yesterday was HTML day 2025!!! i made it to my local event in NYC to celebrate, and i'm so glad i made it :)
i was very nervous going in, mostly because i rarely go to social events like this, and it wasn't helped by me running late due to leaving the house later than i should've, and also public transit issues (...and me getting lost while trying to follow the directions of google maps). it took me over an hour to make it there unfortunately, and i arrived an hour late. but i made it!!!
by chance, i met someone on the way there, who was also going to the event. we chatted while walking to the park and followed each other on bluesky! check out Sudhanshu on bluesky, he was super nice!!!
the reason Sudhanshu knew i was also going was because i was wearing my HTML gag shirt that my sister had printed for me as a christmas gift. it says "I know HTML: how to meet ladies" and when she gave it to me last christmas, i laughed SO hard. apparently she and her friends found the print and knew it'd be perfect for me; they were right! when i found out about HTML day i knew i had to wear this shirt, and i'm so glad i did as not only did i make a potential new friend through it, but a lot of people at the event pointed it out and laughed when they read the subtitle!!
i saw a person dressed in an all-pink outfit, including a pink denim jacket covered in patches, and i was immediately mesmerized by how cool they were. i later asked for her website... and turns out she's one of my favorite bloggers and artists, kaylee rowena!!! i actually gasped when i realized as she spelled out her site name. i really admire their site and their work in general, so it was super cool to get to meet her!!!
eventually, we were all told to put our laptops in the center of the gathering to show off our creations. i admittedly got a head-start on my page, but it was only for the CSS styling, i swear! mostly everything else was done during HTML day :) the page i created is all about my kami-oshi (all-time favorite idol), dambara ruru, and you can view it on my website.
by 8:30PM, i had to get ready to leave, since it was getting dark out and i was a bit far from home (and out of my depth, being in an unfamiliar area, so i had barely any idea how to navigate). i felt sad leaving when mostly everyone was still gathered there, but it was getting late. i headed home and the whole way, i couldn't stop smiling.
you can find the (few) pictures i took at HTML day in a flickr album i created. you should also check out the arena channel for the event; there's lots of fun pictures to see, and you might see me, too!