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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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
Advice on thank you notes
I am a frequent writer of thank-you notes. Thank you letters, too — whole pages of appreciation. I love writing thank-you notes. I love thanking Read More
Unexpected media gifts are also perfect gifts
One of the best gifts you can ever give to someone — better than a cashmere sweater, a digital doodad, or a gift card — Read More
A rose by any other name…
I’m in Victoria, Canada, at IP3, a conference hosted by Andrew Wilkinson, founder of Tiny and a friend. I was lucky enough to fly first Read More
“Talkers are no good doers.”
“Talkers are no good doers.” This line, from Shakespeare’s “Richard III,” is one everyone who seeks to make something should take to heart. Years ago, Read More
The little bit of good stuff about Star Trek
I am not a fan of Star Trek. I’ve watched the original series and parts of the later series, as well as several of the Read More
Angeli for the win!
I’ve had the pleasure of spending the last few months working with a lawyer and public speaker named Angeli. She’s been competing in Toastmasters events Read More
Government is good, even though it’s sometimes stupid.
In 2016, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority planned to spend $250 million on a project that would turn several New York bridges into an intricate light Read More
Weird Al’s journey is just as weird as Weird Al himself
Weird Al Yankovic is embarking on a major tour this summer: The Bigger and Weirder Tour He hasn’t released a significant amount of music in Read More
