Years ago, probably around 2002, I saw a tall guy wearing shades in a dark Cleveland nightclub. I laughed and said to my brother, “Who’s that?” My bro was like, …
In kindergarten I won the Monopoly tournament and temporarily overcame a stutter to have a brief speaking role in the class play. But if you ask my mom, she’s most …
My first real basketball game was in the seventh grade. I played for the Wiley Middle School Warriors. Well, kind of. I was actually on the C-team. It was the …
It’s almost noon. My two youngest boys have just returned home from preschool, where they were quiet and well-behaved. But now they’re back in their comfort zone. They quickly resort …
The Columbus Food Truck Festival bills itself as the “largest food truck festival in the Midwest.” However, the World’s Largest Food Truck Rally was just held in Michigan. Somebody’s lying. …
One of my fondest Cleveland memories is going to my neighborhood park. Those of us with hoop dreams would play ball from afternoon to night. You could also find cool …
My friends had a common response when I told them I was moving from California to Ohio: “FOR WHAT!” I was Prince Akeem, my friends were King Jaffe Joffer, and …
Is there a normal age for potty training? Probably not. Kids develop at different rates and some may not have the benefit of being co-parented by the omniscient Daniel Tiger. …
Kids are not good people. They yank your limbs to get attention and make a lot of background noise when you’re on an important call with your parole officer. Like …
Yellow Springs is a liberal enclave about an hour away from my new ‘hood in Pickerington, Ohio. Fun fact: At least two great African-Americans have connections to the area: Dave …
Each child is unique and the same can be said of my thoughts when learning of their upcoming arrivals. Our first pregnancy: “Woah! That’s cool. I think we both subconsciously …
Our two oldest boys are enrolled in their new school outside Columbus. So far, so good. The adjustment has been easy. Probably because they’re at the age where they like …
My day trip to Santa Barbara began at Arroyo Burro Beach. Kids and dogs played, and moms and old folks sunbathed. I wandered along the shore for half an hour …
Never use Google Maps to find a national park. We did just that when taking a spur-of-the-moment day trip to San Diego’s Cleveland National Forest and ended up on closed …
The first day of our road trip from San Diego to Columbus ended on the run-down part of the Vegas Strip. My wife and I had never of the Westgate …
It would cost us, a family of five, more than $500 just to get in LEGOLAND California. With $500 I could buy enough LEGO bricks to build a house that …
My wife is a stay-at-home mom to our three boys. The oldest is in full-day kindergarten, so he’s pretty much grown and on his own, except he can’t take himself …
I do not enjoy winter. With ice comes the risk of slipping and breaking a bone that Donald won’t allow Obamacare to fix. With snow comes blizzards and avalanches and …
Tijuana played a large part in my decision to move to San Diego. I had never actually been to Mexico, or for that matter, Southern California, but I had seen …
Living in Southern California means easy access to Las Vegas. Maybe too easy. Everyone goes and you hear about it far too often, mostly by way of the trite phrase …