2022-12-15 I love stories of hope, stories of normal people getting extraordinary chances. Here’s a great …
2022-09-27 After waiting a long time (software is hard to make!) I finally got access to Readwise Reader. What …
2022-09-25 Pick up one new thing each day
2022-09-24 100 Days of Writing
2022-08-12 In my family we’ve recently dealt with some health issues and decided to try eating a gluten-free …
2022-07-27 Today on Astral Codex Ten there was an excellent post about turning negative statements, …
2022-07-21 Quote of the day from James Clear: “Raise your ambitions. Lower your expectations. The higher …
2022-07-11 In Praise of Microfiber Cloths
2022-07-05 Life is complicated and often unfair. It still amazes me how consistent happiness can come from …
2022-03-20 Today is the spring equinox. This year feels different for me. Maybe it’s the hope of having …
2022-01-13 I’ve had some interesting realizations in the last few months: First, I will never be able to get …
2022-01-11 Fun moment of the day: on the MinGuo calendar (中華民國曆, used in Taiwan) today is year 111, month 1, …
2021-12-31 Getting Grounded This sounds like crazy talk, but it absolutely has been working for me.
2021-12-31 Shoutout to @pimoore for the great Tufte theme! Took a bit to get it configured but very worth it. …
2021-12-30 Been a while since I’ve posted. I hope that everyone is doing well and had a nice holiday …
2021-11-06 Currently reading: Productivity Is For Robots by Corey McComb 📚 Fun book that I started while on a …
2021-10-03 On today’s episode of Daily Jazz: On Green Dolphin Street, one of my all time favorite jazz tunes. …
2021-10-02 A new episode of Daily Jazz: Autumn in New York open.spotify.com/episode/4…
2021-10-01 I’ve been doing some podcasting at work and decided it was time to make my own podcast. The first …
2021-09-26 Over the last month I’ve been using the Apple Notes app a lot. I’ve got an Apple Pencil to use with …
2021-09-18 This morning I decided to do a distance day at the pool. The goal: swim a mile, no stopping. Never …
2021-09-07 It’s interesting to see some of the reactions to the news ProtonMail provided Swiss authorities with …
2021-09-06 The weekend is over and it’s time to get ready to go back to work. The pool I go to in the mornings …
2021-09-05 Yesterday I did a “distance day” at the pool. When I ran cross country in high school I always …
2021-09-02 Any safety razor users out there? I’m curious about using one. Bonus points if you have experience …
2021-09-01 Tonight was the first time in a long time that I had all three kids going in three different …
2021-08-31 Each time I come to Chicago I like it more than the last. Weather was beautiful today, great …
2021-08-29 What a night! I got to perform with my kids at a jazz concert, then we heard two amazing groups that …
2021-08-28 This is one of the funniest ads (and digs at Apple) I’ve seen in a long time. I don’t often say …
2021-08-27 It’s taken me a long time, but I’ve finally discovered an exercise I really enjoy: swimming. I’m two …
2021-08-26 Bird Lives! (Happy Birthday Charlie Parker)
2021-08-25 Resiliancy is so cool. This morning I ran into a friend at the pool. We’re both working off our …
2021-08-24 Successful first day of school for my three kids. Busses were ridden, classes were found and lockers …
2021-08-23 Broken parents, still limping along
2021-08-21 Yard work is amazing. Before I do it I’m not happy at all and not looking forward to it. While …
2021-08-20 Shifting gears after work is over for the day or week can be hard, especially when you work from …
2021-08-20 Last night I made the mistake of going on Facebook. (My mom sent a video of my brother from jazz on …
2021-08-18 TIL MacBook Pros with power via USB-C should always be powered from the right side. I’ve been …
2021-07-23 For the last 18 months I’ve had the chance to tune pianos together with my boys. Today my daughter …
2021-07-22 I subscribe to my congressman’s email newsletter. It’s the one thing in my email sure to make me …
2021-07-21 I’m grateful that I get to work with great people who care deeply and passionately about what we do. …
2021-07-20 In Chicago today on business and I had the biggest steak of my life. It was delicious, at the least …
2021-07-19 I was so excited to get a brand new MacBook Pro at work. So shiny! So pretty. So much good …
2021-07-16 The Boring Work Cometh Before the Breakthrough
2021-07-15 Today I was talking with a colleague about how hard writing is for me. He seemed kind of surprised. …
2021-07-14 One of my favorite series (both books and TV) is Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly. The stories are …
2021-07-10 We’ve had a bunch of rain in the last few weeks. This always reminds me how ungrateful and …
2021-07-09 Driveway movie night!
