Hey Dad. On My Late Father’s Birthday
Hey Dad, So much has happened since we last spoke in January 2017. Your grandson has doubled in age since […]
family
Flying
The Captain and His Shark Skin Boots
Airline crews are easy to identify at the hotel bar. Especially if it’s closing time when the lights are bright,
animals
Jack Hanna was Once Disappointed with Me
I had the great fortune of interacting many times with Jack Hanna over the years during my childhood through my
Uncategorized
The Flight When Our Passengers Decided to Drive
There was a time when being a Regional Pilot meant you never left the very small region your employer flew
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All Work and No Play
On this one-hundred-and-something-ish day of being a virtual school teacher’s assistant, IT support, lunch lady, PE Coach, and Dad I’m
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Spring 2020 Is the Year Our Son Grew Up
Yes, his hair has gotten too long with the barbers closed so he suddenly looks like a broody teenager but
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Some Pilots Just Know It All
There are a few ways people can make money flying airplanes around. The two big easy examples are flying people
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My Magic Shoes
By: The Young Stork This morning I went downstairs and found a pair of magic shoes. They were yellow with
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I Got Five Stars for Being on Time
In the hotel van after work, I told my Captain that my son’s teacher gave me a compliment when I
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Our Little Boy Still Believes In The Bunny… Sort Of.
It’s increasingly less often these days but every now and then something happens that reminds me that he’s still my
Uncategorized
My Yelp Review… An Embarrassing Hotel Shower
As a frequent guest of hotel showers across the United States, you can imagine the horror and disgust I
family
I’ve gone from “Dad” to “Dude.”
I’ve gone from “Dad” to “Dude.” Although sometimes he keeps it in the family and calls me “Bro.” As in,
family
My Father Will Forever Watch Over The Florida Aquarium
I was humbled to be able to take part in the unveiling of an incredible statue honoring my father at
family
Approaching the One Year Anniversary of My Father’s Passing
My father was dying this time last year. I knew it. He knew it. We all did. The difference though
family
A Pro and Con to Having Just One Child.
Pro: You only have one mouth to feed. Con: That same mouth often only has one person to talk to.
family
On Grieving
After our son was born I called friends who already had kids and apologized to them for not being more
family
Teaching Irony through Sarcasm
I have the luxury of working weekends and being able to pick up our son from school most weekdays.
childhood, family
My Father’s Eulogy
My father passed away on January 2nd of this year. I’ve had several posts in mind but haven’t had the
childhood, family
A 1980 Tampa Tribune Article Featuring My Father on Parenting
By BESS ADAMS COLEMAN “With my 5-year-old son, I’m experiencing the greatest love affair I’ve ever had,” said 31-year-old Thom
Flying
No longer an Airline Captain and I’ve Lost My Mojo
I’ve been an airline Captain since 2001. With a recent airline change I’m a First Officer again. The copilot. Just
family
Avoiding the Dad Stereotype
Mr. Mom (1983) Directed by Stan Dragoti Shown: Michael Keaton It’s been nearly seven years that I became a dad.Seven
Familylife
Are We Still Putting Soap in Their Mouths?
Are we still doing the soap in the mouth thing? I may need to go out and buy a bar
ramblings
At 16 I Had No Muscles But I Drove a Muscle Car
I recently read Auto Biography by Earl Swift in which he retraces all the owners of a ’57 Chevy and
family
Rambling With Flashcards
We recently upped the ante on our nightly single sight word flashcard routine. After recognizing the word on the card
family
Time… According to a Child
How amazing it must be to have no concept of time? How liberating. Plotting our sons growth alongside
Flying
Appropriate (and Inappropriate) Holiday Gifts for Your Flight Crew
It’s the season for gift giving. That means it’s also the season for scrambling to pay off your guilt by
family
This Christmas… He’s a Believer
This is his fifth Christmas and this year he’s a believer. We took him to see Santa last week. We
family
National Adoption Month. Where Do Storks Come From?
