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JON ZAL: Ye Olde Blog

Ye Olde Blog

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Life

Moving on … but you can come with me.

October 16, 2017 7 Comments

NOTE: If the post below is the first and only thing you’ve ever read on my blog, you should read this other post first. Thanks.

I launched this blog almost 12 years ago. The writing I’ve done here, and the feedback I’ve gotten from many of you, has made this the most fulfilling creative endeavor of my life thus far.

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Filed Under: Life, Politics

I’ve narrowly cheated death yet again

July 21, 2017 38 Comments

Jon Zal's tombstone

There are many downsides to being a hypochondriac … but it does have its benefits. Take yesterday, for example.

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Filed Under: Life Tagged With: Greatest Hits

Oh, Chris … not you too …

May 24, 2017 Leave a Comment

corneltim

I got out of the Army in 1991, one week before Christmas. My brother’s gift to me that year was Soundgarden’s “Badmotorfinger.” I was a short-haired, 21-year-old, ex-military cop with my sights set on a career in law enforcement.

Less than two years later, I was a long-haired, college-radio DJ whose daily attire consisted of beat-up combat boots, ripped jeans, flannel shirts and a leather biker jacket. I had discovered I could write, and I no longer wanted to be a cop. Chris Cornell’s voice featured prominently on the soundtrack to my transformation.

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Filed Under: Life, Music

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

Dear Gene Simmons of KISS, a.k.a. My Childhood Hero: I think there’s been a terrible misunderstanding. Either that, or you’re an overly sensitive dick. (I’m hoping it’s the first one.)

September 21, 2015 9 Comments

Dear Gene,

I’m not sure if you remember me. It’s been a while since I last wrote to you. Thirty-six years, in fact. Here, let me refresh your memory:

My letter to Gene Simmons of KISS, May 1979
Actual letter I typed to KISS in 1979
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Filed Under: Life, Music

#WarriorDown

September 14, 2015 27 Comments

I called him “Shep,” like, at least two or three times before finally realizing that I’d misremembered (yes, that’s a word now) his last name; it was “Sam Shelby,” not “Sam Shepard.” It was our first day working together, and there I am, calling him “Shep” … repeatedly … because I’m a douche. Of course, when I finally realized (with no small amount of embarrassment) the mistake I’d been making, Sam merely laughed it off and took it upon himself to make the moment far less uncomfortable and awkward than I deserved for it to be … because that’s just who he was.
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Filed Under: Life

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 a jerk and we hate you.”—My children, circa some point in the not-too-distant future

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

Real-estate shaming: The newest trend in pre-adolescent douchebaggery

May 26, 2015 16 Comments

Take a look at this screen capture and tell me what you see:

zillow

Chances are you see the homepage of Zillow.com, a site where one can go and look up the supposed value of any given home. That’s what I used to see, too.

Now? Now I see this:

Allow me to explain.

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Filed Under: Life, Parenthood, Zan

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YE OLDE BLOG

FYI: If you’re reading this, it means you’re in the section of my site that comprises posts from my old, pre-JONZAL.com blog. If you want some more background info about that, you can read this post. If you’re interested in browsing through more of these old posts, you can see them in reverse-chronological order by starting here, or by using the dropdown menu in the “ARCHIVES” box shown below. And if you’d rather just get back to the main area of JONZAL.com, click/tap here.

Top Posts

  • Moving on ... but you can come with me.
    Moving on ... but you can come with me.
  • I've narrowly cheated death yet again
    I've narrowly cheated death yet again
  • Oh, Chris ... not you too ...
    Oh, Chris ... not you too ...
  • I was going to do some writing, but then A.D.D. and Facebook and WTF were we just talking about?
    I was going to do some writing, but then A.D.D. and Facebook and WTF were we just talking about?
  • Dear Gene Simmons of KISS, a.k.a. My Childhood Hero: I think there's been a terrible misunderstanding. Either that, or you're an overly sensitive dick. (I'm hoping it's the first one.)
    Dear Gene Simmons of KISS, a.k.a. My Childhood Hero: I think there's been a terrible misunderstanding. Either that, or you're an overly sensitive dick. (I'm hoping it's the first one.)
  • #WarriorDown
    #WarriorDown
  • The nuclear option ... or, Why I've erased my children from the blogosphere
    The nuclear option ... or, Why I've erased my children from the blogosphere
  • Real-estate shaming: The newest trend in pre-adolescent douchebaggery
    Real-estate shaming: The newest trend in pre-adolescent douchebaggery
  • In the fairy-tale version of this story, I would have hit an epic home run
    In the fairy-tale version of this story, I would have hit an epic home run
  • Take Me Out to the Therapist... Take Me Out to the Shrink...
    Take Me Out to the Therapist... Take Me Out to the Shrink...