2021-07-08 Wisdom from James Clear
2021-07-06 Finished reading: Endurance : An Illustrated Account of Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage to the …
2021-07-04 This morning I asked my kids “what does America mean to you?” Their answers were interesting and …
2021-06-29 Day 2 of the pasta machine experiments. Today’s mission: dumpling skins 🥟 So much easier than …
2021-06-27 Spent most of the afternoon and into the evening learning how to use a pasta machine. It was a very …
2021-06-26 I saw a beautiful rainbow this afternoon. My first thought was to take a picture to share with all …
2021-06-25 End of a busy work week. Time to be lazy. Let’s try it Shel Silverstein style: Lazy lazy lazy lazy …
2021-06-24 I’ve decided the hardest part about collecting hats is you only have one head to wear them on.
2021-06-23 This week I got to do something that I’ve always dreamed of: play a jazz gig with my kids. My …
2021-06-22 Whenever I feel buried by work, two techniques help me to dig my way out: a pen and paper checklist …
2021-06-20 Fun Father’s Day today. Got a really cool mug made from a bat. Also got a dumpster fire nightlight. …
2021-06-17 Today I read a great phrase that’s given me much to think about: “practicing peace in a personal …
2021-06-15 One of my favorite things about the iOS App Store is when I see something like this (from @vincode’s …
2021-06-08 Getting the Goalpost to Stop Moving
2021-06-07 Finished reading: The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson 📚 Was the plot corny? …
2021-06-06 Embracing all moments as a rule transforms every day into precisely what you’re looking for: an …
2021-06-05 Things my teenager says: “You always embarrass me. Remember when you went to the bus stop with me …
2021-06-04 Some Apps I Rely On: Reeder 5
2021-05-31 On a road trip with the family. We decided to play an audiobook and Twilight ended up being the …
2021-05-30 Quote of the day, from Steven Pressfield: Resistance’s goal is not to wound or disable. Resistance …
2021-05-29 Jazz Saturdays: Last Train Home
2021-05-28 The difference between habit and ritual
2021-05-27 Finished reading: Medicus: A Novel of the Roman Empire (The Medicus Series, 1) by Ruth Downie 📚 This …
2021-05-27 It’s funny how an upcoming vacation distorts the time that comes before it. Maybe that’s how I know …
2021-05-26 Take Off Your Shoes When Entering the House
2021-05-25 Quote of the day
2021-05-23 Thoughts on Work / Life Balance
2021-05-22 Finished reading: Sooley: A Novel by John Grisham 📚 Grisham, you broke my heart with this one. …
2021-05-20 Today I’ve thought much about this truth: the larger your island of understanding becomes the …
2021-05-19 Finished reading: Project Hail Mary: A Novel by Andy Weir 📚 Do I ever love Andy Weir’s books. …
2021-05-17 Finished reading: The Law Of Innocence by Michael Connelly 📚 I’m a big fan of Michael …
2021-05-17 Finished reading: A Man at Arms: A Novel by Steven Pressfield 📚 One of my favorite reads so far in …
2021-05-15 Jazz Saturdays: Peel Me a Grape
2021-05-13 I was thrilled that my three kids, ages 12, 14, and 15, were able to get their first vaccine dose …
2021-05-12 What an incredible article: Reality has a Surprising Amount of Detail. As life heats back up and we …
2021-05-11 Quote of the day: Pressing toward the mark
2021-05-10 I shaved my beard down to just a mustache today. I think it looks pretty Ron Swanson. My kids just …
2021-05-09 On Mother’s Day
2021-05-07 Remembering Jazz with Bob Parlocha
2021-05-06 The Joy of Books
2021-05-05 Far better is it to dare mighty things…
2021-05-04 Things that make Work From Home better
2021-05-03 Breathe 📚
2021-04-29 Focus on the end goal, not the shiny extras
2021-04-28 Anchor Moments Can Turn the Course of Your Life
2021-04-27 A Principles-based Approach to Learning a New Skill
2021-04-26 Wisdom from The Art of War, Part 1
2021-04-25 If you love to read… you will have an amazing life
2021-04-24 Jazz Saturdays - Equinox
2021-04-23 A Little Bit Like My Dad
2021-04-22 The Paradox of Focus
2021-04-21 A Little Langston Hughes Question
2021-04-20 Why yes, it did snow 4 inches on April 20. This is why we can’t have nice gardens until May in the …
2021-04-16 Today I did an upgrade to a Discourse site. Wow, was it ever a great experience. I never thought …
2021-04-13 I had a brainwave today and am excited to work on porting my personal site over to microblog …
2021-03-30 Today I had to let an employee go. I think this is the worst part about my work. I feel so sad and …
2021-03-22 If you need any more reasons to get the vaccine in the US, Kripy Kreme just came up with a new one - …
2021-03-18 So excited and grateful that I will have my first vaccine dose this morning. I know the vial …
2021-03-17 Tomorrow I have a convergence of several large projects to coordinate with a software release. I …
2021-03-13 One of the things I have really enjoyed over the winter was finding ways to “hygge” up my house. …
2021-03-12 For the first time in my life, I completed a full NYT crossword puzzle. Took me a couple of days and …
2021-03-11 This week has been amazing in terms of warm weather and spring goodness. And pollen. Nothing ruins a …
2021-03-10 I’ve been thinking about the past year a lot this week. Reflection is a good thing and it’s helped …
2021-03-09 As my kids get older we have some interesting conversations about music. Tonight we were flipping …
2021-03-09 It’s been a while since I wrote here. What a wild ride the last few months have been. I hope …
2021-01-04 You Need to Talk to Your Customers More
2021-01-03 Recognize Small Victories
2021-01-02 Cleaning Up Documentation
2020-12-31 In 2021 Let's Stop Calling Customers "Users"
2020-12-30 What Is Customer Success?
