California Dreaming

See you in a couple weeks!

Ignite Barrie - The Video Footage

A couple months ago I had the pleasure of attending a TED-like conference at The Creative Space that my friend Justin was speaking at.

I know Justin through church, where he's a behind the scenes, media guy. (He actually runs the media department) He is not was not the guy who got up on stage to speak every Sunday, so this was a bit of a stretch for him.



I am so proud of him. I think he did an awesome job. In fact, I was impressed by all the speakers that night.

They've got another Ignite scheduled for the fall, and even if you think you have nothing to say, come out and support the people who have built up the courage to get up on stage. It's a fun night, and who knows you may just learn something.

Favorite Things Friday - May 24

Favourite Reads
22 Rules Of Storytelling, According To Pixar from iO9
The Business Benefits Of Volunteering from Entrepreneur Magazine
Make Sure Your Marketing Matches Your Market from Ron Edmondson

Favourite TV Show Moments

Favourite Communication Video


Favourite Photography 'How-To' Video


Favourite New Roller Coaster


Favourite Dance Workout

Love/Hate Relationships

We all have those things in life that drive us crazy, those things that we 'hate'.

I'm no different. I have an intense dislike for...

• Going to the dentist
• Say Yes To The Dress
• People talking on the phone in a public bathroom
• The New York Yankees
• Being woken up from sleep
• Slow internet
• Being hit in the face with just about anything... Bugs, Nerf darts, fists
• People who don't turn off their turn signal
• Cold weather

I don't think anyone who knows me is surprised by that.

I hope I'm not known for that though. I hope I'm known more for what I love than what I hate.

I love...

• Crystal
• Kyler
• My family
• God
• Paddleboarding
• The Dallas Stars
• Documentaries
• Wearing boardshorts
• Mat Kearney
• Pickup trucks
• Summer
• Smoked salmon

Everyone is against something, but a positive person spends more time talking about what they are for, rather than what they are against. 

As Jesus followers, let's aim for that. Let's try to be known for what we love as opposed to what we are against. Let's be known for what we love.

The church has been known for what it's against, and it is against some things. It should be. But let's try to change that. Let's talk about what we love. What we are for.

Christians should be known for their love.

"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” - John 13:35

Would you say you are known more for what you are for or what you are against?
What are some things that you love?

Observations From A Walk-In Clinic Waiting Room

Our church has been working through a series on the afterlife. You know... heaven... hell... zombies. I'm pretty sure the waiting room at the walk-in clinic is pretty close to what hell will be like.

I had the pleasure of spending three and a half hours in said waiting room yesterday. I asked for a time estimate when I checked in and the lady behind the glass told me "just have a seat and we'll call you when it's your turn." (Note to self: future blog topic - Customer Service Lessons From The Walk-In Clinic).

Armed with only 40% battery on my iphone and half a bottle of water I hunkered down amongst the infected and patiently waited my turn.

The room was pretty much filled to capacity, so personal space was at a premium. I managed to find a seat at the end of a row with my back against the wall. Premium seating.

Over the next 3+ hours I observed the following:
5 kids, 3 adults, 1 Nintendo DS.
Why would you bring grandma, your spouse and FIVE kids to the walk-in? Nevermind the fact you only have one 5 inch screen to entertain them all.

Hyper-Active Children with Apathetic Parents
One kid managed to cover his head with surgical masks and called it his "Zombie Helmet". He then proceeded to do his best special-ops impression and crawl underneath the chairs shooting the rest of the patients/zombies in the waiting room.
Another child ran through the infected crowd slapping knees playing duck-duck-goose. No one was interested in chasing the little rapscallion.
One girl stole the hand sanitizer off the front desk and started to squirt her brother with it. He screamed "I'm meeellllttttiiiinnnnngggggg!"
One more kid climbed up the bookcase and onto the ledge at the check-in counter. He then tried to climb through the window onto the lap of customer-service lady on the other side.

I Became A Germophobe
Just about everyone in the waiting room was wearing a surgical mask, which some people removed to cough/sneeze. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the mask? You've removed the one barrier between me and the parasites that currently reside in your body. Thanks for becoming the waiting room sprinkler.

The story does have a happy ending (sort of). After 3+ hours in waiting room hell, the doctor tells me I have gastroenteritis and they can't do anything for me. "Just take it easy and drink lots of water".

Awesome.

Three and a half hours to ask my a couple questions and give me a non-treatment. I thought that's what Telehealth was for?

Favorite Things Friday - May 10

Favourite Reads
Proof That Doing Work You Love Can Save Your Life from Scott Dinsmore
Is It A Blessing Or A Curse? from Dan Miller
23 Lessons Coffee Taught Me About Reaching The Unchurched from Brian Dodd

Favourite Sports Anchors


Favourite Eyewitness Interview

And Auto-Tuned Version


Favourite Tourism Video


Favourite Reminder That The World Doesn't Revolve Around AJ


Favourite Music Video

Mistakes Make Good Stories

I had an interesting conversation with a friend this week. They were talking about how she loved those awkward first dates that bombed.

Weird huh?

Think about it though. Those times when things went sideways are etched in your memory. Those events that bombed make good stories.

No one wants to hear how awesome you are. They want to hear about the time no one showed up to your show.
The time when you burnt your eyebrows off lighting the bbq.
The time you bumbled and stumbled through your first date.

Why?

I think it's because you turned out alright, and it gives hope to the rest of us screw-ups.

Or maybe we jut want to laugh at your expense.

Favorite Things Friday - May 3

Favourite Reads
I'm The Master Of Self-Loathing from Jim Woods
Write It Backwards from Seth Godin
11 Characteristics Of Meaningful Work from Switch & Shift

Favourite Hangover Parody


Favourite Spoken Word Piece


Favourite One-For-One Campaign


Favourite Ad For A Product I Still Won't Buy


Favourite Stanley Cup Playoffs Opener

I'm Not Proud Of It

The NHL playoffs kicked off last night and you know what? I didn't watch a second of it. As a hockey fan, I'm not proud of that fact.

What's even more disturbing is what I was doing instead.

Cleaning out my closet.

I set May 1 as the transition date to put my winter clothing into storage and break out the t-shirts and shorts. It ended up being more of a swap and purge, but after a couple hours I stood outside my closet and marveled at the cleanliness and organization of my clothes.

As I took in the glorious color-coordination and precise folding it hit me, I may be slightly OCD. I wanted to do something.
Anything.
Unfold some clothes.
Throw some dirty socks on the floor.
But I couldn't.

I think I may have a problem.