• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

JON ZAL: Ye Olde Blog

Ye Olde Blog

  • JONZAL.com
  • Ye Olde Blog
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Ye Olde Blog Primer

Marriage

That trip to Mexico I keep meaning to tell you about, which almost didn’t happen because of my unrivaled ability to be a complete and utter moron

February 7, 2011 33 Comments

About two hours into our flight from Philadelphia to Cancun, I discovered that I had committed The Biggest Fuck-Up of All Time … like, to the extent that I knew it would be best for my marriage if I just went ahead and threw myself out of the aircraft. Which was a shame, really … because everything had been going so well.

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Buffoonery, Daddy Scratches, Life, Marriage

Example of why I have learned to mostly quit while I’m ahead

September 12, 2008 3 Comments

iPhone

Me to Wonder Woman after running outside and catching her before she backs out of the driveway so that I can hand to her the cellphone she left on the kitchen counter—the one that I can never reach her on:

“Please keep this on you.”

“I do.”

“Apparently not.”

“Yes, I do. That’s why it was inside.”

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Daddy Scratches, Life, Marriage

Primary Sidebar

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 ...
  • This one hurts
    This one hurts
  • 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

Ye Olde Blog Archives

Follow Me

  • Twitter
  • Instagram

RECENT COMMENTS

  • Antônio João Schwartz Soares on If I had been any closer to the stage at that Van Halen show the other night, I’d be carrying Eddie’s babyThank you for sharing. Amazing photos and comments. Missing Eddie.
  • 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...

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…
Read the rest »

TWITTER

Jon Zal Follow 22,668 54,993

Husband, father, writer, podcaster, drummer, Army vet (M.P. K-9 handler), ex-music journalist.

jon_zal
jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
18 Jun 1537973122564911108

Now that’s what I call an “Out of Office” message.

Taking a break. Catch you next month.👋🏻 🇮🇹

Image for the Tweet beginning: Now that’s what I call Twitter feed image.
Reply on Twitter 1537973122564911108 Retweet on Twitter 1537973122564911108 1 Like on Twitter 1537973122564911108 56
jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
10 Jun 1535273541762965504

View on Twitter Twitter feed image.
View on Twitter Twitter feed image.
View on Twitter Twitter feed image.
Reply on Twitter 1535273541762965504 Retweet on Twitter 1535273541762965504 3 Like on Twitter 1535273541762965504 72
jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
3 Jun 1532539840146833408

YES. LOUDER.

YES. LOUDER.
Acyn @Acyn

Cicilline: You know who didn’t have constitutional right to life respected? The kids at Parkland and Sandy Hook and Uvalde… so spare me the bullshit

Reply on Twitter 1532539840146833408 Retweet on Twitter 1532539840146833408 88 Like on Twitter 1532539840146833408 347
jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
30 May 1531311575839154176

Thank you to those who gave all.

Please honor them by being active participants in the democratic experiment for which they ostensibly gave their lives … and hold accountable the politicians who betray them & dishonor their sacrifice.

#MemorialDay

(Photo credit: Me)

Image for the Tweet beginning: Thank you to those who Twitter feed image.
Reply on Twitter 1531311575839154176 Retweet on Twitter 1531311575839154176 86 Like on Twitter 1531311575839154176 285
jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
28 May 1530636291997585410

Just blocked Ted Cruz & muted “Ted Cruz” and literally everything in my life just got measurably better.

Reply on Twitter 1530636291997585410 Retweet on Twitter 1530636291997585410 14 Like on Twitter 1530636291997585410 313
jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
27 May 1530318034400837632

🤦🏻‍♂️🥲🍷

🤦🏻‍♂️🥲🍷
Depeche Mode @depechemode

Reply on Twitter 1530318034400837632 Retweet on Twitter 1530318034400837632 3 Like on Twitter 1530318034400837632 15
jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
27 May 1530199031833583619

So tired. It’s not healthy to live in a society where a minority group of vile cretins are allowed to hold the rest of us hostage because they’ve convinced their base that stupidity, ignorance, arrogance & meanness are as worthy as intelligence, expertise, common sense & empathy.

