Author Archives: Dad

Rule # 41:  Pressure makes diamonds ( the recently renamed JoPa rule) When I first started in business I had an early mentor, Sam, who gave me two pieces of advice that served me well in life. 1. That all you … Continue reading →

Rule #19: Men and women can’t be “friends” Harry : You realize of course that we could never be friends. Sally:Why not? Harry: What I’m saying is – and this is not a come-on in any way, shape or form … Continue reading →

Rule # 12 : Don’t Marry Till You’re 30 ” To thine own self be true” Most of us though a 10th grade english class can recall this line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. And most of us remember something about the … Continue reading →

Rule # 14: What Women Want Women have been the greatest source of joy in my life, and the greatest source of mystery. I think the complexity of the gender is what attracts men to them. To my sons: I … Continue reading →

Rule# 62: Make your bed This may look at first glance like a chore list. Make your bed, take out the trash, walk the dog…. But making your bed does a great deal more than appease your parents need for … Continue reading →

Rule # 77: Don’t mess with Karma In a lot of these postings I address the issue of religion and God in a number of ways. Many of these ideas have been discussed at the dinner table, with generally a … Continue reading →

Rule #49: Ready, Aim, Fire When you were all very young you use to play with water guns and other inappropriate violent toys in games of war. Nerf guns were always the weapon of choice at the Hills’, and the … Continue reading →

RULE # 216: Don’t use bcc This seems like an unusual rule to share with my children, but this is for me an issue which is part a pet peeve, part ethical guideline and part social standard. The way I see it the … Continue reading →

RULE #24: Eat Dinner as a family My father traveled a great deal when I was young, but when he was in town we always ate dinner as a family.  I don’t recall many of the meals but I can fondly … Continue reading →

RULE #18: Learn to make pancakes I know what your thinking, Dad’s lost it on this one, putting learning to make pancakes as a top 20 rule but I need you to hear me out. There are only a couple … Continue reading →