Elaine Chao
@elainecchao.bsky.social
Principal product manager at Adobe; 6th degree black belt; musician; novelist; volunteerism advocate. Opinions are my own.
Pinned
Elaine Chao
@elainecchao.bsky.social
· Jan 9
I just buttoned up my reflection on the past year. This past holiday season in particular was just... busy... and so I'm finally surfacing a bit for air. I'm slowly starting to surface for air and am looking to be more rested when I return to work next week!
elainecchao.medium.com/7-life-lesso...
elainecchao.medium.com/7-life-lesso...
Friends! I’m launching a podcast with a dear friend of mine, and you won’t want to miss it. Starting next week, we’ll be chatting about the music we love through the lens of decades of pro music experience.
November 11, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Friends! I’m launching a podcast with a dear friend of mine, and you won’t want to miss it. Starting next week, we’ll be chatting about the music we love through the lens of decades of pro music experience.
I have a cat who stands up on his hind legs to ram his head against my hand for skritches. Ngl next level adorable
September 28, 2025 at 2:08 AM
I have a cat who stands up on his hind legs to ram his head against my hand for skritches. Ngl next level adorable
The world might be struggling right now, but I forgot that my elder kitty has been fully convinced that the ceiling fan is an alien predator for the past 16 years or so. I thoughtlessly left the door open to the room that had the fan on, then had to convince her to walk past the closed door.
August 20, 2025 at 6:05 AM
The world might be struggling right now, but I forgot that my elder kitty has been fully convinced that the ceiling fan is an alien predator for the past 16 years or so. I thoughtlessly left the door open to the room that had the fan on, then had to convince her to walk past the closed door.
So earlier this summer, I explicitly asked a leader (not at work) if we were expected to do a demo for a particular event. I was informed vehemently that there would NOT be a demo, so I made plans for that morning.
I now find out, 2 weeks before the event, that there will, in fact, be a demo.
I now find out, 2 weeks before the event, that there will, in fact, be a demo.
August 9, 2025 at 2:04 AM
So earlier this summer, I explicitly asked a leader (not at work) if we were expected to do a demo for a particular event. I was informed vehemently that there would NOT be a demo, so I made plans for that morning.
I now find out, 2 weeks before the event, that there will, in fact, be a demo.
I now find out, 2 weeks before the event, that there will, in fact, be a demo.
Current status: contented kitten in a sling on his back, purring like crazy with both front paws outstretched to my chest. No idea what I did to deserve this happy little cat.
The cat distribution system worked pretty well on this one.
The cat distribution system worked pretty well on this one.
August 3, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Current status: contented kitten in a sling on his back, purring like crazy with both front paws outstretched to my chest. No idea what I did to deserve this happy little cat.
The cat distribution system worked pretty well on this one.
The cat distribution system worked pretty well on this one.
One thing I learned this past weekend at a martial arts seminar: apparently being able to Dutch braid someone else’s hair is a power, and being able to do so to your own hair is a superpower.
July 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
One thing I learned this past weekend at a martial arts seminar: apparently being able to Dutch braid someone else’s hair is a power, and being able to do so to your own hair is a superpower.
Me: "I should thicken this sauce with corn starch."
Me, 2 minutes later: "WHAT IS THIS SORCERY??"
Me, 2 minutes later: "WHAT IS THIS SORCERY??"
July 14, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Me: "I should thicken this sauce with corn starch."
Me, 2 minutes later: "WHAT IS THIS SORCERY??"
Me, 2 minutes later: "WHAT IS THIS SORCERY??"
Okay! Kittens seem largely undeterred by illegal sky booms so far. The next door neighbors have not yet started, though
July 5, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Okay! Kittens seem largely undeterred by illegal sky booms so far. The next door neighbors have not yet started, though
Just me and my older cat on the couch together. The older I get, the more I value these little moments.
Especially when the world is particularly challenging.
Especially when the world is particularly challenging.
July 4, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Just me and my older cat on the couch together. The older I get, the more I value these little moments.
Especially when the world is particularly challenging.
Especially when the world is particularly challenging.
Ngl pretty freeing to just block someone from my club’s social media account on Insta. Insta had already hidden their comment automatically, so I just finished off the job. If they don’t like what we teach and what I post, that’s a them problem. 😏
June 24, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Ngl pretty freeing to just block someone from my club’s social media account on Insta. Insta had already hidden their comment automatically, so I just finished off the job. If they don’t like what we teach and what I post, that’s a them problem. 😏
Planned an indulgent day off.
