Author Archives: brent

Iran Thoughts From A Dad

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Nuclear war horrifies me. Because of this grisly fear, shouldn’t I have been comforted or at least supportive of President Trump’s recent decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites?

Well, as per usual, this blogger isn’t going to tread anywhere near what could be considered political so I won’t engage in the “supportive” part of the question. But I will take a brief stab at the “comfort” part from the lens of a dad with two young children.

Leading up to the military operation, my mind screamed don’t attack Iran. My gut seemed to suggest targeting an extreme country with a deep hate for America and roughly 100M people wasn’t the best idea. But then there was the even more concerning thought about irking more powerful countries (cough, cough, Russia/China, cough, cough). Although the “this will start WWIII” warning is overused and cliché, I would be lying if it didn’t cross my mind.

The Israel vs. Iran conflict and America’s involvement has made me nervous.

On the other side, the decision is being rationalized by the principles of deterrence and national security. As Vice President J.D. Vance said on Sunday, “We aren’t at war with Iran, we’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program.”

I would still prefer not to have the words “Iran” and “war” in any sentence that deals with the United States of America.

That’s why I was cautiously optimistic (another cliché) when the conflict took another turn on Monday. Iran blasted off a round of “powerful” but very symbolic rockets at a U.S. airbase in Qatar before agreeing to a ceasefire with Israel. President Trump once again looked like he pulled out the improbable, leaving his critics dumbfounded. Although I will happily take peace even if it means a certain U.S. President receives even more bragging rights, I am not 100% convinced this is over…and this morning is evidence of that as both countries accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. 

To be honest, this whole conflict has made me concerned for my children and their futures. Over the weekend, there was just a sense of dread and dark mystery that came from attacking a country that we have tried so hard to avoid for decades. But again, what would be the cost if the United States sat back and did nothing? What would it mean for Israel?

I feel now more than ever we need to pray for world peace and sound decision making. Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, let’s hope these strikes against Iran’s nuclear program and the resulting ceasefire pave the way for long lasting peace and a safer future. Don’t Blink.

A RAD-iculous Morning

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It was a dozen years ago when I participated in a 5K fad that was sweeping the country. In May 2013, I joined friends to participate in Color Me Rad, one of the popular color run circuits that centered on covering runners in vibrantly-colored chalky powder. That morning in Missoula was a complete blast and I told myself that I would do another color run soon.

A photo of me with friends at the conclusion of the 2013 Color Me Run event in Missoula.

However, like all fads, color run popularity waned over the years. The opportunities to participate were few and far between. But another hallmark of fads is that often they have mini resurgences. Imagine my excitement when I learned that Color Me Rad was going to stage an event in the Spokane area! I immediately signed Sloan and me up.

The night before the Color Me Rad event, I put out our very white shirts.

This past Saturday, we ventured out to the MODE Campus in Liberty Lake to participate in the Color Me Rad event. Organizers offered two 5K races with a family-focused 1-mile run sandwiched between. I tested my own fitness by running the opening 5K race at 9 a.m. Not only did I get a nice 3-mile workout, but it warmed me up on what was a cold June morning.

A couple moments before I left for Liberty Lake, I snapped this photo with Sloan before we got rad.

Once I finished, I walked back to the parking lot and grabbed Sloan who was dropped off by Sidney. She saw the bright colors on my clothing/skin and couldn’t wait to get to the starting line. Sloan excitedly grabbed my hand and we walked to the giant inflatable arch with “START” written on it. We spent the 15 minutes prior to 10 a.m. listening to the live band and going through the warm up exercises led by event organizers.

A few minutes before 10 a.m., I snapped this photo of Sloan at the starting line.

At the command of the emcee who led us in one giant shout of “COLOR ME RAD,” we crossed the starting line and the race was on. Well, it is about the furthest thing from a race as you can get, but you get the picture. Sloan and I navigated the zig-zag course with joy, a rare occurrence considering running isn’t exactly my daughter’s favorite thing to do. But how can’t you be exuberant when color bombs are showering upon you?

Sloan at the beginning of the course at the first color staton.

The course was lined with different color stations where volunteers would throw the chalky powder on your personal canvas. Sloan embraced the color and by the time we neared the finish line, her dark hair was pretty much completely pink.

Toward the end of the run, Sloan’s hair was completely pink.

