Joe Calls It A Day
byMy dad, Joe, retires today, after 41 years of work at one company and about two years of worrying if he’d have enough money…
essays
Scenes From A Book Tour
byI’m about halfway through my talk in the community room at the REI store when I see the two guys sitting with their eyes…
5 Steps To Ordering A Perfect Coffee—Every Time
by1. Go into a coffee shop. Approach the counter, greet the barista and clearly and concisely state your order. Say please and thank you….
Thanks For The Words, Phife
byI could never get into Shakespeare when I was in high school, or classical poetry. The reading seemed too arcane, or I wasn’t trying…
The Search For The Perfect Turn
byPretty much everybody has a singular moment marking each realization that they’re not getting any younger: You find a few grey hairs one day…
Celebrating 5 Years Of Semi-Rad: 25 Favorite Quotes
byFive years ago this week, I started this blog, hoping a few people might read it and get something out of it: a laugh,…
Love What You Do, Even If You Don’t ‘Do What You Love’
byI was sitting at a coffee shop with my girlfriend last Sunday when she saw a sign hanging on the wall over my shoulder:…
The Top 10 Semi-Rad Posts From 2015
byWell, I’ll be damned if it isn’t almost the end of another year of what I call “my mom’s favorite website” here at Semi-Rad.com….
Tradition: It’s A Tradition
bySometime after dinner on December 24th, my father and I will sit down in front of a television and watch Detective John McClane get…
The Year Of Helping Every Time
byFor no real reason in October 2014, I made a rule for myself: I would not give homeless people a dollar when they asked…
How Gratitude Makes You Happier
byMy girlfriend is generally better than I am at being in the moment and expressing gratitude for all the little things in life. Except…
Why I Don’t Write Negative Posts On This Blog
byDuring his podcast interview with filmmaker Casey Neistat last week, Tim Ferriss said: “I was talking to Po Bronson, a writer I admire, and…
The Point Of Doing Pointless Things With Your Friends
byMy friend Nick and I meet every week, or every few weeks, at a different diner in Denver, lock our bicycles to a street…
Growing Up, And Older, With Hip Hop
byA few months ago, a headline claiming “The New Dad-Rock Is ’90s Rap” filtered through my newsfeed. I didn’t click on it at the…
The Shrinking Of An Adventure
byI padded down the talus in the moonlight, my headlamp switched off, in front of my girlfriend. I was just happy to be moving…
The Least Amazing Miracle
byYou are waiting in line to check your bag, and then you’re waiting in line to go through the TSA checkpoint. Twenty people in…
What Is It We Love About Someone Quitting Their Job?
byMy friend Chris had a perfectly good, secure, well-paying job as a chemist up until a few weeks ago, when he quit. When he…
Why Are You Not Using All Your Vacation Days?
byHi, yes, you. Did you run out of vacation days last year? No? What’s wrong? As Americans, we’re doing a piss-poor job of vacationing….
Shout Out To Old Bikes
byA couple Saturdays ago, I got this e-mail from my friend Lee: Would you or anybody else you know be interested in this classic…
How To Be Nice To People
byA few weeks ago, I was coasting in my van down 6th avenue in Denver, a dollar in my hand ready to hand out…
The Art And Joy Of Busting Someone’s Balls
byThere is no class in high school or college on how to insult a friend in an endearing manner. If there were, it would…
Finding A Way
byJim Harris can walk again—which is a big deal because a little over six months ago he was paralyzed from the waist down preparing…
Is Your Adventure Story Epic Enough?
byDo you find yourself reading stories about adventures in outdoor magazines and websites and feeling down about what you did on your summer vacation?…
The World Needs Dreamers, Too
byI have known my friend Jayson for 15 years—that’s him on my back in this photo—from when we were young and foolish until now…
Hot Sauce Is Appropriate For Your Situation
byHey, have you ever caught yourself saying to someone, “I put hot sauce on everything,” as if you need to apologize or explain it?…
15 About 15th: A Few Stories From Colfax Avenue
byWhen I moved back to Denver in May 2014, I decided I wanted to tell a story about Colfax Avenue, the gritty four-lane street…
Dear Loveland Ski Area:
byA few months ago, I walked into your season pass office and filled out a form to get an Uphill Access Pass. You charged…