Alex Byrne, living in Oakland CA since 2014. Former resident of San Francisco, Tokyo, London and Herne Bay.
Currently awaiting the legal ending of my second marriage to the same man (DH) while marveling at the way the CA legal system makes it 10x more expensive to divorce compared to what it costs in the UK. Poly/non-monogamous and single as of two days ago, which I’m counting as October’s life fuck up. Sex positive.
Tech company worker, working from home since March 2020. A fascinating career path has seen me ricochet around the world of work in the style of an expert pinball player. I am currently in “Team Operations” which is the newish term for what used to be called culture, morale, retention, knowledge management and team events. And leadership support. It’s a hodgepodge of all the random shit an office manager might have done in the old days. Recently I’ve been thinking about doing a Masters in Business Psychology but since my life fucks up on a monthly basis it’s hard to make long term plans. Completely burnt out after a grueling 6 months of Org thrash and being forced to work on “The Event”, which happened in September, while the company laid off 10% of its staff and then did a reorg in a way that spread the changes out over 2.5 months, with a much delayed comp review rolling out at the same time which was massively unpopular. It’s been a blast.
Breast cancer patient/survivor. October 2020. Got another 3.5 years to go on the drugs you take for 5 years after my type of cancer gets ice cream-scooped out and irradiated. Always amazed at how cancer is the gift that keeps on giving and will continue to dominate your life in ways you never knew about when it was just something on a soap opera.
Thinking about buying a house in the Bay Area but wondering if it’s a good idea with the interest rate rises and the way my life fucks up about once a month.
Cat lover and guardian of Charlotte, a one-eyed former stray who is the best thing in my life. I’ve decided she’s immortal since the idea of her not being around sends me to a dark place.
Mental health petri dish. Medicated in various ways for over 20 years. Mental for 20 years before that. Was wondering recently whether I’d already gone over 1000 therapy sessions in my life. Some people might suggest I am not a good poster child for mental health treatment since I’ve been bonkers for so long. But then if I’d been diagnosed with a serious physical health condition in my teens with a similar chance of death, and was still going 2 decades later, I probably would be good for a poster.
Maker, sewer, sewist, crafter, creative type with the requisite imposter syndrome that has stopped me doing anything about it. The pandemic combined with leaving my partner/husband of 17 years plus cancer plus moving city plus losing the vague notion of a social network working in an office involved and subsequent isolation has left me creatively blocked for the last 2 years. Current member and former President of the SF Quilters Guild and member of the East Bay Heritage Quilters. I recently made a quilt inspired by Heidi Parkes’s workshop. First time I’ve felt I was being creative in a long time.
Sister to 1, half-sister to 2, daughter to 2, cousin to 1, friend to about 4 worldwide, but most importantly - aunt to 2 nieces.
Serial volunteer - something I need to cut out because I’m burnt out.
About 10lb overweight after being “kind to myself” during the last 2 years and turning into a introverted potato.
As my dating profile has always said - “English, with the accent”. Long dark hair with silver streak “like Rogue has let herself go a bit” and freckles. A lot of freckles.
That’s not me.