Here Are Some Columns I Won’t Write
“My first “Funny-ish Files” column was published in July of 2015. (It was a story about how dandelions had taken over my lawn.) I’ve been writing this column for almost eleven years. That’s at least 125 columns and well over 50,000 words. I’ve written about a wide variety of things, like “5 Things To Do […]
We Could All Use a Little Change
I’m a grumpy old man. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at the picture of me that usually accompanies my column–a grumpy old man yelling at his phone. One thing that makes old men grumpy is that they get set in their ways. Grumpy old men don’t like things to change. The […]
One Ingredient Can Make a World of Difference.
A while back, I got up early one morning and thought I would be a good husband/father and make breakfast for everyone. My wife came across a recipe several years ago for something we call “oatmeal bake.” It’s a dish of oatmeal in a cake-like form: thick, but not too sweet. We usually top it […]
The Things We Do For Love
It’s February, so you know what that means: President’s Day Mattress Sales!!! Wait, no one gets three-exclamation-points excited about mattress sales. But, some people do really enjoy Valentine’s Day! It’s a day dedicated to romance and love, and that’s a good thing to think about in these troubling times. Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is more focused […]
Things To Do (And Not To) in 2026
It’s 2026! It’s a brand new year! And you know what that means: It’s time for New Year’s Resolutions. There are things that we want (or need) to try to do to make our lives better throughout the new year. But, there are also things we need to STOP doing to make things better for […]
I’m Dreaming of a White-ish Christmas
I’m dreaming of a White Christmas. Sort of. It’s pretty simple: I like the look of fresh snow on the ground at Christmas time. But, I don’t like driving in the snow. And so, I’m dreaming of a White Christmas. Sort of. I’ve lived my entire life in either Utah or Idaho, so I know […]
Cousins are Better than Friends
Some of my favorite memories from my childhood are the times I got to spend with my cousins. My cousins lived several hours away, so we only saw them two or three times a year. But, that made those occasions extra exciting and fun. We’d get together and play games, go on hikes, talk about […]
Five Reasons a Box is the Best Toy Ever for Your Kid
We have a box in our living room. It has been in our living room for quite a while. It is wonderful. Here’s just a few of the reasons why:A box is affordable.
We didn’t pay any money to get the b
Parental Language Barrier Advisory
There are times when I wonder if my kids speak the same language as I do. I speak English. My kids speak English. And yet, I’ll often say something and they’ll stare at me as if I was speaking to them in Portuguese, Swahili, or Klingon. Sometimes I’m not sure if it’s because they don’t […]
Staring at our rectangles again
The other day, a bunch of us gathered for a family dinner. The meal was fantastic and the conversation was pleasant. It had the makings of a fun evening. But then, without anyone really noticing, the evening became a little less fun. Why? Because we all, one by one, pulled our phones out of our […]