Regular Dad

Another fantastic Boys Baseball Weekend in the books.  Now hopefully I didn't really dive into the history of these trips last year, because that's what I'm doing again.  If I did, well there's probably different flavors this time around.  We golfed, we pickelballed, we day drank, we baseballed.  We had multiple first-time-for-thats.  And really, there was a clear loser both times.  Huh.   And I j...

Remember a couple weeks ago when I woke up Monday and felt super happy and energetic and positive?  Then the day just slowly wore me down to normal?  Yeah, this was like that, except it was an entire week.  And it didn't wear me down slowly.  I strolled into the room all happy and post-vacationy and just took a sock full of quarters to the face.  And nuts.   Whiskey review!  aka The Bit That Never...

Spring Break hath Sprung!  Or it did sprung.  Springed?  Whatever.  We had a very good trip to see Death Valley and Joshua Tree national parks.  Luckily we only caught the tail end of that west coast heat wave.  But hiking in the Valley of Death when it's 90s is still freaking hot.   And that's really it.  I mean, we saw 2 awesome national parks that have amazing terrain that beats everything we h...

My ode to Friday:  It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times.  Some real highs and low in that day.  Which, as is typical, lead to a very sluggish Saturday morning.  But we rallied and had a great rest of the weekend.   Who wants to hear an old story from my Purdue days that really has no meaning excpet for making me laugh?  Nice.   I've got a recommendation.  Which is more of a reminde...

Once again we're back in a cycle of introspection.  Sure it's healthy and all, but it's not a process that's enjoyable.  At least future me will once again be better for it. And if that wasn't enough, the kids took their fort building (in the rich neighborhood's field) too far and now people are pissed.  I told them not to steal fence rails, but did they listen?  Nooooo. March Madness is here!  Of...

It's Pi Day!!  A glorious excuse to bake, and proceed to eat most of, a pie.  Because of family duties I couldn't buy my preferred filling, but obviously I have enough supplies on hand for 1 good pie.   I jumped the gun a bit in my comments on One Battle After Another winning awards.  I don't watch the shows or particularly care who does or doesn't win anything.  But my review (aka grievance) is l...

Another week, another combination of misjudgements and misfortune on my part.  No, they weren't technically related, but they did happen at the same time.  It's not easy to get pretty much everyone in the house annoyed/mad at me.  Except the dog; she loves me unconditionally. It's spring and I'm once again proclaiming that I'll reclaim my claim to the basement.  It's off to a slow start, but I'll...

Another exhausting week of too many activities and not enough sleep.  Mostly driven by a desire to ski super early on Sunday and then play hockey Monday like normal.   Trump and Israel have become unlikely bedfellows in a new war in the middle east.  For all the anti-semitism he and his followers bring, he doesn't hate their military prowess in the region.   The NBA might finally be having a recko...

I'm 100% in on the winter olympics.  I've been loving every day so far.  Skiing, curling, luge, bobsled, biathelon, all excellent and hugely enjoyable to watch.  Am I now a winter over summer olympic guy?! A strange sense of contentment has come over me this week.  It hasn't been an easy week, and nothing noteably good has happened.  So maybe something really good is finally happening.  Or it's a...

My Monday started off on the wrong foot, briefly improved when I played Shinny, and then steadily went downhill.  Ending with me bleeding and wondering if I broke my f'n thumb (still inconclusive).   But I think I know what's going on with the chimney.  I could be wrong, but my theory makes a lot of sense.  Not sure exactly how we fix it, but I'm sure a pro will know. I'm sure you've been waiting...

It may come as a shock, but I do actually believe in a version of karma.  Kind of a...midwestern karma.  Like, be cool and happy and people will return that same energy.   I got me some more Driftless Glen.  But is it still worth hauling it back from Chicago?   And my chimney issues are continuing.  There's a cold backdraft coming back in the water heater flue.  Which prevents those from venting p...

We have survived what became a disappointing snowstorm.  Err, I mean, 8" is a HUGE amount.  Of snow.  Delivered in one night.  Totally wasn't hoping for more.   I've got our BWCA permit for this summer.  Did my big-boy thing and scored the exact permit I wanted.  Next up, planning details.  Middle West Spirits Michelone Reserve Bourbon.  Over-hyped like everything else coming out of Ohio, or a sol...