Once we crossed the finish line, the fun wasn’t over. Sloan and I were each given color pouches (and bottled water) to use as we wished. We had a blast using the fresh powder to make ourselves look even more RADiculous.

A selfie after we crossed the Color Me Rad selfie. Compare this to the first selfie we took in our pristine white shirts!

We then ventured over to the stage where the emcee was leading the crowd in “color throws.” Color packets were distributed and then everyone threw up their powder in unison. While this was occurring, the cloud of color was amplified by a Color Me Rad staffer who used a fire extinguisher to blow out thick bursts of color. Sloan absolutely loved it.

An obligatory finish line photo of Sloan.

Although we could have stayed longer as a big party was set to start after the conclusion of the second 5K heat, we had other stuff to do (like hang out at home and eat chicken nuggets). I draped large garbage bags over the backs of my car seats and placed beach towels on the cushions. We then headed home where Sid was waiting to collect our clothes and give Sloan a bath.

What an awesome time we had and they even gave Sloan a medal. Thanks to MODE Campus for hosting Color Me Rad.

I want to thank MODE Campus for reviving the Color Me Rad brand and organizing the event. I am trying to find fun ways to get Sloan active and this opportunity definitely fit the bill. It also brought back some nostalgia for me. Although a little more sun would have been nice, it was otherwise a perfect morning. Don’t Blink.

Rise And Shine Thursday Rundown

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School is out and the official start of summer is just about 24 hours away. Hope everyone is encouraged and excited about the next couple of months. Likewise, I hope everyone is encouraged and excited about this latest Thursday Rundown. Let’s go…

Rise Espresso & Dough Company – I continued the tradition with my kids of treating them to donuts after the last day of school. Despite the shop we used to visit no longer being in business, we found a new joint. Called Rise Espresso & Dough Company, it is a shop with an impressive variety of donuts and extra large fritters. You already know what I ordered (and still brought half home to Sid) but my kids each got a chocolate bar topped with peanut butter icing and Reese’s Pieces.

Some photos from inside Rise Espresso and Dough Co.

Go Chants – It is insane what the Coastal Carolina University baseball team is doing right now! The Chants have won 26 straight games and cruised into the College World Series finals. After smashing three teams in Omaha already, CCU will face LSU in a three-game series for all the marbles. Coastal is just two wins away from a second national championship. I had the pleasure of working at CCU when the Chants won the College World Series the first time in 2016 and even though I didn’t go to Omaha, I told a local Myrtle Beach news station that I had the second best seat in the house. I ranked the title run as my top moment while working at Coastal Carolina. Would love to see my old friends at CCU enjoy the fruits of another baseball championship.

I took a photo with the national championship trophy that the Coastal Carolina University baseball team won in 2016. I hope they do it again!

Mega Pouch – I might have wrote about root beer on Tuesday, but today it is all about Capri Sun. Did you hear? The iconic drink released 15-inch pouches this week filled with 20 ounces of juice…that’s more than 3X the size of a regular pouch. It even came with an extra long yellow straw. Even though I didn’t come close to beating the rush by getting my hands on a pouch, I think I would have drank it using the same technique I demonstrated a few years ago.

A look at the 15-inch Capri Sun pouch that contained 20 ounces of product.

Father’s Day Gifts – Sid and the kids spoiled me (per usual) for Father’s Day. Out of all the gifts they gave me, the new phone case was probably my favorite. I am an OtterBox user and the case I had for over five years was falling apart. I now have a brand new OtterBox that is providing my iPhone with the best protection possible. I switched from a black case to a blue case and I am digging the change.

My wife and kids spoiled me once again.

The Keys – If I was to rewind time to exactly six years ago, I would find myself in the Florida Keys with my family. In June 2019, we traveled to the Keys for the wedding of Sid’s sister. Although my sister-in-law’s big day was definitely the highlight, we got to do a lot of other fun stuff, too. We played at the resort, explored the Gulf of Mexico in a boat, and ate a lot of rice and beans. I really enjoyed going to Key West and standing at the southernmost point in the continental United States. To be honest, although I usually say time flies, that trip seems longer than six years ago.

I will end with one of my favorite photos from our Florida Keys trip. This was from the longest day of the year…we ate at a restaurant called Island Fish Company and sat outside as the sun went down.

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That will do it for tonight. Make sure to get outside tomorrow evening and truly enjoy the longest day of the year. Don’t Blink.

