Tag: Humor

What It’s Like for a Stay-At-Home Father with Two Boys

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A Book Review

Fatherhood: Dispatches from the Early Years by Andrew B. Knott Photo by: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I first stumbled across the writing of Andrew B. Knott on Medium. His witty gift of gab and literal humor were luring effects. He had a gift of drawing you in slowly, building up the comedic punchline with a slow burn to a lasting fire. I appreciated the way he looped words that sounded like they belonged together in sentences. It was as if he were a word connoisseur, sharing his tastes with us, but in a way that Medium needed at that time.

I became even more enamored by his work when I began editing his submissions in P. S. I Love You, a defunct Medium publication that specialized in publishing work on relationships, love, and all things life & connection. Andrew stood out, and he still does.

Below is the review of Fatherhood: Dispatches from the Early Years, shared on Amazon and Goodreads:

I’m Not a Parent, But I’ve Seen Parents in Action

And this book is crafty in the way the events are presented in the author’s life. Every story, essay, and vignette has something to offer the parents of this world, especially new/newer/younger ones.

Even though I have not birthed any of my own children, I am significantly older than all my siblings, so most of the scenarios mentioned, I’ve experienced in some way with the little ones (now much older ones) in my life. I also have significantly younger cousins and nieces and nephews.

What I like most about Andrew’s approach to parenting (as it is humorously detailed throughout the book) is his nonchalant, “let it be” attitude with his children.

Naturally, some things will call for discipline, but most things do not… So why waste time and energy when children will more than likely not change their minds or agree with a parent’s choice in the very intense moments of a tantrum?

The author’s humor is one that builds up. There is a slow burn to it before the lasting fire. It’s witty and catches you off guard. It actually reminds me a lot of Steven Wright’s approach to comedy. Either you get it or you don’t, and I definitely get it.

There were a few stories that droned on or took a while to get to a plot twist or heightened point of comedic satisfaction, but those are few and far between.

Overall, I’m glad I took the time to read parenting from a person’s perspective who took “learning as you go” to a whole other level.

It’s a great read!

I shared this review with Andrew by way of communicating with him on Substack. I have another book of his on my shelf, waiting for its turn, and I am truly looking forward to it as well.

If you’re looking for a good laugh about parenting and the many obstacles you have to endure to feel like you’re at least a C+ parent, I recommend Fatherhood: Dispatches from the Early Years.

Scattered Words: Hardcover $26.00 USD|Scattered Words: eBook $11.00 USD|Scattered Words: Amazon

Ali Siddiq and His Method of Comedy

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A storyteller trapped in a comedian’s body

Ali Siddiq vs the Younger Generation at the Gym

I had to find something “clean” to share with everyone because most of his standup is R A U N C H Y and full of cuss words, but I am here for this. Think Dave Chappelle and Richard Pryor had a love-child. It would be Ali Siddiq. The backstory for him is to be respected. He has been through so much, and I am happy to see him take his pain, form it into a method of therapy he can share with others, and become successful.

If you want to see some more of his hilarious delivery, go here.

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.

A Little Christmas Funny…

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This will never EVER get old to me!

The Grinch and the Screaming Goat Scene

My best friend and I went to see The Grinch in theaters in 2018. This particular scene made me guffaw loudly in the theater, and I just couldn’t stop laughing. My tickle-box had been activated, and I laughed for at least fifteen minutes.

Mook (my best friend) looked at me with red in her eyes at first, but after hearing me laugh for so long, she started laughing, too. She finally said to me, “You so damn silly”, and we laughed some more.

To this day, I cannot watch this scene without laughing until I cry.

It’s the screaming goat for me every single time! 😆🤣😂

I hope this holiday allows you to reach into your heart and let your inner child be free. Today is a GREAT day to do so.

Bonus funny clip:

Sing 2: Meena Falls in love with Alfonso

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.

a means to an end & a body for sale (on clearance)

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Two poems shared on Substack notes

Fictional character Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan as a cartoon. Created with Google Gemini

a means to an end

Bones… a show I
can watch over and
over again–the
reruns are salve;
balm for my
crowded mind–a
distraction.

sometimes, on
heavy days, a
distraction is what
I need.

to witness complex
cases, albeit fatal
fiction, I disappear
in their plot twists
and fall victim to
their endings.

funny how the things
that gross me out
in my dreams
invigorate me while
I’m awake.

who’s murdering
who is more than
a pertinent question,
it’s a means to
an end.

AI-Generated Image: A Black woman with locs, wearing glasses, semi-doubled over in pain.

a body for sale (on clearance)

I’m at an age now
when a hard and
awkward sleep can
throw my back out
or a sneeze from the
depths of my soul
can summon
tinnitus.

the body is a weird
thing to observe.
how fragile we can
become when we
think we’re at our
strongest.

we can be swiftly
reminded of just how
easy it is to injure
oneself without
force or torture.
depreciating value…

like a brand new
vehicle the moment
you drive it off the
lot.

clearanced and
marked down,
wanted only
because we’re now
cost-effective and a
hot commodity.

everyone wants the
cheapest version of
you.

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.

If My Furniture Could Talk

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It would say…

A recent photo of my eclectic living room furniture. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

You are more than welcome to visit,
but you can’t stay long.

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about recent events with a previous place of employment, as it pertains to racism and discrimination, growth from the transition after resigning from that company, and life’s foibles and overall experiences. I welcome your visit.

Poem for an Image

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#2: Deer Alert (Deer Season)

A loner, but just down the block would be an entire family. However, they all ran off as soon as I got close enough for the perfect shot of them. I am sure this one was standing at attention, keeping its eyes on me as I got closer to them. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Deer Season

Dear Deer Season, we normally
don’t meet on these terms, but
I’ve seen many does and not
that many bucks, and I am
wondering, will there be
any mating this year?

I know you’d much rather keep
it all a secret and surprise me
on my walks with new additions,
struggling to keep up with
the bevy, but I need to know
which corners to avoid
because Daddy Deer isn’t as
friendly.

I haven’t planned on using
running mode with these
knees, but if I need to
kick up my gears, I’ll
gladly do so if a male is
spotted and is in search of
heat that I can’t produce.

“Death by Deer” isn’t a
phrase I envisioned on
my tombstone.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment, as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.