20 Things

20 things you may or may not know about me:

1. Tubalub.com was nominated as Best Daddy Blog by Parents Magazine in 2011
2. I have identical twin girls that even I mix up often. And no, identical twins are not hereditary.
3. I grew up predominantly on the North Shore and went to high school at St. John’s Prep in Danvers.
4. My degree is in English but I’ve been working in technology (mostly healthcare) for the past 17 years. Writing has always been my passion.
5. Tubalub.com began as a way to communicate with relatives and friends after the birth of the twins. They were severely premature (more than 3 months early) and spent a great deal of time in the NICU. It was a very difficult time in our lives and I needed not only a way to communicate with a bunch of people but also needed an outlet for my overflowing emotions, frustrations, and overwhelming fear of the unknown.
6. The name Tubalub originates as a fun way to get the kids in the tub when there were very small. If we told them it was time for a bath, it was like pulling teeth. If we told them it was time for the TUBALUB!!! they were all smiles and ran up the stairs. Parenting is really a stage and we are merely the actors in a play. The more dramatic the better.
7. I’m an animal lover and volunteer with the Humane Society of the U.S. National Disaster Animal Rescue Team, RedRover Responders, and One Tail at a Time dog rescue. My wife and kids also volunteer their time to help care for rescued animals.
8. We have a 7 year old yellow Lab named Preston who is the source of much of the shenanigans that happen in our home daily.
9. Preston was named after a wine.
10. Ava’s name means “fly” or “like a bird.” And that we hope she does…
11. Zoe’s name means “life.” If there was ever a more fitting name for someone who went through what she did at birth, I’m not aware of it.
12. I often blast the music in the house and have dance parties in our living room on the couches with all three kids and the dog (sorry Mom!)
13. My son Connor has some serious dance moves. His latest video was actually submitted and accepted by America’s Funniest Home Videos.
14. I love to take pictures.
15. I love Hank Moody.
16. I am an alumni of Hurricane Island Outward Bound school which profoundly changed the way I think about the world we live in.
17. I recently switched to Mac for personal use. Why did I wait so long?!
18. Every year, I write a Christmas Letter and include it with our Christmas cards to family and friends. And all year, people comment on how much they appreciate it and enjoy reading it which makes it all worthwhile.
19. I am oddly infatuated with sandwiches.
20. Everyday, I remain grateful for my wife, my children, and of course Preston. And everyday, I’m also reminded that life is fragile, short, and sometimes unforgiving. Hold tight, hold often. Love always. Because you just never know how much time you have.