As I started writing this, it was looking like a TV series, so I decided to scratch everything I had written and try my best to keep it to a 30-second commercial! Our A/C was out, and eventually, we ended up with a whole new system! They replaced it on Thursday, May 23rd, and by…
Tag: The Dad Speaks
GameCrafters – Jeff Brody
Name: Jeff BrodyJob: Internal Communications Manager for Hilton Even though we both worked for the San Antonio Spurs at the same time frame (me, 1999 to 2002 and Jeff, 2000 to 2007), I never got the chance to officially meet him. A few years later and through mutual friends, we connected on social media (LinkedIn…
Mothers Day Surprise
Originally, this was going to be titled, Ode To My Wife – Part 9 (Happy Mother’s Day), but that would’ve required me to actually think and write something super amazing about Nina, which is easy as she does so much for me, Niko, and Riley. But my thinking and writing part of my brain hasn’t…
Niko’s Birthday
Niko had a few requests for his birthday last Thursday, and we happily obliged. First, he wanted cupcakes and cookies to bring to school for his class. Thanks to HEB, the local grocery store as Nina picked up a few items along with cupcakes and cookies on Wednesday. Of course, when Niko came home from…
GameCrafters – “Texas” Bob McSpadden
Name: “Texas” Bob Job: Owner of www.texasbob.com and High school football fan for Katy High School in Katy, TX When I was a statistician and writer for high school football games, I often relied on his online database for high school football stadiums. The information he provided was always greatly helpful to me. In a…
My Birthday Food
I think I need to rename thedadspeaks.com to thedadeats.com, because I love to eat! And, for my birthday, which was last Tuesday, I got Chinese food. But, before I dive into my fortune, let me tell you about Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and what I had to eat! So, pull up a chair and I…
Triple Birthday Celebration
Yesterday, we celebrated my dad’s 80th birthday which was last Tuesday, my birthday which is this coming Tuesday, and Niko’s which is May 2. Niko and I are less than 80! Normally, we would celebrate by going out to a restaurant, like we did for my mom’s in February. But, my dad had knee replacement…
GameCrafters – Christopher Lyke
I haven’t officially met Christopher, but I was aware of his work with www.texashsfootball.com, and somehow we started following each other on social media. He ended up selling that website in 2013 and I wrote for them in 2015. Name: Christopher LykeJob: Writer HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS A WRITER?I started writing in high…
Brick Fest Live
In January, and while I was scrolling through Facebook, I saw an advertisement for Brick Fest Live in San Antonio, TX scheduled for this weekend. Without even thinking or asking the family, I submitted my contact information so I could be alerted when tickets went on sale. Later, when I did tell Nina and Niko,…
GameCrafters – Greg Dockery
Name: Greg DockeryJob: Instant Replay Technician for UTSA Football and the Alamobowl In 2012, I did stats for a high school football game between the Brandeis Broncos and the Warren Warriors. I was only a year into my writing as I shared photos, stats, and my thoughts on the game itself. Greg Dockery was one…
Saturday Thoughts
Yesterday, we got our house cleaned from top to bottom. Unbeknownst to us, she made Niko’s bed and arranged all the pillows and blankets in a very nice layout rather than the what Niko prefers. And, what he prefers is very detailed and it takes Nina and I working together to get it correct. If…
IHOP Again…
Yesterday, I was planning on getting gas in Nina’s car and going to Goodwill to donate some stuff. Afterwards, Niko and I were going to do something fun in the world. I gave him several things to choose: UrbanAir, the museum we visited on 3/22 for his field trip, the children’s museum, North Star Mall,…
Field Trip
My name is Mark, and I survived the 2nd grade field trip on Friday to a local museum. I didn’t chew on any dinosaur bones, I didn’t take off my clothes and pose as an old timer from the old times, I didn’t push the red button in the space exhibit, I didn’t build a…
GameCrafters – Milton Hope
From 2003 to 2014, I was the statistician for Judson High School football games on the Texas Sports Radio. Network, and during that time, is when I first met Milton Hope. Name: Milton HopeJob: Public Address Announcer HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS A PUBLIC ADDRESS (PA ANNOUNCER)? I got started as a PA announcer…
Spring Break 2024
Niko’s Spring Break was last week, and tomorrow he goes back to school. He won’t have anything exciting to tell his classmates or teacher of what he did and all the trouble he got it in on South Padre Island! Nope! Because, he was sick. He took one dose of meds on Monday and when…
The Statman Speaks RETURNS – GameCrafters
I am back! But, I won’t be writing about about high school football or high school basketball or sharing photos of athletes in action on the field or on the court! Nor, will I be sharing renovation photos of football stadiums or gymnasiums! Nope. I got something even better. I actually want to learn more…
Don’t Laugh (Because It’s Not Funny)
Last Saturday, Niko asked me very nicely if he could have my iPad that I purchased in December. His current iPad is my old iPad mini 4 that I purchased in 2020. I gave him that one about a year ago when the iPad he had, broke. I like my iPad and even have an…
Ear Infection
Last Sunday, and around our Niko dinner time which happens at 3 pm, he was complaining of his ear hurting. At first, we thought it was water as he had a shower a few hours earlier. None of the Google remedies worked for getting water out of ears, so I made a quick trip a…
Cheeseburger In Paradise (aka, Our House)
Yesterday, our big adventure in the world was a drive for burgers, fries, a shake for Niko, soda for me, and chicken tenders for Niko and me. I was craving something else and was planning on getting that. He then asked for a cheeseburger, and I was like, OK, come with me and it’s yours….
Niko Rewards
Yesterday, we went to The Shops at La Cantera, for lunch, legos, and chocolate. Separate, not food made out of legos. The reason being is Niko did something good for a month, and the reward for completion was we would buy him a lego set for $100. Actually, I won as I also participated, but…