2020-11-16 Today I turned my ceiling fan to “winter mode”. I’m amazed at the difference it …
2020-11-16 As the world outside our control gets grimmer, it’s easy to let our thoughts run wild. The noise in …
2020-11-15 What do you call the two huge grapes you find on the grape plate?
2020-11-14 Quieting the Tumult Between Your Ears
2020-11-13 Things my teenager says: “Is anyone going to fix this reactor with me????”
2020-11-12 A hard concept to accept is that nearly everything in our world is complex and requires subtlety to …
2020-11-11 It was a race against time: figure out how the heck to get a livesteam going with only a few minutes …
2020-11-11 Learning a New Skill is Terrifying and Satisfying at the Same Time
2020-11-11 Never underestimate the restorative power of a nap.
2020-11-07 I’m so relieved to finally have a result in the election. I don’t look forward to the meltdown of 45 …
2020-11-07 Here’s a quick little post with a nice twist at the end 😅 An important message for the readers of …
2020-11-07 Worst feeling ever: finding a single bolt on the floor and having no idea where it came from.
2020-11-05 It’s been a week, and it’s not over yet. Today I turned to an old standby to lift my stooping …
2020-11-03 I’m always excited to vote, though I’ve never yet voted for a winning presidential candidate. Hoping …
2020-11-03 I don’t always love James Altucher’s writing, but I thought this was a good, timely article. 13 …
2020-11-02 Hello Monday. You know, we don’t have to be enemies. Having you as a friend could be great. But if …
2020-11-01 The weather recently has been pretty dreary, but not today! Beautiful sun, amazing temperature. Just …
2020-11-01 This is a great graphic about the effectiveness of wearing masks and how particle filtration works. …
2020-10-31 With all of the anger and angst surrounding the election, I was happy tonight to be reminded of the …
2020-10-31 As we finished up getting flu shots in a drive through clinic, my wife remarked that the last few …
2020-10-29 Yesterday was a first for me. I ran a YouTube live at work and it went really pretty well. The mic …
2020-10-29 I love the quirky rituals of baseball. We all need some rituals in our work life as well. Rally caps …
2020-10-29 The Value of Rituals
2020-10-28 This pandemic is a lesson in Stoicism for all of us
2020-10-28 While some of us literally need beard oil, all of us need figurative beard oil from time to time. …
2020-10-27 We All Need Beard Oil Sometimes
2020-10-27 In response to my question about the smell of burning food coming from the kitchen, here’s …
2020-10-27 Like compound interest or other long-term strategies, doing foundational work pays off in amazing …
2020-10-27 Will You Do Your Duty? To me, this just about perfectly sums up the reasons why I vote. The …
2020-10-26 Foundational Work is a Long Term Investment
2020-10-25 Had a bit of fun creating a “Now” page on my website. This is a great concept that Derek …
2020-10-25 Now Page Updates
2020-10-21 82 on Thursday, 12 on Tuesday. Looks like it’s officially fall in Kansas City! 🍃 🍁
2020-10-21 Things my teenager says: “This rice is pretty good. Your rice making skills are pretty hit-or-miss. …
2020-10-21 Things my teenager says: 😑 (All of my teenagers have been very unhelpful the last few days and …
2020-10-20 Do I really need multiple pairs of glasses on my desk? I guess so. Add in the pair on my head and …
2020-10-19 Things my teenager says: “I was more outstanding” (than my siblings). We’re working on our humility …
2020-10-19 Things my teenager says: “I’ve already eaten MIIIIIINE.”
