First, my next 31 blogs will be following the Slice of Life Challenge, sponsored by the Two Teachers Writing crew! This is a great way for you, a blogger/writer/whatever you want to call yourself, to get into your writing craft and meet some truly amazing writers!
So, without further ado, who I am:
- I am a son to Mike and Sandy, a brother to Patrick, a husband to Melissa, and a father to Gabrielle and Faith
- I am a teacher in an extremely diverse school in Iowa, one of the hardest jobs I love! The kids in our school are amazing, and the teachers are some of the best I’ve ever worked with. Teaching is hard, but this job is a step up. The rewards are just that too; they are amplified as well.
- I’m a basketball JUNKIE! While I did not stay up to watch the Australian women’s basketball championship last night, I’ve reposted the fact that a former Hawkeye, Lucy Olsen, is now a champion, sealing the game with a steal in overtime and making two free throws!
#dork
- Oh yes, I love to make fun of myself using hashtags. I am an introvert by nature, and the hashtags are my alter ego, being a little bit obnoxious. If you read this blog, you’ll either love them or roll your eyes.
#youwilllovethemIknowit
- I’m a Hawkeye fan, a Cubs fan, a Cowboys fan, and a Spurs fan. Two years ago, I became more of a soccer fan because of a trip to Scotland and my move to my current school district. When I go out and play with the kids, they look at me like, “Who is the old, fat, bald, white guy out here??” I love it! 🙂
- I love all kinds of music EXCEPT country, and even then, I’ll play a little bit. I mean, who can’t love Johnny Cash or Shania Twain, right??
- While our animal population has declined since our kids left, we still have three outside cats and two (spoiled) inside cats.
#yestheyare
- I love to garden, bike, run a little bit of running, and just try new things.
- This is my 10th year of writing in the Slice of Life Challenge! My one piece of advice here: Don’t let your writing get in the way of life. In 2018, we were traveling with our daughter and the high school music department to Washington DC and I missed a couple of days. Oh. My. Lord. I beat myself up for days. DAYS!! It took me a while to realize that, while the 31 days si a great goal, if you don’t meet it, the sun will come up tomorrow. Do the work, find your people, but if you miss a day, you aren’t a bad person. You human.
And with that, we are off! Thank you for reading this far, the nonsense that’s come out, and I hope to catch up with many of you, and to make a few new friends!
Happy March!
Happy Slicing!


March 1, 2026 at 10:57 am
What a fun way to itroduce yourself. I chuckled at the claiming to be an introvert and using the hashtag as your alter ego! I so get that! I am assuming you are a Cailtlin Clark fan? Being from Indiana, I am so glad she is here! Happy writing!
March 1, 2026 at 11:20 am
“You human.” This is the quote I have written in my notebook. Thanks, Darin. The structure of this post with your hashtag alter ego firmly in play makes me smile. I look forward to more!