Initially, Amanda’s due date was July 7th (7/7) which ironically is her mom’s favorite number (7). Every day after the due date is filled with anticipation because we could be off to the hospital at any moment.
What Happens When You Take the Road Less Traveled
I am a religious person (I think) but have never taken comfort in actually going to church. I went to church on Christmas and Easter (we are called Chreasters), and sat in the back as to not take someone’s seat who was there every week.
It’s The Summer of Seventy-Nine
It’s the end of October, outside my window the leaves have changed, the nights come quick, so what better time to talk about a shore house my friends and I rented during the summer of nineteen-seventy-nine in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
No Conflict Just Scotch
A few days before the fourth of July I received a text message from my son, Alexander. That in itself could be joyful or suspicious. He wanted to know if I could meet him on Friday (the fourth) after he played golf, he wanted to give me something.
Second Eye Blind
A few years ago I woke up, opened my eyes, and was petrified to find myself blind in my right eye. It was like a painted window, there was no sunlight except for a small sliver that fell in at the top.
Not Your Average Father's Day Story
It was Father’s Day a few years ago and the kids and I decided to do a tour of the Jersey shore. The plan was to start in Asbury Park, and then we would work our way along the coast to Belmar and then end up in Point Pleasant for a late lunch. In Asbury Park, as we walked the boardwalk, I got excited as we neared Convention Hall. I told the kids to follow me...
The Reason I was Speechless at Work
And it had nothing to do with starting a new job
Fat Man Running
My nephew, Joe, who is in the Navy and stationed in San Diego (poor kid) called my sister and told her that he signed up to run the Avon (New Jersey) 5K in June and that she and Uncle Al (me) should run it as well.
Where Comedy Is Queen
I have been to, officially, three comedy clubs in my life to see actual comedians. I’ve also been to many unofficial comedy shows in my life, but most of those were late night in bars and funerals.
The Proper A Tire For The Ride
For those who know me know I drive an old car. By old I mean a 2007 Toyota Corolla with over 299,999+ miles on it. I write + because the odometer stopped working (by design) at that number two years ago this July (happy anniversary, odometer, I hardly knew ye).
One of the Last Things My Mother Ever Said to Me
Sometimes Parents Are Not Always Right
Coffee, Good to The Last Dropkick
I was not a coffee person, not as a teenager, not as a young adult, or as an adult. That was until I started to work in corporate America and then, boy oh boy, did I drink coffee.
This Concert Flew Like a Led Zeppelin
Most music I like, some music I love.
Live music?
Not so much.
Turbulence On A Trip With My Ex-Wife (Parts One & Two)
Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not like to travel. Give me a week at the Jersey Shore, and I’m in. Anything that involves long car rides or, God forbid, putting me on an airplane, no thank you.
The Kitchen Cabinet Physician
Asked my brother about a health concern that I was worried about so he went to his iPhone, googled the concern, and immediately found an answer on WebMD.
Oh, wait, that’s not my brother.
The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowin' In The Wind
FYI - This has nothing to do with Bob Dylan.
The Story Behind ‘Wagon Wheel’
It’s funny how some songs take on a life of their own in our own lives. Wagon Wheel for me is one of those songs.
When my kids were younger, they would compete to make a CD compilation of their favorite songs, to see which I would like best. It was through this competition where I found a world of music I never would have discovered.
Flushed With Pride
There is a theorem in science called Occam’s Razor which states that the ‘simplest, most elegant explanation is usually the closest to the truth.’
I am sure there are things in life that you can apply this theorem to improve many aspects of our lives, and make them better. However, while Occam’s Razor may be the best way to find the truth, I feel it may also be the best way to identify the perfect design of a form or function.
Of course, I’m talking about the bathroom.