Since we moved to our new house in June, I have done a lot of “DAD HANDYMAN” things. It’s not like the house we purchased was in shambles and needed a ton of work. Just normal things that needs to be fixed or replaced. I think we have something like 25 doors in our house…
Tag: The Dad Speaks
Bad Words
For 9 years, Nina and I have done a really good job of keeping bad words out of Niko’s vocabulary. Niko is aware of the bad words (probably from classmates at his old school), but he kept them pretty far back in his brain. He never used them and whenever something appeared audible to him…
Week 1 – School not High School Football
The first week of school for Niko is in the books, and no complaints. Normally, and just like me, he doesn’t enjoy Physical Education, but on Thursday he said he played soccer and as the goalie, he blocked a lot of balls, and he also scored a goal! The drop-offs in the morning has been…
First Day of 4th Grade
Last Thursday, Niko started his first day as a 4th grader at a new school and in a new city. A week prior, we got to see the school for the first time and on the following Tuesday, we got to meet the teacher. Both got the thumbs up from us and Niko, and he…
Rating My Exercise and Diet
On December 5, 2024, I had a heart attack. I didn’t post about it. No announcement, no press release. I kept it to myself—just my family, Nina’s family, and my boss at work. I wasn’t looking for sympathy or the usual “I’m sorry”. I told the world I had emergency surgery (that was the truth),…
Niko Gets An Upgrade
On Friday, and on our way to Best Buy to get his new iPad, Niko told me he needed an upgrade for a long time, but didn’t ask until last Friday – he thought I would say no. We ended up trading in my iPad Air 5th generation (M1) 256 GB for a new iPad…
iPad. iPad. iPad.
On Friday afternoon, Niko asked me if he could have a new iPad. I didn’t say no, but I also didn’t say yes – I said maybe. Now I will be talking about my iPad because, for the past few weeks, I have actually been thinking about trading in my iPad. I only use my…
Television
Before Niko was born in 2016, television was my best friend. I got my first television in 1990, a classic Sony tube television. Up until 2010 when I got married, I always had one in the bedroom. I watched a lot of great stuff. After Niko arrived, though, TV got flushed down the toilet—rarely watched,…
The Walking Dad
This is probably the most emotional blog I have ever written, and I have gone back and forth on whether or not to share it. Even had I said nope, I still would’ve kept it in draft status as a gentle reminder so I can remember what went down. I have an entry for my…
15 Years of Writing
Fifteen years ago—on July 17, 2011—I launched my very first blog post. At the time, my life revolved around Texas high school football, as I was working as a statistician for the Texas Sports Radio Network (1997–2014) and Thursday Night Lights (2009–2015). I even had a brief but cool stint with UTSA Football in 2012. TSRN broadcasted…
Niko Eats
On Sunday June 29th, the three of us went to a Potato Pancake Breakfast at a local festival. When I showed Niko the menu the day before, he was excited for it. It was nothing fancy, just regular or potato pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, and either apple juice, orange juice, or coffee. Later on that…
Beds
Last week, we had a few nights where Niko struggled to go to sleep. This happens occasionally, and usually, Nina and I can pinpoint what the issue is and get it resolved. Growing pains, brain development, hungry, thirsty, or has to use the bathroom. None of this, though, was it. Then, Niko mentioned it’s his…
MARK’S Home Office
Thank you for calling Mark’s home office, this is AI speaking, how can Mark help you? When I started my job at HealthEquity, Inc., they set me up with the full hardware buffet: a laptop, two HUGE monitors, a docking station, a wired keyboard, wired mouse, and a wired Bluetooth headset (which, yes, makes no sense, but…
Minnesota Driving
These are my words, but I filtered them through ChatGPT. Moving out-of-state has been a real adventure. The biggest downside? I have no idea where anything is. I rely on GPS like it’s my long-lost twin who finally decided to help with directions. Even on my morning walks—yes, walks—if I stray from the designated trail and…
1,200 Miles
I drove from San Antonio, TX on Thursday, June 5th and arrived in Big Lake, MN on Saturday, June 7th. I stopped several times for gas, food, and bathroom, and stayed two nights in a hotel; one in Ardmore, OK and the other in Ottawa, KS. For most of the drive, I was able to…
Little Boxes
Little boxes, medium boxes, large boxes, wardrobe boxes, and plastic bins of all size encompass our house. They are all labeled and have colored stickers on them which tells us and the movers where that particular box or bin goes in the new house. After I finished working on Friday, I packed up the “home…
The Lost Watch
Have you ever lost a smartwatch and not hear it vibrating because it has a Lock Screen? Well, that happened to us last week with Niko’s AmazFit smartwatch, and he had me and Nina looking everywhere for it. We knew it was in the house of boxes as the app on his iPad was able…
Early Wake-Ups (AKA non-functioning dad)
On Friday, Niko woke up at 4:45 am, on Saturday, he woke up at 5:45 am, and today, it was 6 am. A bit early for me, so when that happens, I hear him and see the lights being turned on as his bedroom is next to mine. He knows that he can’t grab his…
Another Mother’s Day
Well, I have written many many many many ODES TO THE WIFE here, and I am going to repeat it again, but she really is the BEST MOTHER. Mother’s Day needs to be celebrated daily, as moms everywhere are awesome and deserve more than just one day of pampering. If you have been living in…
My 9th Birthday
As soon as my dad’s birthday was over , I told moo (that is what I call my mom and I have no idea why), that I wanted a vanilla cake with lemon frosting and strawberry filling. I wished I had watched her create it from scratch on Thursday, because if so, I would have…