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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Something to smile about
Sometimes we all need a story to warm our hearts. This is it. In a Madison, Wisconsin pond, a pair of sandhill cranes returned to Read More
Thoughts from Canada
A few random observations from our recent vacation to Montreal and Quebec City: The official language of the province of Quebec, where both cities are Read More
Wouldn’t make a grilled cheese
While visiting Quebec City, we ate dinner at a restaurant known for its incredible shepherd’s pie. The shepherd’s pie was excellent. It was exactly the Read More
I don’t need this
“Really?” was my thought when I stepped up to these urinals in Quebec City and was greeted with this image. I appreciate it when businesses Read More
Pilot message
When I boarded the plane in Philadelphia yesterday for the second leg of my trip to Traverse City, Michigan, the plane was incredibly hot. I Read More
The greatness of the half-entrée
I’m sure a restaurateur or chef will explain why this idea is unrealistic, unprofitable, and stupid, but I don’t care. It’s not. It’s a great Read More
What makes an American?
A recent YouGov poll asked Americans, “What makes an American?” The most agreed-upon characteristic? “Obeys US laws.” Not my first choice, but not a bad Read More
“Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend” — the song!
A band named Soup wrote and recorded a song titled “Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend,” based upon my novel of the same name. Twelve years Read More
Just another tree. Kind of.
On our hike to Montmorency Falls in Quebec, Elysha stopped us on the trail to point out this tree, just on the edge of the Read More
“That’s my time”
A bit of advice for all comics or performers of any kind: The last three words that you speak onstage should never be, “That’s my Read More
Walking in the footsteps of my grandparents
We were vacationing in Quebec City for about three days when it finally hit me: This is where my mother’s side of the family lived Read More
Where do all the rebels go?
A question I ask myself all the damn time is this: “Where did all the rebels go?” While I certainly know some people who remain Read More
Whatever happens. That’s the plan.
“Jurassic Park: World Dominion” is not a great movie, but it makes for perfect entertainment to consume while exercising. It was while I was exercising Read More
How to seek feedback
I know a storyteller named Rob who frequently performs at The Moth in Boston. He’s excellent — the kind of storyteller whose name I hope Read More
Join my Substack
Join my Substack and get a peek behind the creative curtain: Learn about how disparate ideas combine to become blog posts, LinkedIn posts, magazine articles, Read More
Our song, unexpected and unforgettable
We stepped into Place Jacques-Cartier in Old Montreal — a large, beautiful square near the Saint Lawrence River lined by twinkling lights, bustling restaurants, and Read More
Stick to the script
I travel a lot. In the last three months, I have traveled to Miami, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Washington, DC, Toronto again, and Victoria. Next week Read More
Patriarchy at the car dealership
While I was working in Pittsburgh last month, Elysha went shopping for a new car. Her car was 14 years old and not running well. Read More
Resolution update: July 2025
Every month, I record my progress toward my yearly goals to hold myself accountable and occasionally seek help and advice from readers who are willing Read More
Grace under pressure. Excellence amid uncertainty.
I spent the last four days in Victoria, Canada, at an incredible conference called IP3 hosted by business titan and thought leader Andrew Wilkinson, who Read More
