Archive for July 2016
The Internet is kind and crazy and kind of crazy
Last week I wrote a piece advising that you avoid shopping at multiple grocery stores in a given week, arguing that time is more valuable than the marginal differences in taste and quality of food. The argument is more complex than that, but you can go read the piece if you’d like. It was also…
Read MoreMy son is ready for his next 15 minutes of fame
Earlier in the year, my kids were featured in a TurboTax ad after an advertising agency found a photo of them on this blog. They actually earned enough money from that gig to pay for a two night stay at Great Wolf Lodge, a place they have been wanting to visit for months. If any…
Read MoreThe Moth: She Held My Hand
In August of 2015 I told the story of my first date with my wife at a Moth StorySLAM at The Bitter End. The theme of the night was Guts. I won the slam that night, but being the hyper-critical person that I am, I hear a lot of room for improvement in the story.…
Read MoreBill O’Reilly reminds us that the slaves who built the White House were “well fed and had decent lodgings,” because why?
You have to wonder the thinking behind Bill O’Reilly’s decision to fact-check Michelle Obama’s assertion in her Democratic National Convention speech that she has been living in a home built by slaves. Michelle Obama said: “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. I watch my daughters — two beautiful, intelligent,…
Read MoreWriting advice from a toddler that authors should heed carefully
When my daughter was three years old, still unable to read, she taught me three invaluable lessons about the craft of writing. Specifically, she offered three specific pieces of criticism made an impression on me as an author and remain with me today. 1. Don’t overwrite. More importantly, don’t refuse editing. After watching some of…
Read More11 Absolutely Essential Rules for Restaurateur and Waitstaff in Child-Friendly Restaurants
After seven years of bringing my kids to restaurants, here is the definitive list of things that we as parents want from restaurateurs, chefs, and servers as they preparing and serve our food. 1. This may seem obvious, but apparently it’s not because it fails to happen more often than you’d think: SERVE THE CHILDREN…
Read MoreThis simple bit of grocery store advice will spare you a lifetime of regret. Give you back hours in your week. Bring sanity back to your everyday life.
I met a woman from Denmark last week. She’s been living in the United States for about a year. I asked her what she liked best about our country. Her response (paraphrased as best as I remember) was immediate: You’re not going to believe it, but it’s Stop & Shop. And all the grocery stores…
Read MoreA Series of Special Guests #9
Last week I was featured on Benjamin Leroy’s podcast A Series of Special Guests: Episode #9. Listen to me talk about writing, storytelling, death, productivity, and more.
Read MorePassion Lubes makes for outstanding reading. Don’t deny yourself this joy.
Perhaps you’re already aware of Passion Lubes, the 55 gallon water-based lubricant currently available on Amazon.com for $1,290.30 (reduced from $2,500). But if you haven’t spent any time reading the reviews of this product, as well as the Questions Answered and the “Customers Who Viewed This Item Also Viewed” section, you don’t know what you’re…
Read MoreI don’t label people as homophobic
I don’t use the word “homophobic.” I prefer “bigot” because even though these despicable people might also be afraid of gay people, I think their hate-filled stupidity is their defining characteristic.
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