Simple Coffee

Some days I wonder if I’m getting old. I once enjoyed my coffee, all fixed up with different types of foam, syrup, and creamers. You know, the ones with those fancy names made by baristas I’m not cool enough to run in circles with. These days I much prefer a simple coffee, one that feels a little less chaotic.

Simple Coffee

I’ve discovered it has a much better and more refined taste when dumbed down. Even my coffee mugs seem simple. I now prefer an old plain diner mug to the one loaded with words and crazy graphics.

Maybe I’m getting boring.

Maybe I’m just a little reminiscent or enjoy specific memories. Like those of my grandmother sitting at a kitchen table with her Bible opened and a mug of coffee, adding nothing but just a touch of half and half.

Or maybe I prefer simplicity in my life now. I’m not sure. Maybe I’m exactly what some reading this are thinking – He’s strange.

I’ve cut my time back on social media to only a few calculated minutes here and there, trying to escape the noise, returning to a more straightforward method of just blogging my thoughts.

Simplicity, I think, might be my word for the year, which is weird to say because I’ve never considered making a word my word for the year. Yet here I am doing the very thing I’ve mocked or thought to be stupid in the past.

One thing is for sure. I’ve hit a level of productivity and production I haven’t seen in a year, and a lot of it has to do with cutting out the toxic, the chaos, and the noise that endlessly surrounds us.

Simplicity- it isn’t easy to achieve but necessary to endure.

Maybe some people are right. Perhaps I am just a little strange after all.

Maybe, That’s okay

$6.00 Audiobook!!! Iggy & Oz The Plastic Dinos of Doom

My audiobook Iggy & Oz: The Plastic Dinos of Doom, is only $6.00. That’s super cheap at the moment. The amazingly talented Dave Thackara narrated it. I should do more to promote it than I should since half the royalties go to Dave.

So if you are looking for a cheap 2-hour audiobook and want a way to support me without sacrificing your eggs budget for the week, here is one way.

NOTE* Eggs might be more than $6.00 right now. YIKES!!!!

Click here to purchase on Audible

Iggy & oz audiobook

What is a Song or Poem that Speaks to You?

#Bloganuary 25 2023 

As a young person, I was never one to be into musicals. I was more into the punk rock and grudge scene in the 90s. So this song, in particular, is shocking for me to add to my list of songs that speak to me.

The song Who Am I? Written by Herbert Kretzmer.

What is a song or poem that speaks to you
Photo by Steve Johnson via Pexel.com

In the story, Valjean is given a chance to live a free life by allowing an innocent man the court believes to be Valjean to go to prison. He reveals himself in court, renewing Javert’s pursuit of him.

This is a song of self-announcement, realization, and actualization. Many of us live a lie and finally have to admit that we are not what we have been saying we are. Do we continue with the lie that hurts us but saves others, or do we reveal our true selves? To live, we must finally reveal our true selves as God created us. We are all 24601.

Lyrics

He thought that man was me
Without a second glance!
That stranger he has found
This man could be my chance!

Why should I save his hide?
Why should I right this wrong
When I have come so far
And struggled for so long?

If I speak, I am condemned.
If I stay silent, I am damned!

I am the master of hundreds of workers.
They all look to me.
How can I abandon them?
How would they live
If I am not free?

If I speak, they are condemned.
If I stay silent, I am damned!

Who am I?
Can I condemn this man to slavery
Pretend I do not feel his agony
This innocent who wears my face
Who goes to judgement in my place
Who am I?
Can I conceal myself for evermore?
Pretend I’m not the man I was before?
And must my name until I die
Be no more than an alibi?
Must I lie?
How can I ever face my fellow men?
How can I ever face myself again?
My soul belongs to God, I know
I made that bargain long ago
He gave me hope when hope was gone
He gave me strength to journey on

[He appears in front of the court]

Who am I? Who am I?
I’m Jean Valjean!

[He unbuttons his shirt to reveal the number tattooed to his chest]

And so Javert, you see it’s true
This man bears no more guilt than you!
Who am I?
24601!

