Tales from the Middle Ages

 I can count on one hand the number of times this past year I've slept straight through the night.  I keep getting up to go to bathroom and often lie awake and toss and turn. I've done nothing about it, except occasionally leave the bed and sleep on the couch or back...

I see it all the time with family, friends and acquaintences. They're too busy to do this, too busy to do that. They bring their smart phones and laptops on vacations, on weekend getaways with their wives -- even on fishing trips. They just can't turn off the...

My initial column about how my 50th birthday was a bummer prompted this uplifting email from Ron Westbrook, a new reader of this blog. He came up with a good idea. "My 50th was a blast.   "In 2004 I organized and planned a 50 mile bike ride from Bville to Weedsport,...

Every once in awhile I see a middle age guy wearing suspenders. I think to myself,  "What's with that?" I don't own a pair and have no desire to wear them. OK, I've seen guys wearing suspenders with formal suits, and I guess in that case it's a fashion thing. But what...

Several guys have written me seeking additional advice on how to increase their circle of friends during middle age. One of the things I’ve concluded when it comes to middle age -- and I’ll continue to note on this blog -- is that guys have to accept the reality that...

   The topic of social loneliness among middle age guys isn’t the only thing I’m going to address on this blog, but it’s a biggie.      I keep running into men who just don’t get it, or are in denial about the importance of having close male friends and being socially...