Writer gifts
Readers of a popular email-based newsletter recently submitted gift ideas for the writers in your life. I had thoughts. Best gift for writers: Nothing original about a Moleskine notebook, but it…
The 4 Best Gifts in the World
With Black Friday is behind us, perhaps you have a few folks still left on your shopping list. If so, allow me to offer my annual gift giving guide to…
Paul Gosar is a coward.
Here's the thing about Congressman Paul Gosar's recent tweeting of his head on an anime character, killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and preparing to attack Joe Biden with swords: It's the…
Boy in a Box
Charlie found a box. He loved the box. I broke down the box and threw it on Thanksgiving morning before our guests arrived. Charlie was angry. Elysha told me he…
Cruelty with a dimpled sphere
My retired friend, Rob, texted me this photo and message last week in an attempt to hurt me. Before it was photos of golf, Rob used to send me photos…
Happy and healthy
I asked my students to make lists of things for which they were thankful this year, then we spent some time talking about and sharing their lists on Wednesday. Some…
A different kind of wedding ceremony
On August 19, 2000, I was the DJ at the wedding of Matt Shepard and Kelly Shepard. Two years and 38 days later, Matt and Kelly attended the wedding…
Our great American shame
Government spending on child care each year according to the United Nations: Norway: $29,000 Iceland: $24,000 Finland/Denmark: $23,000 Germany: $18,000 Average spending on childcare in developed nations: $14,400 United States:…
Every thing doesn’t need to be a thing
This sign hangs in my classroom. My colleague, Steve, showed it to me two years ago. Over the summer, I commissioned an artist on Etsy to make a larger one.…
Birthday prank gone wrong
When one of my students celebrates a birthday, I give them a packet of special birthday passes that allow them special privileges. Homework passes allow them to skip homework assignments…