Cheers To National Root Beer Day

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I like root beer. Perhaps a reason for that is the nostalgia. For me, it brings back memories of childhood birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese and late night sleepovers. Root beer is smooth and distinct to my palate—milder than the heavily-carbonated burn that a cola packs.

It is National Root Beer Day and we are celebrating at my house!

I just like the root beer flavor in general. Give me root beer-flavored Jelly Bellies, hard candy, or even cotton candy and I will gladly enjoy it. Just don’t give me a root beer milkshake—which happens to be my dad’s favorite shake flavor—because if I am drinking something that tastes like root beer, I want it to be the real thing.

There is another reason why I don’t like root beer milkshakes: root beer and ice cream don’t go together well. Yes, I realize what I am conveying…root beer floats are worthless! But if you have read this blog for any length of time, my opinion isn’t a revelation to you. I have written about it too many times to link all the instances I have expressed my dislike for root beer floats. Sorry, but root beer doesn’t bring out the best in ice cream and the ice cream negatively alters the taste of root beer.

Sloan really enjoyed her first ever root beer float in 2021. However, I strongly dislike them.

But wait, this is supposed to be a celebration of root beer, so let me get back on track. I am down for most any type of root beer. I enjoy the gold standard of A&W, the bougieness of Henry Weinhard’s, the bite that comes with Barq’s, and even the faint flatness of generic root beers. However, I have yet to pull off what my good friend has done on a couple occasions by conducting the ultimate root beer taste test. I hope to eventually follow his lead and do something like I did for lemon-lime sodas. If I do, you better believe that I will blog about it.

My wife hates root beer but she still let me buy some to store in the refrigerator for tonight. If you also happen to have a can or bottle at home, make sure to make a toast on this National Root Beer Day. Don’t Blink.

Where Have All The Pogs Gone?

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Earlier this month, the neighborhood I grew up in hosted its community yard sale. This Camelot Yard Sale has occurred since before I even lived there and it draws hundreds and hundreds of people from around Spokane.

It was a beautiful day for a yard sale even if we didn’t have much to sell at my parents’ house.

This year, my kids and I visited my parents during the Camelot Yard Sale to observe the action from the best driveway in the neighborhood (but perhaps I am biased) and to do our own browsing. Among all the clothes, golf clubs, and furniture I noticed I also saw A LOT of baseball cards. People were trying to unload all the cards they have held onto since they were kids.

Truth be told, I could have done the same thing. I probably have thousands of old baseball cards tucked away in my parents’ basement. But I didn’t, and there is a good reason for that. They are worth nothing. Back in 2019, I wrote a blog post about a documentary I watched that said old baseball cards are worthless because too many of them were printed. Even prized rookie cards of today’s most recent Hall of Famers aren’t worth the paper they were printed on because of overproduction.

Many of the houses we visited at the Camelot Yard Sale had baseball cards and other sports memorabilia for sale.

Oh well.

But what I didn’t see at the community sale was any evidence of another fad during my youth. I am not talking beanie babies, furbies, or fanny packs. Rather, I am talking about pogs.

Pokémon cards were also one of the former “fad” items up for sale. But I never saw pogs.

In the same blog post I wrote about baseball cards, I mentioned pogs. I touched on my obsession with the circle-shaped disks and the slammers that accompanied them. My friends and I would “play for keeps” in high stakes battles. My nerdiness for the fad went so deep that I entered a pog tournament at a local shopping mall. During the time they were big, any money I had (which wasn’t much) went straight to purchasing them.

However, at the yard sale event I didn’t see a single pog. It got me to thinking, did people just throw them out or are they hoarding them somewhere waiting for the trend to get hot again? Playing pogs was a lot of fun but I don’t think a comeback is likely given a climate that is focused almost exclusively on digital entertainment.

Sloan shopped the Camelot Yard Sale without any idea what was a pog was. No matter, I didn’t see any pogs at any moment during the sale.

Did you play pogs growing up? If so, I would love to hear any stories you have about the hobby AND whether you still have your pog collection somewhere. Don’t Blink.

Feeling Grateful For 2024-25

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Today is Friday the 13th but it is not an unlucky day at St. Mary Catholic School. After all, it is the last day of school and how can it be anything less than a celebration? Okay, bad example—Sloan cried her heart out the last day of the 2023-24 school year. But I think this year she realizes that the end of school isn’t something to feel sad about but rather to feel proud of.

Unlike last year, Sloan (and Beau) was all smiles today.

