About

Hello, there. I’m Angela Schmeidel Randall and this is my personal blog. I live in Houston, Texas with my super-geek husband, Graham, and our two kitty cats.  Don’t worry, the blog’s not about the cats.

By day, I run a user experience and usability company called Normal Modes. I fell into the work by providence.  I put myself through school working on websites, first for a major mutual fund company and later for a major airline. Learn more about my company and my previous work, then hire me! I’m very lucky to get to work from my dedicated home-office, most often wearing nothing more professional than exercise clothes or maybe purple monkey pajamas.  My commute is the walk from my bed to my desk.  I love my boss – she’s my favorite person in the world.

I spent much of my adult life finishing my bachelor‘s, then my master’s, degree studying various aspects of the world beyond U.S. borders. Ask me about western versus eastern notions of human rights, how medical anthropology can tell us a lot about regime change, or about the history of messianic & millenarian protest movements in mainland China; there’s an entire area of my brain dedicated to this minutia – and more -  that I don’t get to access very often for my day-to-day work.  I miss school (a lot) and sometimes think about getting my Ph.D., but Graham cringes at the thought.  Having spent so much time in school, I believe in life long learning in the liberal arts.

In my spare time I work on culinary adventures designed to teach me to be a better cook, dabble in photography, explore the world, and whittle down my life list. Sometimes I twitter (@angelarandall).

Unlikely Photos of Angela (The Series)

Unlikely: Eating a giant steak at the old folks dorm where my grandma & grandpa lived.

More likely: A bountiful meal of whole grains, fresh vegetables, a nice piece of fish.  And a rebelling husband.

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Unlikely: A pink gun toting sharp shooter.

More likely: Becoming one of those ladies on the news who tries to save every animal she comes across.  I make Graham take the bugs back outside where they belong rather than killing them.

But lemme say this: if I’m gonna have a gun, it’s not going to be some oppressive pink mockery of women.  It’ll be a regular ‘ole gun like the boys have, thankyouverymuch.

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Unlikely: Reaching the top of the rock wall even though I’m petrified of heights.

More likely: Reaching the top of the rock wall and going back the next weekend so I can do it again.

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Unlikely: Belting out tunes with the other Angela, “Little Angela,” at our friend Mark’s casa in Houston.

More likely: Exploring the hutongs of Beijing with Little Angela and an over protective, non-english speaking taxi driver. At night. While people stare and try to touch my blonde hair.

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Unlikely: Going to the racetrack and having a little fun.

More likely: Going to the racetrack to kick ass and take names.  You’re going down!

It’s “Trixie” if I’m driving.

My husband always describes me as “formidable.” I take that as a compliment.

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