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JON ZAL

Your front-row seat to my nervous breakdown

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Writing

I was going to do some writing, but then A.D.D. and Facebook and WTF were we just talking about?

December 2, 2015 4 Comments

I’ve been meaning to write something awesome … but then this porcupine ate a pumpkin:

I think we can all agree that that is some critically important shit right there, people … and, if not for Facebook, I might have missed it while squandering my time in pursuit of my greatest dreams and ambitions.

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Filed Under: Life, Writing

The nuclear option … or, Why I’ve erased my children from the blogosphere

September 1, 2015 16 Comments

My anonymous kids

“Hey Dad, what the hell is this website we found containing tons of pictures of, and stories about, us? Also, you’re an asshole and we hate you.”—My children, circa some day in the not-too-distant future

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Filed Under: Jayna, Life, Parenthood, Writing, Zan

This bird app is making me cuckoo

August 31, 2015 Leave a Comment

Dear Twitter,

Listen, we need to talk. I don’t want you to get all freaked out, but I have a few things that I’ve been meaning to say to you, so I’m just going to say them, and I’d appreciate it if you’d just listen, m’kay?

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Filed Under: Writing

I’m back … and I’m ready to handle it up!

December 14, 2012 26 Comments

While recently looking at my blog’s incoming-traffic data, I discovered that someone had arrived here through a translation link … which, when clicked on, led me to the Spanish version of my website shown above.

Ever since then, I’ve been wearing a mariachi costume, downing tequila shots and spontaneously shouting “¡Arriba!” at all hours of the day and night. So, you know, same as always. The big difference, however, is that I now am insisting that everyone refer to me as Papà Arañazos. Por favor.

Gracias.

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Filed Under: Inspiration, Life, Writing

I like this Army better

November 16, 2006 2 Comments

Army of Anyone

A few weeks back, my workweek began with an assignment that kicked much ass. I was invited to attend an exclusive, in-studio performance by Army of Anyone, a new rock group that features Filter frontman Richard Patrick, Stone Temple Pilots members/brothers Robert DeLeo (bass) and Dean DeLeo (guitar), and former David Lee Roth Band drummer Ray Luzier. The show took place at Boston radio station WBCN.

Following the performance, I got to sit down with Richard and Robert, whom I interviewed for about 40 minutes. Though I’ve done a number of interviews in the past, this was my first using a digital recorder, which records the audio input onto a compact flash memory card. Very cool … except for the part where I apparently did not familiarize myself as thoroughly as I should have with this new-fangled contraption.

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Filed Under: Geek, Music, Writing

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FEATURED POSTS

An Open Letter of Apology to President Barack Obama

No, really: This job-search thing is like shooting fish in a barrel

Van Halen (or, The Band That Ate My Life)

Turns out I have a bright future ahead of me ... in a field about which I know nothing

Man, this finding-a-new-job thing is going to be easier than I thought

Take Me Out to the Therapist… Take Me Out to the Shrink…

There must be a reckoning

Zombie Dinner Party … with your chef, Dr. Hannibal Lector

Hell hath no fury like white-male privilege threatened

Daddy Vader

If not for The Force, Darth Vader would have totally gotten his ass kicked, because that suit? Not very practical.

Is it November yet?

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Sorry for yelling. Just trying to generate some excitement. Anyway ... enter your email address and you'll get a notification when I publish a new blog post. (I will never spam you.)

ABOUT ME

Jon Zal @ The Massachusetts State House, Boston

I was born in 1970, raised just outside of Boston, and now live near Philadelphia. As a child, I thought I was going to be…
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TWITTER

Twitter

jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
8 Mar 1633596279757639680

Guys, no need to worry about rising energy costs here in Pennsylvania; Big Electric is looking out for the common folk.

I will try to not squander my new monthly windfall.

Image for the Tweet beginning: Guys, no need to worry Twitter feed image.
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jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
10 Feb 1623836552982851586

When you impersonate Taylor Hawkins and do drumeoke with the @foofighters.

Image for the Tweet beginning: When you impersonate Taylor Hawkins Twitter feed image.
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jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
17 Jan 1615495856526094336

53.
Cheers.

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Cheers. Twitter feed image.
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jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
25 Dec 1607047694270484485

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, everyone. Wherever you are, whomever you’re with, I hope you’re feeling safe, warm & loved.

