Our V-C Day will come soon

,
On March 2, just a few innocent weeks ago, I traveled to New Orleans with my son, Sam, a freshman at the University of Tennessee at Martin. It was his Spring Break, so we decided to take advantage of low airline prices (possibly due to some…

Blog Version: Doofus Dad’s Top 9 Handy & Useful Tricks for Dealing with the Coronavirus

, ,
Disclaimer: The following is me poking fun of something that is clearly serious and bad. I am aware that it is serious and bad, but choose to poke fun at it anyway because, well, I need to. You have now been legally disclaimed. As I write…

How I became a Doofus Dad

Talking is hard

,
Human existence is nothing if not bizarre. To illustrate this, I have recently completed recording my second audiobook, “Blow the Man Down,” due for release in a few weeks. Just typing those words is exceptionally odd. Two audiobooks! Only…

For a creative boost, take a saunter!

,
Is being creative on a regular basis part of your job description? Yes? Sucks to be you. Don't get me wrong. There's no greater joy — to me, anyway — than creating something today that wasn't there yesterday, whether it's a song, a…

My Top 8 Reasons Why Clark Griswold is the Quintessential Doofus Dad

, ,
As is tradition — mine and everyone else’s — I recently watched “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” again for the 1,824th time. Watching a movie or TV show repeatedly like that has its pros and cons. The main con is that you…

Readers of the lost art

,
The 12-year-old who is grounded from his iPad: I'm bored. There’s literally nothing to do. Me: There’s a hundred great books in this house. Pick one. The 12-year-old: But, Dad, reading isn’t any fun. I have to read in school; why…

11 awesome reasons why you should embark on an adventure travel trip as soon as possible

,
The concept of "adventure travel" is a relatively recent trend that is gaining in popularity among Americans. It is loosely defined as a trip to an exotic locale where at least part of your agenda involves physical activity like hiking, climbing,…

You’re gonna screw up. It’s OK.

,
I originally wrote this for a professional association I'm a member of, but I think you'll like it, too. Modified slightly.   You dread it. You do everything possible to avoid it, take every precaution and all the right steps. But…

A Walmart horror story

The man felt weak. Exhausted. Artificial light radiated down from twenty feet above, sucking his life force away and dispersing it harmlessly among the dusty rafters of the enormous building. He propped his forearms on the curved handle of…