Reply on Twitter 1530199031833583619 Retweet on Twitter 1530199031833583619 378 Like on Twitter 1530199031833583619 1586
jon_zal avatar; Jon Zal @jon_zal ·
27 May 1530194601067388928

I propose we lean in on the “well-regulated” portion of the Second Amendment.

Reply on Twitter 1530194601067388928 Retweet on Twitter 1530194601067388928 51 Like on Twitter 1530194601067388928 282

Search

Instagram

Photographic evidence that I occasionally leave th Photographic evidence that I occasionally leave the house. Rare … but it happens.
Go @RedSox! #OpeningDay Go @RedSox!
#OpeningDay
New profile pic. Previous one was six years old. S New profile pic. Previous one was six years old. Started to feel like a lie.

Longest my hair's been in 18 years. Planning to let it keep growing for a bit. Not gonna let it get as long as it was Back In The Day (read: down to my chest), but ... I need a change.

Anyway ... that's me now. 👋🏻
Just gutted by this loss. Van Halen, Rolling Sto Just gutted by this loss. 

Van Halen, Rolling Stones & Foo Fighters. That’s my Big Three … and of those three, there’s only one I was banking on as a go-to active interest for the next couple of decades. 

As with Van Halen, I fell in love with Foo Fighters not only because of the music, but because of the fun those guys had with, and love they had for, each other.

Had plans in place to go see Foos play in Oregon this October for the final stop on their now-canceled tour. Can’t believe I won’t get to see Dave & Taylor play together again. 

Dave was the first interview I ever did with someone who wasn’t a member of Van Halen. He let me call him at home one weekend, 22 years ago. Two East Coast guys, same age, drummers, music lovers, shooting the shit on a Saturday afternoon. It remains one of my favorite memories. 

I briefly met Taylor in Austin, TX, back in 2006 when he and his solo band somehow got put up at the same shitty Holiday Inn as me. He was very kind, gracious and cool to this awkward, socially anxious fanboy. Saw him play live that night, his drum kit positioned at the front lip of the stage so he could sing lead and play drums at the same time. Great set. 

I am absolutely gutted thinking about what Dave is going through right now. 

Hadn’t been playing much in recent months. Been sweating it right the fuck out every day since Taylor passed, though. Nonstop Foo Fighters & Nirvana play-along sessions. Only way I’ve been able to channel the grief. Glad I have that outlet. (Thanks for getting my ass behind the kit again, Taylor.)

Really hoping Dave finds a way to make peace with this tragic loss and keep being the joyful soul & inspiration he’s been to so many of us for so long now. 

#RIPTaylorHawkins 🥁💔
#FooFighters
My weekend? Awesome, thanks. How 'bout yours? Ret My weekend? Awesome, thanks. How 'bout yours?

Returned home Sunday and all is well now, but ... man, for a guy who not once in 52 years spent a night at the hospital or experienced a serious medical emergency, I made up for it in spades last week.

Celebrated Valentine's Day with my first colonoscopy. Couple small polyps removed. No cancer found, and no other problems. "Return in five years." Yay! 🥳

Fast forward to last Thursday (2/24), at which time large quantities of nothing but blood began exiting my body via an orifice from which large quantities of blood should not pass. So that was disconcerting.

Pro-Tip™: A good way to skip the wait at the ER is to show them a picture of a toilet bowl filled with nothing but your own blood and then pass out.

Three mostly sleepless beep-filled nights, one CT scan, a couple IV bags, several bazillion blood draws & some bad hospital food later, I was home without any further issues, and, thankfully, no surgery or other medical intervention required.

But, yeah ... hoping to never do that again. 🥴

So, uh, anyway ... how you doin'?
Happy #nationalmargaritaday. 🍹 Happy #nationalmargaritaday. 🍹
Follow on Instagram

© 2006–2022 JON ZAL / Contact Me

JZ logo

Twitter / Instagram