What is there to be proud of, you ask? I think Sloan, Beau, and their classmates can be proud at making it through the 180-day grind, putting on their uniforms for 10 months straight, and tolerating Principal Hart’s dad jokes at the weekly “Monday Meeting” assembly. 😂

Sloan and Beau stand near the Mary statue on the St. Mary Catholic School (Spokane Valley) campus. I don’t think they will mind putting away the uniforms for the next couple months.

There is much to be proud of for the greater St. Mary Catholic School community as well. It was another year of academic excellence, striving for sainthood, and growing in faith. These pursuits all moved forward in a school environment where students attend mass, teachers go to adoration, and the principal embraces his role as a servant.

Another proud moment came when Beau graduated from preschool earlier this week.

Without question, the biggest draw for me at St. Mary—which is encapsulated in the points of pride I just mentioned above—is the mission to help students get to Heaven. And how can this mission be fully executed without the people inside the school who invest their energy and prayer into lifting our children up? The answer is easy: It can’t.

We love this school and love the people who work inside it.

I decided that I wanted to dedicate this 2024-25 St. Mary school year recap to a handful of people I feel especially appreciative of this year. These five individuals either helped my children grow directly, contributed to the positive culture at St. Mary, or made my own day brighter…

With Sidney and I both working, we feel bad that we have to send Beau and Sloan to St. Mary’s EduCare program both before and after school. Although extremely appreciative of the service, we wish we had more hours with the kids. With that said, I was always comforted by Mrs. Robin Gregory’s warmth and positivity when I dropped Sloan and Beau off in the gym each morning. I enjoyed our daily 30-second conversations and Mrs. Gregory’s ability to put a smile on Sloan’s face during those days when she woke up on the wrong side of the bed or sparred with her daddy on the way to school. 🙄

Beau poses with Mrs. Robin Gregory. It was always nice to chat with her in the morning.

Mr. Hart had the audacity to ask Mrs. Anne Mileski—owner of a thriving musical education curriculum business and music faculty member at two local universities—to serve as our school’s music teacher. Guess what? She actually said YES! As you can imagine, she transformed the program. The beauty, reverence, and just general technique Anne imparted on the kids was a blessing. My mom was blown away by the sophistication and coordination of the Christmas and Spring concerts. Additionally, Sidney has grown tired at the numerous times I have told her throughout the year that Sloan’s singing voice has improved tremendously (not that it was that terrible before 🙉 🎵). It truly is amazing what beautiful music can do to improve the morale and self-respect of a community. Needless to say, St. Mary is better because of Anne.

Mrs. Anne Mileski directs Sloan’s class during the 2024 St. Mary Christmas program. Sid and I are honored to call Anne a friend.

Our MVP goes to Mrs. Jordan Hoard. She went into the 2024-25 school year just as a classroom aide but was elevated to Beau’s Pre-K4 lead teacher after a small staff shuffle took place the second week of school. Mrs. Hoard graciously stepped up and did a better job than Sid and I could have asked for. With constant communication, enthusiasm, and the utmost respect for each student, we were so impressed by how she led the Pre-K4 classroom. From conducting great parent/teacher conferences to her creativity (alphabet days, anyone?) to teaching God’s lessons at a level the kids could understand, Mrs. Hoard exceeded our expectations. You are an inspiration, Jordan! 🙌

Mrs. Jordan Hoard came to the rescue and led the St. Mary Pre-K4 class. She did an absolute superb job. This photo is of Beau and Jordan after the preschool graduation.

The other day, I told Mrs. Alisha Roberts that it doesn’t matter what position she holds at St. Mary, our community just needs her in the school somewhere. But I guess her move from an aide to the office manager made perfect sense because the gatekeeper of a school needs to have the kindness and passion that Mrs. Roberts exuberates. What a pleasure it was to engage with her throughout the year! Whether I had a question, needed to excuse Sloan/Beau, or make alternative pick up plans it was always so pleasant and efficient dealing with Mrs. Roberts. She is a true favorite of our family and we are grateful for all she does for St. Mary.

Beau and Sloan take a photo with Mrs. Alisha Roberts, a true favorite of our family.

Finally, I want to pass on my appreciation to our principal, Mr. Stephen Hart. His leadership is valued and his commitment to the St. Mary mission is admirable. Stephen runs a school that is unapologetically Catholic and the resulting “product” (as Stephen would call it) is an education that I am confident, proud, and blessed to provide for my children. Stephen doesn’t have an easy job and he works extremely hard. Like I said earlier, he truly is a servant of the community and in my mind that makes him the best leader we could ask for.

