I’m a smartass. That’s my brand. I might as well admit it. What does that mean? It means that in any given situation — meeting, client interaction, blog post, reaction to news, Facebook post, romantic date — my mind immediately tries to find a unique, snarky, counterintuitive take. The ultimate smartass remark, intended to get…
I’m on track for a very good year in a very bad year. How did I get here? By helping people that need help — and saying “yes” as much as possible. This is a terrible year for many of us. Some of our friends are sick, and many of us have lost our jobs….
I care. Honestly I do. But every once in a while I need a moment of peace. My wife and I have found the best way for us to do this. Nature sanctuaries have been closed for a while, but are now starting to open up. The open ones nearest to us are about an…
I get dozens of emails every week from people who want to post shit on my site — despite the fact that I have never posted an unsolicited article. They don’t benefit my readers and they annoy me, so I’ve declared war on them. Here are some samples: Hi there, I know you’re swamped, so…
Today’s my 30th wedding anniversary, friends. I’m taking the day off. Love is a wonderful thing. If you can find it, hold on tight. Be well.
This week’s reading is from the awesome book The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. Our discussion topic is “How to use this current fraught moment to improve your trajectory as a writer.” Use this link. https://zoom.us/j/502029058 Password is IronImper
Your warmth sustained me in our last checkin. I want to return the favor. I’ll start with a comforting reading from the greatest nonfiction book I’ve ever read, Hegarty on Creativity, by John Hegarty. Then warmth, support, and answers for any of your questions about books, writing, and life. Mark your calendar for 5pm ET…
My wife and I homeschooled our two children. One has now graduated Tufts University, magna cum laude, and the other is studying computer science at the University of Massachusetts. They’ve grown into smart, moral, and caring people. Here’s a little of what we learned from schooling them that may help you survive the next few…
I’m usually a hardass. But I find myself feeling a lot more generous right now. Yesterday, I went shopping at Whole Foods. It was the day after Trump’s address, after the WHO had declared a pandemic, after the stock crash, the emergency declarations, the NBA shut down. The local schools and library were announcing that…