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Things I’m Loving, Reading, Watching or Doing
1. East of Eden, Netflix – If forced to pick a favorite book, I’d probably go with Steinbeck’s East of Eden. I’ve read it multiple times and still find myself returning to passages I love. So, I had mixed feelings about watching the Netflix adaptation.
Verdict? I liked it.
Die-hard book purists will have a tough time with the missing storylines, the absence of Steinbeck’s beautiful prose, and even changes to the portrayal of one of the main characters (Cathy). And though I caught myself saying, “Well, that ain’t in the book!” more than a few times, I thought it was entertaining and well done.
2. Tenth of December, George Saunders – Saunders has a wild imagination. This collection of short stories is out there, but a lot of fun. Fair warning: he often drops you right into the middle of a story, and you spend the first few pages trying to figure out what on earth is going on. But, to me, the payoff is worth it.
3. Write Music – I’m currently helping my second-oldest with her college applications, and it’s been fun watching the various drafts of her personal essay come together. One resource I shared with her to help improve her writing (and mine, too) was a simple illustration from writer Gary Provost. I’ve pasted a color-coded version below to emphasize his point.
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Quotes Worth Pondering
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” — Allen Saunders
“Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.” — Epicurus
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Big Dad Idea
Health, Parenting, or Personal Growth
Maxxing Out
As a natural-born optimizer, two birds, one stone never seemed like enough. Gimme three if I can ricochet it just right.
I’m out the driver’s side door before the car stops. All the grocery bags in one trip. Grab the mail while I’m at it. I sneak squash into the meatballs so the kids get a veggie. I pick checkout #4 and beat the guy who was already waiting at #3. Fist pump. Sucker!
Society now calls this maxxing. Dictionary.com even named it the 2026 Word of the Year. And if I’m being honest, I love to maxx
But if I’m not careful, that instinct spills into places it doesn’t belong. Then it starts to sound like a) nothing is ever good enough or b) I don’t know how to rest.
Great vacation, but we should’ve booked the other hotel.
You sure you don’t want to take AP Bio? Looks better on your application.
It’s my rest day, but it’s 68 and sunny. Maybe just a quick run.
That doesn’t jibe with the guy who says “isn’t this lovely” and preaches chasing sunsets. But it’s real. And I imagine plenty of dads who love playing the game feel this tension too.
Ian Bogost, writing about our obsession with optimization in The Atlantic, says efficiency culture “has muscled out the present so completely that it feels difficult to occupy a moment at all, let alone fully.”
I catch myself doing it most days and can usually laugh at my own ridiculousness. But I also know my kids are watching. To quote my 16-year-old on a recent hike:
“Dad’s out here race walking. Chill, bro.”
He’s right. Not every hike needs a personal record.
So we talk about it. Every week, I send my five teens a weekly message. Sometimes it’s a text, an email, or a voice memo. Lately, they’ve sparked great conversations about holding two true things at once. I can tell them to chase the big goal and enjoy the laziest summer day. To work hard and find something worthwhile in a shift bussing tables. I can share my wins and failures, including the times I blew it because I wanted a little too much.
I don’t plan on giving up the game. I’ll still carry every bag in one trip and scout the fastest line. But optimization is a tool. It’s not a way to live. So if I can teach my kids the difference, that’s the best optimization yet.
See? I can’t help myself.
Thanks for reading, dads.
Let’s make this time count!
