The Permission to Kick Ass Blog
Misadventures to Make You Feel Good About Life
I believe in eating your own cooking… most of what I’ve learned about how to live a “fearless life” (in quotes because there’s no such thing – people only THINK I’m fearless) comes from making choices (some of them pretty dumb) and taking action. And I’m sharing what I learned (plus any adventures I have along the way) in my blog.
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Man, it’s been a week. By now you’ve probably heard about a little thing called Hurricane Beryl. It hit my hometown of Houston earlier this week. Today is day 4 without power. Rumors are swirling about linemen sitting in parking lots waiting for orders while people bake in their homes. Then this morning the water went out at my place…
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I spent most of today crying. It’s more “I’m overwhelmed and grateful and damn sometimes life is beautiful” than “wracking sobs of existential dread” so no need to call in the cavalry. (Unless by calling the cavalry you mean bringing me wine and ice cream, in which case please call them in. Call them ALL in.) Part of my waterworks-a-palooza…
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Last year, on a long holiday weekend much like this one…I found myself in HOTlanta. It lived up to that nickname too.I was on a mission to find somewhere I could hang that 1) had air conditioning and 2) wasn’t super people-y.That’s a rather tall order for a holiday, but nevertheless I persisted…I’d heard about this cool speakeasy called Eleanor’s.…
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Something a little strange (and a little fun) happened to me a few months back. I was talking with a friend about hosting a business building event that coincided with my travels. He popped off with, “you should call it Eat Play Launch”. As soon as I heard him say it (hi Chris!) I knew he was right… and within…
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Ever heard of the term “procrasturbation”?It’s what happens when you put off that trip to the grocery store until you’re practically starving at midnight and there’s nothing in the house but rice and pickles. Oh, and all the restaurants nearby are closed too!The first time I heard “procrasturbation” was back in grad school, when my habit of putting things off…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… I’ve been thinking a lot about the “company you keep” and how it’s impacted me over the years. We often talk about the importance of networking as a means to get ahead, hit goals, advance our careers. But I don’t often hear folks touting the pure human-to-human benefit of having a peer group. I…
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Ever had someone believe in you when your faith was really low?I had something like that happen once upon a time, and I 5000% believe it saved my life.Way back at the beginning of my copywriting career, I was struggling.Actually “struggling” is an understatement. I was beating my head against a wall because I didn’t yet have the copy skills.…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… Just over two months ago I started floating this crazy idea of hosting a business building event. I was adamant that this event include this cool bulldozer place I found called Dig This. Incredibly, 10 amazing entrepreneurs (just so happened to be all women and other folx this time around) said yes, before I…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… I am so ready to get out of this place. I’m already stressing about writing the review for this Airbnb because I’m the first one to stay here and I know the property manager really tried. They were responsive, solved problems, and generally pleasant to interact with. The challenge is… there were a LOT…
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Ever notice how meme-able Nicolas Cage is? Yesterday I played hooky. I went and saw The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, starring the one and only Nic Cage. If you’re wondering if you should see it, the answer is yes. He and Pedro Pascal had incredible chemistry in this weird buddy comedy/spy movie/action-adventure saga with just a hint of LSD.…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… This weekend the world lost someone pretty wonderful, my friend Mary Gilkerson. We haven’t been friends very long in the scheme of things, but even that brief window was enough to let me know I’d found a kindred spirit… someone I aspire to be like if and when I grow up. I had the…
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None of us has it all figured out. And that’s OK! Yesterday I was laughing with my friend, Jimmy Parent. We were getting ready to record a podcast episode and I joked about this repeating pattern I noticed when talking to my life coach last week. I guess Jimmy could tell that I still struggle with the idea of having…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… I have a confession to make: I break promises to myself. I’m not looking for reassurance or a pat on the back and a “congrats for being human, Angie!” It’s simply a fact. 90% of the time, if I tell myself I’m going to do something or make a big change, I just don’t.…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… Ever have one of “those” weeks? I think you know what I’m talking about… everything that could go wrong, does, and does it all at roughly the same time? That was my week last week. It also happened to be the first vacation week I’ve taken in years (much to my chagrin). Over the…
