Little gym, big gym

Last Saturday Carlton and our family and friends celebrated his fourth birthday at The Little Gym in Snellville. Though Carlton only took classes there for six weeks, he often asks to go back. The birthday party was the perfect excuse. The folks at The Little Gym were organized, well-staffed, professional but personal, and they made … Continue reading Little gym, big gym →

Recalculating

Apple released the iPhone 5 on Sept. 21, and unleashed mayhem on America’s roadways in the process. Warning: If the car in front of you suddenly stops in the middle of a busy thoroughfare, do not blame the driver. They are simply doing what Siri has told them to do. They have, according to Siri, … Continue reading Recalculating →

County fare

Last Friday night we loaded up the minivan and headed to Lawrenceville for the Gwinnett County Fair. We hadn't been in several years, and we were overdue for a family outing. This one fit the bill nicely. I prefer my fairs a little later in the fall -- call it a habit formed by 10 … Continue reading County fare →

Boogie-woogie bugle boy

There are many challenges in life for which I believe I am unprepared: landing a disabled aircraft, selecting a paint color for a formal living room, lecturing on physics or attending a baby shower. The next big life hurdle staring me in the face is being a band parent. Last Saturday Barron took possession of a … Continue reading Boogie-woogie bugle boy →

Commuter dude

I recently changed jobs, and in the process traded a consistent 30-minute commute for a nail-biting daily adventure into downtown Atlanta. Commuting is not a remarkable activity in and of itself. It is a necessary evil for those of us with kids, living the suburban "dream." And, unfortunately, it is one of those activities that characterizes life in … Continue reading Commuter dude →

Selling encyclopedias

I was already hungry when I took my seat on the seventh pew on the right of the Decatur Presbyterian Church. After a long day fighting the crowds at Dragon*Con with the boys, Carla and I were enjoying a night out, so naturally I dragged her to the Decatur Book Festival and the panel discussion … Continue reading Selling encyclopedias →

Nerd alert

Does dressing in the costume of your favorite super hero make you a nerd? Does carrying a plastic gun or laser sword make you a nerd? Does donning pointed ears and makeup to resemble an elf make you a nerd? Does getting up early on a holiday weekend to go downtown and watch a parade … Continue reading Nerd alert →

What’s up with SUP?

For the last several years during my beach vacation I’ve been seeing people standing on surf boards with big paddles. Curious but too timid to tackle this sport on my own, I finally got a taste of stand-up paddle boarding (or SUP as it’s commonly known) this week during a work retreat at Chickamauga Lake in … Continue reading What’s up with SUP? →

Can I have a second helping of home décor?

I’ll eat just about anything you can put on a plate, but I won’t admire just any plate you can put on a wall. Those plates must be historic. And Southern. And tell a story. When my wife of 15 years and I were concocting our wedding registry, (OK, let me restate that more accurately: … Continue reading Can I have a second helping of home décor? →

When all the world was young

This June marked the 20th anniversary of my graduation from Troy University, and after spending this week with 140 college students at a conference in Alabama, I can’t help but reflect on how students are different in the New South. As a small group leader who did double duty as an interviewer and reporter covering … Continue reading When all the world was young →