Author Archives: PatrckB

About PatrckB

I'm a techie, a disciple of Jesus, and an avid videographer. I've been both widowed and divorced. God is not done working on me yet.

Being Sick is no Fun

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It started light

I first came down with what I thought was a cold last Tuesday. I stayed home from work Tue & Wed and felt better and went back to work on Thursday. But the 10 hour day was probably beyond my energy level and then Friday I was wiped out. I did meet with a friend for lunch but I didn’t sleep good.

Then it REALLY Hit

Saturday I was on the couch all day. I was able to get up to heat soup and that was about it. I called the church and let them know that they probably needed to find a substitute for me for today. I was scheduled to serve and I hated to give up my spot, but I’m glad today I did.

This Too Shall Pass

I know I’ll feel better in a few more days. I’ve called a few friends to cheer myself up. When I was a kid and got sick, Mom would always get me a plastic model plane or boat to put together. I had a lot of fun assembling and painting those plastic models.

What do you do to cheer yourself up when you get sick?

Facebook Rocks!

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Researcher: social networking trumps porn in web searches

That Ars Technica article headline caught my eye! There is now more Internet traffic for social networking than for porn. I can believe it.

This year, I joined Facebook and now have 38 “friends” that I keep up with. I must admit it is addicting. I find that I login at least once a day and see what my friends are doing. I don’t update my status that often. I change it every week or so. I am a firm believer that one can put out TMI (too much information).

Is social networking replacing old-fashioned person-to-person socializing? Or is it using technology to do better socializing? Opinions?

Tommie Powell

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Tommie the Mommy

Born January 3, 1920 Died October 16, 2008

My mother-in-law passed to Glory recently. She was an awesome lady.

She was very active in her church and the choir. They had a group of like-aged folks that called themselves the “XYZ” and was the life of the party whenever they went on trips. She was an expert in Scrabble and practically unbeatable. She also was know to reprimand an AJC columnist if they violated a grammar rule.

When my wife and her sister were growing up, all their friends called her “Tommie the Mommy.” She was much beloved by all.

You can read the obituary here.

Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival

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Great Weekend Weather

This was the 29th annual fall Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival. Trudie had done this show since the first year it was held. It was good to go back and spend time with Avery, Lewis, & Gracie. Avery has been an exhibitor for a number of years. Now, the promoters have given Avery the spot that Trudie used to be in. It was great weather all weekend and it was fun to see some of our friends.

It’s a Tough Job but Somebody Has to Do It


That is being a grandPop to Gracie. She is now 2 3/4 years old and very much in the throws of the terrible-twos. The screaming show she put forth when she DID NOT WANT to take a nap yesterday was truly three-booths-down head-turning. I did take Gracie to the petting zoo. We had lots of fun together.

I’m Having Way Too Much Fun

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People can’t believe it!

I am totally enjoying the reaction that I’m getting when people first seem we without my mustache and beard. It is total shock and awe. I look SO different now. At church last Sunday, they introduced me in the big volunteer meeting as the “new face” on the team. Most people say they like the change. Most people also remark on how much younger I now look. The minimum they have said is that I’m 10 years younger. Some have even said 15 years. I’ll take even 10 years younger.

“Pictures Please!”

I’ve had a number of requests for digital pictures. I will be happy to meet you at your convenience and you can take all the pictures you want :-). I’m having way too much fun to spoil the surprise and I want to see your reactions.

Where’s the video?

I had some friends shoot the whole beardectomy process. I have 35 minutes of raw video I will put into a story. It will take time. Please be patient.

Shave Plus 3

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It sho’ feels weird…

I’ve been sans beard & mustache for three days. The barber shop shave was awesome. There’s a reason shaver ads compare themselves to a “barbershop shave.” My face was as smooth as baby’s skin on Friday. So yesterday was the first time I’ve shaved it myself. It felt so weird to shave areas that I have so carefully avoided for decades.

It also feels weird not to have lip hair to comb. I still whip the comb to it when I fluff my coiffure. Woops! nothing there!

I’m slowly getting used to it. I’m also being mean to some friends. At church yesterday, I walked right up and stood in front of a fellow production team member, he glanced at me, and kept going about what he was doing. I didn’t say a word so he had no reason to know it was me. I sent him a message later in the day and he was flabbergasted that he didn’t recognize me.

I’m liking it more each day. I think I’ll keep it.

It’s Done

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I can’t believe I did it!

Yes, I did it. I shaved the whole thing off! I’m having a “reveal” party tonight so I won’t show you what I look like just yet. This is almost the last picture of me with whiskers.

It took the barber over an hour for the haircut and shave. He did many passes with hot towels, shaving cream, oil cream, and the razor.

I’m going to create a video of the whole thing. It is going to be my next video story.

In the mean time. Here’s a teaser photo:

From The Great Shave

Financial Peace University

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Dave Ramsey

I’ve signed up for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. Dave Ramsey is a news radio talk show host who gives people advice on their financial situation. He teaches at big event seminars and has written a couple of best-seller books. He has written an 13 week course that you take, usually at a church but not always, with a group of folks like ourselves.

I’m not in trouble. I just want to make my money achieve some savings goals. For example, I want to do a very weird thing, I want to pay CASH for my next car. Dave says it is do able. His famous line is that “we must live like no one else now, so that later we can live like no one else.

How it works

What we do is each week watch an hour DVD video of Dave teaching. We then discuss the principles Dave has taught with each other. We are then given homework assignments. The thing that clinched it for me was this point from their “How It Works” page:
80-20 Graph

Beat Debt Build Wealth
The goal of Financial Peace University is not just
information - we're looking for transformation!
Financial management is only 20% knowledge
and 80% behavior. We help break the bad habits
that rob people of true financial success.

I’m really excited about this course. I believe it will help me realize the savings goals I want to achieve and have more peace of mind about my money.

The "Best" Way

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Vs. Getting Things Done

I have an illness. This illness usually results in in-action. It is something I struggle with and sometimes am successful in conquering and sometimes not. This illness is the compulsion to not do anything until I do it “the best way.” This is an illness I have struggles with all my life. I’m in recovery now and I usually can get things done without it having to be the best. But recently, I’ve had a relapse in the disease. I have a lot of things to find new homes for. I have an inventory of Trudie’s work that I know people want. I have a bunch of nick-nacks that I no longer need and have been loved in the past but are no longer appreciated by the present owner. I want to move on but I also want to do “what’s best.”

As I have said before, one of my new favorite sayings is “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly.” I still have times when I don’t do anything but now I tell myself that it’s worth doing poorly and I go ahead and do it.

Do you have times of perfection paralysis?

My Bosnia Video

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Digital Story Telling Workshop

I’ve been wanting to make better videos. I’ve known that good technical video technique did not necessarily make a good video. What makes a good video is a good story. This is an area in which I am weak.

Last week I spent three days at a workshop in Washington, DC, put on by the Center for Digital Story Telling. We went through a quick but intensive time making my first digital story.

I made it about my experience in Bosnia. Here’s my finished story:


My Bosnia Story from Patrick Bartkus on Vimeo.

My thoughts on creating this

I had a great time making this video. I had great feedback from the instructors and other students in the workshop. We worked hard and we all came away with great videos. I already know the topic of my next video: My Beard and the Great Shave.

Your thoughts on this

So what do you think? I’m interested to know what you think about what I’ve made.