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First, a disclaimer: Indulge me in a little “woe is me” melodrama here. I know there’s a lot worse in the world than what I went through this week, and that I’m incredibly fortunate in the grand scheme of things. And I’m also allowed to have a fucking bad week, so I make no apologies for airing it out so…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… I think I’m gonna enjoy Vegas. It’s already been an interesting weekend reconnecting with all my favorite west coast brands. Del Taco. El Pollo Loco. I even missed the Arco gas station. It’s nice to know after five years of being outside California, the gas prices are at pretty much the same (ridiculously high)…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… I think I’m locked in an epic battle of wills. Only instead of a fight to the death, it’s like… nice to the death? It started the first week I was in Flagstaff. We got hit with a few inches of snow. Since I wasn’t planning on going anywhere, I decided to just let…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… I’ve been struggling a lot with focus lately. It’s to the point that even my trusty old hexagon timer isn’t helping much. It could have something to do with the fact that I’ve been cooped up in the house more than usual, considering the large amount of snow we’ve been getting here in Flagstaff.…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… In case you missed it, on Friday I announced a brand new in-person event I’m calling Eat. Play. Launch. (hat tip to Chris Orzechowski – HI CHRIS! – for lending his genius to that absolutely fucking perfect name) I’m excited about this one, and not just because I get to write shit like this…
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At first when I sat down to write this, I was noodling with the idea of transitions, and how they can be difficult but beautiful. And then I decided to just post the damn pictures. Maybe I’ll be poignant later, but for now… my trip to Mesa Verde National Park. Someone recommended this to me when they heard I’d be…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… I did it. I FUCKING DID IT. This weekend, I put my butt on the Four Corners, as promised. The first image is of me sitting cross-legged in a circle of cement. The second is of a kind stranger who offered to take a picture of me with all four states visible. If you’re…
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Fun fact I learned this week: washing big bulky bedding in an average home washing machine can throw off the balance of the machine, cause lumps in your comforter, or even shorten the lifespan of your washer. So where does one wash comforters, if not in the washer? I’ll give you a hint: I don’t ordinarily make trips to laundromats…
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You want digital nomad hacks? Here’s a particularly brilliant one I came up with. It solves a vital problem. First, a picture: Can you guess which one is mine? That’s right. I blue-taped that bad boy so I don’t accidentally take my host’s remote by mistake. Other things blue tape is handy for: marking all your cords and cables identifying…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… I knew it snowed in Santa Fe… I just didn’t know it snowed THIS much. That’s not a complaint, by the way. Especially since I finally understand that whole thing about “it’s a dry cold”. I’ve actually acclimated pretty quickly to snow and ice, all things considered. Generally speaking, Texans don’t do well in…
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Heeeeeeeeeyyy Feb 2! I forgot all about your fucked up-ness with the fat rodent predicting our weather. But it’s probably the first time in over 10 years that I’ve woken up on Feb 2 with several inches of snow on the ground. Went outside in my slippers to snap a pic because it was pretty. See? Inhaled copious amounts of…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… I did a “bucket list” thing last Friday… In case you can’t see the images above, that’s me in a hot air balloon suspended over Albuquerque, New Mexico just after sunrise. I’m glad I waited to Google “hot air balloon accidents” until after I got back down on the ground safely. I mean, I…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… It’s funny to me how you never really know what will connect with people. Even being in marketing as long as I have… most everything I put out there is an educated guess. I’m never 100% certain how people will react. The reason: humans gonna human. People are predictable only to a point. Beyond…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… Life happens… have you baked that into your plans? I got a timely reminder of that last week when I came down with a head cold (I blame dry mountain air). At the same time I got a bit of good news… an article I submitted to Entrepreneur LAST YEAR is getting published in…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… We’re 10 whole days into 2022… has your life changed yet? OK, I’m being bit of an asshole over new year’s resolutions, I get it. My frustration isn’t at the resolutions themselves… having a goal is great, as is aspiring to improve! My struggle is with how we go about deciding to change… by…
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To read part 3, click here. Something weird happened in the cosmos this year. Each adventure I originally planned with my siblings was canceled. One for a death in the family of the headlining band, and the other for COVID concerns. Dianne (sister) and I had planned on going to see a Broadway-style production of The Little Mermaid in downtown…
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For part two (bodies, butterflies, and butter chicken) click here. My dad and stepmom are big history buffs. Like everyone else in the family, when I first proposed an adventure for Christmas, they were kinda bewildered. But shortly after I shared the castle trip experience (part 1, click here to read), they suggested we visit historic Nacogdoches, Texas. It’s known…
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For part one (and full context as to why I gave adventures as my Christmas gifts), click here. The very next day, my brother and went on our adventure with his lovely girlfriend Savannah. Originally, I’d planned on taking my brother to a concert. Despite the almost 16-year age difference, he and I have a lot in common… the most…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… “I’m sorry but I just don’t know what to pick!” That’s what mom said to me late last week when I again proposed my idea: an “experience” for Christmas instead of gifts. The idea came from me truly not wanting my family to buy me stuff (at least not physical things), because it’s just…
