Holy Hollis Gillespie, Great Blogs of Steel

If you live in Atlanta, listen to NPR, watch late night talk shows or have an affinity for “Trailer-evangelism“, you probably know who Hollis Gillespie is. The rest of you are going to love me for the introduction.

I met Hollis when I recently attended an event hosted by the fabulous Crave Atlanta. Hollis is best known for her unique humor, writing three memoirs and her famous Atlanta blogging workshop. Her writing workshops, appropriately titled Shocking Real Life, have been on my short list of definitely maybe.

I wanted to learn more about this author whose Dad was an alcoholic salesman and Mom a missile maker. Other then her obvious accredited work, she was just another person with something to sell me.

Except she wasn’t.

There was nothing sales-y about her. She was wearing a funky orange dress and a Paul Frank watch. She talked about how her logo was creatively transfered on drop cloth. She mentioned the four friends formula — think Seinfeld, Sex And The City, Will and Grace, etc. Hollis shared stories of how she began writing on the back of the drop seat while working for Delta. She wrote herself little notes and reminders of things to detract her from fear.

FEAR — The dirtiest word in my vocabulary.

Can the Workshop Whisperer set me free from fear? Time will tell. The workshop I wanted to sign up for conflicts with my increasingly shocking real life.

Here are some other pictures from Hollis’s studio in Castleberry Hill Loft District:

Trailer Trashed Tanks and Enormous Undergarments

Hollis' Daughter Drew These Trailers

It’s pretty cool if you find yourself in the area or looking for a creative space to host an event. I bet she will even let you hang your own pictures

Tags: Crave Atlanta, Hollis Gillespie, The Workshop Whisperer

I Pity the Fool

The Search Engine Formerly Known as Google

As everyone on the planet most likely already knows, Google is infamous for it’s logo changing behavior. Just another thing to love about everybody’s favorite search engine. Today being April Fool’s Day and all, Google has the perfect opportunity to really get creative with the logo.

Quite Frankly, not a very witty one though we know my heart and search will always belong to the GOOGs (or Topekans as they are now called).

Instead of just decorating the logo, Google one upped itself and changed the whole name! Their new name, Topeka. Underneath the magic search bar (where I always feel lucky) is the following sentence:

Not in Kansas: learn about our new name.

When you click the link, you are directed to Google’s blog which I am kind enough to screen shot for those who bypass the above link. 

Google Blog

 The blog was posted at midnight (dead giveaway) announcing the BIG name change to Topeka. There is no question that the post is very tongue in cheek and any person with a brain (Yes, I too am thinking of the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz and humming along to his song…Kansas… Topeka…hahaha) would see the obvious attempt at April Fool’s humor.

Except an exceptionally bright human being who happens to work with the DJ. Try not to be jealous. I know I am.

During the malaise of my day, I get a seemingly random message from the DJ announcing Mr. Brains on the Ground was going to buy stock in Topeka. Thank GOD I Google every morning or this news would have sounded even more ridiculous (No offense, Kansas).

Apparently, he ran around the office sharing the news of the big boom that was about to hit the market. Google has changed it’s name to Topeka! Eureka! He was going to get in cheap before the others notice the name change.

BRILLIANT!

You may remember me writing about his awesomeness before? He is infamous for celebrating fake birthdays (bless his heart) and many accidentally comedic moments his team shares a C’mon Son! over. In my humble, half witted Topekan opinion, I think this one takes the cake (pun completely intended if you went back and did your homework on the old blogs).

I pity the fool who is immune to sarcasm. You may want to cut your losses and move on to another blog.

Thanks for playing!

Another Not So Random Disclaimer: This blog in no way represents one of the many people who graciously pay me to work for them or any of the organizations they represent. I have changed names to protect the adorably clueless and their affiliation with the DJ is purely coincidental. It is also in no way a representation of his company or the cast of crazy people that may work with him if they were to be identified in a lineup. In fact, non of this has anything to do with anyone and unless you are a lawyer or current employer why are you still reading this little waste of space? Is it your birthday? I will bake you a cake! Meet me in the conference room in Topeka. I’ll be the one wearing the “I heart Google shirt and all I got was this silly blog post”.

Tags: April Fool's Day, Brains on the Ground, Dead Giveaway, Fake Birthdays, Google Logo, Not in Kansas, Office Antics, Topeka, True Story

Sometimes I Need to be Held, Accountable.

Lately, I have spent a lot of time rereading my old posts. Not just the ones I keep rambling on about that are no longer live (you’re welcome), but the recent published posts on here. The blog that was supposed to be my  fresh canvas. My return to writing. A fresh start about a wife, a life, a writer.  

The only thing remotely consistent on these posts are that I am talking about  how much I miss writing, yet notice the time between posts. What am I waiting for? I have at least 4-5 ideas a day that  would make entertaining or informative posts. It depends on the time of day. Some days are more  creative then others. Some days I learn something that seems relevant to share. Yet I don’t.

Why?

I have a few outside factors that influence me that did not previously exist when I posted regularly. Career transition, living with the DJ, freelance projects that pop up at all hours, a minor addiction to staying connected, etc. I spend more time working on projects or having conversations on Twitter/Facebook and less on actually doing something I love. Writing. I also realize that I put my passion aside because a simple lack of accountability. 

All that is about to change. 

I now have an accountability partner. Not just anyone either. Someone who truly inspires me! A person who I have actually mentioned before in a previous post, Jeff Turner. If you are not familiar, he is probably one of the most interesting and impressive people I have the pleasure of knowing.  I met him at the most likely of places a conference, New Media Atlanta, where he was a Key Note speaker and panel host. Though I enjoyed his speaking and panel moderation, he really blew me away when we had a chance to chat at the after party. 

One of the first things he said to me is “So, what do you DO?” and not in the standard conversation question way. There was something about his tone and and the conversation that followed that led me to believe there was something monumental that would follow from our friendship. I told him that I wanted to be a writer. Many questions followed about what kind of writing and what was holding me back. Good questions. Unanswered questions.

Then I learned a lot more about him. He runs several companies, Zeek Interactive, Real Estate Shows  and is well known for his world wide speaking engagements on emerging technologies. In addition, he and his wife Rocky have 6 (YES, six) children and run a non profit Mothers Fighting For Others (MFFO.org). As if all of this was not impressive, he is a genuinely down to earth guy with a true passion for engaging with people and not judging opposing opinions.

That being said, we stayed in touch over Social Media channels like Facebook and Twitter and one random Saturday he busted out with a tweet, “Why are you not writing?“. Given all of the things he has going on personally and professionally, it was amazing to me that he even remembered our conversation at all. I was honored to have made an impression on someone who I am so inspired by. 

We talked about our mutual desire to write more often and formed a pact to keep each other accountable for writing. Not only am I thrilled to have Jeff as my accountability partner, but I get to be his. I sense that he does not need the motivation as much as I do (have you been to his page yet, he has more then 4 active blogs), however, I am taking the role very seriously! 

I have no problem admitting that sometimes I need to be held… Accountable!

What activities do you find it helps to have an accountability partner? Do you have someone that helps keep you motivated and inspired? Where and how did you find them?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

Tags: Accountability, writing