With the “fall back” clock change coming soon, one thing makes me especially grumpy and confused. more

My adult life has been full of transitions—from single to married, from childlessness to fatherhood, and from virile coolness to cringey blobfish. I now find myself in the midst of a change from occupying a nest literally bursting with hatchlings frantically pecking at my wallet to now watching one last teenage fledgling perched on the edge of a limb and hoping I don’t do anything embarrassing. more

I used to love the first weekend of autumn. Now I loathe it. more

So, having earned an associate’s degree from our local community college, my son Gideon is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechatronic engineering from my old alma mater. more

“No problem.” more

Now that my eldest and middle daughters are off at college dashing my prospects for retirement, and my youngest daughter has started navigating the pubescent challenges of high school, I can turn to … more

I'm confused. more

Half of that goes to the bank for your college fund!” more

When does a 500th anniversary require an asterisk? more

In recent days, the hormonal distribution in my household has become slightly more balanced as two of my three teenage daughters and several lines of credit are now off attending college. This means that when I’m at home, I only receive the contemptuous side-eye from my wife, my youngest daughter, two female dogs and a female cat anytime I produce even the most innocent of bodily noises. more

I trekked to St. Germaine School every morning in my sturdy Buster Brown shoes. more

A long time ago I watched a documentary about poet Emily Dickinson’s life and writings. more

Anxious parents are no longer allowing their kids to go to slumber parties,” announced a blurb in the August 16 “New York Post.” more

East Texas is hot, and not in the way you compliment your wife when she’s mad at you for performing an epic cannonball while she’s lounging by the pool with her laptop. more

I bought my first lottery ticket recently. It was a $20 scratch-off that paid me a $40 prize. Winning produced a nice little thrill, so I bought another $20 ticket right away. And lost. I … more

Comedian Carl Reiner was good at living well—and he lived well until the age of 98. more

According to the National Gardening Association, the number of households growing their own vegetables, fruit and other foods has tripled since 2008. more

It’s time for another installment of “Places You Should Visit While You Can Still Bend Down to Tie Your Shoes without Making Involuntary Bodily Noises!” more

My father is turning 89 this week and he’s getting especially sentimental of late. more

Here’s a trend that may not bode well for the future of our country: According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 40 percent of 16- to 19-year-olds have summer jobs—down from 75 percent of teens a generation ago. more