Authorpreneur Dashboard – Johnny Welsh
Weedgalized in Colorado: True Tales from the High Country
Humor & Entertainment
Curious about legalizing marijuana? Weedgalized in Colorado is a lighthearted and surprisingly informative read, featuring on-the-ground stories from scores of participants in Colorado’s historic transformation into a cannabis-friendly state. The book doubles as a reference guide, listing dispensaries, strains and more. Johnny Welsh’s unique perspective stems from his career as a professional bartender in the heart of Colorado’s famous ski country. His big, engaging personality encouraged friends and strangers alike to share what they have seen and heard about the state’s new cannabis culture.
Book Bubbles from Weedgalized in Colorado: True Tales from the High Country
More descriptive humor
This excerpt was written to show how bad at decision making a guy can be when he drinks too much. It was meant to prove a point with a splash of humor. I hope it puts a smile on some faces during these crazy times. Proceed at your own risk, there's bad behavior ahead.
It seems like yesterday...
It has only been five years since the legalization of recreational marijuana went live with sales in Colorado. The novelty has subsided a bit but the businesses continue to grow into creative ways unforeseen. We are busy across many industries now. I'm not sure if it started when we legalized, but I'm sure there will be a study with statistics on that soon.
40,000 pounds of Marijuana
Here's one character I will not soon forget. I thank him for his candid contribution to my marijuana research. My book is a non-biased account of the first few years of legalization from the first state to go legal; Colorado.
Happy Thanksgiving
My dedication to my parents is with loving humor. It was my mom's idea to put it in. I joked about it, and she said it would be touching and set the tone for a light hearted approach to my topic. Thank you, again, Mom and Dad. Love you to the moon.
My Goal For Stand-Up Comedy
My first night of attempting stand-up comedy was a great experience. It was easy for me to just tell old, crazy, true stories of the insane bartender I can be! This is my goal for 2020. I will continue on my journey of story-telling of my antics. Don't worry if you were there, I will change names to protect the "innoncent"!! NOT!
Unprepared for marijuana
I didn't laugh. I didn't cry. I just ran home in a snowstorm to ride it out!
Still a blazing hot topic
"Welcome to the high country", used to be a phrase about the elevation. Today, it has a whole new meaning. I guess it's the same with WTF, which I say to tourists as a warm welcome...Welcome to Frisco.
The beginning of a cash tsunami
Four years after the legalization date, January 1, 2014, there are still an overwhelming onslaught of new companies and businesses starting. If you can create a unique cannabis business in your mind, then you are free to enter into this arena and give it a try. The entrepreneur spirit is alive and well. Beware of the tsunami of competition and shortage of housing before you move.
Meet the Ganjapreneurs
Curious about the legalization of marijuana and the initial trailblazers? Here is a quick glimpse into those who are creating unique businesses in the cannabis industry in Colorado. They are known as Ganjapreneurs.
Paper Maps, No Apps: An Unplugged Travel Adventure
Travel
It all starts off as a dare, but turns into a way of life. A young couple pledges to stay connected to each other by disconnecting from the rest of the world for a 16-day vacation. Unplugged smartphones and devices are the first rule of the road. Chance encounters, surprising side trips, and a cast of unique characters met along the way, make this unplugged travel adventure a fun trip for anyone who has had it with today's smartphone-addicted world. It was all fun and games until lives began to light up. An amazing change was imminent. Discover: 1. A fun way to reduce your use 2. How romance can be enhanced 3. Meet twice as many new friends during happy hour You'll love this book because you can follow this amazing journey and take control of your destiny with a digital detox whenever the need arises. WARNING: Strange things might happen, like conversations and live interactions. You may even develop an insatiable desire for traveling unplugged.
Book Bubbles from Paper Maps, No Apps: An Unplugged Travel Adventure
Get back to basics and keep it simple
During the Great Pandemic of 2020 we needed and used our technology to stay connected socially. Soon, we will be able to interact again physically. Smartphone technology can be very addicting. Will we be able to interact without staring at a screen instead of looking someone in the eyes?
Thankful for quiet moments we shared
Times are different right now, but I am grateful to have had these moments. The fact that I wrote about them is the icing on the cake. Happy Thanksgiving.
Challenging Times Need a Little...
Now, more than ever, it might be helpful to turn everything off and focus on the simple things in life. Take little breaks once in a while...once in a while, or more if you're daring.
Am I more addicted now due to Covid-19?
I will admit, social media and my smartphone helped me get through that intitial lockdown during the pandemic of 2020. Am I now more addicted to my smartphone than before? How can I go from heavy use back to moderate or light use? This excerpt might help me remember how and why...
We work hard and party hard.
When it is time for a beach vacation and surf trip, we tend to over- exaggerate the obvious. Yes, it is safe to say that not one of us acts our age. It is a good feeling; that freedom.
Allowing ourselves to be immature
Sometimes there is freedom when you don't care what anyone else thinks. For us, this tends to happen when we create silly situations and juvenile humor. I think we laugh more because we know how it looks!
A Little Love Can Change the Day
Being present is what we cherish most and is needed now more than ever.
You Never Know
You never know who you are going to affect on this journey.
Time to resume normal life
During lockdown, social media was needed more than ever for many to feel a sense of social connection. I believe it did help, but... Now that normal life might resume within the next year (hopefully), it might be a good idea to wean off of excessive use. I know my family has increased their smartphone useage by almost double. Here's an excerpt from a road trip before the pandemic and how it was so rewarding.
