Every year since the fall of 2011, I've posted an annual list of my flaws and shortcomings online for people to read. I'm a weirdo. I know. It was a…

A couple of weeks ago, while playing golf with Gus, he told me: "Tell those teachers to ignore the nonsense in the news. The crazy gets the attention, but for…

When I was young and waiting for my parents to finish their shopping, I had little to occupy my time unless I remembered to bring a book. Back in San…

I maintain a list of future projects that I intend to complete someday. Many items are ideas for novels, characters, and plot lines. Also included in this list are ideas…

It's a challenging time to be a teacher. Coming off three years of teaching in a pandemic, children have enormous social, emotional, and academic needs. Many are struggling with trauma,…

Our neighbor, Pat Beckius, passed away last week at the age of 80. When Elysha and I moved onto our street 15 years ago, Pat and her husband, Ken, welcomed…

Warren Bennis famously wrote in his book "On Becoming a Leader" that: "A manager does things right, and leaders do the right thing." Boy, do I like this. Managers do…

The Clarence Thomas corruption scandal grows. Lavish vacations on multimillion-dollar yachts Private jet travel A home for his mother Private school for his son Entrance into the most rarefied venues in…

During our 11-day trip to the West Coast last month, we visited a total of six bookstores, including three in one day in San Fransisco. Upon returning to Connecticut, we…

Pirate's Booty is a puffed corn and rice snack that my children and students eat often. One of my favorite questions to ask these kids while eating this snack is…