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Of all the columns I've written over the years, the ones that usually elicit the most feedback are the stories about my children. It's an easy one for me. I like to play the part of the proud father boasting about some recent accomplishment or reflecting on a life milestone for one of my daughters. So, as I wrap up my current columnist tenure with The Hinsdalean, I thought it would be appropriate to go back to what I do best. Bragging about my kids! The problem is, I'm not...
If you are a local music fan of a certain age, then you are aware of the recent passing of WXRT DJ Lin Brehmer. Sadly, Lin died of prostate cancer this past January at the age of 68. I have to tell you, this hit me quite hard. I have been a fan of XRT since my high school days, and Lin has been there almost the entire time. I didn't really know him personally, although he was a friend of my sister's, so I had the good fortune of meeting him a few times at concerts. Jovial, hea...
I have never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions. The way I figure it, if you want to partake in self-improvement activities, why wait until Jan. 1? The date is utterly immaterial. But the pathetically predictable resolutions are the things that really irk me. Like losing weight. I already know I could use to shed a few pounds. That scenario is the same on New Year’s Day as it was on the Fourth of July. I’ve made the effort in the past, and yet here I am once again, lamen...
OK everyone, take a deep breath. The election is finally over. We can now return to normal TV commercials and less-crammed mailboxes, and the internet can go back to inundating us with the old, useless information it did prior to the election. I can't help but laugh at the entire campaign process, though. Not only did I receive countless texts from both sides either pleading their case or slamming the other side's, in several instances I also personally received messages addre...
I have always encouraged my daughters to be independent, strong-willed women. Life is too short to ignore your dreams and squander all that this world has to offer. "Spread your wings and show the world what you are capable of!" So when my daughter Katie graduated from college a little over a year ago, it didn't surprise me when she told me what her intent was. The master plan was to come home and work. Save up money and then eventually take the plunge and move to none other...
Time is on your side. Don't waste it. If you know anything about me, you know I absolutely despise waste. Wasted money, wasted energy and perhaps worst of all, wasted time. I have zero tolerance for it. Our society today wastes way too much time worrying about, talking about and arguing about things that are completely out of our control. Take the weather, for instance. How horrible has our spring been so far? I don't know anyone who hasn't expressed their dismay about the...
Incredibly, we will be celebrating my youngest child's 21st birthday in a couple of weeks. Now I know you're probably expecting another "I can't believe I'm that old" column, but instead I thought I would take this opportunity to impart some sage advice to my soon-to-be-legal daughter. It just might be good advice for all of us. Enjoy your first beer (insert "wink" emoji here). Maybe even two. But I'm telling you, it only goes downhill after that. I may or may not be speaking...
Happy New Year! Like every other New Year's Eve, this one was no different. We rang in the new year with a festive and fun-filled celebration with the family. Lots of hugs, kisses and high-fives in my household. But then, out of nowhere, my daughter Anna dared to blurt out the words I will never forget as long as I live: "Happy wedding year!" Wait, what? What are you talking about? And how dare you utter those words in front of your father. Clearly, she recognized the...
On our National Day of Thanks, I would like to send out a special message of appreciation to the woman who managed to not kill me when I was out for a run a couple weeks ago. When you didn't have your turn signal on, I assumed you actually weren't turning your car. Silly me! Honestly, after decades of jogging and biking through our fine town, I should have known better. For some inexplicable reason, certain people just refuse to flip that little lever on the steering wheel....
I can't help but chuckle at all the recent social media posts from parents dropping off their freshman kids at college. Could you people be any weepier? Come on! It's not like they're moving to the other side of the world and disowning you forever. I can laugh, of course, because I'm past that point in my life. I can also laugh because back in the day there was no more blubbering parent on the face of the earth than yours truly. As for my kids, they were just fine. In fact,...
As we celebrate our country's independence this week, I can't help but chuckle about some of the crazy holidays the world has conjured up over the years. How do you celebrate National Zipper Day or World Mosquito Day in your household? What about Count Your Buttons Day or Super Mario Day? Want to know my opinion of Sweetest Day? Just ask my wife. Father's Day, however, is a different story, or at least it has been since I became a dad some 26 years ago. I never gave it much...
Several weeks ago my daughters came up with this crazy idea of all of us going to South Carolina for a family vacation. What's even more ridiculous, they wanted to leave in 12 days! "Absolutely not"! I predictably replied. "How in the world do you think we could just pick up and leave on such short notice, especially in our current world"? But they were ready for me, complete with an impressive PowerPoint presentation, cost analysis and an arsenal of answers at the ready for...
