazed I am by Portland’s tech community… but what I haven’t said is this: It’s a family.
It’s a family, and in that family I feel like a welcome member… not some weird cousin that sticks things up her nose or makes really inappropriate comments and everyone cringes when she arrives.
It’s good to know these people and they don’t seem to mind knowing me.
It may not seem like it but by nature I am shy. Painfully shy, but with these wonderful people I’ve met over the last couple years behind me I can walk into a room, smile and nod, walk up to some one I’ve never met and tell them unabashedly who I am, and never flinch.
Thank you. Not just for allowing me to be a part of this big family, but for allowing anyone to join you. For accepting so many lost souls with open arms… and for only talking about us behind our backs a little.
Just like a real family.
CamiKaos 
Ahh they sound good. Yay for family, and friends who are family, and family who are friends.
So by weird cousin, were you talking about Mie?! Haha
Where are mah pictures?
It’s good to have all different kinds of family. I love my work family and my family of moms, they keep me sane when my biological family is driving me crazy.
lets try this again?!
I am not the weird cousin, Cami’s brother is…. (hee hee). Or is it my oldest sister? hmmmm?
Hey, look at that. I can comment again….
does this mean you will finally stop sticking things up your nose in public?
also, you have completely turned to mush. ha ha ha!
okay, but if we get together, i’m bringing the devilled eggs.
it’s fine. you’ll fart yourself stupid.
aw crap i shouldn’t have said that.
I’d so be excited if I lived in Portland, even if I had to be weird cousin who sticks things up my nose. Which I do. Or at least used to.
I see a submit button now, so I’m crossing my fingers that I can comment…..
I LOVE the changes to your site Cami…it has been a while since I visited…just been so busy at work…so I took some time to read back a bit and I really do think you can be proud of your new look…content has always been awesome…I’ll be back…