GRIN & BARE IT
Read (and subscribe to) Grin and Bare It, my daily blog on storytelling, productivity, current events, teaching, my family, and other musings.
I have been posting to this blog every day since 2005.
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I disagree with Shakespeare
“Abide the change of time, Quake in the present winter’s state and wish That warmer days would come.” — William Shakespeare from “Cymbeline” As much Read More
Why so many young, single people on the planet?
A recent YouGov survey found that 42 percent of adults are currently unpartnered. No romantic entanglements of any kind. That seems like a large number. Read More
Unlikely but not impossible
“Make not impossible that which but seems unlike.” Shakespeare — “Measure for Measure” I agree with Shakespeare. Wholeheartedly. The chasm between “unlikely” and “impossible” is Read More
What is your favorite form of haptic nostalgia?
Haptic nostalgia: A form of sensory memory specific to touch stimuli that no longer exist in your life or on the planet. A new term Read More
Management advice: Don’t talk alcohol
If you’re a boss, manager, director, or leader of any kind, I offer you this suggestion: Regardless of how difficult or stressful the job, day, Read More
A lot of “Happy birthday” wishes from a lot of strangers
My birthday began less than auspiciously. Elysha, the kids, and I arrived in West Palm Beach, Florida on Friday night only to find that Easirent Read More
Harrison Ford’s subtle critique
I like the Jeep commercial starring Harrison Ford – first aired during the Super Bowl — quite a bit. It’s difficult—perhaps impossible—for brands to take Read More
In defense of Homework for Life
I teach a lot of things: Long division to fifth graders Storytelling techniques to corporations Keynote revision to public speakers Management strategies to business leaders Read More
Putting an engagement ring in food is stupid
Last week, a woman swallowed her engagement ring after her boyfriend-turned-fiancee asked the restaurant where they were dining to hide the ring in the dessert Read More
Clara’s favorite sentence
It’s 6:30 AM on a Tuesday. The sun has yet to rise. I’m sitting at my laptop, working on a client document. Clara is across Read More
I want some plaques
I performed at The Iron Horse in Northampton last month — my first time in this storied location. While I was sitting, waiting to take Read More
I’m happy to tell the Democrats how to fight
If the Democrats ever decide to go on offense and combat some of the authoritarian, cruel, and deceitful actions being undertaken by Trump and his Read More
Craving an audience
A solitary sunfish at an aquarium in southwestern Japan lost its appetite, began banging into the side of the fish tank, and appeared unwell days Read More
Jump scares marketed properly
Introducing TabBoo… A Chrome extension designed to add random jumpscares to websites you’re trying to avoid. In the words of TabBoo’s marketing: “You’re stuck in Read More
Sad bananas
Bananas are sold in bunches, but when a banana falls off the bunch before it hits grocery store shelves, the grocer has a problem: People Read More
Quitters never win
Charlie has launched a YouTube channel called Rails Across New England, charting his new obsession with rail fanning: Watching and recording trains as they pass Read More
Surprise! No phones but great photos!
I made a lot of excellent decisions when planning Elysha’s surprise party. Preserving the surprise was one of them — probably the most important and Read More
A perfect dedication
A friend from my McDonald’s managing days sent me this dedication that he found in the book he’s reading: “For anyone who has ever cried Read More
3,700 miles apart
As you probably know, the Atlantic Ocean didn’t always exist. During the time of the dinosaurs, South America and Africa were joined as one land Read More
