Friday, June 12, 2020

It's Fan Boy Friday, "Make It Happen" Edition!

It's time for another edition of "Fan Boy Friday," and this week is about more than any one person. It's about a whole group of people and what they are all doing that is so inspiring. 

First, the back story. We all know these are unusual times. We're still dealing with a global pandemic and now the nation has erupted with protests and demonstrations calling for an end to systemic racism. It's a big time right now and passions, emotions, and tempers are all running hot. I'm capturing much of it here at San Diego John, but there is literally a whole world of stories and experiences and it's a lot to process. 

With everything happening around me, I've been in a "take it all day by day" mode. I'm not really thinking much about the future, let alone doing much to shape it into any specific direction. And realizing that has me taking a deeper look at why that is. I mean, it's not like life has actually stopped, right?

Which brings me to Fan Boy Friday and the people I'm celebrating today.
  • Brian Volkmuth, who is adding even more credentials to an already impressive resume by testing for his Quality Matters Online Teaching Certificate. 
  • Elizabeth Anne Hamilton, who completed another college course on her way to getting her BA in Business by 2023.
  • Jennifer Roe, who launched her Fab and Flawed podcast and is already sharing her story and her struggles with hundreds of engaged listeners.
  • Teri Brantley Brown and Angela Lee, who are launching their Old Broads Run podcast that is absolutely going to help other older women get off their butts, into their sneakers, and out on the roads running.
  • Lorrie Hellcat Bamford, who has created a Journaling Presentation, is working on a book, and is launching her WhatTheHellCat? website.
  • Me'Kayla Renter, who has embraced investing in her future with a passion, learning everything she can about longterm investing and passive income and sharing it with everyone she knows.

Why am I a fan of all of these people? Because each of them has made a choice to actively engage with their lives right now. They all are taking specific steps to change their lives, right now and in the future. They are all showing me - showing all of us - that we don't have to let uncertain times and chaotic moments control our actions.

Yes, we need to pay attention to what is happening right now. These are important moments and we shouldn't look away. Get educated and get involved.

But, don't let what is going on around you out you in a frozen state, as if the best thing you can do is just stand still in time until everything sorts itself out. That isn't a solution.

Learn from all of these folks. If you want to take charge of your life, do it now. 
  • Start something. 
  • Learn something. 
  • Build something.
It's your life. Take charge and make something happen. And know that I'll be in your corner supporting you every step of the way.

And now, it's time for me decide what I'm going to do. Because life is happening right now and I need to get myself off the sidelines and back in the game.




Monday, April 27, 2020

Lesbian Day of Visibility 2020

Yesterday was the annual Lesbian Day of Visibility and, ironically, I had absolutely no idea and it wasn’t on my radar. So here’s a belated shout out to all of the strong, powerful and inspiring women in my life, in my Facebook circle, in my community, and in this world.

You were shoulder to shoulder with gay men in the early years of the fight for recognition. You carried us on your shoulders through the dark time of the AIDS plague. You led us all in the most recent battle for marriage equality. And you continue to rally, coordinate, and spearhead legislative and political efforts today.

I see you, my keyring clanging, lanyard wearing, clipboard toting, life changing warrior women. And I’m ever so grateful to be part of your tribe.


Sunday, April 19, 2020

Calling All "American Patriots" - Stand Up Against the Covid-19 Hysteria!

I get it. I understand. You’re not one of the sheeple in this country. You see right through the media and you know this “virus” is just the media trying to undermine Trump’s economy to stop him from being re-elected. Sure, you don’t have any sort of medical degree, or a degree at all, really, but you know that Big Pharma is conspiring with BIll Gates and Dr Fauci to force us to take face vaccines that are actually tracking chips. And most importantly, you know that #SocialDistancing is communism and you don’t have to live like that because you’re a straight, white, Christian in America and the laws and community orders don’t apply to you.
Well, you’re in luck. I’m here to support you. Go outside, cluster in groups, and own the libtards. Gather with as many like-minded faux patriots as you can find and protest for hours. Stand shoulder to shoulder, take deep breaths, and remember, masks are for pussies.
But before you get out there, I’m going to need two quick things. One, I’d like you to sign this medical card confirming you will not seek any treatment for Covid-19 conditions. No doctor visit, no nursing care, no ventilator, no medication, and no ICU bed. Who cares, right? The virus isn’t any worse than the flu, remember? 

Also, I have a name tag to put on the military camo uniform you ordered from the internet or on the “America First” t-shirt that was made in China. It will help everyone else identity you even from a distance.


Okay, all set? Good. Now get out there and make a difference.


Saturday, January 4, 2020

You're a jerk because you're rude to wait staff.

Nearly a year ago, my husband and I made a commitment to each other to start doing Date Night again. We picked Monday nights, because it gave us something to look forward to after the first work day of the week. Each week we pick a new restaurant and spend a couple of hours off of our phones and catching up with each other. It's been a great way to help us stay connected no matter how busy we get. 

I'll talk more about that another time, though, because this blog entry is focused on something completely different. Being out in various restaurants week after week, I've started to pay much more attention to what is going on around me. And one constant I am seeing is other people being crappy to their wait staff.

What's happening, exactly? So many things. And they're all completely wrong.
  • Remember where you are. If you only have a half hour to eat, don't go to a full-service restaurant and bitch that you are in a hurry. Likewise, don't complain that you have to clear your own table and toss your trash out if you are eating at a fast food joint. 
  • If a server or busser is walking by with their hands full of plates and glasses, that is not the time to call to them and start chattering on about a problem with your order. Let them go to the back, and drop off the dirty dishes first. It won't kill you to wait a moment.
  • If you see your server is taking an order at the table next to you, don't start barking out your own request. They're already talking to someone and don't need you distracting them. Wait your damn turn.
  • If you've placed your menu down on the table in the universal "I'm ready to order" signal, be ready. The moment your server asks what you are having is not the time to ponder the many options available.
  • If there is a problem with your order, take a breath. It's not the end of the world. Calmly get your server's attention and explain what is incorrect. Trust that they will be happy to resolve the issue and make things right. Don't act like they made the mistake on purpose just to ruin your dining experience.
  • And most importantly, tip appropriately. Servers not only rely on those tips to make a living, they often have to "tip out" other employees a portion of the tips they receive. So your lack of a tip often means your server is working for nothing. Believe me, your $3 tip on a $50 check is bullshit. 
Servers are human beings doing a difficult job for an insufficient amount of pay. Remember that next time you are enjoying a meal out in a restaurant. Have a little respect for the wait staff and be a bright spot in their shift. Trust me, there are already plenty of other people who are fighting to be the biggest asshat. 


(Image courtesy of StateHornet.com)

From All Of That To This.

Yeah, I know. It's been a minute since I've posted anything. But the beginning of a new year is as good a time as any to emerge from the shadows, right?

First up, I took some time to "clean house." That means I picked up all the pieces of myself that were scattered across the web and consolidated them all to this one website, San Diego John. Now, the runner me and the writer me and the Captain Awesome me are all here in one place. And that was the easy part.

The next and more difficult part is taking a good look at myself and figuring out how all of those pieces fit together. Am I still a runner? A writer? Am I still Captain Awesome? That's going to take some time to sort out.

But my commitment to myself is that I will do that work. I will take the time to get it together and put myself back out there.

Here we go.