STORIES FOR DADS, ABOUT DADS.

I’ll provide the funny stories. All you have to do is read ’em and laugh. It’s OK. I’ll wait for the game to end.

Why do dads need to laugh? In case you haven’t noticed, today’s dads are often marginalized in popular media. Watch any TV commercial. We’re usually portrayed as bumbling doofuses. In my case, it’s probably true, but I doubt it’s entirely accurate in your situation. You work hard to provide for your family and set a loving example for your children. It’s OK to relax and laugh every once in a while, right? Dads of the world unite! (Right after loading the dishwasher…)

MARK’S BOOKS

Blow the Man Down

In the 1970s, Mark Johnson was a gangly North Carolina farm boy with a big imagination. An avid reader of Doc Savage pulp novels and Hardy Boys mysteries, Johnson knew he wanted adventure in his life. He just had no idea where to get it or how to escape the Christmas tree fields of the Appalachians. As a teenager, Johnson discovered music. Then, girls. These epiphanies would lead to an adventure even Johnson’s wild imagination couldn’t have predicted.

Follow along as Johnson navigates a heart-pounding and often hilarious odyssey through the 1980s and ‘90s music industry as a songwriter and club musician, both in fickle Nashville and the mysterious Caribbean island of ill repute St. Croix. Johnson reveals both the seductions and the hard truths of life in the world of entertainment.

Go to the book page or order your copy now!

TAKE ME TO THE BOOK PAGE!

Mr. Ledbetter’s Boots

A 95-YEAR-OLD TUSKEGEE AIRMAN intends to become the oldest known person to complete the iconic 40-mile trek to EVEREST BASE CAMP.

After narrowly surviving the crash of his P-51 Mustang into the Austrian Alps during WWII, then-18-year-old Raymond’s escape from certain death became a thing of legend and launched his 75-year obsession with mountaineering. Now, in defiance of the laws of aging, his sights are set on fulfilling a life-long dream — experiencing Mt. Everest with his own eyes and via his own two feet.

Hiking alongside Raymond through Nepal’s mystical Khumbu is young journalist Joe Vogler, who hopes to make his mark in the world of social-justice news. Little does Joe know that Raymond’s old hiking boots hold a historical secret that will turn the adventure on its head.

Get it on Amazon HERE.

Read about Doofus Dad himself

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Latest Blog Post

9 things that are better now than in the ’70s and ’80s, Pt. 2

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Welcome to Part 2 of this list. If you haven’t yet read Part 1, go read it first. Really! Don’t go any further because there’s a monster at the end of this sentence! Oh, never mind, that’s just me. Anyway, go read Part 1. I’ll wait. (Twiddling thumbs, whistling a song that isn’t really a […]

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Lists

9 things that are better now than in the ’70s and ’80s, Pt. 2

,
Welcome to Part 2 of this list. If you haven’t yet read Part 1, go read it first. Really! Don’t go any further because there’s a monster at the end of this sentence! Oh, never mind, that’s just me. Anyway, go read Part 1. I’ll wait. (Twiddling…

9 things that are better now than in the ’70s and ’80s, Pt. 1

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If you’re new to Doofus Dad and start perusing my articles, you’ll probably notice a GOM (grumpy old man) thread that tends to permeate my stuff. That’s fair. Most people believe that the decade(s) of their formative years are the best…

The Top 5 ways to know you’re too political

If you have a scowl on your face every time you look in the mirror, and you're losing friends on social media at an alarming rate, there might be a problem. You may be too political. Here's a surefire way to find out.

Health and fitness stuff? Boom.

My Top 12 Reasons Why I Hate CrossFit, Version 2.0

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This is the podcast version of my most popular blog post to date, written seven years ago this month. I've updated it to reflect my current situation, but all the good stuff is still there. If you either love CrossFit, love to make fun of CrossFit, or just love to make fun of anything, you'll enjoy it.

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

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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…

For a creative boost, take a saunter!

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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…

Children and parenting? Here you go.

Why being a dad is scary

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Being a dad can be downright scary, and I'm not just talking about the baby stuff. How you appear in the eyes of your impressionable 12-year-old son or daughter can be as terrifying as driving a newborn home from the hospital. Let me explain...

Image is everything — even for moms and dads

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What is the image you project to the outside world? How we choose to see ourselves is pretty much how we act and how the world views us, so choose wisely!

My Top 6 Reasons Why Sending Your Kid to College is Weird and Unsettling

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Of the many milestones in the life of a parent, sending your kid to college ranks high in terms of both pride and angst. In other words, it will freak you the hell out. Here are my top 6 reasons why.