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
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
I am a big fan of Disney. I always have been a fan of the movies, but not so much the amusement park. That all changed when my wife convinced me to agree to a two day trip to Disney with my then 2 year-old daughter. Let’s just say that it converted me. … Read more
Disclosure: I have partnered with Life of Dad and Restonic Mattress for this promotion As an English teacher, one of my jobs is to look for themes in literature. One of the most common subjects in these literary themes? Sleep. And I’m not referring to the naps that I may occasionally take during lunch. … Read more
I wrote this after my son’s party this past weekend, but chose to wait to share it now on his birthday. Sorry for all the metaphorical, figurative language, but that’s where this English teacher’s head was. Enjoy. I doubt the trees know what I am thinking, and somehow I doubt that they would care, but … Read more