My mom, dad, and I entered Marcos Ristorante in Lewiston at 6 pm. When she came around the host stand, the hostess was wearing pink Valentine's “pants.” They certainly fit the occasion, but were a little unexpected for the Italian restaurant. We stayed for two full hours, which was the most European aspect of theContinue reading "Marcos"
When Faith is Lost
I’ve analyzed Anne Frank’s quote, “A person who’s happy will make others happy; a person who has courage and faith will never die in misery.” Now, I’d like to test this, specifically to see what happens when kids lose faith in themselves and when the system as a whole is lost. Student Growth There areContinue reading "When Faith is Lost"
Why I Didn’t Vlog My Travels
Ireland 2023 You would think that owning a video production business would mean always vlogging! For a while, it did. I used to vlog at least weekly. Looking back, I put together eight vlogs in 2021. They weren’t all that exciting, but they detailed the life I lived at the time. Nick was quite contentContinue reading "Why I Didn’t Vlog My Travels"
Second Pass | February 2026
Essays, second drafts, and a little inspiration Table of Contents Featured Essay Notes Writing Prompts What I’m Reading Quote Subscriber Content Featured Essay Effort and Faith: Are They Enough? Over the past month, I wrote a lot about Anne Frank — just one quote even! I mean, if I can type up three blog postsContinue reading "Second Pass | February 2026"
Courage and Faith
“A person who's happy will make others happy; a person who has courage and faith will never die in misery.” Last week, I mentioned this quote from Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl that struck me. This week, I’d like to assess the second portion, which tells us that courage and faith are theContinue reading "Courage and Faith"
Book List of 2026
Last year, I read 11 books. That feels tiny, but several of these were beefy or dense. In any case, I'd like to read 12 books this year. Cheers! Dear Delia edited by Michael J. Larson and John David SmithThere are a number of Civil War diaries out there, offering excellent sources of firsthand experiencesContinue reading "Book List of 2026"
Anne Frank Speaks Still
“A person who's happy will make others happy; a person who has courage and faith will never die in misery.” Anne Frank Not many 14-year-olds could offer a quote of this caliber today, semi-colon notwithstanding. Yet, as my 8th-grade English classes read Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl, I can’t help but be amazedContinue reading "Anne Frank Speaks Still"
A Memorial to Franklin: My First Sourdough Starter
November 2024 — December 17, 2025 I had mentioned to a few new friends that I wanted to begin baking sourdough. One of those friends brought me a starter in the central room separating the academic and dorm wings. The first name that popped into my head was Franklin. Thus, he was born. Although discarded,Continue reading "A Memorial to Franklin: My First Sourdough Starter"
Teaching is Improvised Theater
Act I: Opening Night The students enter, claiming seats at the U-shaped desks. They’ve brought in Tic-Tacs and gum just to spite the “no food” rule. Giggling and whispers fill the air before my performance begins. At the lectern, I study notes to make sure I don’t miss anything. Today, I’ve sworn off a slideshowContinue reading "Teaching is Improvised Theater"
Second Pass | January 2026
Essays, second drafts, and a little inspiration Table of Contents Featured Essay Notes Writing Prompts What I’m Reading Quote Subscriber Content Featured Essay New Year Thoughts: whose time do I protect? I chose teaching partly because I like the classroom, and partly because it buys me something rare: summers. Three uninterrupted months where no oneContinue reading "Second Pass | January 2026"