Being thankful for what’s around us can be an easy thing to overlook. Whether we’re busy with work, filled with worry from simply being a parent or constant realization of current events, or simply knowing your kids are busier with school, friends, or watching TV on their own, it sometimes takes an effort to stop, breathe, and remember there are things to smile and be thankful for.
Although this particular geeky parent might as well use worry or anxiousness as his middle name, when it comes time to stop and think about what’s in my life, I feel lucky. It’s not an easy task to make our way through this world, but the people we surround ourselves with can make every step of our journey better. So, the Geeky Parent Guide wants to recognize some folks for being amazing, because being online over the past few years has definitely lessened (for me).
WHO ARE WE GRATEFUL FOR
Fanbase Press
This starts with Fanbase Press. The community is more than the most welcoming group of individuals I’ve ever encountered, there’s a place for cheerfulness and commiserating when any of us are feeling any kind of way. Not only do Barbra and Bryant Dylan make their worlds feel like a home away from home, their sense of openness generates a willingness to do the same, even when sharing feelings or experiences might not come easily for others.
Yes, the Geeky Parent Guide is housed at Fanbase Press, but that doesn’t deter from the fact that there’s a constant feeling of being a part of something greater than myself. The physical distance between staff and contributors does not diminish the bond clearly established amongst this group. Fanbase Press has established “Comics & Coffee” every Saturday for years, allowing people to connect, share personal stories, and help each other cope and navigate the creative world.
They’ve also established “Office Hours with Barbra Dillon” where one can simply “see a familiar face” or ask for help regarding any issues. The leaders of Fanbase Press have also established a regular Potluck for the local community, where they can come together, eat, be merry, and enjoy solidarity during such trying times. Needless to say, being grateful for Fanbase Press does not stop short with writing articles for them; it’s about the greater good felt for being involved in their orbit.
If you’d like to support Fanbase Press, please subscribe to their newsletter and check out their Online Store.
David Avallone
Not only is David Avallone a creator, he lists himself as “the second-best dressed man in #comics,” and who am I to argue? David recently started his Patreon journey after decades of writing articles, comic book stories, and providing wonderful reads on his “Pulp Today” segments on his YouTube channel. If you’re looking for an interesting and entertaining person to tune into, you might find it difficult to find someone better to listen to than David.
His Patreon posts contain articles and videos about professional credits, including decades of writing and directing indie films, and he also shares personal experiences, including being on “Elvira’s Halloween card list.” His personal journey alone is worth sitting down and following along, let alone his wide-spanning professional career.
I encourage everyone to head to his Patreon and support his work.
Sabrina Reed
If you’re looking for a TV expert, look no further. Sabrina’s Substack is full of activity. Entertainment, broadcast news, and personal highlights are just a small sampling of her pop culture icon status. Her very own “TV on My Mind” covers all things television, while making sure you’re as informed as possible on each and every topic.
Sabrina writes about streaming services, TV series, FCC authority, and the ever-present need to support PBS. She also conducts interviews, including her conversation with Samantha Highfill (author, Entertainment Weekly editor) about her book, I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries. If there’s anyone that knows everything about TV, my bet would be Sabrina would be the one to talk to.
Definitely head over to her Substack and subscribe now.
Nick Diak
This pop culture scholar dabbles in a variety of genres, including Neo-peplum, Italian cinema, music, horror, and several other topics he loves to write or podcast about. He’s contributed as editor to books, written for various magazines, academic and fictional anthologies, and provided plenty of reviews for various literature.
Nick is also exceptionally generous with sharing other people’s works. More times than not, you’ll see him sharing what other people are doing on his social media accounts, while also plugging those very works into articles he creates on his website. He always seems to enjoy seeing other people shine, so this is an opportunity to do the same for him.
If you’re able, head to his site and support Nick here.
Deftones
Okay, hear me out. Music has been an extremely useful outlet over the past few years, and dare I say, Deftones has been the lead for me. Their recent album, private music, does not disappoint and only amplifies why I love this band so much. Perhaps this is a ridiculous thing to be thankful for, but music centers me – and when I’m way beyond center, it pushes me back just enough.
As for songs, there are vocals, music, or simple lines in a song that stand out that instantly make me think positively. As for the song, “i think about you all the time,” the title itself, certain lyrics, and Chino Moreno’s voice instantly make me feel better. It’s a difficult thing to explain, but when the chorus hits, an emotional ping hits that just feels good:
“All of my life, we’ll never change, all of our days, show me the way, on a wave, on a ride with you, riding your wave, wrapped in your calm, with your arms over my head.”
Dana Vickers Shelley
As a leader of the ACLU Maryland, Dana pushes forward in defending rights and making sure all people are treated equally and have the opportunity to be their best. Not only does she defend people’s rights, her vocal dissent to others trying to strip or block people’s rights is a positive example that there are people in this world who do good. This is particularly important when sometimes all we hear are the bad news and constant reminders of how people in power don’t always seem to want to help their constituents.
Bias aside, as I love my Aunt Dana dearly, she is a lightning rod of hope and a wonderful example and role model for my children. Dana is a reason to feel hopeful when we might be afraid, to feel empowered when we feel weak, and to make sure we push forward fighting for our children who will one day inherit this world – and we need that to make sure this world is for the better, now and in the future.
Go to the ACLU Foundation of Maryland to donate.
Yes, this list only highlights a few individuals, but the list doesn’t end here. Should I make this a continued list where I regularly highlight other creators on the GPG? Who are you thankful for? Share your thoughts in the comments or reach out on social media?
Until next time, happy parenting and happy geeking.
