January 7, 2015
“What’s the matter with you kids?! What—are you just too cool to sing anymore? Is that it?” It’s been 30 years now, but I can still see Mrs. Deelo standing at her piano at the front of the classroom, glaring out at us as she expressed her frustration. I really can’t blame her. For years in…
December 17, 2014
So for the past few years my wife and I have made it a tradition to take our daughter and niece downtown to see The Nutcracker just before Christmas. They really get a kick out of it, and it’s a nice way to get into the holiday spirit. And, believe me, I need all the help I can get…
November 19, 2014
Working from home certainly has its advantages — a 30-second commute, showering every other day, afternoon naps, etc. But the one benefit I never expected was being able to walk my daughter and niece to and from school every day. We only live a few blocks from their school, so unless it’s pouring down rain or we’re in…
November 13, 2014
So the other day I stopped at my favorite new shop in town, Sapling & Sons — Snail Mail Supply Co., when I saw a card with the following inscription: “PARENTING IS MOSTLY JUST INFORMING KIDS HOW MANY MORE MINUTES THEY HAVE OF SOMETHING.” Brilliant. I got to thinking about how true that statement is, especially the “how many” part, and…
October 29, 2014
DAY 6 — Day Off / Magic Kingdom Halloween Party When we planned our Disney vacation (and when I say “we”, I mean my wife and my sisters), we decided to include a day off at the hotel where we could relax, recharge, and frankly, sleep in past 7 a.m. That day had finally come, and after sweating our you-know…
October 29, 2014
DAY 4 — The Magic Kingdom This was the one I was most excited for. The other parks are great and everything, but when I think of Disney I think of the Magic Kingdom. I mean, Mickey lives there. Enough said. We started out the day with a FastPass+ for Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid. Again, this one…
October 28, 2014
DAY 3 — Hollywood Studios As soon as I spotted the old Remington typewriter in the store window along Hollywood Studios’ main drag, I knew it was going to be a good day. Obviously this was my kind of amusement park. Once again we got there right when it opened, and, per my wife’s research, we headed straight for the…
October 27, 2014
I wasn’t looking forward to it. A whole week in Disney World with my family. Sixteen of us — eight adults and eight kids. It was going to be expensive. It was going to be exhausting. It was going to be a very, very long week. Heck, just preparing for Disney is a months-long project. My wife and my…
October 22, 2014
Coming back from vacation is never fun. You’re worn out from all the traveling and suddenly you’re thrown back into the reality of normal, everyday life. Coming back from the happiest place in the world…well, pardon my French, but it sucks. At Disney World everything is pretty much perfect (really, it is) and they do everything they…
October 4, 2013
Our most recent small-town adventure took us to one of our favorite weekend getaway destinations: German Village. We came here on a recommendation a few years back and fell in love with it. German Village is a charming little neighborhood just south of downtown Columbus, Ohio. It was first settled by German immigrants in the mid-1800s, and is…
