So, here we are… Didn’t see that one coming.
Right off the bat, if you are here to read DAD attack “what’s her name” it’s not going to happen.
You see contrary to what some people think, I was not raised by man wolves in a misogynist’s retreat outside of Vegas. An amazing woman who taught me right from wrong helped raise me, my mother.
My mom was the kind of lady who would never have done well on social media; she was too “nice.” Those who knew her knew she always had to find something good to say about someone “She may be a mean bitch, but she has nice hair,” an actual quote. She would cheer for both teams when she watched sports live, “they have mothers too and someone needs to let them know they are doing a good job.”
She also taught me the best life lessons come from the hardest experience, and as I said, “here-we-are.”
Am I angry at Chicagonow for the decision they made, yes? DAD was one of the original Chicagonow bloggers, I was asked to write The Pace of Chicago (also killed) before Chicagonow launched five years ago.
Back then CN wasn’t the hornets next of 300 bloggers battling it out for attention, there were 10 of us and our orders were simple “build a community, a place where you can share your expertise with you readers.” Nice. We would get notes and tips on how to hone our blogs to look and be their best, we were part of something special.
I loved writing for Chicagonow. I loved watching it grow, being a part of a team, we were giving people a voice, a place to share their thoughts and information from pet care to play dates you could find it in Chicagonow.
We had our own Facebook group full of interesting characters all there to enjoy. Yes, there were angry “trolls” on there as well, but all you had to do was ask any question and someone would have the information: fishing, baking, how to pick the right bike, it “was” a living breathing private “Google.”
Chicagnow changed my life in so many good ways. I met and made friends with people I never would have normally come across: the quilter, the gay cook, the potty mouth dominatrix, people who live South of I-80 plenty of mommies and Dan.
Dan was a total stranger in 2009. He read my blog and sent me a note with the simple message “help save my life.” Dan weighed over 300 pounds and didn’t think he was going to live to see his young daughters grow up, he asked me to train with him and run the Chicago Marathon together. Which we did, step by step for a year, when we crossed the finish line, Dan had lost over 120 pounds and changed his life forever.
To me that was what Chicagonow was about: community, change, making an impact and every once in a while helping change the outcome of a stranger’s life for the better.
That was then and this is now. It’s a new day for DAD and I am happy to be here. Thank you to the countless e-mails and well wishes. Thank you to the men and women, who jumped in to launch this site in four days. The new Dad All Day is for all of you:dad’s. mom’s, grandparents, uncles and aunts.
I am here to build a community. If you have a post you want to share, let me know. Videos, songs, haiku, ideas, comments, DAD wants to hear and share all of them, don’t be shy.
Welcome to the New Dad All Day. An old blog with a new home. Check it out, spread the word and come on back. DAD has a lot planned for everyone. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, please.
Thank you all.
DAD
Yeeeeeeeeey!
Love the new – and improved – look. 🙂
oooh, and would be lovely with a “share” bar, where we can spread the word of DAD by just clicking a share button.. can’t find one on here… Just a thought! I’ll share the old fashioned way 🙂
Ahh, right. How?
Welcome back David! Your mother did well – you handled yourself like a gentleman through this entire trying period. What a great example to your kids, and other Dads out there you’ve been… Better get you on the Dadsaster podcast again soon. Speaking of which: we discuss your situation – and its ramifications for stay-at-home-dads – on this Sunday’s show. And you’ll never guess who we interviewed… Yup. A certain ChicagoNow Mommy blogger. All we’ll say is that it’s a CRAZY interview. There was a clown in the studio who played peekaboo with Robert DeNiro and his kid – and even he thought it was nuts. All the best and keep up the great work!
That’s a show I think everyone will want to hear!! Can’t wait until Sunday!!
Awesome my friend really !
I’m sad Pace is gone, and pissed you got the boot from CN, but damn proud you got DAD set up and running! Love it!
Thanks for being there for me on this journey:)
Dude, you are awesome. For what you did for Dan, that’s just such an amazing thing. I know you didn’t do it for accolades or recognition, but this deserves it. You did something very important and gave a gift to a family that is absolutely priceless. Kudos to you and of course to Dan for having the strength to push through to his goal. And welcome back too. Let She Who Shall Not Be Named wallow in her selfish lunacy. You, sir, are a good egg.
He is awesome…and I’m forever grateful to him for my second chance!
I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason. You just needed to spread your own wings.
Glad to see you on your own domain now David.
You deserve a place like this where people can enjoy and respect your words instead of the hot mess battle royal ChicagoNow seems to have turned into.
Deleted their bookmark in place of yours, only read your posts there anyways 🙂
-Steve
This is great! Very proud of you.
It’s good to no longer be put down by the man now isn’t it ?
Keep up the good work Dave
Welcome back!
So glad to have met you through ChicagoNow. I’ve loved your sense of humor and the great way you’ve connected with so many people – even those of us that aren’t parents. I’m looking forward to the new blog and would love to contribute a cat picture or two…because you know you just can post enough of those 🙂
You’re back! And so quickly. Good work 🙂
Welcome back to the internet, you rapscallion!
But will we still hear about your neighbor that apparently dresses like a golfer for some reason?
Nice to have you back.
Way to go! By the way, I loved your momma 🙂 She was incredibly loving, sweet and genuine!
Thank you lady. You know that she loved you so very much. You brought joy and happiness into her life when she needed it the most.
When are you going to train me?
Good job taking the high road out of crazyville!
Congrats, very nice, awesome message!
Proud of you. You just keep 1 foot in front of the other, right? Keep writing and I will keep reading. Xo
Remember to update your social media to reflect your new website. Your Chicago Now URL is still all over. I lost this URL and had a hard time finding it.