Stephen Hart, principal of St. Mary Catholic School, welcomes Sloan on the first day of the 2024-25 school year. He has provided the school with incredible leadership that is driven by his truly authentic Catholic faith.

What a year it has been! These St. Mary students experienced some big worldly changes. A Presidential election was held, Pope Francis passed away, and Pope Leo XIV was chosen to lead the Church. These events will forever provide context for the 2024-25 school year but I hope everything that transpired within the actual walls of St. Mary provides the best memories and the most meaningful mechanisms for growth.

Sloan and Beau pose on the St. Mary campus after school.

Before I sign off, I want to shout out my fellow parents. Many of you are my good friends and many of you devote so much of your time and talent to the school. As I struggle to adequately give back to St. Mary, your positive example is not lost on me. Thanks for all you do!

A great part of St. Mary is not just the bonds that are created between the students but also the bonds between the parents. This photo is of Sloan and her classmates after their Christmas concert.

Alright, summer is here! As Fr. Mike Kwiatkowski told the children at today’s end-of-school mass, we can’t take a vacation from God during the summer because he doesn’t take one from us. What a great way to navigate the next 2.5 months. We are a PROUD St. Mary family and although we are going to savor summer, we can’t wait for next school year. Don’t Blink. 🙏

No Cavity Club Thursday Rundown

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Happy Thursday to everyone! It is commencement week at Eastern Washington University so I would like to congratulate all of the Eagles who will be graduating this weekend. Soar!!…

No Cavity Club – Sloan and Beau visited the dentist this week…but it wasn’t to get their teeth cleaned! Rather, they walked through the doors of Children’s Choice Dental to pick up their prize for being the No Cavity Club winners for June. They received t-shirts, free ice cream, and Target gift cards. When I was a kid, the only thing our family dentist gifted to the winner of the “No Cavity Club” monthly equivalent was a stuffed animal.

Beau and Sloan were the big winners of The Children’s Dental “No Cavity Club” promotion for June.

Beau is a Preschool Graduate – On Wednesday morning, Beau walked across the front of the sanctuary at St. Mary Catholic Church and officially graduated from preschool. Although I didn’t attend the ceremony, my wife and mom sent several photos/videos and said it was very touching. It has been a tremendous school year for Beau and I hope to elaborate on it in the near future. But until then, we now have a kindergartener in our house!

Beau walks across the sanctuary and shakes Mrs. Jordan Hoard’s hand as he graduates the St. Mary Catholic School preschool program.

Ninth Anniversary Dinner – For our anniversary dinner last night, we wanted to go somewhere the kids would never allow us to eat at if they were with us. We settled upon Vieux Carre and what a choice it was! Marketed as a “Nola kitchen,” Vieux Carre specializes in Cajun food and DANG was it good. Sid ordered shrimp and grits while I opted for jambalaya. We also ordered hush puppies as an appetizer. But for as good as the food was, the atmosphere may have been better. Nestled in a beautiful 1903 building, it is infused with New Orleans-style décor. We sat at the bar and enjoyed watching the employees sling fancy cocktail after fancy cocktail. We highly recommend.

Vieux Carré in downtown Spokane was delicious as well as an overall nice experience. Sid and I recommend!

Chalk Project – As I mentioned above, it is commencement week at EWU. For the first time in several years, the ceremonies have moved back to campus after being held in Spokane. One thing our marketing team has highlighted leading up to this weekend is the special bond that exists between EWU and the Cheney community. My team was able to implement numerous strategies to reflect this, but my favorite might have been the chalk art activity we did yesterday. Multiple downtown Cheney businesses granted my request to allow EWU-themed commencement chalk art to be drawn on the sidewalks in front of their shops. All morning on Thursday, design student and intern Alyssa Almond drew her beautiful chalk art drawings on the streets of Cheney. For me, it was a pleasure to chat with Cheney business owners, spread Eagle pride, and watch Alyssa work. Communication specialist Melodie Little wrote this story that covered some of our efforts.

Our intern, Alyssa Almond, works on her chalk art masterpiece in front of the Mason Jar. My marketing team did a lot to showcase the close bond that exists between EWU and Cheney.