Sorry I missed a week, but things went pretty sideways last week and I just couldn't get it done.   Big news, our 5yo goldendoodle was diagnosed with Addison's disease.  And it came on with really no warning.  Couple days of worrying, night at the doggie ER, but we're back to normal now.  A normal that involves a life of hormone replacements.   Pop quiz, at my age, do you think a 2-day span that g...

Yep, that was one of my more douchey titles, but I'm really fighting to not think about the Bears game and therefore have less brainpower than normal for everything else.   2025 will go down as a successful year.  Was it the year I hoped to have?  Not quite.  But I do feel like I moved the needle in a positive direction on almost everything.  High Wire Distilling's Jimmy Red Double Oak.  Crappy cr...

The holidays are upon us.  Am I ready?  From a gifting and travel standpoint, sure.  Am I mentally and emotionally ready?  We'll find out.  It won't be the relaxing, chill time with my family from the days of old.  But I'd be naive to set my sights on that.  Once again, I've gained slightly more awareness on how the Christmas machine tends to steamroll everything else.  Which is just the way the C...

It's Hanukkah time!  At least it is now.  And I think it was a mere 6 hours (or so) away when I was recording this.  I won't lie, I don't recall exactly what I talked about nor in what order.  So I'll just list some probables here and hope it matches.  Although again, I'm not sure anyone reads this... Bears lost to the Packers.  But played them into the 4th quarter, so it's really a victory for us...

I can officially say I Thanksgivinged too hard this year.  No singular element went too far, but I turned too many dials up to 7.  I need a few at 8 and a few at 3.  And a day-ish where everything is sub-5.   Bears-Packers is this weekend.  I haven't been this legitimately excited for a Bears game in many years.  I don't think we'll win the game, but I do think we'll get a moral victory out of thi...

I did my best to keep this episode un-chaotic, and mostly failed.  Just know that what you hear is a tip of the iceburg for the tire fire in my head.   Another Thanksgiving is in the books.  This year it was us, my MIL, and our friends from up the street.  It's a strange roster on paper, but it was right.  And I only had to cook 2 turkeys and 3 pies!   New Riff 8yr Bourbon.  Are they maturing nice...

I've officially at the age when I just no longer can stay up super late even when I'm home semi-alone.  But I did have the best of intentions.   Chauncey Manor has a beautiful, new HVAC system.  High-efficiency furnace and A/C.  While I probably could have just repaired the current system and gotten another 3-5 years out of it, this will put a big dent in our utility bills and give me 1 less thing...

Vaccines have been officially administered.  And boy did they kick my butt the next day.  Like, I'm glad I picked a week when I had a couple days that I didn't really have to be my best.  And speaking of kicking my butt...Myles and I ran our annual 5k.  And he.  Kicked.  My.  Ass. This marks the first time one of the kids has legit beat me at an athletic endevour.  And I'm not taking it well.   Ov...

Another year, another birthday.  Except this year it really just a normal Tuesday, but with ice cream cake at the end.  Even for me, who doesn't typically do much for birthdays, this was pretty lame.   Brian Beyke, of Pursuit and Seelbach's fame, has put his name on a bottle of blue corn bourbon.  Money grab?  Or is the whiskey good?   The NFL was hit with some terrible news as a young star took t...

I had a lively religious debate with my friends the other night.  And somehow I was the one claiming that there is a potential place for religion in a modern society.  I just can't think of any examples where it's been done correctly at scale and didn't lead to terribleness.   Old Fitzgerald 7yr BIB.  Is Heaven Hill just trying to capitalize on the wheated craze or is this a worthy shelfer?  I wat...

Well, I feel like I'm somehow healing mentally and emotionally again.  The changes I've slowly been making are accumulating as well as some other recent changes.  Like Justin Fields says, just get 1% better each week.  Bardstown Discovery Series 13 is up.  Should they stop this whole sourcing and blending non-sense and focus on their own stuff?  Or was this is delicious double-barreled offering? ...

Both kids were back at the orthodontist for another round of not-free dental work.  Moving teeth around so other teeth can come in crooked and then get moved around again.  Kinda Sisyphean if you think about it.   My soccer message to Myles seems to have gotten through.  For now.  Which is great, because I want him to just enjoy playing sports as much as I enjoy it.  It's not about winning or losi...

I'm busier here than I've been in a long time.  Stupid work and both kids playing travel sports, and stuff.  Whatever, recording and releasing will be whenever I can get it in.  Totally on brand.  The Cubs season is over.  Just kinda fizzled out in game 5.  No drama, just slowly bleeding out.  Hey, we've got a really good core again and we should be back stronger next year.   I finally had to have...