Minutes after a speaking program in northern Wisconsin, I got a call from Kim, telling me that my Dad wanted to arrange an urgent family meeting for the next day. We wondered aloud about the true importance of this meeting (my Dad has a bit of a history of overhyping things), especially since the day of the proposed meeting was the only one in which I'd be home in the span of a week. That free day was gold. A call back to my Dad confirmed that the situation was serious, and he was adamant that he did not want to tell us about it by phone. * Gulp * …
Jason's Random Musings
The Pumpkin Patch: A Perfect Family Tradition
Last year we missed out on going to the pumpkin patch because I didn't have any free weekends in October due to my speaking schedule. The new tradition had quickly become a favorite one, so the fact that we weren't able to go last year was a real disappointment. Never again, Kim and I promised ourselves. This year we marked the calendar months in advance. Further proof that in today's busy culture, if you really want something to happen -- especially when it comes to creating scenes with the people you love -- you have to schedule it. …
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The Story Behind the Golden Tickets
When Kim and I were in Alaska last fall, we had a lot of time to talk. (And very little time since then :) One of the things we talked about was regret. We wondered: If something happened to one of us and our time together was cut short, would there be anything we wish we would have done that we hadn't? …
My Comic-Con Experience (in Words & Pictures)
Attending the San Diego Comic-Con has been on my bucket list for some time now. Not anymore. After spending time in Portland for the World Domination Summit and down time with friends, I flew down to San Diego for the world's largest celebration of the popular arts. It was massive. …
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Is Cam from Modern Family One of the Green Lanterns?
Perhaps only geeks know that there's more than one Green Lantern. But even I was surprised to discover that it appears Cameron from Modern Family may be among them. Am I wrong? …
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Lessons from Children’s Letters to Santa
Earlier this year, while Kim and I were in Alaska, we had the unique opportunity to visit the North Pole. Technically, it was not the geographic version, but rather a small town near Fairbanks known as North Pole, Alaska. …
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My Little Old Rental Car
This is the rental car they gave me for a recent run of speaking gigs in Minnesota. A 2011 Dodge Freaking Charger. It makes me feel like I'm driving the Batmobile. Yes, I know it's white. But I'm talking about the special Batmobile that Batman takes to weddings. …
Boringly Normal? Pffft. You Just Might Be Extraordinary.
I recently wrote a post about why normal sucks. In almost every single instance, it really does. …
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Possibly My Earliest Drawing of Santa Claus (Unconfirmed)
When I was in third grade, my teacher asked me to draw a picture of Santa Claus for the school newsletter. I distinctly remember Mrs. Smith saying that I was the perfect man for the job because I could draw him better than her. I don’t remember a lot of things about third grade, but I remember how that compliment made me feel. …
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Lucy Lives in an Art Gallery
This summer is one of big transitions in our household. With the new baby coming in December and a slight reprieve from a busy speaking schedule, we've been working like mad to get a lot of projects checked off the holy to-do list. One of the big steps was transitioning Lucy to a "big girl bed" in her new "big girl room." (Next up, potty training -- heaven help us!) This required purchasing a "big girl mattress" and some redecorating. It went much more smoothly than I anticipated, and the items we'd collected over the last year or so really tied together well. Among the highlights is the …