Clean shaven in summer. Bearded in winter. Prickly year round.
Today was a great Father’s Day. What an awesome thing it is to actually be a dad on Father’s Day! It’s fun to be on this side of things. As usual, today was filled with its share of difficulties and challenges. Slipping on a $10 pair of thick wool socks changed things, however. Walking into … More Dads with kids should enjoy Father’s Day guilt free. Otherwise, what’s the point?
These past two weeks have produced a flood of green on the landscape. On one run through Hartley and Bagley I marveled at every weed, fiddleheads in various stages of development, brand new leaves on trees, marsh marigolds, tiny wildflowers, and even insects, as if I was a Martian only now discovering life on this … More Real Benefits to Reel Mowing
Some things are best taught by coming alongside and sharing an experience. A solid work ethic is one of them. It is a constant battle to raise kids in our affluent culture without promoting a sense of entitlement. Unlike prior generations, most children never really know what it means to go without. We have plenty … More Kids Can and Should Work Hard
I took the bike for a spin around the block tonight for about an hour and a half. What I love about biking is the immense amount of variety seen, felt, and experienced. One bike ride can take you through many different socio-economic zones, hilly topography followed by long periods of relative flatness, varying ecosystems, … More A Study in Contrasts
When the phone rang today my son picked it up in bewilderment as if it was some futuristic communications device from Star Trek, listened intently for a second, and said, “Huh?” This is in contrast to our neighbor’s children, who answer the phone crisply and flawlessly, as if they were auditioning for a part as … More Spring Ahead Through Simplicity
44 years. That’s the answer. The question is a little more drawn out, and should cause one to reflect in one’s soul. The quantitative answer here really isn’t satisfactory, and doesn’t tell the story or address quality of life, etc. I work hard to integrate an active lifestyle into daily life. On the day this … More “Green,” or just common sense?
Like most people, our tendency will naturally be to hole up for an extended period of time this time of year, and have less and less contact with our neighbors or even fellow humans in general. Our house, being rather small, cramped, and frequently untidy, will often feel like a less than ideal place to … More Tapping a Renewable Resource in Your Neighborhood
Today all traces of snow and ice melted from every nook and cranny of the Little Library in front of my home. This is the first time it has been so completely visible since the end of November. With fewer pedestrians to be concerned with, the books have been somewhat neglected over the winter. The … More Slow and Steady Wins the Race
I I am not against a little bribery once in a while. Today it was just what the doctor ordered. T’was a lazy day, and all of else felt like laying around. I didn’t have the energy to pour into a go big or go home event for our family adventure this week (minimum of … More Bribery. Not Just for Warlords Anymore
The craziest thing happened today, and I couldn’t let the irony pass me by. I borrowed my neighbor’s cross country skis, designed for racing, because I wanted to see what a little more speed would be like. Barely anybody was on the Lester Park ski trails late in the day, and I pretty much had … More Encouraged by being the butt of the joke
Ed's Big Adventure 