This is Gus, my new best friend. He waddled up to me as I knelt photographing him. Years of training in not moving a muscle as cats slept on me paid off on Deception Island in Antarctica. I'll never forget this moment for as long as I live.
@crystalcruises
#CrystalEndeavor
file under: this dad will do anything for his kids
Quick story about me using 18,000 of my
@AmericanAir
miles to fly my kid's friend, who she met on 'Louis Twitter' last year, from Toronto to Philly tomorrow to see
@Louis_Tomlinson
with her
@themetphilly
"Hey, you're invited on this trip!"
"Cool, thanks for thinking of me. I can attend!"
"Great, what's your story? Where will it be published? And when? Also, you're on the wait list as we had a big response to our invitation."
🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
I think I'm going to write a cat tourism book that tells people where to go all over the world to hang out with street cats, where the best cat cafes are, and how to convince your own cat that you still love them best of all despite the 1,791 photos of other cats on your phone.
I should be writing and planning, but I just keep looking at this in disbelief.
I had an idea, I tweeted something, I frantically wrote a proposal, I got an agent, I got an offer, I got a deal. All because I love cats & travel & have wide eyes filled with wonder for this world.
Be proud of me, I got an assignment from a great editor I'd worked with before on a similar article but this new one would be 20% larger in scope, yet the fee offered was the same. Instead of saying yes (even though I need the $), I asked for more and got it. Yay me! Yay them!
My struggle with
#freelance
work-life balance has worsened, so I've made the decision to take weekends back, to be outside, be with my kids & turn off work. This will probably make me less productive, but that's kinda the point. I need to stop defining myself by my productivity.
My first book, 100 Questions for Dad, was inspired by all the stories I lost when my dad passed away last summer.
Here's to telling our stories, documenting our journeys, & sharing our wisdom, faults, fears & joys with our kids.
Pre-order your copy today
Having a rough mental health day, in a New Hampshire hotel trying to work while my kid is off having fun, so I look up nearby concerts and god damn,
@joshritter
outside on the water, for a $10 donation. If that's not a serendipitous balm for this soul, I don't know what is.
Got married last night.
Madly in love with this woman.
@BTSargent
so kindly drove down from Manhattan, wore a mask for 9 hours straight on a grossly humid day and night, and captured it all for us: the details and fun of an engagement shoot plus the elegance of our small wedding.
Felt terrible writing it.
Felt better once I finished it.
Feel terrible again seeing it published.
Parenting is hard, writing about parenting being hard is also hard.
New from me for
@goodhousemag
.
#parenting
#Teenager
@dad2summit
I have a call on Monday afternoon with my book's editor.
Because I'm writing a book.
Because I signed a book contract.
It's for & about dads.
It'll be dedicated to my dad.
It'll be published this summer, on what would be my dad's 83rd birthday.
Some things are meant to be.
Hey writers who once dreamed of selling a piece to an airline glossy...there's still hope even though most/all U.S. airline magazines are gone -->
@aegeanairlines
is still publishing in print and WOW it's beautiful + big! The airline's March-April 2024 issue is 288 pages!
A lot of crying. Spontaneous crying. On the street, at the restaurant, in the park.
I lost a brother last month, my childhood home last week, my dream home this coming Tuesday, and at times, it seems I've lost my way as well.
I'm exhausted and scared.
Here are the first three books I have or will soon be publishing under my fledgling small press
@StanchionZine
!
After years of wanting to shine a light on my own writing, I've found my true purpose: to illuminate, as best I can, the creativity, talent, and stories of others.
My teen's 1st
#Broadway
piece!:
"With lesbian & non-binary characters, big-is-so-very-beautiful themes, &
@Peppermint247
(1st out trans woman in principle role on B'way)...whether you prefer She, He, or They,
@HOHmusical
is absolutely for You."
Everything is on fire. So I turned to art & design for comfort. I created an homage to my favorite painter, Piet Mondrian, for the cover of the 8th issue of my literary magazine.
@StanchionZine
. I'm hoping the > 35 pieces of writing & photography will bring you some comfort too.
Just met two fellow
@PhilaUnion
supporters at the Charlton Athletic match, including Chris from
@phillysoccerpg
! How random and wonderful is that?
#DOOP
in SE London!!
I've come a long way to cheer on
@FulhamFC
! And I'm not even counting the 12 flights of stairs to reach the away end at St. James' Park! Couldn't ask for a better day for my first proper Fulham away day.
All I want for my birthday today is everyone to order something from Stanchion, my magazine and book press. Grab the new issue (out tomorrow), the first book (out today), a pdf download, stickers, or go crazy with a Book Club inaugural membership! 🥰🥳
My little publishing company that could published its 3rd book today. That's 11 striking magazines + 3 resplendent books in 3 years. It's still very much fledgling & most people still don't give 2 shits, but it makes me happy to publish a wide array of voices & remarkable writing
I flew to Manchester England from Philadelphia to be in the room w/ these fine fellas tonight as they record their first live
@setpiecemenu
. At the interval now & it's already been worth the trip. I have a pure love of football & this podcast.