Image for the Tweet beginning: Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, Twitter feed image.
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jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
11 Dec 1601783691688435712

The only football game I look forward to each year, and this year’s was the best I’ve ever seen. Way to go, @ArmyWP_Football!
#GoArmyBeatNavy

The only football game I look forward to each year, and this year’s was the best I’ve ever seen. Way to go, @ArmyWP_Football!
#GoArmyBeatNavy
U.S. Army @USArmy

Army Wins!

Incredible game and effort by both teams! Proud of @WestPoint_USMA's @ArmyWP_Football, and we salute the @NavalAcademy for a hard-fought game.

#ArmyNavyGame #GoArmy #BeatNavy @CBSSports @NavyFB #USArmy #GoArmyBeatNavy

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jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
9 Dec 1601292680784277505

Can confirm. Mail in the greater-Philadelphia area continues to be a complete and utter clusterfuck ever since Trump hired DeJoy to dismantle the USPS and disrupt mail-in voting.

Can confirm. Mail in the greater-Philadelphia area continues to be a complete and utter clusterfuck ever since Trump hired DeJoy to dismantle the USPS and disrupt mail-in voting.
ChesterCtyRamblings @ChesCoRamblings

Hey @USPS @USPSHelp @OIGUSPS @USPSNewsHQ @CareersUsps @USPSbiz WTF? Why don’t you try to help your individual post offices instead of trying to destroy the Postal Service day by day? @washingtonpost @nytimes @PhillyInquirer FIRE DEJOY ! @POTUS @WhiteHouse

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jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
9 Dec 1601200554180415489

tl;dr: “I crave attention. The 51-seat majority gave me less of what I crave, so now I’ve found a new way to get it.”

tl;dr: “I crave attention. The 51-seat majority gave me less of what I crave, so now I’ve found a new way to get it.”
Kyrsten Sinema @kyrstensinema

In a natural extension of my service since I was first elected to Congress, I have joined the growing numbers of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my independence from the broken partisan system in Washington and formally registering as an Arizona Independent. 1/3

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jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
9 Dec 1601200554180415489

tl;dr: “I crave attention. The 51-seat majority gave me less of what I crave, so now I’ve found a new way to get it.”

tl;dr: “I crave attention. The 51-seat majority gave me less of what I crave, so now I’ve found a new way to get it.”
Kyrsten Sinema @kyrstensinema

In a natural extension of my service since I was first elected to Congress, I have joined the growing numbers of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my independence from the broken partisan system in Washington and formally registering as an Arizona Independent. 1/3

Reply on Twitter 1601200554180415489 Retweet on Twitter 1601200554180415489 22 Like on Twitter 1601200554180415489 81 Twitter 1601200554180415489

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When the @celtics & @nhlbruins both have a playoff When the @celtics & @nhlbruins both have a playoff game on the same night. 🙄 (Might put the @redsox on my iPhone after I post this.) #BostonStrong
The kind of Type-A madness that compels me to hang The kind of Type-A madness that compels me to hang 700 lights on a tree of this height and size is both a curse and a blessing. Love having this spectacle in my yard & spreading the holiday cheer. Enjoy! 🎄
We did it! The last time I ran an official 10K ra We did it!

The last time I ran an official 10K race, I was 18 and in Basic Training/Military Police School at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. Let's just say I'm a bit longer in the tooth and wider in the waist than I was then. 🥵

Proud to have legged it out with my boy yesterday to support @travismanionfoundation. Thanks to all who donated. (FYI: Donation link, which is in my IG bio, remains open through the end of the year.)

Official time: 55:28

#RunWithTheMarines
#MCM10K
The last time I visited the Marine Corps War Memor The last time I visited the Marine Corps War Memorial with my son, he was in utero. 😳 This Sunday, I’ll visit it with him again after we cross the finish line at the MCM 10K.

I’m running in honor of my late grandfather, Finn, a Marine who fought on Saipan, Tinian & Iwo Jima with the 4th Division during World War II.

My son and I are are also running to support the great work of the @travismanionfoundation. If you would be willing to help me reach my fundraising goal, I’d really appreciate it. Link to my fundraising page is in my bio. Thanks!
Took over the State House in Boston today with my Took over the State House in Boston today with my sis, @repjamiebelsito!
Insta vs Real Life: How I looked 20 minutes after Insta vs Real Life:

How I looked 20 minutes after finishing yesterday's 5K vs how I looked immediately after finishing yesterday's 5K. 🥵

Happy to have my boy home for the weekend ... except for the part where he passed me mid-run, did the Steve Rogers "On your left" thing & finished two minutes ahead of me. 😜

Him: 24:17
Me: 26:21

Glad we did it.

#911 #neverforget
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