New words are on the rise
Yes, they are, and it is quite amusing to see some of the wittier ones. Have fun with these new terms regarding smartphone use. If you like portmanteus, check out Weedgalized in Colorado.
Simplify and reconnect
During the pandemic, smartphones and social media played a vital role in keeping folks connected. Now that life is slowly returning back to normal, it is time to reconnect in the physical world. This means reducing the time spent on devices and getting back out into the world. Stay well and stay together.
Benefits of reading a physical book
One of my favorites puns as a bartender is that I enjoy reading old fashioned books; the kind with paper pages in them. My guests laugh, but in my mind, I need to specify the type of reading that I love. All types of reading can be bendificial. There are some interesting and subtle differences...
Camping, surfing, and happy hour
Sometimes the simplest of pleasures are what make road trips memorable.
A little descriptive humor
Humor is needed during these crazy times. I hope this puts a smile on some faces. It might be a little immature, but we were conducting a little social experiment; traveling without smartphones.
Is Social Media Adding to Anxiety?
During these times it might be beneficial to take scheduled breaks from social media and the global media in order to curtail some anxiety if it exists. Take this all seriously but not in a panic. Be smart, be courteous, wash your hands and stay calm. It's all we can do right now. Best wishes.
Happy Hour in Las Vegas
Yes, we are enjoying another happy hour. This is the part of our travels that we love the most; meeting many new friends.
Give your Valentine the gift of being present
Choose in favor of romance. It is still a challenge to leave smartphones out of the equation. That is why our suggestion was to set up rules and reduce use just a bit. More than a bit is better but some of us may need baby steps. Have you ever found yourself texting in the middle of a conversation or during dinner? When a friend, relative, loved one, or even a stranger is speaking, are you listening? This couple is choosing to fight back the addictive qualities of technology and would love some company if it suits. Happy Valentine's Day
You never know who you may meet.
This is the story of how our road trip idea of going unplugged affected someone so much that it inspired me to write this book. Digital detox road trips are on the verge of exploding right now and ours started off as a whim but ended up changing lives.
Romance is making a comeback
The red wine was-a- flowing and the fire was-a-glowing!! Reading a book to my girlfriend as she sat by the fire was a romantic highlight that I will not soon forget. We are now engaged to be married... ...read the following excerpt.
More great times ahead in 2020
Some of the best times with friends are on a beach with a cold beer in hand playing bocce. We took this event to a whole new level!
Rules, rituals, and traditions
It's okay to be silly and slow down. Surfers have a fun way of looking at life, especially with respect to nature. This is most effective over a cold beer at happy hour!
It's okay to be idle
On our surf trip there are about fifteen surfers and beginners. We have so much fun surfing and telling stories around the campfire. We are present. There are no smartphones or devices in sight and this allows our minds to be idle and create silly things to discuss; like the squirrel launcher!
You changed my perspective
This was the moment that our roadtrip idea became a book idea all because of the gratitude of a bartender.
As dusk sets on the highway
I remember writing this during a beautiful dusk. The headlights of the cars were already on and it was still bright enough to make out the silhouettes of the landscape. Reminds me of my youth when I would get home from school around 3:15 pm and there was only a couple of hours before dark.
Creepy Ghost Town
I cannot believe this girl still wants to marry me after all the times like this one that I scare her half to death!!
Could this be the end of "Hello"?
I love what I do for a living. Bartending for over twenty-five years has shown light on the human experience. Getting to know and chatting with people from all over the world has kept me in this industry. Trading stories with many is the inspiration for becoming an author. Over the past few years, I have seen this interaction dissipate and it makes me a bit sad. There is a social disconnect growing.I observe it every day in smartphone addiction/distraction. There is hope and authors are on the front line whether they know it or not. My studies point to a resurgence in the reading of old-fashioned books; you know, the kind with paper pages in them. That will be the solution in the upcoming revolution.
The Return Trip Home
After a sixteen day road trip, where we set out to be fully present, comes the long ride home. This ride is full of reflection from the journey. In order to be fully present, we made a game out of unplugging our smartphones. Our goal was to be ninety-five percent unplugged. It started off as a dare then turned into a social experiment which is now a way of life. It was a great success. We didn't realize how successful it was until our friends and family began to curtail their constant use of technology and make an effort to be more present. There's nothing like coming home from a journey with a changed outlook on life.
Reconnecting by disconnecting
This was one of those precious moments in life that can be easy to take for granted. I hope I continue to cherish simple pleasures like this one.
What if...
What if David Sedaris, Timothy Ferris, and Tucker Max collaborated on an insanely fun travel memoir? You might find something like this young couple determined to rediscover each other by disconnecting. The rules of their game were simple; turn off the device and be present, along with plenty of happy hours. It was all fun and games to unplug until it began to transform lives. They continue to lead by example against a tsunami of tech companies vying for our attention.
Being human
I hope that reconnecting with each other will stay strong no matter what distractions are nearby. We need each other to help through difficult times.
It's okay not to know
How often do I reach for my phone to find instant answers? I guess I'm average, but when did it become imperitive to know everything instantly. On relaxing road trips it is fun not to know and keep guessing with your friends and family. After all, there is plenty of time until the next bathroom stop!
The end of "Hello"
There are fun solutions to the smartphone phenomenon and I share a few in our travel adventure. We created these on the spot and friends began to adopt them as fun experiments.
The beginning of the journey.
As we set out on our travel adventure without smartphones, the social experiment begins; and so does the humor.
