My blog is about my journey as a business owner, writer, urbanist, mentor to women, mom, twin, advocate for causes I believe in, and backyard chicken farming, too.
I believe that all women deserve a seat at the table and that our voices, stories, and journeys are an integral part of getting us there.
What kind of name is that?
It’s Japanese and Lebanese, and I am, well, neither. My name has inspired me to learn about the world, explore, and embrace diversity and cultures around the globe. I was named Noriko because my parents lived in Japan. I’ve used the name Nori since childhood. Yes, I know it translates to seaweed, and, fortunately, I like sushi.
Silicon Valley Girl
I was born in San Francisco and grew up in and with Silicon Valley. I say grew up with Silicon Valley because in addition to typical teenager jobs of babysitting and working in a retail shop in high school, I tested integrated circuits and stuffed motherboards on various garage floors for vendors of Apple Computer.
The pictures below are some of my favorite places. There are a couple of pictures of my family and chickens, too.
To the Cornfields and Beyond
At 18, I left California. I’d had it with boring suburban sprawl, endless parking lots, and disappearing apricot orchards and wanted to live in a small town in rural America and experience a different part of the country and a different way of life. I went to Grinnell College in Iowa, lived in Europe, and, then moved to Washington DC, where I earned my master’s in urban and regional planning at George Washington University. In Europe, I fell in love with cities, public transit, and architecture and have had a love of great places and spaces ever since. I’ve had a fondness for rural places, too, since my days in Iowa, which probably explains my love of backyard chicken farming. Following grad school, I landed back in the Bay Area to be near family. I can now say that the beauty, climate, diversity, tolerance, and opportunity in California make it truly a one-of-a-kind place. Here I started my professional career, met my husband, had three beautiful daughters, got involved in my community, and learned to juggle a career with motherhood and, later, chickens, and a dog.
“Never stop learning, exploring, growing, or caring. And never give up on your dreams.”
My Work, My Passion
I’ve worked in land planning, corporate real estate, development, and housing and worked as a consultant for ten years. When I decided it was time to go back to an employed position, I had great difficulty getting hired. That journey inspired my first book, Keeping Your Seat at the Table. I currently work in municipal government, managing housing programs for a bay area community.
My Writing
I have always loved writing. In 2019 I made the commitment to become a writer and decided it was time to write that book that was brewing inside me and that novel I promised myself I would by age 35. Better late than never! My first book will be published later this year. I haven’t published my novel yet but it was rejected more than once by agents, which, in the world of writing, means try harder. After I revise and edit this murder mystery called Redcomb, about a real estate developer who attempts a project in her hometown and ends up dead, I’ll try to pitch it again. I’m currently writing my third book, a memoir called Suspended Dreams, about caring for an elderly parent with mental health issues and facing my own in the process. Learn about my writing here or go to my blog, A Seat at the Table.
My Approach to Life
I am a firm believer that we all deserve a seat at the table. I hope to inspire you to pull up a chair and join me. Follow me on social media, subscribe to my blog, and sign up below to be notified about my publications.