Ye Olde Blog Archives

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RECENT COMMENTS

  • Tanushree on Moving on … but you can come with me.Hello - I started reading your blog 12 years ago as company during lunch at my desk. 12 years on,...
  • Jon Zal on Moving on … but you can come with me.Thank you, Julie! :)
  • Julie on Moving on … but you can come with me.Happy for you, Jon! I'll come with you. Your story about Baby Tink and Poop is still the funniest thing...
  • Jon Zal on Moving on … but you can come with me.Here, yes. Thanks for sticking around, my friend. :)
  • Jon Zal on Moving on … but you can come with me.Thank you so much, Lauren. I really appreciate it. Thanks for sharing those words with me. Happy to hear you’re...
  • Lauren on Moving on … but you can come with me.Jon I'm not sure I've ever commented before but I've absolutely loved reading your posts over the years and have...
  • Dave on Moving on … but you can come with me.Last post!
  • Jon Zal on I’ve narrowly cheated death yet againI'm here to help. :)
  • ACWMH on I’ve narrowly cheated death yet againExhausting to be you, sure. But think of it this way: you're not only living your own life, raising the...
  • Jan on I’ve narrowly cheated death yet againWhen I had shingles, it manifested as one ginormous blister, like 3" across, right in the middle of my forehead....

ABOUT ME

Jon Zal @ The Capitol

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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Jon ZalFollow22,50956,803

Husband, father, writer, drummer, Army vet (MP K9), ex-music journalist • BLOG: https://t.co/wkEwZclWEe • IG: https://t.co/9PB3Virbbu #BlackLivesMatter

Jon Zal
OfficialJonZal avatarJon Zal@OfficialJonZal·
17 Apr 1383257207257456650

Boozed up & listening to a playlist named “Grunge-o-Rama” comprising songs by bands whose lineups are now roughly 1/4th deceased & I am feeling every single bit of my mortality & every single pound of the emotional baggage of every one of my 51 years on this earth. How you doin’?

Reply on Twitter 1383257207257456650Retweet on Twitter 13832572072574566505Like on Twitter 1383257207257456650241
OfficialJonZal avatarJon Zal@OfficialJonZal·
16 Apr 1383041748423835651

Correct.

Joe@Joedof7

Sean Patrick Maloney was on #MorningJoe months ago and had this same conversation with @JoeNBC . Asking the same question every other week to democrats as if it hasn't been answered ad-nauseum just because Republicans repeat a lie is carrying water for a party w/ no real message.

Reply on Twitter 1383041748423835651Retweet on Twitter 13830417484238356511Like on Twitter 13830417484238356518
OfficialJonZal avatarJon Zal@OfficialJonZal·
13 Apr 1382108162300518401

Nary a human has ever been more deserving of what’s coming for them than is @mattgaetz.

Reply on Twitter 1382108162300518401Retweet on Twitter 138210816230051840129Like on Twitter 1382108162300518401504

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Make your practice space a place where you WANT to Make your practice space a place where you WANT to spend time ... even if it’s a ‘60s-era basement with wood paneling. 🤘🏻🥁
Beachin’ it on April 1. No foolin’. Beachin’ it on April 1. No foolin’.
Fuck you, COVID. Two for two. That’s a wrap. S Fuck you, COVID. 

Two for two. That’s a wrap. See you at the beach. 🤙🏻
All Corona, no virus. Chilling oceanfront in LBI. All Corona, no virus.

Chilling oceanfront in LBI. Mother-in-law got stir crazy & wanted us to join her for spring break. Really had to twist my arm.

Thankful for some family time & a long overdue change of scenery. 🤙🏻🌊
One down, one to go. Feeling incredibly lucky & One down, one to go. 

Feeling incredibly lucky & grateful.
What a day. Cheers, America. 🥂🇺🇸 What a day. Cheers, America. 🥂🇺🇸
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