2020-10-19 “2020 is like looking both ways as you cross the street and as you step off the curb you get hit by …
2020-10-19 What a day it’s been. Oh, it’s only 1 pm? 😭
2020-10-18 Things my teenager says (to his brother): “You’re so kickable.” 🙄
2020-10-18 Things my teenager says: SLURP SLURP SLURP “I feel like it tastes better when I smack my lips.”
2020-10-18 Things my teenager says: “Sometimes we have jigglypuff battles.” Sometimes I also make up words and …
2020-10-17 Things my teenager says: “I want to go out and do things that are new, fun, and exciting.” Me too …
2020-10-17 Fall is my favorite season. The morning chill in the air, the excitement when you get an …
2020-10-17 Watching an MLS game and saw their “25 years strong” slogan. I remember the first MLS season really …
2020-10-17 Very excited that my next read is here: Two Trees Make a Forest by Jessica J. Lee 📚
2020-10-17 Things my teenager says: “You’re gonna have to take me to another city because I’m not just going to …
2020-10-17 How far we’ve come with wearing masks
2020-10-07 Poorly Drawn Lines – Listen to Me
2020-10-03 In my state, most of those absentee and mail-in ballots need to be notarized. I’m become a notary …
2020-09-21 I’ve been setting up an Android phone for work and I’m surprised how much I have enjoyed it. Some …
2020-09-21 I really love cinnamon. Health Benefits of Cinnamon
2020-09-05 The last embers of the fire. We have enjoyed spending time outside with our portable fire pit this …
2020-08-20 It’s funny how different tools we use for work provoke different reactions in us. Even email, our …
2020-08-20 There is Competition, But Not as Much as You Think
2020-08-19 When the world has been turned upside down, we can find normalcy in simple things like playing …
2020-08-19 We Don't Use Email Here
2020-08-16 The last two nights we’ve watched Pride and Prejudice and Little Women as a family. Such great …
2020-08-15 This is heartbreaking. Another class of heroes, about to be thrown into the thick of a fight they …
2020-08-15 A Picnic in the Park
2020-08-13 Spent the last week or so porting my website from Hugo back to WordPress with a static site deploy. …
2020-08-08 My brother raved about his blue light blocking glasses, so we got pairs for everyone in our family. …
2020-08-03 Spilling a drink on a mechanical keyboard is much less of a crisis than spilling one on a laptop …
2020-08-01 Baseball is built on hope
2020-07-28 Currently reading: The Revenge of Analog by David Sax 📚
2020-07-25 Two days a row with baseball. I’m a happy guy. Here’s my favorite quote on the Royals win today: …
2020-07-23 The MLB season opens today. The Royals play their first game tomorrow. I’m so happy😁⚾️🙌
2020-07-16 Tonight I typed on my laptop keyboard for the first time after a week of using a mechanical …
2020-07-14 Setting up systems is important. Once that’s done the next step is to use the system so we can …
2020-07-13 Experience Improves Systems
2020-07-11 Starting can be so difficult. Here are some principles from Herodutus and Langston Hughes that help …
2020-07-11 What a beautiful Saturday morning.
