Political Advertising Season

This week's Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog is called "Political Advertising Season", and it anticipates the kind of conversations we'll be having around the house this year, a year in which political advertising will be bombarding us from daybreak to dusk.

You can read it here.

German Chicago

My weekly contribution to ChicagoNow's City mom blog is entitled "German Chicago"

You can read it here.

Superheroes for Aging Grown Ups

My suburban dad contribution to the City Mom blog this week is called "Superheroes for Aging Grown Ups".

You can read it here.

Cheering for Mathletes

This week's Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow has been posted. It's called "Cheering for Mathletes".

Click here for 6 new cheers, a fundraising idea, and a preview of my cheering outfit.

My Brush with Sam Kinison

In this week's contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow, I tell the story of my brush with comedian Sam Kinison. Sam died exactly twenty years ago this month.

You can read it here.

My Buddy's Incredible Streak of Bad Luck

That's the title of this week's Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. It's about my buddy Dave's streak of bad luck when he happens to have legitimate reasons to get out of the house.

You can read it here.

Don't Call Me April 27, May 2, or May 18

This week's Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog has been posted.

It's about our insane schedule.

The Hidden Meaning of Flowers

This week's Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow is entitled "The Hidden Meaning of Flowers".

You can read it here.

Meeting Catholic Celebrities

This week's Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow has been posted. It's called "Meeting Catholic Celebrities".

You can read it here.

Your Language is Your Age

My Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow is posted, and entitled: "Your language is your age".

You can read it here.

My So-Called Fictional Life

I just posted this week's contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. It's called "My So Called Fictional Life" and it's about the weird convergence between this week's fact and fiction. You can read it here.

A Dad's Guide to Comedy for Boys

This week's Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog has been posted. I provided my helpful guide to getting laughs from boys, depending on their ages. Sixteen years of experience wrapped up into one column.

You can read it here.

Yet Another Reason I'll Never Be Father of the Year

This week's Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog includes a humiliating admission...

You can read it here.

Pinewood Derby

This weekend is Pinewood Derby time, so it's time to once again pull out my Pinewood Derby essay. This year I'm contributing it to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. If you haven't read it before, or you'd like to read it again, it's here.

By the way, this is going to be our 11th (!) Pinewood Derby.

In Defense of the Suburbs

My weekly Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow has been posted. This week's is called "In Defense of the Suburbs".

You can read it here.

Kids That Are Impossible to Impress

My weekly Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog has been posted. This week's is called "Kids that are impossible to impress"

You can read it here.

Aging Rockers

I just posted my weekly Suburban Dad column to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. This week's is about aging rockers, and was inspired by the Van Halen video below.

You can read it here.

A 25-year-old bet

My weekly contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow is about the culmination of a twenty-five-year old bet between two of my college roommates; Dave and Steve.

You can read it here.

That's Why They Call it Scam "Artist"

I just posted my weekly Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. This week it's about a gifted scam artist from my childhood, and his unfortunate protege living in my house.

You can read it here.

City Mom responds to Suburban Dad

Kim Strickland comments on the Suburban Dad column I wrote for her site yesterday. She makes a few good points about the weird coincidences between us...

"Rick touches on how freaky the coincidences have been, but they are REALLY freaky. These friends we have in common are not mere acquaintances. One of my friends from high school had been their family friend for over 50 years! One of my good flight school buddies, (a classmate--pilots know what this means) was Rick's BEST friend growing up. And don't even get me started on how we would post to this blog during the Exact. Same. Minute. (!) until we agreed on Rick's Wednesday schedule."

It is definitely weird. No doubt about it.