Missa

Phoenix is UNREASONABLY hot. Like this is insulting.

But hey? I’m here! Let’s go #LabsCon!

In the grand scheme of overall stress levels and the state of the world, I would like to request that Quantico suspend its range bullshit for a bit.

My stress level is not prepared for their September schedule

-_-

31 hours from being dropped off at the SYD international departures terminal to finally crawling in my bed at home.

I am never again going make this trip without an overnight in LA both ways.

BRB, going into torpor for an undetermined amount of time. (J/k I have a workout at noon tomorrow. RIP)

Is “where’s your accent from” the polite way of asking me if I’m American or Canadian? I used to get asked “Visiting from America?”, but this go round it’s “What accent do you have?”

Either I sound weird, or that’s butt-sniffing to see if I’m American or not in this political climate 😂

I have scientific proof that petting #Kangaroos is stress relieving. Went to the Zoo around 1:00pm. The data speaks for itself.

I haven’t had this much time in “Relaxed” in literally months. Adorable animals == happiness. This is just science. I don’t make the rules.

Perfect day, and great weather to boot - Glad the rain let up for the couple of days I’m in town!

Kayaks, adorable marsupials, and no shortage of venomous snakes and spiders. I’ll call it a 5 star experience. :)

How I started my morning. I am an early bird most days anyway, but I can’t ever *quite* get my sleep schedule to go past 4AM in Australia. It makes for ample opportunity for breathtaking sunrise runs, and this morning, a sunrise kayak I wish I could do every day.

The amount of joy this brought me is unreal. #Australia #Kangaroo #Koala

I need to stay awake for another ~6 hours to ward off the worst of the jet lag.

The only problem with that is that there’s no one online to talk to and keep me awake.

Out for a walk in the rain it is!

things were better when the computer lived in its own specific room and you only went in there sometimes

A Flighty app screenshot that shows my prior history on Delta’s plane with tail number. N322DN. I flew on the same physical plane on August 4 (DCA to ATL) and August 20, 2025 (ATL to LAX).

New record (for me). Made it to Diamond medallion before the end of August.

This is like one of those video game achievements that’s also a fail.

Or like this the other day, where I was on the EXACT same physical plane twice in the same month. That was new.

I will 100% buy in to that conspiracy.

When I moved here I was informed that the lowest scores on the VA drivers exam were issued Maryland plates and honestly this tracks with my experiences.

As someone else who lives in the area, I live in fear of Maryland drivers, and that’s about it.

thinking about becoming a three-day calendar view in outlook guy. who cares what’s happening on thursday? we might all be dead

Why does IAD have literally the worst possible options for food?

Trying to find a decent source of protein that isn’t fried or covered in carbs and salt in this airport has resulted in like a 1.5 mile stroll through several terminals, and subpar grilled salmon.

-_-

3-months-ago me was awfully bold and booked an IAD > ATL > LAX > SYD route without my usual overnight in LA.

Today me is really wondering what the hell I was thinking.

Twenty. Eight. Hours. Of. Travel.

😳

It is 5:40 AM and there is already a baby using its WHOLE lung capacity on this flight.

And I haven’t even had a sip of coffee yet and only 4 hours of sleep after a flight cancellation last night.

It’s gonna be fine.

I get that the DCA>RDU (and reverse) route is not at all one of the profitable ones Delta flies, but the fact that they let it go 1-2 hours late EVERY day for EVERY flight just feels lazy. Fix the issue or reduce it to 2x a day. The hurry up and wait game at RDU is getting old. Every. Single. Time.

🚨Gootloader Returns: Malware Hidden in Google Ads for Legal Documents The threat actor behind the Gootloader malware has once again changed their tactics, but also reverted to some of their old ways. Just like with the previous infection method, we are seeing Google …

⚠️ New TTPs detected for #Gootloader ⚠️
Out are the PDF conversions and back in are legal document lurs. They are still using #malvertising, not SEO poisoning.

gootloader.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/g...

A collage of photos of backstage at graduation for SANS Technology Institute class of 2024. Photos of Melissa with friends and family at a restaurant. Photo of Melissa receiving her degree from the SANS Technology Institute president Ed Skoudis.

Melissa speaking at commencement

I’m still exhausted from a whirlwind of family and friends and events this week be but my heart is full.

I’ll post more detailed thoughts later, but for now I’ll say I am so thankful to be able to do the work that i do, and to stand amongst so many I respect and admire. #sans_edu #msise

WHY has society normalized “watch videos with volume on in public without headphones”?!

Seriously I see it everywhere and it’s the most basic level of “tell me your a self-involved asshole without telling me you’re a self-involved asshole”

Wear the AirPods I know you have or use captions, damn.

“we have been locked out of our computers, and have no chance to assist in an orderly transition in our work. We don’t even have access to our personal employment data. We’re supposed to return our equipment, but can’t use our email to find out how or where.”

Show me the efficiency, I can’t see it.

I’ve been in planes and airports for the last 25 hours. One more hour and I’m home free. Got about a thousand emails I need to respond to and a load or two of laundry to do over the next 72 hours.

All thats between me and my boys and cats is 1 hr at 35K and a 25 minute car ride. LETS GOOOO

Of everything I’m going to miss about this country, it’ll be the coffee and the beaches I’m going to miss the most.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a good hat that fits over all this hair?! Especially a hat of any quality? I haven’t had one I loved since I left Wyoming and lost mine 😭

IDGAF if I look like I’m cosplaying as Crocodile Dundee, I’m actually kind of obsessed with this thing.

It’s breathtaking here. A little less than 5 miles, but I managed to accidentally time it perfectly so I was standing at the opera house as the sun came over the horizon.

Bonus points: my husband was watching the harbor cam live stream and saw me wave to him :)

This, plus my favorite bedtime tea bags, some face mask sheets, good hand cream and lip balm mean I arrive feeling mostly human. A quick shower and i was in the office before 11AM and put in a full day.

Jet lag doesn’t have to suck, but you do have to actively plan to make it not suck.

Got 6.5 hrs sleep on the flight. Landed at 0730 local time.

I was pretty normal functioning today. Stayed hydrated, no alcohol or heavy meals, get outside & active during daylight. Didn’t stop until 8pm.

This strategy has become my best survival tool for jet lag.

I repeat…