Regular Dad

Well, my insides got a good once-over and I'm as healthy as I need to be.  I'm sure everyone is super relieved to hear that.   And since I'm already on the topic of medical stuff, why not just go all-in and keep on talking.  Like how Hayley spends more energy than she should trying to keep certain people from making irrational decisions.  I might be one of those... Good ole' Four Roses Small Batch...

Looking back, I really should have had some juice before I recorded this.  I felt WAY better right afterwards when I did.  Probably would have made me less chaotic and able to focus.  But what fun is that?! Got some really good work done on the garage and the yard.  And I got to play with my chainsaw.  Which was long overdue.  A Sagamore distillery exclusive finished in mead casks?  Is this just a...

Memorial Day Weekend!  Lots of grilled and smoked meats, birthday sleepovers, car projects, yard work...'Merica!! Not much more to say on that.  The long weekend did feel incredibly long, but also kind of a blur.  I guess that's good.   Green River Full Proof.  Is it good?  As good as the wheated?  A waste of $50?  Only one way to know for sure... As often happens, I ran into a random occurrance t...

Holy Magical Motivation Batman, it almost appears as if my podcast is slowly gaining some small amount of momentum.  I may have to actually take this more serious now.  Duncan's birthday weekend!  We had an amazing time at the Phillies game, he got some great gifts, really made some lasting memories.  At least, I hope so.   If you're stupid and continue to mess with poison ivy, scratch your arm.  ...

My back is finally coming around and I'm nearly back (no pun intended) to what used to be my 100%.  From there, I need to push further and set a NEW 100%.  More mobility, more strength, more resilence.   Happy Mother's Day!!  I hope everyone did something nice for their moms as well as their baby mommas.  I did, although I mostly let Hayley plan her own event.  It's just so much easier for everyon...

I know it's been awhile since we had any beef with the kids to unpack.  Luckily (for content) they can't go that long without doing something I have no answers for.  Well...no good answers.  I always have bad answers.   RFK Jr.  {heavy sigh}  I'll give him props on using a solid trick to ban vaccines.  But it's a frigging joke what's going on right now.  Don't disregard existing science but then d...

Another weekend, another full slate of activities.  At least this round left a paper bag of soon-to-be-stale bagels behind.  But it was fun seeing some far-off in-laws for a few hours.  And now I can say a professional from the ice cream industry has tried, and liked, my blueberry pie frozen custard. I got to run down to Baltimore to do an in-person barrel pick!  A local whiskey-tuber was doing a...

Well, it was a busy week with just as many Ls as Ws.  Split series some would say.  A lot of good news-bad news-neutral news.  And do I spend too much time talking about one of those?  Maaaaaayyyyybe.   Sports Report!  Kids, pros, whatever it takes.  But guess what?  The Cubs are on fire again!!  I don't remember the last almost May I was still super excited about the Cubs.  Such a great feeling. ...

My lower back, which is made of a very stout graham cracker, has failed me yet again.  Crappy AirBnb bed + Hockey = herniated disc.  But on the spectrum of all the times I've done it, it's not that bad.  Very managable.   Wanna hear a secret?  I LOVE me some blankets.  One of the few downsides to even the highest-class travel is that no road bed will ever match my home setup.  HOF level blanket se...

We hath returned safely from Italy!  And except for a few minor speed bumps (one being on Myles's face), the trip went shockingly well.   Rome was, well Rome.  It was pretty similar to how I remember it being 20 years ago.  Very different set of activities than last time, but the kids aren't really down for just sitting in a piazza sipping wine for an hour or two.   Pompeii is incredible.  Especia...

But Only Over Signal Text.  {Title and that sung to the tune of Do You Want to Build a Snowman} We had a lovely weekend with Hayley's brother and his wife.  Talked, played games, cooked meats, the works.   Once again, the Trump administration is caught operating outside of the rule of law.  And lying about it and making excuses for why it's not a big deal.  They just keep stacking up issue after i...

It was a mud bog of a week.  Just could never get any traction, never get momentum, constantly on my heels playing reactive.   But hey, March Madness has officially started madening.  And Purdue hasn't sh@t the bed yet!  Although because of the stupid week I can't use my not-so-clever jokes about perfect brackets.  Woodinville small batch is up for a review.  Pot still goodness?  Or hot garbage?  ...

It was a very enjoyable spring weekend here.  Watched some middle-school basketball in Villanova's arena followed by a grown-folks lunch at one of our favorite spots.   The dark clouds with Duncs weren't nearly as bad as feared.  Just a minor reoccurance of some lingering things.  Now we need to teach him to play the political game so he stops being the fall guy every time. Bardstown Bourbon Compa...

