For starters, my lab session was fantastic. I've always worked in an on-site team environment since my very first "real job", up until last year when I accepted my current position with Squarespace. I love it, don't get me wrong -- there's no commutes to downtown, I can show up for work in my pjs, I do a great deal of development collaboration, and I have a lot of creative freedom in my work -- I wouldn't trade it for anything. But during my session, it was really awesome to talk about design and CSS in that group environment, swapping tips and joking about how we still break our sites regardless of our expertise level. Just feeling that energy and seeing the excitement on everyone's faces as we dorked out on code was fabulous.

I was also fortunate enough to be part of the Small Is Beautiful panel with Rachelle and Jen. This was a last minute opportunity for me -- originally my co-mama Elaine was a panelist on this one, but she couldn't attend due to a medical emergency. While I was truly, truly disappointed she wasn't there, I couldn't help but feel like the universe had somehow aligned the planets and pushed me to be in that room. And if there was anyone who would have wished that into happening, it would have been Elaine.

In that room, and with some frequency during the week -- in the photo booth, over sake bombs, during dim sum excursions, in late night hotel room hang out sessions, and even while dancing to Journey in front of the taquitos -- I found myself in the company of people who felt like long lost friends. It was something completely unexpected, but so, so welcome.

When I finally landed home on Sunday night, Myriam called with the strangest story. She had just talked to a friend who recently moved to San Deigo, and at the local coffeehouse, this friend had met a really cool gal who brought up Blogher. Myriam's friend was lamenting about her friends being in Chicago having a great time, and this gal was lamenting about the very same thing. And this friend turned out to be Elaine, the very same Elaine that should have been in Chicago with me.

If that's not synchronicity, I dunno what is.