SPRING HAS SPRUNG!!!

And from everything I’ve every been told about birds & bees, this is SEXY TIME!

But let me just clarify that the birds and the bees story is not to be taken literally. I’ll never forget the first time I poured honey down my pants and tried to have sex with an Ostrich.

It took 3 or 4 gnarly kicks to the head before I realized that birds, even flightless ones, need to a bit of romance to get in the mood.

But once there are sparks…let me tell you, “Once you go feather, you’ll never have better!”

Today was my nephew’s 2nd Easter (he is 21 months old). What a difference a year makes!

Here are two short clips from 2007 and two from 2008:

Tomorrow is my family’s Annual Easter Beer Hunt.

Last year, we had lots of family in town. This year it will be a more intimate affair. This video shows some of the Beer Hunt Family Silliness as well as me in an easter bonnet and my nephew a year ago:

This video from the previous year shows my roommate Shonda and Grandpa Caleb rocking the hunt!

On the weekend of April 20 I’m heading to a Burning man-inspired event in Borrego Springs called “Fools Paradise.” It is the same location as the 2008 SD BM Decompression (where this video was shot)

Lots of my Burning Man crew will be there. Maybe you want to camp there, too?

written for work newsletter

St Patrick’s Day is coming up!
But to be perfectly honest, I am NOT a fan of drinking-based holidays.
I’m sure there is a great story about Irish Pride and banishing the potato-famine-causing snakes…but we all know that St Paddy’s Day is for drinking.
Same is true with Cinco De Mayo, Fat Tuesday, and New Year’s Eve.

My problem is not with the holidays themselves, but the fact that the occasions bring out all the amateurs.

You wouldn’t go from being a couch potato to running a marathon overnight, would you?
And yet millions of basically sober people turn into party animals just because the calendar gives them permission.
Well, I am sorry. That is WRONG.
Just like running a marathon, serious partying requires TRAINING.

That is why I encourage everyone to maintain a steady regimen of wine, beer, and spirits, to stay in optimal party shape.

Some crazy people argue for moderation, but the key to successful drinking is PRACTICE.

You may lose your job, friends, and physique…but nobody will be able to take your “party animal” title away. So join me this morning (and every morning) for a bowl of Guinness & Lucky Charms, would you?

For my whole life, the real world and the world of myths was connected through the following picture:

The image of my grandfather, working with MLK as peers…it had a profound impact on me. It showed me that great men were not the creations of story books. But were the very same people as you and me. The picture was a reminder to me of the potential of every one of us.

This is the first year that both the people in the photo are no longer here physically.

Thankfully, the lesson is burned deep in to my core.

May you remember the lives of the giants whose shoulders we stand on. And may you remember your brilliant potential today!

Love,
-john halcyon

p.s. My Grandpa wrote the following in his blog a few years ago:

I have been asked:: “Who is the greatest Person you ever met? In my 88 years on this Planet the answer for me is ‘Martin Luther King, Jr.’ None of you heard him but he preached in our First Baptist Church of Denver. When Carol and I were pastoring there.

In one of his closing sermons he said:

“If I died tomorrow I would like for people to say I tried to clothe the naked and visit those who were in prison. I tried to be right on the war question. I tried to love everyone. If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major For justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for justice, and for righteousness. All of the other shallow things will not matter. I wont have any money to leave behind. I wont have luxurious things to leave behind. I want to leave behind a committed life:

“If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or a song, if I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong, then, my living will not be in vain. If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, if I can bring salvation to a world once wrought, if I can spread the message as the Master taught, then my living will not be in vain.”

…I rejoice in the memory and example of this great man. Thanks for scrolling and I hope you will squeeze every day making meaningful and fulfilling relationships.

I’m not a fan of Resolutions, but only because they set you up to fail. I *do* think that New Years are great “markers” to pull your head out from the daily grind and take a birds eye look at where you are on your path. “How are things going? Need to adjust the trajectory at all?”

It is also a great time to look back and remember all the year’s highlights.

For me, this was the year of the Caleb’s.
My 2007 was defined by the passing of Grandpa Caleb and the growing of Nephew Caleb.
Both have been joyous beyond description.

Here are some other highlights:

• Hosted the “Huggable V-Day” gathering with Grandpa.
• Held Grandpa’s hand as he passed.
• Gave a Eulogy. Authored a tribute DVD.
• Attended & spoke at SXSW
• Nominated for a 2nd Webby.
• Went to New York to accept People’s Choice Webby. (Hugged Rob Cordry)
• Yahoo featured HugNation on their Homepage.
• Recieved divine inspiration to build the Pink Ark (the Hugmobile.)
• Participated in my 10th Burning Man.
• Heard my nephew call me by name.
• Went to Colorando to spread Grandpa’s Ashes and bond with family.
• Did the first ever 6 city HUG TOUR with Spotman.
• went to SF, LA, and SD Decoms
• Featured on CNN.
• Learned tons from Hugmobile “challenges.”
• Fell in love with Andicat.
• launched “Belief Buffet.”
• relaunched LifeStudent.com!

Xmas day was love-filled and joyous! here are a few pics taken with my new Xacti:

(more…)

# Learn to determine remaining battery life with my tongue.
# Master the Lundy Hop.
# Floss.
# Force those punks to let me play their reindeer games
# Protest non-primary colors.
# Impregnate a reptile.
# Up my brie intake to 2 wheels/day.
# Read the fine print.
# Pick which side is my “good side.”
# Conquer my fear of cotton.
# Regain my tetherball Championship.
# Patent my spanking machine.
# Stop teasing gravity.
# Skip to work at least 1 day a week.
# Skip work at least 1 day a week.
# Debate artificial flavors and colors.
# Tackle adversity. Tie him up. Tar and feather him.
#Have my “Marry me, Brittany” tattoo covered up with a Celtic design or something.
# Stop blood doping for regional athletic competitions and weekend masturbation sessions.
# Ask Mom to stop calling me “Fucko.”
# Find a teeter-totter partner closer to my age (and weight).
# Buy my *own* blow-up doll.

This was recorded a few years ago. But I love that his wisdom and love remains a part of my life.