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At the risk of sounding like a Grinch or a Scrooge… I didn’t give Christmas presents this past year. Not because it was a rough year (it was) or I couldn’t afford it (I could). My reasoning: I didn’t want to have to pack up and load/unload a whole bunch of extra shit, which I’ll have to do if I…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… Heeeeeey December. I’m happy for the upcoming holidays, but you can keep your existential crisis bullshit. That’s not really the gift I wanted, yo. I know I’m not alone in that feeling. This time of year can be rough for just about everyone, between the extended hours of darkness, the holiday stress, the Seasonal…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… I saw this at the gym yesterday and it caught me off-guard: Pic is of a freestanding digital scale at my local gym. It has a label on it that says “Must stay fully clothed.” If you didn’t already know, there’s a school of thought that says to get the most accurate reading on…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… So last night I got stuck behind a SLOW AFFFFFFFFFFFFFF driver. Ordinarily it wouldn’t bug me since driving for long stretches is just a thing I do now. But this was on a back country road in the dark (vs a major highway with a bunch of lanes), so I found myself getting more…
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When we left off I’d just made it into Hollywood Studios after nearly high fiving a lady after she threatened her romantic partner for complaining. It was a Saturday and therefore a little busy. Part of my mission included scoring some 50th anniversary gear as well as riding rides… so I meandered through shops while the crowd made a mad…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… Last week’s email touched a nerve. I think it was the highest amount of replies I’ve seen in a single email since I started this newsletter. Either you’re really amused by my split email/social media personality, or at some point over your career you’ve struggled with the same thing as me. How much of…
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A few years ago, when I still lived in Florida, a random Disney day would have been a regular thing… not at all surprising to anyone that knows me. I’m not even sure if it’s surprising to anyone now that I no longer live in Florida. Aaaaaaannnnyyyway…. Friday night I was sitting in the recliner at my Airbnb, chatting on…
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It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass… It’s important to surround yourself with people you trust to give it to you straight. That much is true in life, and in business. It was certainly true for me last week when my friend Jimmy Parent served me a righteous bitch slap of truth. I was at a mastermind meeting and venting about…
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Last weekend I went to this funky little artsy town north of here called Dunedin. That was recommended by my good friends Rachel Mazza and Dr. Julie Helmrich. After poking around the farmer’s market and buying an assortment of things (really, a true assortment including sterling silver rings, a reusable glass cleaning cloth, natural mosquito repellent, whole wheat sourdough, two…
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It was Halloween night, and I didn’t have any plans (nor anything remotely resembling a costume), so I decided to head to Clearwater Beach for dinner. I brought along my book manuscript and figured I’d read/proof while eating by the sea. My friend Rachel Mazza recommended this place, Frenchy’s… and told me to get the crab fries. That was a…
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It’s time to kick Monday’s ass… Today I want to tell you a little story about the time I got rejected by and accepted to THE SAME PLACE. By the time I was thinking about grad school (this was over a decade ago, right as the Great Recession was swinging into full gear), I’d been writing off and on for…
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It’s time to kick Monday’s ass… A funny thing happened on my way to St Pete this weekend… On the road, I got an invite from a friend to attend a concert later that evening. I responded with a hell yeah when I stopped off at a gas station, and continued on my way, with the ever-yowling cat. By the…
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It’s time to kick Monday’s ass… I’ve been thinking a lot about timing lately, and the interesting (and often maddening) impact it has on our lives. One year ago, I was barely keeping it together. I was just a week out from the infamous unexpected breakup and in pure survival mode. It was one of those times where I had…
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It’s time to kick Monday’s ass… Lately I’ve spent a lot of time with marketer friends. Since we’re all big nerds, we came up with a new game called, “There’s Your Subject Line”. It’s my new favorite game, by the way… because like a lot of folks, when I sit down to write my brain conveniently forgets all the interesting…
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Today I met the most fascinating person. It just so happened to be the lady ripping out my leg hair. First, let’s get way too personal: I hate shaving my legs. I’m sure my personal grooming habits were something you were DYING to know about me. I mean, I do love smooth legs… but that presents a bit of a…
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I got a spot two blocks from the beach because I told myself I wanted to walk near the water every day. The reality is, it’s two weeks into my stay in Pompano Beach and this is the only second time that I’ve managed to make it out to the beach. Even getting here was a battle of epic proportions……
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It’s time to kick Monday’s ass… Yesterday I booked my last Airbnb of 2021. That’s such a trippy thing to say. It’s been a year (almost) since the split and 11 months of life on the road… already?! How do I keep blinking and missing my own fucking life? Weird wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey stuff aside, I’ve learned a ton about myself in…
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