Archive for April 2018
6 regrets
I’m not a fan of regrets, but as Frank Sinatra once sang, I’ve had a few. Six big ones in my life, which is probably a small number. Happily so. Interestingly, almost all of my regrets are from the same period in my life, from the ages of 17-22. No surprise that the memoir I’ve…
Read MoreEric Carmen’s “Make Me Lose Control” is weird on many, many levels, including being inexplicably stuck in my head.
Standing in McDonald’s yesterday morning, waiting to order, a song came on the sound system that I couldn’t immediately identify but oddly knew by heart. I started singing along and was shocked to discover I knew every single word. The song was Eric Carmen’s “Make Me Lose Control.” It was originally released in 1975 and…
Read MoreEleven is evil.
Just after the United States launched missile strikes against Syrian chemical weapons facilities, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said, “I’ve never seen refugees as traumatized as coming out of Syria. It’s got to end.” Sure, but over the last three years, the number of Syrian refugees admitted to the United States has been this: 2016: 15,4792017:…
Read MoreA moment of honest-to-goodness terror
Clara, my nine year-old daughter, early this morning: “Dad, I’m kind of upset. I don’t have any…” Then she took a sip of milk, leaving me hanging for a moment, waiting for the next word. And in that moment between the word “any” and the next word, my brain fired off: “Oh no, what’s wrong? She doesn’t…
Read MoreWorst decisions ever #1: My SportsCenter hat
I thought it might be fun to occasionally reveal some of the worst decisions of my life. Humiliation. Always fun. Here’s one: This purple SportCenter hat, which I purchased while on a tour of ESPN circa 1995 and wore religiously for more than two years, was not a good decision on my part. A purple…
Read MoreMy daughter meets Chelsea Clinton.
These are photographs of our little girl asking Chelsea Clinton a question about Malala at a lecture at Central Connecticut State University yesterday. “Best day ever!” she shouted. Maybe not best day ever, but possibly top 10 for Clara. Not only does she know Chelsea Clinton as a remarkable humanitarian, but her picture book, She…
Read MoreWhy I’m obsessed with that traffic video
Two weeks ago, I wrote about my obsession with this traffic video. I’m still a little obsessed, and I know that seems weird. I thought it was weird, too, but then I put some thought into why I am so obsessed, and I think I found the reason: I always think things can be improved.…
Read MoreBOOK LAUNCH PARTY! SAVE THE DATE!
Join internationally bestselling author and 36-time Moth StorySLAM and 5-time GrandSLAM champion Matthew Dicks for the launch of his first non-fiction title: Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling. Saturday, June 16, at 7:00 PM at Real Art Ways in Hartford. In lieu of a traditional book launch party,…
Read MoreKids say funny (and not so funny) things
In the playscape at McDonald’s, Clara is playing with two little girls and having a grand old time. At the height of their joy, the father of the two girls shouts, “It’s time for church, girls! Let’s go!” As the two little girls put their shoes on, one of them asks Clara is she has…
Read MoreTry something new. Again and again and again.
My wife, Elysha, is learning to play the ukulele. Her remarkable and handsome husband gave her a ukulele and lessons for Christmas, and ever since December, she has practiced and played almost every day. It’s her new thing. My friend, Steve, is hosting his first corn hole tournament on Saturday in his backyard. Dozens of…
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