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

The Top 10 movie moments that make this Tough Guy weep

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I ran across one of my favorite movies, "The Natural," the other night, and as usual, got sucked in and watched the whole thing. I've probably seen it 35 times. As I found myself wiping away tears at the end, I landed on the idea to write this post.

My Top 10 Christmas Traditions, including Rudolph’s PJ Delivery

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Christmas is my favorite time of year for a variety of reasons. I love the music, the TV shows and movies, the general feeling of good will, and all that other gooey stuff. However, it may be the family traditions surrounding Christmas that make it so ... Christmasy. If you look at them from an objective perspective, most traditions are meaningless. But the meaning WE attach to them is all that really matters, right? It's fun to do the same thing year after year as if the order of the cosmos somehow depends on it.

The Top 10 Reasons I Might Not Work Out Today

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People have all kinds of excuses for not working out. I mean, there are thousands of them, take your pick. They are usually weak, baseless, transparent, laughable, and just plain ol' lame. In fact, I wrote a blog about them a while back. (Read…

Health and fitness stuff? Boom.

The Top 10 Lame-Ass Reasons Not to Exercise

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Here are the Top 10 Lame-Ass Reasons not to exercise, as I see them.  It's not an official list compiled by the We're Better Than You Exercisers of America or anything.  These are reasons I've heard most often from friends, family, and…

The Top 11 things a Crossfit virgin should know

So you've got a buddy at work who began doing some crazy fitness fad called "Crossfit" last year, and now, it's all he can talk about. He keeps encouraging you to give it a try and swears you'll enjoy it. "You'll be hooked after a week,"…

I wanna be Dick Proenneke when I grow up

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"Alone in the Wilderness," the documentary about Alaskan naturalist Richard "Dick" Proenneke (pronounced prin-uh-key) is one of the most remarkable films ever made, in my estimation. Yes, I know that's an ambitious statement, but I stand…

Children and parenting? Here you go.

A walk in God’s house

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How long has it been since you took a simple walk? I think there is more benefit in the act of putting one foot in front of the other than we may realize.  This isn't about physical fitness.  It's about mental and spiritual…

Of all the gall!

Last weekend, Sam was out riding his bike in the cul-de-sac and driveway.  Suddenly, he burst in the front door and ran up to me, obviously distressed."Dad!" he said.  "Guess what!?""What, Sam, What?  Slow down and catch your breath.""Okay,"…