Ananda Lewis – Growing up, my family did have cable but my parents did something very intentional: they blocked MTV from the channel lineup. They felt strongly that it wasn’t appropriate for children so they told the cable company to make it unavailable in our household. However, that didn’t mean I didn’t watch MTV over at my friends’ houses. During those early days, I remember watching Ananda Lewis vividly. She was young, hip, and fun—the perfect combination for an MTV VJ. Sadly, I learned last night that she passed away from cancer. Speaking of “young”, she was only 52. Please pray for the repose of Ananda’s soul.

I was saddened to hear of Ananda Lewis’ death.

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That will wrap things up for tonight. As always, thanks for reading, my appreciation for my loyal Don’t Blink readers is deep. Make sure to treat your dads well this weekend!

Our Ninth Wedding Anniversary

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It may have been the best memory from our latest year of marriage. At around 11 p.m. on a May night in Disney World, Sid and I found ourselves decked out in 3-D glasses. With the park closed down to the general public, we were in a sectioned-off corner of Epcot riding Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Energized by the savory kettle corn in our lap and emboldened by the open bar we had taken advantage of all night, we swayed together shoulder-to-shoulder as the attraction zipped us from scene to scene.

As we laughed out loud as we rode the attraction more than once, we realized that each time on the ride was different. Disney created Ratatouille Adventure to feature multiple perspectives and experiences based on what car you were assigned. Perhaps it was just the buzz I was nursing, but at that moment I realized the ride was like our marriage: fun, random, and a little crazy.

Sid and I pose for a photo before going on the Ratatouille ride.

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On this date nine years ago, Sidney and I entered into the sacrament of holy matrimony at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach, SC. Although that is a neat fact, is it even worth it to celebrate a ninth anniversary? Perhaps married couples should just bypass it and gear up for the big 10th anniversary. Nah. As I said last year, an anniversary is an anniversary and should be recognized and celebrated as such.

What a blessing it is to celebrate our ninth anniversary! (📷: Nicole Lynn Photos).

And truth be told, I think recognizing today’s anniversary goes beyond just principle. Yes, I believe this past year of marriage deserves at least some celebration. After all, the professional moves we made in lockstep and the leadership opportunity we embraced did make it a unique year of marital bliss.

We said “I Do” on June 11, 2016, at St. Andrew Catholic Church

Don’t worry, I won’t dwell long on the “uniqueness” I just referenced. But with me accepting a director role at EWU and Sid ascending from a customer service position to an underwriter at Travelers, we got to climb the career ladder together and celebrate one another’s successes. We also had the pleasure of accompanying each other to our respective work banquets and parties, including Sid’s award recognition excursion to Orlando that provided the inspiration for the opening of this post.

Sid and me at the EWU Alumni Awards at the end of April 2025.

At the same time as our careers taking an upward trajectory, we were given additional responsibility outside of the office, too. In January, in a manner which was not unlike a conclave (😂), Sid and I were elected to serve as leaders of our Engaged Encounter community (Diocese of Spokane). Over the past six months, we have used our different talents and personalities to provide the best collaborative leadership we can.

In January 2025, Sid and I were selected co-leaders of the Diocese of Spokane chapter of Engaged Encounter. We were elected alongside our friends, Grace and Tim Trudnowski (seated next to us).

But besides those two developments, it has been another blessed year based on the tenets that have fueled our marriage for so long: A reliance on God’s grace, the solid examples of strong marriages from our own parents, and the special way our children enhance our relationship.

It has been another fruitful year of marriage and thankfully we had Swoop around to witness it first hand 😉

Give any couple those three things and let me know if they still aren’t happily married 50 years from now.

We are still smiling 9 years later.

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Sidney, I know our ride will remain twisty and curvy but I wouldn’t trade the thrill for anything. Buckle your seat belt because I can’t wait to see where it takes us this next year! Don’t Blink.

Managing My FOMO

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If you know me or if you are a dedicated Don’t Blink reader, you are probably well aware that I like to do things and make memories. My idea of fun is keeping a full calendar and jumping from one thing to the next.

I will be the first person to admit that I am afflicted with a very serious (but non-scientific) case of FOMO. For those not up to date with pseudo-syndrome acronyms, that stands for fear of missing out. A classic symptom of people who live with FOMO is the obsession with traditions. My wife tells people that if our family does something twice, it becomes an unbreakable tradition in my book.

She isn’t wrong.