2020-07-10 “The Battle Against Them Would Be in the Shade and Not in the Sun”
2020-07-10 Wearing masks is polarizing now. Here’s the experience that changed my attitude about mask …
2020-07-09 We Will Only Break Through Together
2020-07-09 One of the newsletters I look forward to each week is 3-2-1 Thursday from James Clear. (He’s …
2020-07-09 With a little bit of wrangling and creativity, you can add “focus time” to your daily …
2020-07-09 Seek Out Time for Deep Work
2020-07-08 Read Why Nerds are Unpopular and sent it to my three teenagers to read. What an article. It’s …
2020-07-07 Last night’s dinner had all kinds of things from our garden: Thai basil with the chicken …
2020-07-07 Focus Your Windows to Block Distractions
2020-07-06 Typewriters and cool. Pen and paper feel so retro. They were the way work was done for a long time. …
2020-07-06 Since March my family gets together for a weekly Zoom call. It’s one of the highlights of the week …
2020-07-05 Giving a first real go at using a mechanical keyboard. I love typing on a typewriter for the feel …
2020-07-05 You may not be the first person to think of a certain idea, but does that even matter? Ideas …
2020-07-05 The Applied Physics of Efficient Work
2020-07-04 The Right Treasure Map Can Change Your Life - John P. Weiss This is a great little story about …
2020-07-04 Wow. TIL. The Deleted Clause of the Declaration of Independence - Marginal REVOLUTION
2020-07-04 Our family has been watching the Marvel movies in order. (See Marvel Movies In Order: How To Watch …
2020-07-04 You’re Not the First Person to Think of This
2020-07-03 The pain of getting started can seem outsized at times. Don’t let potential discomfort stop …
2020-07-03 The local movie theater (B&B) has reopened and our family decided to go and see one of the Star …
2020-07-03 Milton Glaser – Ten Things I Have Learned This is a great essay on work from one of the greatest …
2020-07-03 One of the seemingly hardest things in our life can be finding silence. The absence of noise is …
2020-07-02 I’ve been doing a lot of grilling recently and was excited to learn this tip. My younger brother, …
2020-07-02 Starting Can Be the Hardest Part
2020-07-01 Just back from a couple of days of camping and spending time on a river. Amazing how you can go …
2020-06-28 Ah humidity! In the summer you make outdoor work so much more fun. Not only do I need to take …
2020-06-28 Parenting is a Marathon
2020-06-21 The Magic of PTO
2020-06-20 Far from Commonplace Fathers
2020-04-24 Things Move a Little Slower Here
2020-04-23 The Right Way is the Hard Way
2020-04-22 Life, Filled to the Brim with Experiences
2020-03-30 A Poem called Pandemic and other thoughts
2020-03-01 The Joy of Morning Walks
2020-02-28 Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth by Lou Gehrig
2020-02-23 Gratitude for Mentors is Repaid through Mentoring Others
2020-02-20 Personal Renewal by John W. Gardner
2020-02-16 Random Acts of Kindness
2020-02-13 Balance
2020-02-12 A Letter to My 14-Year-Old Self
2020-02-11 Reading Gated Content
2020-02-09 Reflections on 400 Days of Journaling
2020-02-08 Deep Listening
2020-02-07 Make Sleep Your Superpower
2020-02-06 The Rituals in Work
2020-02-05 Developing Character in Kids
2020-02-03 Thoughts on Letter Writing
2020-02-01 Awareness of the Waterfall of Your Thoughts
2020-01-31 Leap Year Habits
2020-01-29 Break Tasks Down into Small Chunks
2020-01-28 Process Accelerates Creativity
2020-01-20 Do a Good Deed Daily
2020-01-17 Art and Craftsmanship
2020-01-16 Getting Goals and Habits to Stick
2020-01-13 Analog January Challeng
2020-01-07 Dark Mode for Your Desktop Browser
2020-01-04 Resources for Reading Online Content
2020-01-02 A New Year’s Do Not List
2019-12-30 Reading Digital Content on Analog Medium
2019-12-29 Getting Tweets via Email
2019-12-28 How to Switch your iPhone to Monochrome Mode
2019-12-27 Of Course I Understand Your Acronyms!
2019-12-26 Being Busy is Not Equal to Being Productive
2019-12-25 Peace with the Present
2019-12-24 The Power of Crowds vs the Power of Groups
2019-12-23 The Simple Method to Increase your Job Performance in the New Year
2019-12-21 Small Successes Lead to Big Victories
2019-12-19 Training the Coward Inside
2019-11-14 Hello world!
2019-11-03 Going Faster and Getting Lost
2019-10-27 Be Out in Nature
2019-10-23 The Profound Power in Showing Up
2019-10-20 The Things We Actually Have Control Of
2019-10-13 What Stands in the Way Becomes the Way
2019-09-11 Change Your Medium to Change Your Results
2019-09-10 You Are a Mashup of What You Choose
2019-09-09 Get Comfortable With Your Own Mind
2019-09-08 Time to Get a Library Card
2019-09-07 The Joy of Artistry
2019-09-06 Hope for the Future
2019-09-05 Recognizing Bias through Self Reflection
2019-09-04 Using an Apple Watch with Bluetooth Off
2019-09-03 In a Digital World We Miss 65% of the Message
2019-09-02 Assume the Best in Others, Despite Any Evidence to the Contrary
2019-09-01 Holiday Fun: Scoring a Baseball Game on Paper
2019-08-31 Be Audacious
2019-08-29 My New Journal Mashup
2019-08-15 Start to Protect Your Privacy with These Two Steps
2019-08-14 Back to Pen and Ink
2019-01-11 How Intermittent Fasting Has Helped My Relationship With Food
2018-11-04 In Memory of Roy Hargrove
2018-09-03 Fundraising for a Local Nonprofit Is the Worst