I know who I am. I'm the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude!

GoRuck Light 9/11 patch

GoRuck Light Challenge

By definition, the GoRuck Light is “an introduction to the team-based training found in Special Operations.” It is billed as a 4-5 hour challenge covering 7-10 miles. The GoRuck Light Challenge in Phoenix (Tempe, actually) on September 8, began and ended in the 9/11 Healing Field at Tempe Town Town Lake. A fitting – and…

Learning digital animation with Scratch

Day one of grade five

As I walked through the door after a typical, grinding, hot commute, my wife approached me. After the usual, “Hi honey! How was your day?” small-talk, she paused and whispered: “Are you ready to cry?” That’s rarely a good sign so I mentally braced myself for whatever she had to say. Instead, she showed me…

Terrain Race 2018

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

This past weekend, the twins and I ran Terrain Race in Flagstaff, Arizona. It was so good in so many ways and there are a lot of thoughts and mini-stories to tell. The Meat Loaf reference First and foremost, Terrain Race puts on a very good event. It is a 3.2 mile obstacle course race…

Martial Arts class and beginning weapons training

Taking Taekwondo

A couple of months ago, we enrolled Matt and his twin brother in Taekwondo. It was a way to help keep them active, provide some discipline and focus, and to learn a little self-defense a long the way. (Truth be told, I think they just wanted it to be all about weapons training so they…

4th grade science fair chart and results

Magnets and a 4th Grade Science Fair

In his continued journey to leave his special needs classroom in the proverbial rear-view mirror and to better integrate into a mainstream class, my now 10-year old son with autism was recently assigned a science fair project at school which – just as all the other fourth graders – included the same expectations to follow…

70/70 points, 100% school paper

Fourth grade’s home stretch

My kid is a smart kid. Though his autism might make you believe otherwise. And trust me, I have made the mistake of doubting him before. Many times actually. Yet many times, he has stepped up, proven me wrong and provided plenty of reminders to anyone who questions his academic abilities only needs a bit…

Learning digital animation with Scratch

Special Needs vs. Mainstream

Years ago I remember having a conversation with my uncle regarding my then-four year old son with autism. The talk focused on education and Matt’s potential – or perhaps ceiling – in terms of expectations. How far could he go? How soon would he get there? What’s the best way of teaching him? How difficult…