The Archive

TitlePublishedDescription
I'm Not Tipping the RobotAugust 2026A funny look at tipping culture, robot bartenders, and the strange moment when we start feeling guilty about stiffing a machine.
The Secret Life of a Mix TapeAugust 2026A funny, nostalgic look back at growing up with seven kids, a dad obsessed with mix tapes, a secret stereo fund, and one very unfortunate trip down the basement stairs.
The Great Shower University
The Shower Chronicles (Series)
Part 1 of 3		July 2026A retired guy takes on a bathroom remodel and accidentally discovers that tile, thinset, and crawl spaces require a college education. A funny confession about too many choices, unexpected challenges, and the joy of learning something new.
The Shower Was Never The Project
The Shower Chronicles (Series)
Part 2 of 3		July 2026A simple shower renovation turns into a crawl-space adventure, and a reminder that the most important work is often the work nobody ever sees.
A Thousand Little Decisions
The Shower Chronicles (Series)
Part 3 of 3		July 2026A bathroom remodel turns into something much bigger: a thousand little decisions, countless rabbit holes, and a reminder that retirement doesn’t mean you stop learning.
The Trouble With "Good Enough"June 2026Sometimes “good enough” is wisdom. Sometimes it’s fear wearing a sensible disguise. A shower renovation leads to a confession about risk, regret, and realizing there may not always be a “someday.”
I Thought Milk Was NormalJune 2026A curious rabbit hole about milk, mutations, Jan’s Wisconsin dairy loyalty, and the surprising discovery that maybe I’m the weird one after all.
Funny How Time Slips Away
Willie Knows (Series)
Part 1 of 3		May 2026A drive to Columbus in 1987 has me thinking about the 25-year-old kid I was, the life he couldn’t see coming, and how fast the years disappeared.
Nothing I Can Do About It Now
Willie Knows (Series)
Part 2 of 3		May 2026Looking back at the mistakes, regrets, and choices I’d change if I could—and finally learning to make peace with the things I can’t.
I'm Still Chasing Dreams
Willie Knows (Series)
Part 3 of 3		May 2026Getting older has changed a lot of things, but it hasn’t killed my curiosity. I’m still wondering what’s around the next corner.
RelicsApril 2026A morning workout with two old exercise machines gets me thinking about Bob, getting older, and why some things—and some people—just keep showing up.
The Résumé That Wasn’t His Palm fronds, honking birds, and a résumé that wasn’t really his—turns out the lesson wasn’t about a job at all.
The Winter That Found Me A season of noticing, learning, and quietly appreciating the connections that unexpectedly change everything.
The Family Hard Drive 95 years young, still winning at Rummy, still sipping Korbel, still teaching the rest of us how to remember everything.
Five Bucks and a Fancy Beer A casual phone call turns into a quiet realization about how much the world has changed. Five dollars, a “fancy beer,” and an app that never asks you to stop clicking.
My Shoes Are Thinking A pair of sneakers promises better thinking, which sends me down a rabbit hole of stinky boots, placebo effects, and the comforting idea that my shoes aren’t secretly running my life.
My Pantry Is Not Broken A salty confession about snacks, shrinking chip bags, and how a sister with a handful of chips taught me that food isn’t about nutrition. It’s about comfort, memory, and getting through the day.
The Box Is a Liar A boxed-wine confession about slippery spouts, stubborn belts, and the quiet math behind habits we understand perfectly well but negotiate anyway.
Atomic Lips A quiet moment in a hot garage where work, waiting, and love intersect. A story about steady hands, loud tools, a loyal dog, and the kind of hope that doesn’t announce itself.
The Haupki Effect A simple dish becomes a doorway to memory. A story about a small Slovak mother, strong hands, and how a recipe can quietly shape a lifetime.
The Sticky Totes of Memory Three sticky plastic totes turn a Florida garage into a quiet reckoning with inheritance, memory, and the strange weight of holding onto a father’s things long after he’s gone.
The $10 Printing Press A ten-dollar domain turns into a crash course in servers, family dynamics, and why a simple idea can become the most satisfying kind of mess.
Handlebars and Heavy Things A chrome banana bike, newspapers too heavy for a kid’s arms, and a lifelong lesson in carrying only what matters—financial strategy, learned at low speed.
The Poinciana Powerhouse A used Dell, a pitbull with opinions, and a garage that’s seen things—building a machine from the ground up, the Lenny way.
The Restless Mechanic Retirement isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about jack stands, fresh oil, and the quiet satisfaction of building, fixing, and claiming a little kingdom in your garage.
The Macro Junk Journal I’m a macro guy. Big projects, sprawling thoughts, and messy journals—everything gets the space it deserves. The details are fine, but the impact matters more. I leave marks, not perfection.
The Geometry of a Generalist I don’t wander; I build. Every interest, every job, every house is a pillar. The three-year rule separates the fleeting from the foundational. By sticking with it, I’ve assembled a life that can actually hold up under weight.
The Generalist's Field Manual Retirement isn’t rest—it’s maintenance. Keep your mind sharp, your hands busy, and your soul free of rust. Follow the rules you trust, discard the rest, and don’t forget to leave a mark along the way.