@RorySmith
@hughferris
@stevenwyeth
Fellas, hit the
@Kia
booth today, get in a car and go get yourself some of New Orleans' finest beignets. Be a
#KiaDad
and join the
#KiaFamily
while at
#Dad2Summit
.
*Not an actual hand model.
I'll never forget our first ever cruise, on the Carnival Sunshine. From a cruise director who's smile & energy was like a jolt of electricity, to the passionate kitchen staff who love their work -- that week clinched it for us: we would vacation again & again w/
@CarnivalCruise
.
Ten months ago, in an empty parking lot, I sheepishly asked if I could put my arm around her. Two nights ago, in her apartment with her fur babies scattered about, I asked if she would marry me. I'm over the moon to spend the rest of my life loving this remarkable woman.
Published in the
@washingtonpost
for the 1st time! My
@onparenting
piece is about divorce, new love, parenting & finding the best words to dance this delicate dance. It's personal narrative + reported so it's not just me me me, you'll get solid advice from experts too!
#Divorce
Out on a pads run for my wife. Happy to 1) not feel even a tiny bit weird about being in this aisle and 2) know exactly the brand she prefers and size she needs.
Also happy to be able to buy extra for a local women's shelter, like my friend
@EverydayGirlDad
does.
After years of pushing nearly everyone away, I've found a second family that loves and supports me. I also discovered that life, as well as live band karaoke, is easier & made better with friends who have your back.
#KiaFamily
#KiaPartner
#TheNewKia
@Kia
I launched a book imprint of
@StanchionZine
earlier this month and just tonight, have officially acquired its 3rd book, a surrealist literary horror novelette that will be available in early 2023 wherever you buy books!!
Dammit. My teen didn't get the job she applied for after two rounds of interviews. For anyone who thinks changing diapers is the hardest part of parenting, hah, no.
Ever since hearing a 99% Invisible podcast about the dolls that saved French fashion, a curious museum in rural Washington, and the human story of glamour, loneliness and the way we adjust our lives to fit the molds we think we want to embody, I've dreamed of this day. 💜💜💜
In
@parentsmagazine
again! Check out the March issue for stellar (if I do say so myself) picks for traveling with older kids, and a rad photo I took of my girls in Glacier National Park.
h/t to
@Dadcation
and
@therookiedad
who gave me good quotes for the piece!
#travel
#parents
I am ecstatic to announce that I'm now represented by the wonderful
@JenNewens
!
Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I would find a literary agent so perfectly suited for me & my many ideas stretching across a frankly ridiculous number of genres!
In case you're wondering, 2 weeks in a residential treatment center costs $38,000. That doesn't include the psychiatrist. He bills separately. Or the ER that sent us there without another option. Or the ambulance that was compulsory.
That's more than I make in a year.
America.
#ad
I'm partnering w/
@DoveMenCare
to encourage dads, allies & businesses to sign the
#paternityleavepledge
. Only 15% of U.S. businesses offer paternity leave. Let's boost that % to give more dads the opportunity to start developing bonds w/ their kids.
I mean, I already told ya they're reliable like me, but...
The
@Kia
Certified Pre-Owned Program has been named to the
@AutoTrader_com
Best of 2018 List!
As more car buyers choose a pre-owned Kia, the old ideas about the brand rightfully fade away.
Every year, my dad would hide eggs full of candy and coins in his backyard. This is our first Easter without him, so I did the honors to surprise his grandkids. One final egg hunt. For you, dad 💜
Starting Jan 17, 2023, my 47th birthday, I'll be a book publisher. How about that.
This journey I started with
@StanchionZine
2.5 years ago, during a terrifyingly dark time, just keeps getter better and better.
@LifeofDadShow
A1: As a writer, I often turn to a favorite book of short stories to inspire me. As a photographer, it's a few great photogs I follow on IG that keeps me pushing forward to challenge myself.
#WhatDrivesU
So happy to have had some time to experience the
@Lexus
ES 350 F Sport. Like being cradled by a silk gloved butler. Never drove a car quite like it. Pure luxury. And oh my that red interior. Be still my heart.
In which I use many words in discussing a single one: reliable.
@JDPower
didn't vouch for me personally but if there was a long term dependability study of people I'd like to think I'd rank as highly as
@Kia
has.
#KiaFamily
#KiaDad
#TheNewKia
@LifeofDadShow
A6: I feel like Lumiere, mostly because my oldest daughter loves him the most. So... you know. Plus, his graciousness at the end.
#BRGuest
I don't know if we're the very best example of a separated couple working it out as co-parenting allies but after 8 weeks, I called her last night to say thanks; thanks for being the one to finally say what needed to be said. And I wanted her to know I want her to be happy.