Novelist Notions: Writing, Creativity, and Personal Growth

A Rocky Beginning: The Unexpected Hurdle When I think of a family vacation during Wisconsin's summer, especially one I'd been looking forward to all year to this point, I think of picturesque sunsets, family campfires, and time spent alone in my solo cabin that I don't get at home. I think of time spent fishing, though I don't get as much enjoyment from that as I did as a younger man. What I don't think of, especially as an adult who I'd like to think is pretty good with money, is an unfortunate clerical error that threatened to derail my entire stay before it got started. The mix-up involved a misunderstanding regarding billing. Foolishly, I thought we’d pay when we left as we’d done at other places in the past, So I had taken most of the cash I had in my bank account and put it toward my credit card that I’d planned to use to pay for the trip. To my unfortunate surprise, the proprietor wanted up-front payment---which, in hindsiight, I should have been prepared...

Why I Chose to Pursue a Year-Round Lakefront Digital Lifestyle in my Home State Over Being a Digital Nomad When I first discovered the idea of becoming a digital nomad, which like a lot of my ideas, came from a night spent jumping down YouTube rabbit holes, I was immediately captivated. The idea of living a life of freedom, adventure, and the promise of working anywhere in the world excited me. I had visions of living the writer’s life, clicking away at my laptop keyboard in a sun-soaked cafe in Kuala Lumpur, or strolling through the markets of Penang after a productive morning of writing. These visions fueled me, giving me the ambition I needed to pursue such a life. This dream was only intensified when I discovered Andrew Henderson and the Nomad Capitalist YouTube channel. As I went through the catalog of videos, I saw the many people they have helped seek more freedom, opportunity, and a truly global lifestyle experience, and wondered if I could join that group. Chasing the Digital ...

Balancing Technology and Tradition in America’s Pastime Baseball, often affectionately called America’s pastime, is a sport deeply rooted in rich history and timeless tradition. The game is full of rituals, nuances, and numbers that have captivated fans for generations. I became a fan in the mid-90’s, when Hall of Famers like Chipper Jones and Atlanta’s “Big 3”, Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz, were in their prime. Whether it was from my great-aunt’s living room, the stands in Milwaukee, or from my phone speakers via the modern radio app, baseball, particularly Braves baseball, has shaped my life. With time and technology, however, comes change. I saw the writing on the wall when K-Zone came into being. As the tech improved, fans could see more from their living room than ever before. From K-Zone to StatCast, teams, players and fans alike had more at their fingertips than ever before. I even catch myself looking at my TV screen after some pitches and thinking, "You missed that one, bl...