In the speech that I evaluated at our meeting on Wednesday night, the speaker taught us to “start strong and end strong”. That’s what I’m hoping to do in today’s blog. After a few days away, on the heels of a very productive and very hot June, I ready to get back into my content.

Last night was the Fourth of July, and as is tradition we all got together at the Gaffron farm in Guffey. Rain was in the forecast, but it held off long enough for us to enjoy the fireworks and enjoy everyone’s company. I wasn’t able to stay for the fireworks but I did have fun visiting with my cousins, including the ones who came from afar.

I ate very well as there was plenty of food to be had, and a lot of desserts. I can’t believe I missed that carrot cake though. I brought cookies while Mom brought the charcuterie. I really loved the canolie tray though. A couple of things I could have done to make the night go better would have been to: take the night off. I thought the picnic was going to be Saturday so I asked off that day instead. A simple mistake but I enjoyed my vacation the week prior and my experience last night. Another thing that would have made the night go better: take a walk around the farm and get some pictures to put on my digital frame. I’m always looking at these kinds of things on the socials and have a few books on design, why not add some nice pics for good measure? One more way to make the night worthwhile: Having a slice of that carrot cake.

Back to Wednesday’s meeting. It was our first of the new Toastmasters year, which starts in July. That means we served in our new officer roles. After serving as President last year, I am taking on the role of Vice President Education in Greensburg. We heard a person giving their first speech (the ice breaker) and a more seasoned speaker (he was the one who told us to “Start strong and end strong”). Our District ended strong by becoming Select Distinguished due to the success of the clubs that are a part of it. Our Division was President’s Distinguished. All this is thanks to District Trio, Division Director, and Area Director and all of their hard work.

My Spirit of Toastmasters fire is burning once again, after having been extinguished as the pandemic hit, thus cramping my style. Also a factor was the process of rebuilding due to COVID and transitioning to a new job, all of which meant a new routine and taking time to get established. I’m still not 100% a fan of Zoom but I’m much better with it now than I was in the height of COVID. I even gave a speech standing up for the first time last week using the platform.

A few years ago when we went to the farm for the Fourth of July, I was dealing with regret. I felt like this gender nonconforming journey was a huge waste, as I lost most of my support system upon leaving WIS and living at home I got no support. I felt worthless as I walked away from the church the previous Fall. The person whom I depended on for encouragement in my journey had ghosted me.

I broke down to my cousin who was visiting with her family and that night I found no better support system than her. One thing I learned from her that I needed to do more was to practice self-love. My mom always tells me, if you like something (in this case, clothing) then that’s all that matters. My cousins were on my side that night and we even got tissues to dry our eyes.

Two years later, I look back on that night and see the progress I’ve made. I’m a better person and I learned those who mind don’t matter, while those who don’t mind, matter. Things turned around at the end of 2022 and while I had a few slumps in the next year, I broke out of them.

Finally, as we enter a new month and I just had a birthday, what better time to get back into the Bible? Seeing that July has 31 days, I’ve been reading the book of Proverbs. I haven’t stopped believing in God. I just needed a break to find myself.

Tomorrow, I’m going to start a month long project on prayer with the new books I bought on Amazon. I like the Evans family and I follow them on the socials. I’ve read a lot of Tony’s books as well as one from his son. His daughter was in a few of the Kendrick Brothers’ films as well as the upcoming movie in theatres this August. I look forward to being fed this summer as I get back into more inspirational reading.

Today marked my 23rd blog post for the month. A new record for me that passed December 2021 and this past December. It also marks the last day of my vacation as I get ready to go back to my routine tomorrow night. That means I’m back to sleeping during the day and getting used to working those late hours once again.

Our District in Toastmasters is Select Distinguished. Those eight days left in the Toastmaster year really paid off. For Greensburg, we were sitting at 11 members on June 22, about to come up short even though we did enough to be Distinguished at worst. We just needed members and our Division Director got to work to make sure I left the club in good hands as I move on from my Presidency. You don’t just throw in the towel and assume all is lost. Rather, you get to work and do all that you can do. Our club is going to finish Select Distinguished, and that’s a great feeling.

