T. M. Quillopo Jr. writing at his desk in Las Vegas

If You're Tired, Then Do It Tired!

Books, kids, marathon training, broken e-bikes, travel, renovations and one wild year. Somehow, Mom's advice still fits: if you're tired, do it tired.

15 hours ago7 min read

FEATURED POST

Never Miss a New Post.

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

If You're Tired, Then Do It Tired!

Books, kids, marathon training, broken e-bikes, travel, renovations and one wild year. Somehow, Mom's advice still fits: if you're tired, do it tired.

15 hours ago7 min read

Father first. Army veteran, cybersecurity professional, author, creator, and marathon runner somewhere after that.

I’ve spent my life moving between worlds that don’t always seem connected: technology and storytelling, military service and fatherhood, books and AI, long runs and late-night ideas scribbled into notebooks. Somewhere along the way, I realized they don't need to fit into separate boxes.

They’re all me.

There are still stories to tell, things to build, places to see, and plenty of miles left to run.

I’m just getting started.

FOLLOW ME

t.m.quillopojr

848 posts

3K followers

241 following

♋️
are you sure you're at the right profile? If you are, maybe you should check out my links, just to be sure:

http://tmquillopojr.com

Life check.

Sometimes it feels like everyone around me is boarding a plane, taking a cruise, or heading off on some new adventure while I’m still here handling responsibilities.

But life is not only measured in destinations. Sometimes it looks like raising your kids, rebuilding your home, putting one foot in front of the other, and training your body and mind for something most people would never even attempt.

I’m preparing for a marathon. My house is slowly coming back together. My family needs me, and I’m grateful I can be here for them. Somewhere in the middle of all this, life has also given me a few new reasons to smile and look forward to what comes next.

Funny how time finally has a way of revealing the truths that words once couldn’t. Sometimes people have to walk through certain feelings before they can understand what someone else had been trying to say all along.

So no, I may not be on a beach or a ship, yet. 😉

But I’m not stuck.

I’m building.
I’m healing.
I’m getting stronger.

And there is still plenty of life in these lungs.

Some people are collecting passport stamps.

I’m collecting miles, discipline, peace, and a future worth arriving at. Care to witness?

Hey old friend....

So much to catch you up on.

#memorialdayweekend

help me.

My debut thriller novel and second published book is now available on #Amazon. Thank you all for your support, patience, and encouragement throughout this journey. I’d truly love for you to grab a copy and experience the story for yourselves.

Book Overview

A top-secret experiment spirals into psychological horror when memory begins to fracture, time bends out of shape, and reality itself starts to unravel inside a sealed facility. As fear spreads and the truth slips further out of reach, those trapped inside must confront something far worse than death: the terrifying loss of who they are.

Back-to-back—what an honor.
Thank you so much for this. I’m truly grateful to know the novel is being enjoyed. A tremendous amount of care and effort went into crafting the story, and it means a great deal to see it resonate with readers.

If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, you can find it here:

https://bit.ly/3LcD3ds (or search it on Amazon)

And if you already have—thank you sincerely. Your support means more than I can say.

I sure did get it.

Let them Holiday season start....in 4 days.

One Last Ride

“Some roads don’t take you home. They remind you where home truly was.”

This one took everything out of me: late nights, rewrites, doubt, hope, and every ounce of heart I had left. What started back in July as a simple road story has now become something deeper.

One Last Ride has been rebuilt from the ground up: richer, more grounded, and filled with the kind of emotion you only find when you’ve lived it.

Frank and Jules’ journey isn’t just about the miles they drive… it’s about the scars that finally start to heal when you stop running.

To everyone who supported this book early on — you were there for its first heartbeat. As a thank-you, if you purchased a copy of that early edition, message me privately and I’ll send you a signed Zombie Variant Edition free of charge (for book purchases only).

This book is proof that art isn’t built overnight: it’s bled into.

Two editions. One story that keeps evolving.

Mahalo nui loa for riding this road with me. ❤️

📚 Available now on Amazon:
👉 [https://shorturl.at/UNlPU]

💀 Special Zombie Variant Edition:
👉 [https://shorturl.at/WhT9y]

#onelastride #TQuillopoJr #makeitcount #booklaunch #zombievariant #writersoﬁnstagram

You know something?

