Thoughts, opinions, transcripts, etc.
Last week I was on vacation. I go to Pinecrest every year and stay at the cabin my great grandpa built 80 years ago. It’s a special place where life quiets and slows down. It’s the only place where I can very easily turn off the internet. It’s also a wonderful place to nap. Naps… Continue reading Return of the nap
Lately, I’ve discovered that reading books to my daughter has taught me a lot about effective writing. A few takeaways are the importance of relating to readers, keeping language simple, and using predictable, repeating structures throughout articles. Write About Relatable Topics Authors who write books for children have to select their topics carefully. They need… Continue reading What I’ve learned from reading childrens’ stories
Yard work is hard work Over the last few years, I’ve started some adventurous landscaping projects at my home in Walnut Creek. As a first-time homeowner, I felt a little nervous about it. Yes, I was anxious about whether the projects would turn out successfully. More importantly, though, I was concerned that I wouldn’t have the… Continue reading Finding the flow
One of my managers back at Navigant Consulting would invite me to “dig in” with him when he really wanted to chat. It’s a good metaphor. As I’ve aged (now into my 33s) I’ve come to appreciate it more. Anything worth doing takes time. It requires digging in. Whether it’s a relationship with your spouse,… Continue reading Digging in
For fatherhood, for public speaking My favorite new dad book is called “Be Prepared.” I appreciate the practical tips, the funny sketches, and comprehensive wisdom about becoming a father. Indeed, even though nothing can prepare you for what it’s like, you still should study up and know what to expect. I’m not a good impromptu speaker.… Continue reading Being prepared
People often ask me what my workout routine is… Just kidding. Nobody has ever asked me that. However, I discovered something in the last two years that has wiped out my back pain, added pounds of muscle, and filled out my v-neck shirts. It’s the overhand pull-up. Until about two years ago I would only… Continue reading Chin up, everybody
I don’t usually love expensive things. For this piece of furniture, though, I made a big, whopping exception. My Eames It’s my Eames Lounge Chair, and I just goddamn love it. It’s one of the things I looked forward to about owning a house. The justification was easy: when you spend your life savings on… Continue reading My very expensive chair
This happened in 2005. True story. Oscar Night Chris Rock will host the Oscars today. The last time he hosted was 11 years ago yesterday, on February 27, 2005. I met him that night. He was cool. I used to live on N Sycamore Ave, a tiny two-block stretch in the heart of Hollywood. I… Continue reading That night I snuck into the Oscars