Where is he now?

[yesthattom]

In 1997 NJLGC presented me with a lifetime achievement award for my BLGT activism. Saturday, Oct 16 is this years achievement award ceremony, and I highly recommend that people in NJ attend even if you aren’t LGBTI. It’s quite an important event, and it raises money for the important LGBTI-rights work that needs to be done in this fine state.

I know I must be old because I was asked to write a “Where is he now?” 200-word blurb about myself for this year’s program book. I wrote:

Tom Limoncelli took a break from activism to co-author a book on computer system and network administration which is now considered the top book on the subject and has lead to him being invited to teach workshops and speak at conferences internationally. He returned to activism through his involvement in BiZone and NJLGC. He spent 2.5 months volunteering at the Vermont HQ of the Howard Dean presidential campaign, and has since been involved volunteering with various election efforts to elect local liberal candidates as well as John Kerry. He’s now coordinating the grass-roots involvement tools on www.NJLGC.org. He teaches workshops on bisexuality and polyamory in at conferences every chance he gets. He live in Scotch Plains, NJ and is in a committed unmarried relationship. He maintains a blog with political, technical, and humorous news and commentary on blog.whatexit.org

Though, the first draft was simply, “Tom is sitting at his desk writing a 200-word blurb about where he is now.” I’m so very sure that I’m the first person to ever think of that. Yeah, right.

It’s weird writing something that is all ego. In the same span of time I had a failed marriage, completely botched the handling of a psychotic incident someone was having, made a lot of lousy investments, helped to start a company that I eventually left when I realized it was doomed, gained a lot of weight, failed to go to the gym I joined, avoided conflict where I should have sought resolution, yelled at people that didn’t deserve it, trusted people I shouldn’t have, took stress management classes, etc. etc. etc.

I’m not sure if I should send them an updated draft that includes some of that stuff.

Comments

[airshipjones.livejournal.com]

The hard things in life don't make the good things any less valuable. And much of that may be in the TMI category for most readers.

And just so ya know, your help with my resume was great. I have a great job now, and I have your book sitting in front of me as I type.

Keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you are now gainfully employed!

Thanks for the kind words.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the honor. :)

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[ckd]

You've done a lot of good, and learned from the not-so-good. No more can be asked of anyone.

[freeko.livejournal.com]

As Roger McGuinn of the Byrds sang in "So You Want to be a Rock-N-Roll Star"

"Was it all a strange game, Your a little insane"

With all the successes sometimes we remember the failures more, because maybe what we wanted to work out the most became a failure.

[stitchinthyme.livejournal.com]

I’m not sure if I should send them an updated draft that includes some of that stuff.

The purpose of these blurbs is not to spell out everything that's happened in your life -- and this one is supposed to be mostly about the activism thing anyway -- so I'd keep it just as it is. Although I would change "lead" to "led" in the first sentence. (Yes, I'm anal about grammar; why do you ask?)

Next time you have to write a blurb for the program of a gathering of adults who've made stupid choices, feel free to include the bad stuff...although I doubt they could find a big enough venue for such a gathering!