Last night hit me hard—but in the best way possible. It reminded me that I don’t need to keep worrying about worrying. I almost let myself slip backward again, and I hated that feeling. But then I stopped and thought: "man, let 'em talk!" Let them whisper or laugh or misjudge me. I’ve been teased all my life—for my voice, my skin, my strange mix of seriousness and humor, for m6 lack of physical maturity, and my jacked up smile! Pick a topic. You think you know!?

And yet here I am, still standing, still moving. I’ve learned that peace doesn’t come from being understood; it comes from understanding yourself.
Life doesn’t always unfold the way we imagined. You can’t keep holding onto the “what-ifs,” or you’ll miss the “what-ifs” that are happening right now, right before your eyes.

So this morning, I rode. For Naya. For Anna. For Alexander, Mom, and Dad. I just hopped on the bike, and took off. Maybe I had a destination once—but it melted away into miles and quiet and wind. Two hours of nothing but breath and memory. My battery died halfway through, but maybe that was the point. I didn’t need the noise. I didn’t need a signal. I just needed...me.

Sweet Arceus, I needed that ride! I didn’t have to go far to find myself again. I didn’t need someone else’s comfort; I needed to remember that I’ve always carried my own.

Somewhere between the sunrise and the silence, I reconnected with that version of me that’s okay with being misunderstood, that’s fine walking alone, that’s still ready to live.

And this post—yeah, it wasn’t meant for everyone.

If you made it this far, congratulations, you either really care or you really need new hobbies (either way, I love you for it).

This was for future me. To remind him that we’re fine. That the storms pass. That people will always judge, always talk—but that doesn’t mean you have to stop walking your road.

To my friends who reached out last night—thank you. You didn’t have to, but you did. You checked in when I was quiet, and that meant more than you’ll ever know. I’m lucky to have you in my corner.

And to the ones who feel lost, who feel like they can’t move forward yet—trust me, you can. You will.

Life has a funny way of burning things down just to show you what's worth rebuilding. I've lost some dear people along the way, and that changes you - it slows you down, makes you listen more, and reminds you how short the days really are.

I've been putting more of myself into new projects, new goals, and trying to live with a little more purpose. Feels different this time… more grounded.

Some lights never really go out - they just wait for the right season to shine again. Here's to the next chapter and whatever it decides to bring.

Funny how timing works when you finally stop running from it.

📚 From the Open Road to the Open Page 🚛✍️

After countless miles behind the wheel and years of service in the military, I've finally channeled those experiences into my debut novel. It's a tapestry woven from the threads of long-haul highways and the disciplined cadence of military life.

This labor of love is now available in paperback, with a Kindle, and a hardcover edition coming soon. 📖✨

Link to the book is here and in the description:

(https://shorturl.at/tqROJ)

To everyone who stood by me, offered a listening ear, or simply tolerated my ramblings about plot twists and character arcs—thank you. Your support has been the wind beneath my wings.

But this is just the beginning. I'm venturing into new territories, planning a pre-teen series that promises adventures aplenty.

Stay tuned, and thank you for being part of this journey. 🚀

This one was NOT easy by far to make. This debut novel recounts my travels on the road and some of the comedy a lot of people know me for.

Mom, I did it! Even if no one thought it was possible. I am now a published Author!

The closet I've been Home in so long. Soon Hawaii, soon...

Next stop, Huntington Beach Pier.

Ya'll, all jokes aside. This year has already started, and it's just getting harder each day without this wonderful woman on this planet. I can't even begin to imagine the food being cooked in Heaven right now. I know my Mom will be cracking jokes with this angel.

Bye, Auntie...

Yeah, I think I'm feeling it this weekend. It's like, if you don't care, why should I? As a Cancer I resonate with this. Its not to be mean but man, I'm gonna win and if you don't see that, walk on by and be okay with what you got? I'm good :)

Trust me. I'm good.

Jennie! Can you see this!? Happy birthday!!

Jennie? JENNIE!!!

#jenniekim!

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}