We had a nice day today for my birthday after strong storms and heavy rain hit our area hard yesterday. Getting to Johnstown yesterday was an adventure but I made the most of it. I was en route to the Westwood Plaza when US 30 was shut down due to an accident near Idlewild Park and Soak Zone. Traffic heading east had to be rerouted. I drove back out towards Kingston and took PA 217 through Derry and Blairsville. I showed up 45 minutes late but still got to see half the movie.

Knowing what I know now, I’d have taken US 22 to PA 56 or 403 instead of that long detour and all the backtracking that ensued. I won’t give away the plot of the movie for those who read this blog but I was fortunate to get in and watch the rest of the film in its entirety. I could have just stopped at the Hiram G. Andrews Center and walked around the building before meeting Aunt Sue and Ben at Eat’n Park after their movie. If I got there on time, I would have done the same things as planned.

I got some nice gifts for my birthday, from some plush Super Mario characters to a new journal and some pens. My birthday cards were good for a laugh, and I got a few gift cards from Old Navy and Giant Eagle. I ordered some new tops and jeans from Old Navy and I’m hinting at that Houndstooth coat once again as I think ahead to Fall. Maybe something leathery too. I have a jumpsuit in mind that I saw on Amazon after I failed the last time. It might be a great rest of summer and autumn outfit.

As we start the second half of 2024, I’m starting to think about fixing my relationship with Jesus. I ordered a couple of books on Amazon and when I’m not focused on Potter, I’ll be studying these and getting back into the Word and some uplifting music. It’s been three years. It’s time. I’ll also be scaling back on social media viewing, cutting it down to one or two days. I’ll still be sending links to blogs though and getting on Messenger.

In closing, I’ll take my own advice.

Don’t think ahead to Fall yet, James, enjoy Summer.

As we begin the second half of 2024 (boy, June has gone fast!), let’s take a look back at this first half in threes.

Spring definitely sprung and with it came some of the craziest weather we’ve experienced in quite a long time. From flooding rains in April to tornadoes in May and record heat and more twisters in June, it was never boring when you stepped outside. Here’s hoping we have a quieter rest of Summer and colorful Fall.

In Toastmasters we had a great contest season and I made some new friends along the way. In Greensburg, I led the way as club president. In the end, I learned our club had achieved Select Distinguished honors. Our division finishes President’s Distinguished. While this year was a more of a comeback than a rebirth, next year will be one where I go all in.

I attended my first in person conference since before the pandemic. I had fun but I felt like I was holding myself back. I enjoyed the time well spent with my District 13 family but felt sleep deprived. TLI was last week and I learned a lot. I’m taking on a lot in 2024-25 and that’s why I think this is the year I’m back. Look for more online and in person visits in the new Toastmasters year. Starting a new path and completing a few projects might have led us to President’s during my presidency.

I hit some milestones in June. I published and wrote my 600th blog post and did my 800th day of lessons on Duolingo uninterrupted. This month I focused on one language and will keep with that practice for the foreseeable future. At one point I was doing three or four languages in a week. As for now, I plan on keeping up my French. I began regularly doing Duolingo lessons in April 2022 by learning Spanish. Over time, I’ve begun to pick up friends on Duolingo and we compete on the weekly quests.

As the second half begins, I will still post content but I will be scaling back content to almost January and February numbers. This will give me some new hobbies to think about and more time spent outside. I will still post restaurant reviews and other things. July and August will be light going into the first week of September before picking up for Fall. Expect December to be a lot like this month. 700 may still happen but I’m not sure yet.

July begins the final installment for me in reading the Harry Potter series. I’ll be changing up my Hogwarts schedule and try to finish by the middle of August as opposed to early September. I started the series in mid-August so this way I’ll have it done in a year. My niece’s theme for her birthday party last year was Harry Potter.

One thing I’d like to get back to doing in July is reading some more inspirational authors and getting back into Scripture. That’s something I want to think about, especially in my upcoming social media downtime.

