Dirt Mountain
With the entire beach - sand and water and toys - available to them, my children are naturally drawn to the thrill of a pile of dirt.
When in Brazil, go see Judy.
I met a person in Brazil named Judy. If you ever travel to São Paulo and need a fascinating person to guide you, Judy is the person to hire. She…
Observations from a week in Brazil
Brazil was only the second country outside the United States that I visited, so some of my observations may apply to many other places, and probably do. But in terms…
“Hate is a strong word.” It’s also not so strong a word. So let’s stop saying otherwise.
Can we all agree that "Hate is a strong word" is a statement that never needs to be said ever, ever again? First, it's not exactly a new concept. In…
Reading & Writing podcast interview
A while ago, I was interviewed by Jeff Rutherford for his Reading & Writing podcast. It's a 30-minute conversation about my writing process, productivity, and more.
Five of my more anomalous wedding anomalies (i.e. strangest clients ever)
I have worked as a DJ at more than 400 weddings over the past 19 years, including: A groom's first and second wedding (different women each time) My ex-girlfriend's wedding…
Slate’s The Gist appearance: Where to Find the Best Stories
My most recent appearance on Slate's The Gist features my secret for finding great stories in your life, and even if you're not a storyteller, for changing your life for…
Lip-syncing made hilarious
I'm not sure who is funnier here: The guy lip-syncing the songs or the annoyed woman sitting beside him. Either way, this video brought great joy to my heart.
A hidden penis is always a problem
My kids were playing in the backyard with the hose. Clara, my six-year-old daughter, shouts: “Charlie, I can’t spray your penis because I can’t see it!”
My former students occupy such important spaces in my life
There have been so many unexpected benefits to my teaching career, but none have been more surprising than the lifelong relationships that I have established with so many of my…