The pasta has suddenly turned inky in color and is chocked full of organic black beans; quinoa is ever present at my dinner table and every item in the pantry contains one or more of the following words: earthy, earthiness or earth-some. This is what occurs when your teenage daughter goes gluten free, joining the…
The helpful folks at Google are at it again, determined to automate every daily task so that mankind will one day wake up and immediately go back to bed upon realizing there is nothing for it to do. Having nearly mastered the driverless car — statistics show Google road rage incidents are down markedly —…
Whenever I have my children’s full attention, meaning they are only performing two simultaneous tasks on their cell phones, I attempt to offer fatherly advice on subjects ranging from drugs to fashion choices to not spending money like a Kardashian. So far they seem to be listening, although I know the day is coming when…
Faster than you can say “dropped third strike,” the Chicago Cubs transformed themselves from World Series contenders to “rebuilders.” Or, baseball speak for, “we must get rid of a few guys.” I’m not privy to how many stacks of hundred dollar bills the Ricketts family has in its Wrigley Field suite. Nor am I skilled…
During the cool fall months, my house is surrounded on all sides by “pumpkin farms” (a polite term for “cash cows”). Parents, admit it: You’ve taken your kids to one. The public pools were drained on Labor Day, yet you still seek outdoor activities. Especially those of you who live in cold weather climates and…
For most of my adult life I have been searching for that perfect verbal defense. A go-to excuse that, once uttered, abruptly ends the conversation, forcing all divergent parties into silence or, even better, agreement. I discovered it the night of October 1. Four simple words that I hope to use up until November 4…
My 53rd birthday celebration nearly complete, I unwrapped the final package as my wife and daughters looked on. I had asked for only one gift and now there it sat, ready for deployment. The NutriBullet Pro. More than just a blender, the NutriBullet is, according to its website, “the ideal tool for health-conscious individuals looking…
I waited patiently on hold while my scheduled 9:30 a.m. radio interview became 9:35, then 9:40. Finally, Cincinnati radio host Kathryn Raaker’s producer interrupted the silence. “Kathryn is just finishing up with another guest,” she said. “Then you’re on.” At 9:47 a.m. Raaker introduced me to her listening audience, briefly mentioned the book I was…
Our nation’s scandals are beginning to sound markedly similar, not in the fallout or the parties involved, but in the suffix attached to them: “Gate.” Let’s see, with football season upon us, the New England Patriots continue to play under the “Deflategate” cloud, coined for Tom Brady’s alleged penchant to underinflate any footballs that touch…
As the self-appointed spokesman for all dads who recently sent their first born off to college, I have a message for whoever is in charge of university rankings: Please stop. Our kids are now firmly entrenched in their dorm rooms; classes at most universities are in full swing, football players are already being suspended for…