Wow. Two days without a post. I know, I know. I am not dead. Just dead tired. I have a pretty long post coming but Working almost 90 hours in the past week and a half has filled my time. In the interim, I have a friend of mine who commissioned a pony picture that uses my pony!!! I will say enjoy
!
So I had my parents visit this weekend. They drove 13 hours and made the long trek to see me and my family. It was a pleasant visit that refreshed me very much. I was not able to keep up to date with the blog so I am playing catch up.
Family is so important to me. My family has given me strength and helped me through some tough times. I do not want to know where I would be without my wife. My daughters have brought me joy and strength. I am coming up on my 9 year anniversary in marriage. I worked hard on it and am proud of it.
I do not get to see my parents very often anymore. Being a couple hundred miles away makes it difficult to see them more than once a year. When come down it is a special time.
It takes me back to a time of me being younger.
I end up pushing the shopping cart at Walmart.
I find myself laughing at my dad’s “dad jokes” only now with more understanding.
Its family.
and they came to visit.
Hug a pony my friends.
So, I managed something really cool this past week. I have decided to venture further into this realm of blogging and taking a few awesome steps in a big way. The first one was me taking the initiative and doing something professional in this. I had thought of a few things that would throw me in the mix but it really came down to my wife and a great opportunity that fell into my lap.
My wife is part of a networking group that helps small business. She is part of a direct sales company and was reaching out to expand her business. One of the gentleman in the group, Scott, runs an online podcast about people’s stories, businesses, and more. My wife suggested that I speak to him to further my career.
We talked about it and I agreed to do this and I did not know what to speak about to promote myself professionally. I do have lots of skills and talents and I wasn’t sure which to speak upon. My dear wife then suggested that Ispeak on my blog.
Me?
Talk about my blog?
In a professional format?
Oh my.
So I met with Scott and he was fantastic. He had an awesome setup and his demeanor was bar none.
And so without further ado, me.
In D flat minor.
I took this weekend off because of a few personal things (some of which I will get to talk about) but all in all I had a great weekend. First time in a while.
One of the cooler things about my job is that I am a training store manager. This means I get to let my store and go help other people. I also get recognized for going to special events and meetings. I got chosen to go to the Diversity Leadership meeting, formerly our Women’s leadership meeting (don’t know WHY they would send my pony loving self to this meeting…..oh wait).
Still it was a good meeting with good information that I get to take back to peers and all that.
Personally, I was excited for another reason as well.
So one of the first activities the group (about 40-50 people) did was your introduction and something special about yourself. I, personally, knew exactly what I wanted to say. #Ponies4life
But I wasn’t alone.
It got halfway around the room and a wonderful young lady stood and said her introduction and told everyone “I can quote anything from MLP!”
I froze.
My group (who know me so well) all turn and point to me with cheer on their faces and wide smiles as they know how much of a fan I am. I just sat there with a big grin on my face.
When it came to my turn, I was a bit nervous. While I have been outspoken about my Bronyism with my peers and coworkers, this was a meeting at my corporate offices. Could I brave the waters that I would be treading? I was of two minds about saying something when they first asked what made us special.
But a certain fellow manager spoke out and had given me courage.
I proudly stood up and let everyone know that I had an online blog (with a wonderful readership [Thank you!!]) and that I too was a huge fan and supporter of all things Pony.
I want to say thank you to this fellow PonyGal who gave me the strength to ensure that I would stand up. You keep rocking it. It fills me with joy to know you are out there.
Hug a pony my friends.
I know. A quick update. Its a bit early for a post but this was too good to wait for.
A fake commercial for Pony shampoo.
Maybe she was born with it, maybe its Nay-belline.
I love a good build up. Bring people in, get the interest and hopes up, leave them hanging for just the right amount of time. The biggest thing is to deliver and to leave them wanting more. The biggest thing is to deliver. So I hope to do so now.
I mentioned that I had a few surprises coming and that I would be sharing them “soon”. Well soon is here for one of them (2 more to go after this *squee).
I have been wanting to have myself put into pony form (ponified) as I have yet to do so. For me this is kinda a big step as I am very picky. I am a stickler for details and for wanting things done a very certain way. When it has to represent me, I want it to be me. I want people to look at it and go, Yup, that is Daniel (yes I know my name, I said it [all kinds of surprises today]).