Finally, I’m not planning to spend as much time on social media as I have been. Mostly this applies to Facebook or Instagram. I’ll still post the links to my blogs whenever I publish them. I want to steer myself away from the negativity, especially as the presidential election nears. I’m going to limit myself to one or two days a week. Plus, the algorithm is too loopy in my opinion, especially on Instagram.

Happy second half of 2024 and Happy Birthday to me!

I’m getting serious vibes back to when I bought my Coach bag here three years ago.

Today on day 8 of my double digit vacation, I decided to treat myself to a little retail therapy. What better place to go than Tanger Outlets? I’ve been itching to get another bag (I know I have a lot but it’s been a few years) and this time I was interested in a Michael Kors.

As I warm myself up to buy a new Michael Kors bag, I explored the outlets and checked out a few other stores as well.

Before arriving at Tanger, I stopped at Primanti’s and got a Buffalo Chicken sandwich. I’ve been slaying a lot of great food during this vacation from The Brewery on Monday to yesterday’s Potato Patch fries at Kennywood. Today would have been a perfect Bites’n Pints day there. But back to today’s dining experience at Primanti’s.

Food was great and I wasn’t disappointed with either my sandwich or the pickle I asked for. Being burned out of burgers this week from having taken so many home from Benny’s graduation and already having a reuben, I was ready for something different. The blue cheese dressing was great and the right amount of fries and cole slaw made my lunch go great.

Service was excellent. In and out quickly and my waitress was very friendly and efficient, making sure I was pleased with my meal. I think I took longer for me to decide what I wanted than it did for my server to take care of my order.

The atmosphere was good. It’s a sports bar and at Noon on a Friday it wasn’t too bad. I came out to Washington on New Year’s Day two years ago. I was still hurting emotionally from another bad holiday season due to the latest COVID variant. Plus, I had just transitioned into a new workplace, therefore I wasn’t too happy. So far today has made up for that.

My grade for today’s lunch at Primanti’s in Washington: 4.9 (only because I had to reach for the paper towels but that’s minor).

After browsing at the Steelers store, Hot Topic, Old Navy, and Gap, it was time to go to Michael Kors and make my purchase. The salespeople were very helpful and friendly. I was feeling very confident and my purchase came down to the brown or the pink. I went with the light pink and it was a 3-in-1 set. I got a great deal on it and that’s why I love shopping at the outlets.

Afterwards, I drove up 19 to make my way to South Hills Village. I stopped at Box Lunch, a really cool pop culture shop that is just as cool as Hot Topic. Westmoreland Mall needs one for sure. I went to Barnes and Noble and had coffee and looked around. I don’t buy books like I used to, but I will be starting the final Harry Potter soon. A new anchor store is going into the old Sears spot this Fall, called Von Maur.

In an era where malls are dying, South Hills is one of the few in Pittsburgh that continues to hold its own. It makes me wonder if JCPenney would have done well if it had moved from Century III Mall to South Hills Village at some point.

If I could have done anything differently, I would have definitely snagged some cool merch from Hot Topic (either location) or Box Lunch, or even shopped online beforehand at Old Navy and picked up the order at either store. Either way, I was happy to get out on Friday and this vacation has gone well for me. I’ll be ready to head back to work Monday night.

On Day 7 of my double digit vacation, we took advantage of the nice weather and went to Kennywood. We took my 11 year old niece and her friend from karate. They were looking forward to having a good time.

For me, this trip to Kennywood was my first since 2018 and first amusement park trip since Hersheypark in 2019. COVID, my own health issues, and my work schedule contributed to that plus, it’s been hard to justify the price of admission. Katie, Matt, and Annabelle are always going to Kennywood while I don’t really have anyone to go with me. My aunt and Benny have gone a lot in the past with me but I’m sure his recent health issues have had an impact on their attendance too. Earlier in the last decade I went to Kennywood with them quite a lot.

I’ve had to be careful today picking my battles due to my health issues but so far I’ve done ok. I’ve balanced my rides well. So far, I’ve ridden the Racer and Thunderbolt, and played it safe with the Bumper Cars and the train (redone with a Thomas and Friends theme). Before I make my way home, I’d like to ride the Jackrabbit as some point before we head home. At least I’ve made it a point to ride the old roller coasters today so that constitutes a win win for me.

