What's your favorite non-tech tool you use for work?
I don't really have a lot of non-tech tools in my life, but I guess I would have to say my coffee cup. I cannot even begin to function without a cup of green tea when I first get in to the office, and it has to be out of a coffee cup (I've used a styrofoam one before and it's just not good).

If you could only keep one kind of candy at your desk for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Oh Summer, this is like asking a mother which of her children she loves the most. But if I had to pick just one, I probably would go with Tootsie Rolls. I would have said peppermints, but I know that Natalie always has those up front. So HA!

What communications medium helps you the most during the day?
IM, hands down. I am a multi-tasker and hate to be interrupted by the phone (email is OK, but I can't stand a messy inbox), and IM lets me answer someone or ask a question without having to completely stop what else I'm doing and get off track. Plus, being a nerd, I just prefer to converse in text rather than in person. I would probably IM my family instead of calling if they would let me get away with it.

What is your favorite on-the-job responsibility?
Lately I've been getting into some more involved (well, more involved for me) coding, so any time I get to work with php, javascript or CSS I get excited. I still love writing, but I'm really starting to appreciate the art of building Web sites—even the nerdy back-end part. The more I learn, the more I realize the creativity involved in it, and I love being able to see the graphical elements and the coded elements come together as a nice-looking, functional Web page. It makes me feel very productive.

How do you refocus if you're having trouble concentrating or getting the creativity flowing?
If I'm getting frustrated and just can't get back in the groove, I will usually get up from my desk and walk around a bit, or I might read a quick news piece online. Just something to take my mind off the task at hand long enough to refresh my brain. Then I will usually queue up some different music on iTunes (which artist depends on what I'm working on, but I can't really pinpoint how I decide... I just kind of feel it) and try to get back to it.

Around 1 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2009, my town of Murfreesboro, Tenn., was slammed by an F-4 tornado that killed two people, injured 50, completely destroyed 59 homes and damaged 291 more. Numerous businesses were damaged or ruined completely. The National Weather Service reports the path of the tornado extended 23 miles.

I was overwhelmed with relief when my husband told me our house, located in the southeastern part of the city, was not affected by the tornadoes. (There was also another smaller tornado reported, an F-1, that hit closer to my house, but luckily all we saw was hail, rain and green skies.) All of my friends and family members are safe, though a few have some damage to their homes.

I wanted to blog about this earlier in the week, but I'll be honest: I have been pretty freaked out. Ever since my apartment building was damaged by a small tornado (or perhaps straight-line winds; the jury is still out on that one) back in 2003, I have had a great (and admittedly irrational at times) fear of tornadoes. My husband was at home on Friday, which, while I was concerned for his safety, also brought me comfort in that I had a direct line to what was going on at my house while I was stuck in Nashville waiting out the storm until I could drive home.

This was a huge tornado that has affected so many people in my community. There is so much damage and devastation, and my heart breaks for my fellow Murfreesboro residents. I can't imagine what I would do if the tornado had come through my neighborhood as well—and at the advice of others, I'm trying to stop thinking about that. Tornadoes are just random acts of nature's vengeance, and in Tennessee you have to expect them and deal with them.

So in an attempt to stop focusing on what could have happened, I've been concentrating on what I can control: Buying a fireproof safe (in case my home ever does get blown apart, my valuables will be sturdily contained). Knowing where our safe spot is should we be home if one comes through our area (the downstairs bathroom, the most interior room in the house). Making sure our homeowner's insurance is up-to-date. Loving on my (four!) cats a little more each night when I get home.

And I'm also ready to help with the recovery. I've got clothing and household items to donate, and I am ready and willing to help with any clean-up or rebuilding projects. Murfreesboro is a great city and has been good to me. I know it will rebound, but I also know it will take time.