Geeky Dads Talk About Geeky Things

Geeky Dads Talk About Geeky Things Season Two
Episode 1 – 11

We’ll be launching season two of the podcast on Feb 7th. It will still be the same raw, low-production format as it’s been. I’m excited to have some old and new friends joining us to chat about geeky stuff. Just a few dads and a few honorary geeky moms sitting around geeking out a bit.

Below is a list of the first 11 episodes. Please note: This isn’t the order they will be released. I hope you’ll tune in and join us each week.

Jason Joyner will join me as we chat about our Top 5 MCU Films. I’ve just finished a rewatch of all the movies up through Endgame with my kids, so many of these films were fresh on my mind.

Andrew Swearingen and I continue our discussion of 80’s films by launching into our Top 5 Movies from 1984

Amanda Trumpower will be coming on the show to talk about graphic novels for kids and her upcoming Middle-Grade release, Power Pup.

Ashley Johnson (My wife) will join me from our Kitchen table as we both Geek out about the Netflix show Wednesday.

Kerry Nietz and I will chat about Genre Mashups, including his series Amish Vampires, Zombies, and Werewolves in space. We’ll dive into some great films that have done this well.

Josh Smith and I did an episode in season one on our top five video games. Skyrim was a game on his list I had not played, but I decided to give it a shot. So we’ll dive into some of our favorite quests during this discussion.

Becky Dean is a close writing buddy, and she has a brand new Science Fiction series releasing this year. So she and I will dive into space pirates and her series.

Andrew Swearingen approached me about doing an episode centered around Crazy Fan Theories that make sense. How could I say no to this one?

Ted Atchley, my partner when it comes to all things Star Wars, returns to chat it up about Bad Batch season 2.

Randy Streu is a great friend and a voice narrator. If you’re looking for podcast, ads copy to be read, or an audio narrator, I can’t help but recommend him. He and I will chat about all things Zombies. A genre that I love.

And finally- My favorite episode of the year will be my oldest son, Miles (aka Hobbit 1). He will be joining me to talk about Godzilla.

I’ve already started lining guests up for April, May, and June. I’m super excited about all the different guests and topics we’ll explore over the next several months.

PS: If you have a topic for the show you think we should chat about, or if you would like to come on. Let me know. Geekydadsgeekythings@gmail.com

I Got Expelled From a Mommy Blogger Group

I got expelled from a mommy blogger group yesterday. Listen, I love and admire moms! They rock and don’t get near the credit for being strong and heroic as they should be. But I think it was apparent some in this particular group didn’t share my sense of humor. And I get it. 

Raising boys can be challenging. And often a little gross. That’s just reality. Most of us can joke about it and laugh the grotesque off.

Photo by Jesus Con S Silbada

What happened is this. I’ve been blogging again. I enjoy it, and I have my reasons for moving back to the form. I have joined several WordPress groups to network and meet other bloggers. 

I was suspicious that most in this group were blogging in a different direction and audience than I was, but I figured I would try to fit in. 

Each day a daily challenge is shared. I hadn’t participated in one, so I figured, why not jump in? Meet a few other bloggers etc. The topic was simple- Things not to teach your kids. 

I knocked the post out in half an hour and got it scheduled. But apparently, what I thought was funny, was not shared by others.

It started with a comment on my blog about being inappropriate. I deleted the comment, thinking it was just someone wanting to argue and troll. Then, I realized the link I shared had been deleted from this “Daily Challenge” post. 

I thought, “Huh. Did I do something wrong?” Within a few more minutes, I realized I had been expelled from the group. 

The only thing I can think of is some read the post and didn’t appreciate me using terms like- (fart, toenails, or underwear) Maybe they thought it was gross or a little coarse. *And ill admit, maybe I did go too far. But, this is only a working theory.

Sometimes people laugh with you; sometimes, they roll their eyes, and sometimes they ignore you. It’s essential to know your audience. Am I taking the post down? Nah. But I think it’s clear (if my theory is correct ) this group has marked me, and their sense of humor didn’t align with what I found funny about raising two boys. 

That’s okay! Not everyone is going to connect with what you post or write. Just move on and try to be and do better. 

Have a great weekend, everyone!