Back from XOXO. Noticed Andy Baio tweeting that some folks quit their job the day after getting back from the festival. I wonder what they left to go and do? Probably something they don't consider work.

I can sympathise. If it wasn't for the fact that I a) took 6 months off last year, attempting a little freelance, nearly going completely bonkers and b) actually sort of like the routine of a proper job, then I can see the appeal. I'd love to spend more time on non-work things. I don't, though, inevitably because I'm embarrassed that I'll do whatever it is as badly as I do my day-job.

However, I have been trying to do more non-work things on the side and just ignore that fear as best I can.

When I was a kid, I drew a lot. I wasn't even totally bad at it. I drew and painted so much, art college was not an entirely crazy direction I considered. That never happened, partly because I had a really bad art teacher towards the end of my foray into taking art seriously that she totally put me off for years, and big part of me has always regretted letting that happen. Regretting is, of course, stupid, because I have a really good life now and I enjoy the work I do and blah blah blah wouldn't be here today, etc. But still, I do wonder sometimes.

Matthew Sheret started a "30 days of music" to get out of his writing rut. I played along and found setting aside a little bit of time to think about some music every day very relaxing.

I started a "30 days of drawing" to try and have the same effect on myself on a thing I wish I did more of. It's partially worked. On the one hand, I have drawn more in the last couple of months than I have in the last 10 years, but I haven't managed to finish the 30 days, partly because I was spending too long on each piece. I guess I failed at sticking to my own rules (quick, non-precious, drawings), but it has succeeded in making me not ashamed to try something and I've had better outcomes than I thought I was capable of. I genuinely thought I'd forgotten how to draw and paint.

I'm going to keep doing this. This is a thing that I do now.

I'll be speaking at PHP NorthEast (a PHP and UX conference) next week in Boston, providing the closing keynote. The opening keynote is Steve Krug, so, uh, no pressure, right?

I believe there are still tickets available, so come on by and say hi to me.

If you want an idea of the sort of things I'll be chatting about, you might want to listen to an interview I recorded with Jen Kramer a couple of weeks back.

Also, I forgot to mention that Matthew Sheret and I recorded a show with CivicCast a couple months ago, talking about GDS and Design Principles. Find Episode 1 on their website to listen to it.

The edges of San Francisco are where all the interesting parts are. Land’s End.

I’ve completely lost track of the time. I think it’s week 33.

I’m excited about what might be happening at work. It could be really good. I had a dream last night that I was trying to make something of myself and failing, so I think I might be anxious about not screwing up this project.

Mr Sheret visited, and it was really nice. I never got the chance to really get to know him before I left London in the way I would I have liked to. I hope I made up for that a bit. It did make me homesick a little.

Point Reyes was beautiful, we saw whales, deer and eagles. California is pretty spectacular.

Last week, Jake stayed while he was working out of the Google SF office. It’s nice having him around - gets us out of the house, drinking too late, talking in proper British slang. I hope he can convince Jen to come out and visit so we can have some California road trip adventures, since that’s what you do here.

Took care of more bureaucracy and got Global Entry to skip the TSA nonsense and to be able to pass through the US e-gates. Of course, I’m trying to travel less this year, so it arrived just in time.

The three of us hiked around Mt. Tam. (very beautiful) and visited Alcatraz (really cool).

Getting back into an office has been very nice. I like the routine, new faces, daily purpose.

I’ve been in America for half a year already. It doesn’t feel like it.

It was my birthday yesterday.

Started new job yesterday. So far, so good.