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grin and bare it

A blog by Matthew Dicks

He beat me to the joke

By mattyd | July 26, 2024

Charlie asks why some tee shirts have one seemingly useless pocket. He’s right. Right? Pointless pockets. I’m so annoyed that I didn’t think of this first. He beat me to the joke. Also, the apple…

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A predictable life is a disastrous life

By mattyd | July 25, 2024

“The worst labyrinth is not that intricate form that can entrap us forever, but a single and precise straight line.” —Jorge Luis Borges Jorge Luis Borges and I are in complete agreement. A life that…

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It’s been a long day, and it isn’t yet noon

By mattyd | July 24, 2024

I left Boston at 10:30 PM on Tuesday night after attending a Moth StorySLAM with friends. I arrived from around 12:30 AM and was in bed by 1:00 AM. My alarm went off at 3:15…

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These people have made my children’s lives so much better

By mattyd | July 23, 2024

I’m constantly overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of volunteers in my kids’ lives. My son, Charlie, plays Little League. For the last three years and six baseball seasons, his coach has been Jason Sikorski,…

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“Don’t let the old man in”

By mattyd | July 22, 2024

Mike Lombardi, in his newsletter “The Daily Coach” told this story: The late, great country music singer Toby Keith was on the golf course with his hero, actor, director, and Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood.…

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Empty case?

By mattyd | July 21, 2024

I saw this case at Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, MA. I get it. Amidst cases filled with lizards, insects, and other creatures, you don’t want visitors staring into an empty case, looking…

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How to manage social media

By mattyd | July 20, 2024

I was listening to a group of authors discuss how challenging social media can be. The cruelty of strangers. The negativity of reviews. The relentless challenge of the masses. My advice is simple: If social…

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Matt and Jeni’s Moth Adventure

By mattyd | July 19, 2024

My friend Jeni Bonaldo and I went to a Moth StorySLAM in the Bronx on Wednesday night. It was a memorable occasion. First, I won the StorySLAM, which always makes the night a lot better—my…

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Interviewing nightmare

By mattyd | July 18, 2024

Recent data on interviewing: 53% of interviewees struggle with eye contact 50% of interviewees ask for unreasonable compensation 47% of interviewees dress inappropriately 27% of interviewees use inappropriate language 21% of interviewees refuse to turn…

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Angry Charlie

By mattyd | July 17, 2024

Charlie saw this building across the street while waiting in line for a Broadway show. It annoyed him. Tremendously. The uneven windows,” he said, pointing. “Why?” he asked. “Why?” I had no explanation. “I’m sure…

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