“Father?” Said the almost five year old. “Listen, there is something I’ve been thinking about. You and I have been
ramblings
Future Daddy Blogger Support Group
The meetings are held in the basement of a church near an all-night donut shop. Although both are helpful, the
family
His First Joke
For the first time in his life he has come up with something funny. Months later he still calls back
family
My Son. My Chronological Yardstick
Every memorable event in my life that happened before the spring of 2010 is filed away in my brain with
Flying
What I Did Not Do During My Summer Vacation
I was on vacation during the month of July. I ceased all work related activities. I also didn’t… It was
Flying
How Hollywood Gets Airline Life Wrong
In many ways… Hollywood’s depiction of airline life is completely wrong. In some ways it’s spot on and I claim
Flying
Captain Dad – I Called Maintenance Control for a Toy Helicopter
My work life and home life collided yesterday when my son complained that his toy Hess helicopter wasn’t working as
Flying
The Things You Find in Hotel Beds
Do not read this if you are in a hotel bed. If you are in a hotel bed please tell
family
On Father’s Day
I used to give lip service on Father’s Day. Cards were sent and thanks were given and the love was
Flying
Eat, Sleep, Fly
Sometimes people ask me what it’s like to be a pilot. “Wow, that must be so cool! I bet you’re
family
The Beat Poets Taught Me How to Talk to a Four Year Old
Many days during my college decade were spent studying the Beat Poets and experimenting with stream-of-consciousness prose. We turned words
family, Familylife
He Already Thinks He’s Smarter Than Me
He’s only four and he already thinks he’s smarter than I am. He’s learned how to give the look that
family, Familylife
On Fatherhood: Almost 40 With a 4 Year Old
How different his world is in 2014 than mine was when I was his age in 1978. This is the
Flying
The Time I Told an Aviation Icon I Didn’t Have a Business Card
Filed away years ago as, “Well, that sure was stupid.” Once, I met Southwest founder and former CEO, Herb Kelleher
Flying
Is the First Officer Actually a Pilot?
Since the beginning, there have always been two pilots up on the flight deck. Had it not been for the
Flying
What You Should Not Ask Your Flight Crew
We obviously spend lots of time around the humans. We are in the service industry after all. Day in and
Flying
Living in Hotels – It’s Us or The Bedbugs
I spend about ten nights a month in hotels. I’ve been doing this job for fourteen years. I’ve slept (or
family, Familylife
I Fear My Son Will Think I Don’t Read
I fear my son will think I don’t read… or listen to music… or vacuum since that task has been
animals, travel
The Storks are Nesting
I just turned 39 and I may have begun nesting. I suppose this typically happens before the child is born
Flying
But They Do Have Free Breakfast
When I was a young airline pilot and new to ‘the road’ I ranked hotels by their proximity to good
family
Though We May Not Share Blood
Since his birth in 2010, I’ve wondered when we would start seeing our traits in him. Without the blood bond
Flying
Why it is Imperative you Land a Pilot
This article was floating around Facebook today explaining why it is imperative you land a pilot. 6 reasons to be
family, Familylife
You Say You Want A Revolution?
There will certainly be a time in our son’s life where he will think he is cooler than us and
family
Being a Pilot is Ruining Me
I’m not gonna go into all the obvious hazards of flying likes skin cancer, alcoholism, divorce and controlled flight into
Flying
2013 resolutions. The cockpit will be a happier place.
As the new year approaches it’s time to evaluate accomplishments from the past year and set goals for the next.
Familylife
Yes, Here Comes the Story of the Hurricane
In Florida, before man made global climate change, we had hurricane drills in grade school. We’d learn where the best
family
Eight Years Ago We Wed – Since Then, I Became an Adult
For years now (more than a decade of them) a friend and I have been playing the “who’s the first
Familylife
For a Moment, I Was a TV dad. And not a cool one.
“Hey Fellas…” I said when they opened the door at 4pm and from the looks of it, hadn’t made much of the day yet. “Sounds like you guys had a really rocking party last night. I would have totally come over but the baby had an ear infection and I may have eaten some bad edamame. So it was lights out for us pretty early.”
childhood, jobs, ramblings, update
I never got many Gold Medals – But I used to make them.
I once quit a job without giving two weeks’ notice. I quit after my lunch break. The boss wasn’t surprised
childhood
My theme park – My babysitter
I grew up in the theme park Busch Gardens and its water park sister, Adventure Island. They were my babysitters.
baltimore
Our Lady of Perpetual Leaks
Forget our Lady of Lourdes or the wailing wall… I think it’s abouttime we consecrate our shower. It’s a miracle
Flying
LOST AND FOUND POETRY AT 37000 FEET
I took a walk to the back of the plane in flight today to pee. This is something I try
baltimore, gaming
WHERE ARCADE GAMES GO TO DIE
With not much on my plate yesterday I made the short trek out to Crabtown to see what it was