First item of business: let myself sleep in. 11 hours 🙌
First item of business: let myself sleep in. 11 hours 🙌
June 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Planned an indulgent day off.
First item of business: let myself sleep in. 11 hours 🙌
First item of business: let myself sleep in. 11 hours 🙌
I just picked up my landline and made a call with the phone like I was in 1995 or something.
June 23, 2025 at 1:44 AM
I just picked up my landline and made a call with the phone like I was in 1995 or something.
So now the question is: “Do I give the kittens a taste of strawberry and risk them puking it up on carpet?” (not toxic to cats, apparently)
June 20, 2025 at 3:29 AM
So now the question is: “Do I give the kittens a taste of strawberry and risk them puking it up on carpet?” (not toxic to cats, apparently)
Got new savory snacks at Costco last night, and the kittens are absolutely fascinated by the smell. Both have crawled all over me to try out the forbidden human snacks!
June 20, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Got new savory snacks at Costco last night, and the kittens are absolutely fascinated by the smell. Both have crawled all over me to try out the forbidden human snacks!
Older cat has yet another upper respiratory infection. Current status: helping this cat to get mucus out of her sinus cavity. Seriously considering a Nose Frida at this point in time.
June 18, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Older cat has yet another upper respiratory infection. Current status: helping this cat to get mucus out of her sinus cavity. Seriously considering a Nose Frida at this point in time.
Well, the podcast might be happening! We're going to record a pilot and get feedback on it before committing.
June 18, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Well, the podcast might be happening! We're going to record a pilot and get feedback on it before committing.
I'm apparently at the age where I'm steam cleaning my fridge at 9:30pm on a Monday night.
Honestly, it's not a bad feeling.
Honestly, it's not a bad feeling.
June 17, 2025 at 5:29 AM
I'm apparently at the age where I'm steam cleaning my fridge at 9:30pm on a Monday night.
Honestly, it's not a bad feeling.
Honestly, it's not a bad feeling.
Neighborhood birds are strafing in front of the office window. Kittens are telling me ALL about it.
June 14, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Neighborhood birds are strafing in front of the office window. Kittens are telling me ALL about it.
Someone stop me.
I’m tempted to pitch a podcast idea to a friend.
I’m tempted to pitch a podcast idea to a friend.
June 10, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Someone stop me.
I’m tempted to pitch a podcast idea to a friend.
I’m tempted to pitch a podcast idea to a friend.
Note to self: no matter how weird you think you look, keep the outfit that makes the 20something women in your life compliment you without prompting.
In other news, 90s fashion is back in.
In other news, 90s fashion is back in.
June 9, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Note to self: no matter how weird you think you look, keep the outfit that makes the 20something women in your life compliment you without prompting.
In other news, 90s fashion is back in.
In other news, 90s fashion is back in.
Here I am at work, looking at the underside of my mouse to check for cat hair that might be occluding the optical sensor, just like I do at home 🤦♀️
June 9, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Here I am at work, looking at the underside of my mouse to check for cat hair that might be occluding the optical sensor, just like I do at home 🤦♀️
Couldn't close a drawer today, so I took it out to grab whatever was behind it.
Turns out, most of the things I could have sworn I had in a drawer, but had to buy again because I couldn't find it.
Fairly sure I'm pretty set for pen refills for five years.
Turns out, most of the things I could have sworn I had in a drawer, but had to buy again because I couldn't find it.
Fairly sure I'm pretty set for pen refills for five years.
June 7, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Couldn't close a drawer today, so I took it out to grab whatever was behind it.
Turns out, most of the things I could have sworn I had in a drawer, but had to buy again because I couldn't find it.
Fairly sure I'm pretty set for pen refills for five years.
Turns out, most of the things I could have sworn I had in a drawer, but had to buy again because I couldn't find it.
Fairly sure I'm pretty set for pen refills for five years.
Gardeners finally came today. One kitten is intent on hiding from the noise. The other one is tracking them for all he's worth, running directly toward the sounds as fast as his single brain cell will allow him to do.
This tracks.
This tracks.
June 7, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Gardeners finally came today. One kitten is intent on hiding from the noise. The other one is tracking them for all he's worth, running directly toward the sounds as fast as his single brain cell will allow him to do.
This tracks.
This tracks.
Showed up for a 1:1 a half hour early and had the audacity to ping the person. Had to eat crow about 2 mins later as I realized what had happened 🤦♀️
June 3, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Showed up for a 1:1 a half hour early and had the audacity to ping the person. Had to eat crow about 2 mins later as I realized what had happened 🤦♀️