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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What three words?
I was recently asked in a podcast interview: “If you could travel back in time to when you were 18 years old and speak three Read More
Charlie Puth is wrong. Not everyone looks at their reviews.
Singer, songwriter, and all-around remarkable musician Charlie Puth, while speaking on the podcast Smartless, said this: “Any artist that says that they’re not reading reviews Read More
Brain
Deep thought: Since human beings gave the brain its name, that means the brain named itself. Right?
Goodnight and goodbye, Stephen Colbert
I’m uncommonly sad today. Stephen Colbert, who has been a fixture in my life for more than a decade, is no longer entertaining me as Read More
A different path to college
I was recently asked in an interview how I managed to attend college, given the struggles I faced after high school. I explained that my Read More
Share your toothbrush
There are two kinds of people in the world: People who are willing to share their toothbrushes. People unwilling to share their toothbrushes. People willing Read More
Yes, I’m left handed
“So you’re a lefty?” Years ago, I stopped making smart-ass remarks to this inane question. Remarks like: “Only on the outside.” “That’s what Mr. Righty Read More
Bathroom humor
Filmmaker Kevin Smith argues that every time you are speaking to a group of people of any size, you have an obligation to be entertaining. Read More
Naked Booby Trap!
I’ve been looking back at my blog from ten years ago, both to make sure posts are free of typos and because it’s incredibly fun Read More
How to be brave — Redux
I’ve been looking back ten years on my blog, both to make sure posts are free of typos and because it’s incredibly fun to have Read More
I don’t juggle.
As I near the end of my teaching career, a friend pointed out that I’m not retiring. I’m simply going from 12 jobs to 11 Read More
Kinda Nice
In response to my assertion that being referred to as “nice” is not so good, a reader was kind enough to send me a piece Read More
Great songs in sad places
I’m sitting in a restaurant in an airport, eating breakfast before waiting for my flight. A song is playing overhead from speakers set in the Read More
We need more robot wolves.
File this under things you definitely didn’t know: Japan has a serious bear problem. Asian black and brown bear populations are exploding, and the solution Read More
The greatness of the sea otter
I learned the following information from Jordan Jensen’s latest comedy special, which I loved but is not for the faint of heart. If you’re not Read More
Jagger ain’t old.
I’ve never referred to myself as old or getting older. I’ve never attributed an ache or pain to age. I’ve never worried that not remembering Read More
Crank window
You’re standing outside a friend’s car. You want him to roll down his window so you can talk. If you’re from my generation or any earlier, Read More
