Here’s the 8 Things I Tend to Photograph

You won’t look far for something beautiful to photograph in Cancun. It’ll take a while to get a signal strong enough to text/share/post these pictures, though. It doesn’t matter what photographer expert level you bring.

In my case, the category just above knows-most-times-if-his-camera-faces-the-right-way and just below knows-he’s-actually-taken-a-photo.

It doesn’t take an expert to post about photography or list pro tips. It’s not as bad as Canadian hockey teams compiling a video on how to win in the NHL – but it is close. I should defer to other blogs written by people who know an aperture from an apricot.

Instead, I’ll forge ahead with nine categories of beautiful things to photograph.

Our Dream Jobs, in 6 Words

photo credit: Time to clean the TIE IV via photopin (license)

I kind of have my dream job.

I write, all day. There’s food around. I love my team. Did I mention the writing and the food? And the laptop. And the company trip to Cancun tomorrow, and the bowling alley. And I get to write. All day. With food.

I think it’s more a dreamy job.

A dream job, maybe, is one that you know exists or hope exists or have dreamed up to exist. Not one you find, then fall in love with. So the dream job would still be a reporter for NPR. I have a jacked-up enough name for it.

Every month, I compile a post called “6 Words.” Ernest Hemingway inspired it when he said any story can be told in a six-word sentence. I ask bloggers, friends, strangers, and a few strange blogger friends to respond to a prompt.

Want to receive an email with monthly prompts? Just send an email to elipacheco.ejp@gmail.com, with 6 words in the subject line, to subscribe.

Interview with Author Norine Dworkin-McDaniel, on Science of Parenthood

photo credit: Chromed One via photopin (license)

Norine Dworkin-McDaniel first surfaced around these parts in 2013, chiming in for one of the original 6 words post.

She’s since participated in a few of those Ernest Hemingway-inspired posts. I even had the honor of guest posting on the website she co-hosts  with Jessica Ziegler, The Science of Parenthood. [Check out Daddy Math right here.]

Science of Parenthood has taken on a life of its own, and now comes in the form of a brilliant new book, called, aptly, Science of Parenthood.

I had a chance to email chat with Norine about the book, the science, the parenthood, and all that went into it.

📰 How I Read Constantly But Don’t Really Read

photo credit: The letter G via photopin (license)

My friends do it.

Hell, they publish lists of books they suggest. Dana’s periodic review list inspired this post, although I know Julia and Letizia (and probably others whose names end with na or ia) write about the books they’ve read.

They rip through them like I rip through pizza.

You know what? I don’t read. I mean books. I read tons of words, every day. On your blogs. On social media. Sometimes, even for work. On Saturday, I even learned that there are interesting things to read on the back of wine bottles at Food Lion.)

Guest Post: Charlotte of My Pixie Blog, on Shifting with your Relationship

photo credit: “The Empire has a legion of loyal soldiers that are in endless supply.” via photopin (license)

Sometimes, a post comes along at just the right time.

It’ll show up in your feed like a fresh pizza on the buffet the moment you clean your 13th plate. It’s like, divine intervention. And it’s even cooler when this post comes through from a guest writer.

Charlotte writes My Pixie Blog, where she chronicles “love, life and lessons learned.” She writes on love and relationships, in an engaging, poignant way I’ve come to love. You will to, once you read her.

She came to Coach Daddy for a post about snacks – and left hungry. Today, she’s shown up with a post on relationships so incredibly timely and relevant that I can’t even set the scene.

Go Ask Daddy About Berry Leaves, Mascot History and Hard Landings in Insurance Ads

Thanksgiving messed with my head, y’all.

I missed out on a chance to watch the Bears-Packers game in the best company while eating chicken wings, because I forgot there was a late Thanksgiving game. I don’t know where my phone charging cord is.

And at 1:37 a.m., I realized it’s Friday – time to answer your Go Ask Daddy questions.

Let’s see if I can finish this sucker. Fueled by two rows of monster KitKat and a good liter of Food Lion’s answer to Diet Mountain Dew, I at least have a puncher’s chance. I am feeling punchy, though.

No Joke: This Post is All Jokes.

I’ve wanted to write this post for a while.

Mostly because jokes rock. Especially when kids tell them. Can I get a witness from parents who’ve gone through the “I love knock-knock jokes” phase of childhood?

(It occurs somewhere between potty-training mastery and third grade.)

[Did you know 83% of all knock-knock jokes aren’t actually funny?]

Not a Guest Post, but 11 More Smartphone Pictures III

photo credit: “nothing like the…” via photopin (license)

It’s been a messy week or so.

Normally this space would contain a guest post. Through some misunderstandings and crossed wires, it does not. So I’m turning to my smartphone – this time, an Android – to save my butt.

I’m trying to get on track and write ahead, but that’s not working out so well.

These days lately sap me to the core and leave me with the choice of sleeping our writing. Sometimes I choose writing, and sleeping wins anyway. It comes in fits and stretches, and I’ve mastered a new trick:

Falling asleep while sitting up.

Go Ask Daddy About Imperial Soldiers, Fake Mascots and Kings of Dropping the Ball

photo credit: Waiting for a new day via photopin (license)

I’m nervous, y’all.

Disney got its mitts on Star Wars. I know. They’ve done all this authentic stuff and will preserve the saga and all that. They have Daddy Warbucks dollars to toss behind this and probably even a few Gen Xers who grew up with the original three movies on staff to keep it real.

This? This isn’t real. This came off a Target candy shelf.

EJP

I’m not saying it’s blasphemous … but I might have done the sign of the cross when I put this down. The one with the kiss on my hand at the end.

I want to be excited that a third of the magic trifecta of my youth – of Star Wars, dinosaurs and football – is about to get a 2015 Jenny Jones makeover.

Go Ask Daddy About Senior Rockers, Soil Properties and Lessons Learned the Hard Way

photo credit: Heart Of The Storm via photopin (license)

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Probably the journey Elise and I took from Charlotte through torrential rain and racetrack traffic along impossibly long I-95 a few weeks ago should be its own post. Or series of posts. The moments and gravity and mood of that trip will stick with us both for a long, long time.

And you helped to get us there – and back.

Response was so heartening for the Go Fund Me campaign. I gambled bill money on the chance to take my girl to Nova Southeastern, to let her have a shot at an ID camp at one of her dream schools.