I can usually get by with a bit of fiddling for most run-of-the-mill technology problems. Temperamental WiFi, sluggish laptop, or unreliable streaming devices. However, every once in a while a trial and error solution is not readily apparent. Like the time I unplugged the hotel alarm clock to move it and couldn't figure out how to reset the time. It was a fairly common iHome alarm clock that I've seen in plenty of hotels, but never had to adjust.

After a few head-scratching minutes, I threw my hands up and did a web search. David Levine is my hero! He's got a handy little blog post that helped me reset the clock in no time. And the infuriating part is, like a lot problems, once you know the solution, it seems soooo obvious.

Thanks, David for your EZPZ instructions!

P.S. Unfortunately, when it comes to home improvement I'm more like Tim Taylor (of Home Improvement) than Jonathan Scott (of The Property Brothers). My wife says I have an adversarial relationship with drywall and it's true! 

Next post next Saturday, 6:30 a.m.

Fairly early in my career I've had the opportunity to travel and see places I might not have otherwise. I'm not talking about "Up in the Air" or Platinum levels of travel, but enough to keep things interesting. Fast forward to having a child and longer trips away from home are more challenging. Like the time I told my wife that I had to go to South America during a bitterly cold NJ Winter and foolishly tried to feign disappointment. I won't be appearing on Inside the Actor's Studio anytime soon. That trip lasted 2 weeks. The hardest part was staying connected while I was away. My son was now old enough to really notice my absence so I knew I would have to pull out all the stops.

Here are a few EZPZ tips that made the long business trip easier on my family.

1. Facetime your new temporary home

The first thing I did when I arrived at the hotel was Facetime my family. I gave them a virtual tour of the hotel lobby and my room. This way they have a sense of where I am and what it is like.

2. Skype dinner

When I didn't have a business dinner to attend, I ordered room service, turned on Skype, and had a virtual dinner with my family. I get to hear about their day and vice-versa. There is something special about sharing a meal with loved ones - even a virtual one.

3. Mr. Greenspots

This last one is a bit of a lark, but it turned out wonderfully. I took along a stuffed animal of my son's as a travel companion. I had the random thought that it would be fun to take pictures of him posed in various travel scenarios. I'd send the pictures to my wife and when we were on the phone, Mr. Greenspots would take a turn and regale my son with stories of his adventures in a far off land and answer various questions in his high-pitched voice.

This turned out to be a big hit with my son as he imagined one of his stuffed animals traveling the world. And of course, upon his return he could tell all the other stuffed animals about it. After a while it seemed my son was looking forward to talking to Mr. Greenspots almost as much, dare I say more, than talking to his father. A victim of my own success, I guess. It was a small price to pay for hearing the excitement in my son's voice and making my absence a little less stressful for him.

Next post next Saturday, 6:30 a.m.

Having access to movies or TV programs when you are traveling is great for families, especially those with children. Having a travel friendly laptop, tablet or a larger phone is great for individual viewing, but doesn't cut it when it comes to enjoying a program together. Plenty of hotels provide a selection of free and paid entertainment through the TV in your room, but there are times when this doesn't cut it.

On your next vacation, expand what you can watch on the hotel TV by using your Chromecast (Roku or Amazon Fire TV stick).

What you Need:
A. Chromecast or similar device (including the power cord)
B. Hotel TV with an open and accessible HDMI port (for your Chromecast to plug into)
C. A wireless travel router (my favorite)

EZPZ steps:
At home
Before you leave, set up your Chromecast to work on the WiFi network that your wireless travel router uses.

At the hotel
1. Plug in your wireless travel router into the ethernet
2. Plug in your Chromecast into the back of the TV and plug in the Chromecast
3. Cast and enjoy Netflix, YouTube, etc!

Note: You might need to manually change the input on your TV. If you need help with this, check out the super secret way to do this with some of the more common TV's.

Finally, an alternative that requires less tech savvy is to bring your own portable DVD player and hook it up to the hotel TV.