So I had put the word out and starting looking at people. I had a few very good suggestions and I liked a few people but nothing was popping out at me. Then I had a friend come to me and told me he had an artist he used when he was needing an emblem for his business. I asked who it was and he told me Luke McKay.
-Now enter shameless plugs for Luke here –>
http://roosterteeth.com/lukemckay
Luke was an artist that I know of in many of the circles I run in as he is the main comic artist for Rooster Teeth, a website dedicated to all things geeky and gaming. I remember when they first started up with the web series Red vs Blue made from the original Halo and help pioneer online web series and such.
Really really big name for me.
I geeked out.
Not gonna lie.
So I was put in contact with him and some email correspondence took place. Through a gracious commission fee (bribe) and some heartfelt conversation (begging) I managed to score a Luke Mckay original version of a pony named after me. So without any more build up. I have me, in pony minor.
Thank you @lukemckay
So, I got some news. Some interesting news. Some crazy, awesome, interesting, I can’t believe its not butter news. I know you want me to share it and I am just typing more of this to get the satisfaction of you reading it and having to wait just a bit longer to find out what it is.
Sadistic? Yes.
I was talking to a friend about an up and coming convention that is happening. If I hadn’t shared this on here before (I don’t believe) I will share it now. I work quite a few anime/fandom conventions. I do Security work, Troubleshooting, Moral staffing and more. Most of it is volunteer work but I enjoy it and help others enjoy their fandoms safely. I have been doing it for almost 8 years now. Crazy.
So I was talking to a friend about my blog and we were talking shop about upcoming events and I also commented on my blog (which he has been know to read and I will say Hi here to him). I also mentioned that I would love to go to a bigger audience and show more love and caring and do more to help people. He made mention that I should do a panel (a 30 min to 2 hour event where people ask questions and get to know you).
I was not sure about it as I put “who would give me a panel?” He told me he would help me.
Now, as of this writing I am still not sure about the idea of doing this but the thought has entered my mind and is rattling around in the brainpan. The thought excites me and scares the daylights out of me. I know I am a good public speaker as I have done it before and I am in a sales job. I am just wondering if this would help people because if it does, I would be remiss to not do this.
I will keep you guys posted if this happens as you are my first audience and you guys are awesome. I think I will get an outline of how it will go and Ill go from there.
Hug a pony my friends. I have NINE to hug now!!!!
Despite having a pretty crappy week, I want to focus real quick on something positive. At least, I think its positive.
The Ponies made it to the Super Bowl!
In case you missed it, the main characters in My Little Pony (called the “Mane Six[Get It?]) were shown in an NFL commercial during the Super Bowl!
Like Prime time guys.
PRIME TIME!!!
In case you missed it, Ill post a link here, jump to mark 0:34 to see the blip!
And, as per our M.O. we took to the interwebs and we lost our minds! Over on Reddit, we had a blast posting our pride!
One gentlecolt by the name of ColdSyrup said it best.
“We have invaded the national audience, nice work gentlemen our mission is accomplished.”
Brohoof my fellow bronies. We are national. We are the herd.
Hug a pony my friends.
For Christmas my daughters got a fish tank. It had the plants, filter, food, whole nine yards. Normally I would be against more pets as pets means death (a natural part of life, which happens and is a great life lesson).
Now I understand that this is a pretty shallow reason for not wanting more pets but think about it with me for a second. I am one man with three other women in the house.
That is a lot of estrogen and emotions to handle.
And so, we went to the pets store (after a week of prep time, filling the tank, water checks all that). Now it comes down to it.
Which fish? What colour? How many?
After the 45 minute discussion of why can’t buy all of the fish and the conversation about how “Daddy, that fish is eating the other dead fish!” goes on, we walk out with a few beginner fish and happy little hearts. The fish are now resting in the new home and will now be tormented by fingers tapping and wide eyed gazes from two curious little people.
Hope this entertains them for a bit.
Hug a pony my friends.
PS No animals were harmed in the writing of this post. The writer however is pulling out his hair over one of the fish who isn’t swimming around enough for little girls.
My Stuffed Little Therapy 