captaincreed 
The school year has started back up and the stress of the new year is starting to ramp up. Granted, it may be stressful for the kiddos, but let’s focus on the parents right now – let the Captain guide you. Here is a quick, easy list for you to follow for free ways to … Read more
The whistling I hear breaks my daydreams and delusions of possibility. The whistling is a personification of the years passing me by – the proverbial winds of change. My babies are growing up – and my window of opportunity is closing. I remember when I was 22 and a young student teacher. I completed a … Read more
I wrote a new piece on Life of Dad. Here’s a snippet about my new hobby. Check out the full post here. It is hard to describe the difference that the right bike makes. For years I have been riding a comfort bike – and when I say ride, I mean only occasionally. And though … Read more
My sister convinced me to do something crazy and now I’m proud to announce that SmartyPants is making a donation to my Pan Ohio Hope Ride . So technically this is a sponsored post, but it is a charitable one. I am a proud member of #TeamSmarty and thank them for their continued support of families and well-being. My thoughts and … Read more
There is a certain convenience to having a community pool. You get to know your neighbors, there are lifeguards, and it is close to home. However, there are still rules. Usually simple rules – don’t run, be safe, and don’t poop in the pool. Let’s set the scene: I was at the pool with The … Read more
I hate chores. They are usually lonely endeavors filled with sweat, labor, and frustration. What makes matters worse is that a majority of the outdoor chores are ones that the kids are not old enough to do (read: I can’t trust them to do them without having to redo what I asked them to do). … Read more
I just turned 40 a few weeks ago. For 40 years I lived as a loser. That all changed tonight. For a lifetime and a quarter, my hometown of Cleveland found every painful way to twist the proverbial knife in the back of our fanhood. I witnessed collapses in every sport. Rumors of curses, disdain … Read more
It was never about boxing. Even The Greatest would admit that truth. But the boxing helped to make him a folk hero – something larger than life. The boxing enabled him to move into the living rooms and hearts of so many people. Something that would have been especially difficult for a black man at … Read more
I was awake to see the clock tick all the way down to the double zeroes. It was a familiar scene, and maybe a metaphorical one even, no time left on the clock and my time had fewer points. I watched the familiar scene of my team (this time the Cleveland Cavaliers) sulk their way … Read more
There’s still time. Summer is just beginning, but the learning never really ends, right? Did you know that Frito-Lay 2 Go Variety Packs have partnered with the ASTC (Association of Science-Technology Centers)? What this means is that through June 5th families can receive a free kid’s pass to participating ASTC member science centers with the purchase … Read more