Archive for April 2014
No makeup is a thing now. Turns out that I was merely ahead of the curve.
Fewer things draw more ire from my readers than when I write about my wish that makeup would become a thing of the past. It never goes well. Even my desire for Olympic athletes to stop wearing makeup while competing drew an angry protest. In fairness to myself, I receive quite a bit of support…
Read MoreSpeak Up tickets now on sale
Tickets to our next Speak Up storytelling show on May 17 at Real Art Ways in Hartford, CT are now available. The theme of the night is Bad Romance, and we have a cast of storytellers who we know you will love. Tickets for the show can be purchased here:http://10907.formovietickets.com:2235/ Tickets to our Speak Up…
Read MoreBased upon his 8 tips for writing short stories, I think Vonnegut would’ve made a great storyteller.
If asked to choose a favorite author (which is a ridiculous exercise), I always say Kurt Vonnegut. He was a genius. A rule breaker. A curmudgeon of the highest order. I cried on the day he died. I recently stumbled upon a list of Vonnegut’s eight tips for writing short stories, and after reading them,…
Read MoreFreeze this moment, damn it.
I could watch my children roll a ball back and forth on the front lawn forever.
Read MoreWhy we don’t fight
Elysha and I have been together for ten years. We’ll celebrate our eighth wedding anniversary in July. Over the course of the decade that we have been together, we have probably argued three times. I think that’s really it. Three times. She may tell me that I’m wrong (perhaps provoking our fourth fight), but the…
Read MoreGiving my girl a smile and some good luck
Whenever my daughter sees a penny on the ground, she bends over, picks it up, and says, “Find a penny and pick it up, and all the day you’ll have good luck.” And she really believes that the penny will bring her good luck. After finding one, she smiles and skips and even sings. So…
Read MoreProductivity tip #4: Walk fast.
I know it sounds simple and stupid, but if you want to be more productive, walk fast. I am often teased by colleagues because I walk down the halls at breakneck speeds. It’s assumed by many that I am incredibly busy, and while this may be true, my decision to walk fast is a conscious…
Read MoreIncompetent customer service saves Amtrak and Boston Market a total of $33.03 and costs them customers and reputation as a result.
Last week we dealt with two incredible acts of customer service stupidity by two large companies. As a person who has worked in the customer service industry as an employee, a manager and an owner of a business, I understand how little it takes to impress a customer and win him or her for life. …
Read MoreSpeak Up offering storytelling workshops
Until we have our Speak Up website up and running, I’ll continue to post information here about our upcoming shows and workshops. We are in the process of wrapping up our second round of workshops and beginning our first advanced storytelling workshop. Information on all our future workshops are below:_________________________________ Speak Up is currently enrolling…
Read MoreWill my daughter miss out on the culture of cruel pranks and purposeful, public embarrassment because she is a girl? If so, I’m sad. Also, why?
Men can somehow be incredibly cruel to one another, in a very protracted and public ways, and not damage their friendships at all. Pranks are accepted in male culture. They are encouraged. Embraced. They may actually serve to strengthen friendships over time. The more elaborate and cruel the prank, the better. The prank that these…
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