Like happens often this time of year, my kids’ school gave out “character” awards as a way of honoring the hard work and unique personalities of the children. In our case, these were based on desirable traits of Bible characters (e.g. The Noah Award for leadership). I love it. It did make me reflect, however, … Continue reading Less Desirable “Character” Awards
Rethinking Tech Privacy
People are upset that Amazon employees are listening in on our private conversations through our Alexa devices. I say it won’t be a problem much longer...
That’s (Evidently) Amore!
I don’t know what the rest of you did for Valentine’s Day, but my lovely lady and I spent an intimate evening . . .
Life in the Saloon
Now that my kids have learned to play the piano, often providing the soundtrack to our lives these days, it sometimes feels like we’re living in an Old West saloon.
The Human Alarm Clock
Modern alarm clocks and apps usually have a setting which allows them to become progressively louder or more obnoxious as the minutes tick away. I realized this morning that I have become this for my family, as my tone and language escalates . . .
The (Ubiquitous) Spice of Life
”It was a day . . .when I knew nothing was sacred.”
Business is Business
This week at work, we had an "all-hands" meeting to discuss the state of the company. Most of it was presented in financial parlance, most of which was over my head, and likely over the heads of my colleagues, as we are largely a technical group. I feel like we were like a bunch of … Continue reading Business is Business
Guess What
My son uses the phrase "Guess what." approximately 1183 times a day. I don't know if that's typical, but I hope he outgrows it before he enters the workforce. I can imagine it will not be necessarily appreciated: Hey, Boss! Guess what. What? I ran those tests you asked for, and guess what. What? I … Continue reading Guess What
The Master Switch
Parents need a master light switch by the front door. That way we don't have to wander around the entire house shutting off lights. We can just throw one large, Alcatraz-style breaker, a metal beast that's two feet wide and takes two hands to pull down. Imagine the penultimate satisfaction of grabbing that steely handle, … Continue reading The Master Switch
Back-To-School Book List
In honor of back-to-school time, here is a list of books that, based on their titles alone, could be about getting kids ready for school: The Sound and the Fury The Things We Left Behind The Things They Carried Things Fall Apart The Hours Girl, Interrupted The Long Goodbye The Human Stain No Exit If … Continue reading Back-To-School Book List
We Have Favorites Too!
I've said it before, it's not exactly fair that adults don't get their pictures taken holding a sign this time of year. We have favorites too! In case anyone is interested, my (large) sign would read as follows: It's Phil's 25th year of work! About Phil: FAVORITE EXCEL FORMULA: SUMIFS FAVORITE REPORT FONT: Calibri Light … Continue reading We Have Favorites Too!
Mortification, Phase 2
Three years ago, we took the family to my company's picnic at Huber’s, a family farm about 45 minutes from our home. At the time, I shared my mortification at the fact that we had left Sam's shoes at home. I have photos of him traipsing through the pumpkin patch, barefoot without a care in … Continue reading Mortification, Phase 2
Cannot, Shall Not
In which a common parent-child “conversation” is relayed, one which highlights the near-impossibility of achieving a base understanding when it comes to certain subjects, further solidifying a father’s status as “moron.” Or something.
