Giving Back and Learning from the Past

So Golden is kicking Lent’s butt and doing all kinds of awesome for other people. I’m crazy proud of her. She’s always been a super awesome person that does very thoughtful amazing things for other people. Like when we went to DragonCon she not only did her “Geek Drops” which were themed back of geeky fun for random people to find she also made a personalized bag for the people in our crew. Each bag had something that would make the DragonCon experience more fun. She loved watching us go through our bags and be all excited about this or that and truly had as much fun watching us as we did going through the bags. That’s the kind of person she is. She’d literally give you the shirt off her back, unless it’s her Goonies Never Die shirt cause well that’s just you being selfish trying to take her stuff at that point.
 

While I’m not actively participating in Lent on in 40 Acts I did spend my day helping out at the church for what we call Safe Haven. Basically several churches in our area take a Saturday and host a group of homeless ladies who can’t stay at the facility they sleep in during the day. For most of the week these ladies have jobs or other activities during the day but during the weekend many of them had no where to go and would end up just “hanging out” downtown. During this downtime some of them would get into trouble or encounter other problems. These ladies literally travel with everything they own so safety was definitely a problem for them as they wandered around downtown. So several churches in the area were contacted so that if each church took a Saturday once every 3 or 4 months then these ladies would have somewhere safe to go. Today was our day.

Many of these ladies just want a safe place to sleep, others want someone to talk to, and the rest are happy just to not be outside, especially when it’s cold or on the other side of that table crazy hot as summers in the South can sometimes be. They arrive around 7:30, and then have breakfast, a devotional, then we play bingo (where they win prizes (jewelry mostly)), visit the boutique (a room where they visit and pick clothing of their choice donated or bought by the congregation), then we have quiet time until lunch. This is usually my favorite time cause we get to sit around and really talk to the ladies and learn about them, their situation, and it always amazes me that they are really the happiest, smartest, and aware ladies you’ll ever meet.

After lunch they have a bible study led by one of the leaders of our church, sometimes our pastor, other times a Sunday school teacher. Then usually they join our choir director for some music, which seems to be their favorite part (except for the Bingo), then they watch a movie or two for the afternoon. Often times they will read instead of watching the movie, especially if it’s a movie they aren’t interested in.

They usually leave around 4:30 or 5 depending on when the bus comes and picks them up. These ladies give everyone a hug, and thank us for our time. It’s fascinating to me how upbeat and happy they are and how positive they are about life. Yes there are a couple that definitely don’t fit that description but the majority of them definitely do. It also fascinates me to realize that a lot of them are not much older than me, which also kind of freaks me out.

I’m glad the churches in our area do this and I’m even more grateful that I was asked to participate. It really makes you think that yeah it sucks that you don’t get to go to lunch some days, but at least you get a good dinner that night. It really puts your little problems in perspective but none of these ladies want your pitty they really want you to learn from their experiences. Lord knows I have been a good student.

Marcy

Geek Drop Success

**UPDATE**
Marcy sucks and left the bag at the hotel... So we'll do the 2nd drop tomorrow. Marcy says she's sorry but I think it is just so we'll let her back into the room.
**UPDATE**

The first geek drop at DragonCon happen this morning and was a success.

Golden sent out this tweet ...

#GeekDrop small bag has been dropped. Check out the Hyatt. #GoodLuck #SayWhatMG

It was found by @NinjaTimeTravel who found the 80s themed bag with a TMNT pillowcase (see below).

Thanks for playing, the next drop will be tonight as we head to the Arthur Dent Pajama Party ! Maybe we'll see some of you guys there!

 

If you need a reminder of the Geek Drop details go here Geek Drop Details

DRAGON CON TIME!!!!!

WE ARE HERE!!!!!!! Golden and I and a few friends are sitting in our hotel, it’s the calm before the big geeky Dragon Con storm that is hitting Atlanta as I type. We have all checked in and we are now Dragon Con official.

There are some Newbie events tonight that we are thinking of attending just to see the lay of the land so that tomorrow we aren’t blindsided by the going-on’s around us. I am super excited that we are here. Not only cause it’s the first real vacation I’ve had in nearly 2 years, but because the people I’m with are pretty fantastic! So far the randoms that we've met are pretty awesome too!

As we unpacked Golden was showing her Dragon Con Swag Bags (get the details about the Geek Bags here) to us, she has some “80s themed” bags; a “So Pink” girly bag; a Psych  bag; a Gamer bag; Star Wars bags; and a Heroes themed bag. Some of the bags have t-shirts, books, stickers, chargers, etc., The girl has gone all out on these. We’ll start dropping them tomorrow morning after the “start” of the Con. So follow @theonlygolden for hints and tips on where to find these bags throughout the weekend.

Whether you find a bag or not I hope everyone who is here enjoys the Con and has fun, cause that’s what we intend to do.

ALSO remember as @wilw said before the San Diego Con “This is a good and necessary time to remind everyone that cosplay ≠ consent. Be polite. Be respectful. Don't be a dick!”

DragonCon Geek Drop

I have finally got everything prepared to do a Geek Drop during DragonCon! What's a geek drop? Well it's when I get together lots of geek orientated swag and make bags. I then take those bags and put them throughout DragonCon so that lucky con goers can find them.

So if you are going to DragonCon and find one of my Geek Drop bags, SURPRISE! You just got free shit!!! (who doesn’t love free shit!?)

There is no real reason I'm wanting to do this other than I just love giving things away, I like getting free things too but today let’s focus on giving! I hope that these Geek Drop Bags bring an element of surprise and a smile to anybody who finds one, whether in costume or not. 

To increase your chances of finding a Geek Drop prize bag, follow my twitter account @theonlygolden because I will be posting the theme of the bags and clues to where they can be found as I drop them off. The only thing I ask in return is that when you find one, let me know who you are and where you are from, drop me a tweet so I’ll know that someone out there is enjoying there Geek Swag!

Easy right?! Totally easy. No muss, no fuss, nothing but sweet ass free geek swag! Good luck! And may the odds be ever in your favor!

-Golden (@theonlygolden)