In my plans for my vacation I did want to go to Bites and Pints but we couldn’t come to an agreement on when to fit it in. Getting to taste all the food from different countries would have given me serious EPCOT vibes.

Eat’n Park must have had their company picnic today because I saw many folks with Eat’n Park T-Shirts in the park. Some represented store #28 in Sewickley. Their corporate headquarters is only a few minutes down the road in the Waterfront. I remember going to my work picnics with Kings in the late 2000s and getting to play Frownie. It was always a good time and it was nice to see everyone come together.

We shared some potato patch fries and went home around 6, after our relief showed up and thus, took over.

Did I get to ride what I wanted? Not everything but it was still a good day. If I stayed longer, I’d have ridden the Jackrabbit and Ghostwood Estates like I said I would. If the weather was hot as it was last week, I’d have likely been on the Raging Rapids and the Pittsburg Plunge.

I’ll make the most of my last three days of vacation starting at tomorrow with a shopping trip starting at Tanger and then up to South Hills. On Saturday, I’ll be seeing a matinee with my aunt at the Westwood Plaza Theatre. We’ll also do lunch in addition to the movie. I smell a restaurant review and a movie review (I promise, no spoilers). We’ll celebrate my Polamalu birthday on Sunday at home and put the final touches on my vacation. Another week off is coming in December but I’m not ready to look past swimming or Pumpkin Spice just yet.

I’m fully into vacation mode now, or at least trying to be (no I’m enjoying my time off). After getting educated at Summer TLI and enjoying time with family over the weekend, I’ve decided to embark on some road trips. The first one was up to Slippery Rock to see my alma mater and how much it’s changed.

Yes, I’ve made visits up there once a year for homecoming in the past and longed for the good old days to return. However, things have changed. I’ve since retired this annual tradition, last attending in 2018. I’ve also gained a new perspective on things since making some major changes in my life since then.

Before I made the drive up to Slippery Rock, I attended a Toastmasters meeting in Cranberry. I’m not a first time guest at Cranberry High Noon, and I believe this is my tenth visit (but who’s counting). Overall I heard two great speeches, took part in table topics, and served as the Grammarian. I also had an opportunity to share the website to my blog with a few of the members (who are also club officers). I also stuck around to hear who the new club officers and watch their club president in action, learning a thing or two along the way. This club went through some changes during the year and passed them with flying colors. I left around 1:30 and was on my way to Slippery Rock.

I had lunch at North Country Brewing in town. I had been there before but it was pre-COVID. I stayed true to my promise to stop at Slippery Rock. Here’s my small but mighty review of my dining experience Monday.

It was quiet and peaceful. To be fair, it is their offseason here as this place is usually busier when school is in session. I know, I used to go to school at Slippery Rock. It wasn’t very busy as it was mid-afternoon. From previous experience, I can say that the atmosphere is nice. Seating is a little different as I ate here for the first time since COVID.

I ate outside and the dining area reminded me of a place I’d eat at the Zoo. Service was good. I knew what I wanted for lunch. I got a Reuben since there we had plenty of burgers and hot dogs the day before at Ben’s graduation party. Overall I was pleased with the food. Overall I’ll rate my experience a 4.25.

I arrived at campus around 3pm and decided to stay for a while. Along the way I took many pictures both with my phone and my camera. I gained a renewed perspective of my time on campus. It was one of the paths I took that led me to where I am now. Did I want a do over? Many times I did. I was stuck between what I wanted to study if I ever went back to school for a second degree.

Fortunately, that never came to pass. Who knows what I’d be doing and if I’d ever be debt free? All to get out of working.

It took what seemed like forever but that phase has finally worn off. It was around 2019 when I did the right thing and made Fall Symposium my new tradition. It’s also changed my focus when it comes to Toastmasters.

Since graduating, I traveled some rough roads but things eventually got better. Without attending Slippery Rock, I would have had regrets of what I could have done. Even I would have attended until 2007, just one thing might have changed the whole trajectory of my entire path to where I am now.

Here’s some pictures from the Rock to close off today’s blog.