Hi!
My name is ‘Grioghar.’
When looking up the name in a baby book, you’ll find my name means ‘watchful; vigilant.’
And thus, the idea of ‘Vigilant Media’ was born.
Somehow or another, you’ve gotten here. Either it’s by way of a social media post, Google, or, probably, I’ve been talking to you on the dating apps and I most likely linked this in my profile to give you a little extra flavor about who and what I am, and boy, are you in for a read.
You don’t have to read this all. In fact, I’d be surprised if you do.
But if you do, I’ll love you all the more for it.
I’m ridiculously eclectic, and as I spend the time to update this page, it will show.
I’m going to try to break this up into sections, add hyperlinks to jump between topics, and make this easier to consume in bits.
So, start right here:
Writer
I know, I know: everyone and their dog is a writer nowadays. I use the word ‘writer,’ because for as long as I’ve been aware of it, the written word has meant so very, very much to me.
Early on, I began fashioning tales, writing stories, thinking critically about the meaning of every text I’ve read.
I began writing, and never really stopped – sure, there have been moments in time where I didn’t focus on the written word, but I’ve always found my way back to pen-and-paper, and later, the keyboard and the word processor.
This is why I’ll always call myself a writer: capturing the human experience in words is something fundamental to my existence. Expression for the sake of connection will always be paramount to who I am.
Karaoke Host & Singer
In late January/early February ‘25, I was desperately seeking employment.
A friend, a person I met at a Wednesday night karaoke I regularly went to, reached out and said he thought I’d make a good host.
I called up Sarge, and he asked me to come to a bar to do an interview with the co-owner, Matt.
Conversation was had, beers were shared, and for the first time in my professional life, the interview involved me performing a song.
It was surreal.
The song?
‘Pop’ by N’Sync.
I got trained, I was watched a few times to make sure I was a good fit, and since then, I’ve come to absolutely love the job and the people I’ve met doing it.
I had no idea I was going to love doing this so much, but for the rest of my working life, I’m going to find a karaoke-hosting gig.
It speaks to something inside me I didn’t know was there, and is something I’ll always love doing – hosting – and in general, just singing with the crowd.
There’s something I’ve started saying to folks, both directly when recruiting folks to sing before we start, and during the session:
‘Karaoke is about your passion; no one cares if you can sing well or not. If you have a song in your heart and want to sing it out, the only crime is not doing it for the people who came to hear it.’
Seems to have resonated a few times, and that makes my heart happy.
I’ve started a section of the website dedicated to this, and will have a section dedicated to the songs I’ll regularly sing, the special occasions, and the ones that hilariously and/or catastrophically failed.
Movie Fanatic
This site used to be nothing but pages and pages of movie reviews before I pulled it down, considering it all very sophomoric.
Who am I to say what it good and what is not, or express an opinion on art as it is presented?
Doesn’t matter. I’m going to start doing it again.
As my Improv coach and someone I’ll forever owe the rest of my existence to said:
“Don’t just say something to say it. Step up and say it because it’s inside of you and bursting to come out.”
And that’s how I feel about a great movie.
Or a terrible one.
I’ll find myself wanting to debate and discuss, in deep detail, some wondrous piece of media that I can’t help but expound about, and usually finding a weary audience in my friends, I would start here.
I’m going back to that, taking my love and knowledge of cinema, and expounding to my heart’s content.
And no – I don’t have a favorite movie per se.
I will say there’s some I’ve seen way more than others, which would include ‘The Matrix,’ ‘Moulin Rouge,’ and ‘The Never-Ending Story.’
Honorable mention to ‘The Princess Bride.’
Guitar ‘Player’
I’ll include some of my plucking here at a later time, but at the moment, just know that while I am not Steve Vai, I am an acolyte thereof.
Photographer
I’m a Nikon Man, as you’ll see more in my Galleries.
I’ve loved photography since the day my Granny put a point-and-shoot in my hands and let me loose on her property.
I’m just trying to get progressively better.
As of March ‘25, this section hasn’t been updated in some time, and I will update accordingly once life slows down a bit.
Computer Programmer
My Github – woefully incomplete, as most organizations take ownership of your code and leave you unable to post your best work.
I love cloud computing. It’s APIs all the way down.
As such, I love and use Python, NodeJS, Bash, and all the interpreter languages I can get my hands on on a regular basis.
I have a special place in my heart for IoT, and really love microcomputers – particularly the Raspberry Pi. I’ve done a lot work on tweaking and tuning The RetroPie Project and trying to make deployment and management of a MAME cabinet based on that project much easier.
Standup Comedian
If you dare wander into my YouTube channel, you’ll find the worst of the worst with a couple of great evenings interspersed.
I’m not good at it.
But I love it.
Neurodivergent
This section will go on and on once I decide to take the time to write out all my thoughts.
I was diagnosed ADHD at 40.
This diagnosis changed my world, for the better.
It was like I was walking through the world in black-and-white, and someone flipped on the color.
Once I started studying everything I could about ADHD, and understanding it past just ‘hyperactive child who doesn’t do their homework.’ my whole life was explained to me.
I finally understood me.
And with that, a whole new world of empathy became open to me I didn’t even realize until my eyes were opened.
Everything became more, and I’m grateful for it.
Subaru Mechanic
I’ll include pictures of my Ru in later iterations of this page.
I bought a car without understanding what I was buying.
I fell in love with it.
Then I got really good at modifying them.
Then I sunk $30,000+ into mine.
Improv Player
Attending my first Improv class changed my life.
Some of it good, some of it bad, but forever changed because I found out who I was through those little moments on-stage and in reflection.
I currently am a member of improv group ‘Speak Easy’ at ‘The Flying Pig.’
Going to that first class might have been one of the most important and consequential decisions of my life.
You should try it.
