Can 5 Backyard Grillers Win a National Barbecue Competition?
Chris Lilly is the reigning Memphis in May World Barbecue Champion. He’s also the coach of my team in the 2012 Memphis in May World Championship Cooking Contest. That would be the same as having Texas Rangers Josh Hamilton teach your kids a thing or two about baseball. Or having Beyonce and Jay Z swing by for your weekly…
Read more »
OK Parents, What’s Your Position on Teen Drinking?
The Chicago Tribune TribLocal asked me to put some thoughts together pertaining to teenage drug and alcohol use. It’s a tough subject to write about – I desperately want to get it “right.” But I don’t know all the right answers. So I’m going to go with what’s in my heart… Teenage drug and alcohol use. Just writing those words…
Read more »
So You Think You Can Be a World Champion Pit Master?
I’ve found myself in a bit of a pickle this week. Make that a jar of barbecue sauce. Or whatever it is a world champion pit master has in his or her pantry. This is my official shout out (“Help!”) to any and all of my grilling friends for love and support. I’m heading to Memphis in May this Wednesday…
Read more »
My Newest Father-Son Bonding Experience
I consider myself to be a connoisseur of father-son bonding experiences. Hiking, fishing, road trips, camping? Check those off the list. Reading, swimming, skating, skiing? There are not many things I’ve missed. But my most recent father-son bonding memory happened quite by surprise. In fact, when I went to bed last night, I never dreamed of the special experience…
Read more »
Why Huggies New “Spaghetti Night” Commerical Works
There’s one reason why the new Huggies Spaghetti Night Challenge commercial works. And that reason – at least for me – can be found in the photo above. More about that later. The new commercial depicts a group of dads (real ones – not actors) with their kids (also real – not actors!) enjoying a spaghetti meal. And, as…
Read more »
You Can Help Save 1.7 Million Children
The new United Nations Foundation shot@life program is calling all Americans to action to save the lives of children in developing countries. I recently took my teenage son to the pediatrician for an annual check-up. Driving to the doctor’s office, my son asked, “Do I have to get a shot? I hate shots.” “Deal with it,” I told him. “You’re…
Read more »
Seven! My Annual Celebration of Being a Cancer Survivor
My annual story of thanks. Repeated year after year. I like it. I hope you do too. My fifth birthday party has long been the gold standard in my life for celebrations. Just ask Kristin, Kirk, Kathy, Debbie or Nancy. They were there. And I know they all relished in – and probably were a little jealous of – my…
Read more »
On Being Erma’s Child
I just returned from the 2012 Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, which celebrated the genius of this one, incredible woman. My mom was Betty. But this weekend, at an intimate event at the University of Dayton, I was reminded that I am also Erma’s child. Erma Bombeck. And I’m quite certain that’s precisely how the other attendees at the 2012…
Read more »
The Amazing Club of Dads
I had the honor the other day of being part of a group of folks who chose the winning essays from this year’s IFI /Chicago White Sox Illinois Fatherhood Essay Contest. Over 18,000 kids from the state of Illinois submitted essays this year – honoring their dads, step-dads, grandfathers, or father figures. The Illinois Fatherhood Initiative is the sponsor…
Read more »
“I Believe in Hope”
If you are unsure as to whether or not you should see the new documentary, “Bully”, I hope you will read this. “I don’t believe in luck. But I believe in hope.” If you were to read those words on the back of a t-shirt, or on a bumper sticker, you might not think twice. Read them again. And imagine…
Read more »