I'm getting re-focused this episode.  I feel like I've slipped from my 2025 mantra of better organization and less rambling.   Apparently the Philly Union will let anyone into a suite, cause that's where our whole family found ourselves Saturday night.  Not surprisingly this was a Hayley connection. My degenerate friends can't pull this level of perk.  Were Duncan and I on our behavior?  Did Myles...

We had a very enjoyable weekend extended of skiing and sports here.  Duncan is now really good at skiing, his lack of adrenaline-seeking is the only thing holding him back.   Myles...can really ski.  I mean, he can really shred it up.  Not so much on jumps, yet, but he's got time.  And Myles's BBall team had an epic comeback victory Monday night.  Really impressive stuff. How long has it been sinc...

Did something happen on Friday?  The 14th?  Seems like there was more pink and flowers and chocolate than normal.  Interesting.  Kidding, but it is my most ignored celebratory day of the year.   New Riff 6-year Malted Rye.  I mean, am I really going to pass on a cool New Riff project?  But is it up to par... How did I not discuss the SuperBowl Halftime show last episode?!  It kinda works out since...

The Eagles have completed their revenge tour and are once again Champions.  And boy was it definitive.  They did to the Chiefs what no one else has been able to do.  Straight domination.  How's my fitness journey going?  I'm glad you asked!  It's started about as quickly as an earth mover, but we're going to keep speeding up. While I'm had many batches of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, this is the fir...

It was a long, busy, strange week.  I won't spoil the surprise, but it was pretty early on when I first said "whew, this is a long week".  New activites, days off, skiing, just non-stop things. But!  We had family movie night and watched one of my favorite movies.  The Replacements!  I'm going to have to find an excuse to watch this every year.  Maybe like the first week of the NFL season or somet...

Quick follow-up to the social mania segment from last time.  I'm healthier, which is good.  But I don't like where this segment is heading... Speaking Sports!  I've built up a bunch of sports topics.  Brady, rookie QBs, Bears, oh my! Penelope Estate Collection!  I got a bottle (or maybe 2) and I review it.  Did MGP turn over their rickhouse(s) to the right dudes?  And then an abbreviated Household...

Well it wasn't the weekend I expected, but it was a good weekend none the less.  Much less mentally and physically exhausting, but still busy.   It's been a hard couple of weeks on the ole Book of Faces.  I've finally come to some hard conclusions, ones that I really should have fully accepted long ago.  I guess sometimes I'm too optomistic.  But it's time to be realistic.  Cooper's Craft is up fo...

I'm ushering in a new era of RDP.  Dare I say this will be my Segments Era...  No, I don't dare.  That's dumb.  But I'm going to make this mess a bit more organized and structured.   Lucky Seven, The Frenchman, is up for a review this week.  I believe this is the first of the Chicago bottles to make an appearance.  No, it won't be the last.  You've got 1 day to evacuate your house and only what fi...

Well we got the first snow day of the year this week.  And Myles managed to lose 3 out of 4 sleds because he just couldn't be bothered to bring them home during their snack break.  Did I just buy 2 of those a few months back so we'd have plenty?  Yup.  Did I buy the other 2 last year after the kids both insisted we get this kind?  Yup.  Outstanding! Can an 8-year-old really have complex ulterior m...

Well, 2024 is done and dusted.  In the rearview.  Not a whole lot I feel needs to be said about it.  I made some great strides and really am in a better place than 12 months ago.   Christmas in Chicago was a huge success.  And with my expectations set correctly, it was more enjoyable.  Kids had fun, adults had fun, travel was completed with only a near-miss in disaster.   Got my hands on Barrell B...

For the 2nd annual Whiskey Spectacular we're trying something new; a special guest!  My friend Steve has been asking when he gets to be on the podcast, and since he's one of my few friends that's really into whiskey it only made sense.   Yes, my interview skills need work, but we had fun talking fatherhood and whiskey.  And yeah, it's a long one.  And this is editted!  I meant to get it out prior...

Coming down the (mountain \m/) home-stretch!  I procrastinated way too many things to the literal last day, but that's what makes this engine run.  Fire up the stress and get ready for over-night trek to Chicago! Me and the boys got out for the first day of skiing this year.  Last minute, no less.  Was it stress and complication free?  Ha!  But did we pull it off and everyone have fun?  Yes.  Most...