A few weeks ago, Niko asked me if he could have my Apple Watch. I originally purchased it around Thanksgiving of 2024. I used it to wake me up in the morning and keep track of my walking. Yeah, I could check my text messages and take the occasional call if my iPhone was not…
The Non-Immune Dad
Well, I am sick as whatever Niko and Nina had, I got it. Friday was the worst for me as I just wanted to go sleep in my bed full of tissues. I had a few works calls, but told my boss after the last one at Noon, I am logging out and going home!…
Doctor Dad
On Tuesday morning, and literally five minutes before Niko and I were leaving for school that morning, he complained that his foot was hurting very badly. Last year, we had this same issue and he had a walking boot for a few months and did rehab. He had a few instances in MN where it…
One Car Family
A month before we moved from Texas to Minnesota, I sold my little Honda Civic. Me and her had a really good run and I enjoyed riding her, but we didn’t want to tow it behind the big Honda Pilot. It was weird going to Carmax knowing that I would never see her again and…
The Dad’s Armoire
I have had an armoire since 1990 that belonged to my grandfather. I also had a matching a night table for a long time, but I gave it to my brother. That way, we each have a part of our Pop! It’s been through a lot (stuffed with clothes, some time in storage in my…
Warm Things (that don’t SPONSOR me…yet)
It’s cold, and snow has been on the ground since Thanksgiving. But, I am very glad that I have warm things, and I don’t have to suffer. It’s not like we don’t use the heat and fireplace, we do, but we don’t maximize them. If I have to go outside to get mail or place…
Ice Day
Last Tuesday, Niko’s school had a late start in the morning due to ice on the road, and about an hour or so after we got that notification through a text message and an email, they canceled school that day and told us it would be an “E-Learning Day”. I am very glad that here…
Back To School
After three weeks off from school (one of which he was sick), Niko goes back to school tomorrow. So, what did he do? Well, me and him went to the indoor pool at the Community Center twice. The second, it was snowing lightly and I was extremely reluctant to go, but Niko told me I…
Reflections On…Books (book, #5)
I notice when I am out in the world, most people tend to be doing something on their phones. Me, on the other hand, can be perfectly happy with my phone in my pocket and my Kindle in my hand reading a book. I can easily be distracted by the words on the screen and…
Happy 2026
Normally, I reminisce about all the great things that happened during the year from the perspective of being a dad, being a husband, being a full-time employee, being a reader, and being a writer. But, this year, I won’t go on and on and on about it. I will just say, it was a very…
Author of the Year -2025
Without a doubt, for me, it’s got to be John Sandford. Of the 151 books I read in 2025, 50 were by John Sandford. He was actually recommended in a Facebook book group I belong to, and when I did my research on him, I learned that his Prey series of book all take place…
Book of the Year – 2025
This year, I read a lot of Fiction thrillers; James Patterson’s Michael Bennett and Women’s Murder Club books and John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers books. It’s not that I didn’t like them, I did and that is why I devoured them. I just couldn’t come to grips and mark any of them as…
The Dad Is OOO
Well, I am off from work all next and the following week, as I go back Friday, January 2nd. Last year at this same time, I was off, but it was because we moved. And, totally unexpected, I also had emergency surgery for a heart attack a few weeks before that move. Yeah, shit happened. …
Snow Shoveling/Blowing
Since the day before Thanksgiving, snow has been on the ground where we live. Wait, where else would it be? In the air? I have already used the snow shovel and snow blower multiple times to clear the driveway. Our snow blower is a Toro, and it worked very well and quick. Don’t tell anybody…
One Year Heartiversary
One year ago today, I was discharged from Methodist Hospital Texsan, one of the top heart hospitals in Texas, after an experience that changed everything. On December 5, 2024, I woke at 3 a.m. with chest pain, sweating, and a pounding headache. They were classic heart attack symptoms, but instead of calling an ambulance like…
Sushi
If you don’t know me, my name is Mark, and I like to eat. Not Sushi, though. It doesn’t appeal to me to eat raw food! I have never actually eaten Sushi, but that changed when Niko saw a video on it, and was intrigued to try it. But, Nina and I had no clue…
It Snowed (Twice) – Finally
Niko was off from school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and on Tuesday night it snowed and when we woke up on Wednesday morning, it was a winter wonderland. It’s been below freezing ever since and, according to my weather app, for the next 9 days, that won’t happen (on that 10th day, it says…
It’s Cold (No Snow Yet)
I am definitely not used to the cold weather. All of my life, I lived in Texas and have had to deal with extreme heat for most of the year! Car and home A/C blasting super cold air all of the time. Now, we live in one of coldest cities in the country. Even going…
Firsts – Snowflakes, Northern Lights, and Walking on the Mississippi River
Last Sunday, it was cold. So cold and cloudy. With precipitation. Add that up, and that afternoon, I saw something flying through the air and realized it was a snowflake! A few more snowflakes arrived. I sat on the couch and just watched as snowflakes flew downward. It was very surreal and pretty, and this…
Beds Are Not Burning
In July, Niko declared his current King bed not comfortable anymore and he was really struggling in the evenings to go to sleep. So, I gave him my Queen bed and took his uncomfortable King bed. For me, it was a no brainer swap as his sleep is the most important in the house. That…