On Saturday night, a sudden and painful realization hit me. I had totally forgotten about the YMCA Healthy Kids event that takes place at the beginning of June each year. It is an event with free t-shirts, a taco dinner, tons of vendors, valuable info for the kids to stay active during the summer, and plenty of fun. It could almost be classified as the kickoff to summer for our family and I felt awful for Sloan and Beau that I forgot about it.

The past two years, our kids have attended the YMCA Healthy Kids Day at the Spokane Valley YMCA. The event was held this past Friday but I totally forgot about it.

Sadly, the YMCA Healthy Kids event isn’t the only “tradition” that has not been (or will not be) continued this year. When I started my job at Eastern Washington University last August, my schedule changed a lot. I went from working primarily from home to full time in the office. Furthermore, my job entails that I occasionally show up/help at functions that fall outside of business days/hours. Because I am commuting a lot more and representing EWU at other obligations, I don’t have as much time to attend the events I established “traditions” with my family.

But it isn’t just my new job, which I really do love, that has derailed events and traditions. Sometimes it is just my own obliviousness—like with the YMCA event—and sometimes it is just learning to prioritize life. For example, later this month we will be missing Hoopfest—perhaps my favorite event of all-time—to attend an out-of-town wedding for a couple we prepared for marriage. Even though it is a no-brainer that we travel to the wedding, my FOMO ailment is already feeling like a thorn in my side.

Sidney is my “therapist” when it comes to my FOMO. She will tell me it is ridiculous that I feel the need to be everywhere and she emphasizes the value of just enjoying life without a full calendar and annual events “we have” to attend. Her counsel is helping but I also have to help myself. I need to do a better job of letting go and realizing that missing a community festival or failing to take an annual photo is not the end of the world.

So did I miss Bloomsday, the Lilac Parade, and YMCA Healthy Kids Day? Will I miss Hoopfest? Will I miss Beau’s pre-school graduation? Yes, yes, and yes. But I have also had the blessing of creating memories with my family via brand new experiences like going on a cruise and visiting Disney World. By not allowing myself to get too down about missing an event and keeping things in perspective, I can manage my FOMO and live a more balanced life. Don’t Blink.

Insomnia Thursday Rundown

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I hope everyone is having a nice first week of June. Although May was a very hectic month and June promises to move at a slower pace, this initial week has been a very busy one for us. Have no fear, I still have the time to write a Thursday Rundown. Here we go…

Absolution! – In yesterday’s blog post, I wrote that Sloan was just about to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Well, I can confirm, she did in fact make her first confession last night. When she arrived home, she was glowing, a true sign that God’s grace had been bestowed upon her. I am proud of her for genuinely wanting to receive reconciliation, the prep she patiently went through, and then the good confession she humbly gave. Thanks be to God!

Sloan made her first confession on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Spokane Valley. The middle photo is Sloan with Marie Bricher and Sloan’s friend, Charlotte. Marie is St. Mary’s director of religious education and led the reconciliation prep for Sloan.

Couch Memory – On this date two years ago, I sold the most comfortable couch I have ever owned. It was also the first joint item that Sid and I ever purchased. It followed us to four different houses but eventually it was time to say goodbye. The ironic part was that we had it for sale over the course of two days during an extremely busy community yard sale. After not receiving a single offer, I put it up on Facebook Marketplace and sold it in 10 minutes (go figure). Speaking of that community sale, the Camelot Yard Sale returns this weekend. If you want to see an impressive and slightly chaotic scene filled with a wide array of items/junk, head up to north Spokane to check it out for yourself. Just make sure to tell me “hi” as I will be hanging at my parents’ house who live in the neighborhood.

It only took 10 minutes on Facebook Marketplace for us to sell the couch. We then loaded it on my dad’s truck and we delivered the piece of furniture to its new owner.

Milkilicious – I took the kids with me to Dollar Tree over the weekend. When we returned home, I started unloading what we bought. Much to my chagrin, I pulled out a candy bar that I absolutely did not authorize the purchase of. Both Sloan and Beau promised they didn’t sneak it in my cart. Oh well, I guess I trust them. Anyway, I had never heard of a Hershey’s Milkilicious bar before. The description states “milk chocolate with creamy chocolate milk filling.” Even though I was still a little mad, we had to do something with the candy bar…so we ate it. I gave some to all four of us to sample. The verdict? Very underwhelming. Although I was intrigued with the idea of “chocolate milk filling,” the interior of the candy looked like any other chocolate bar…and it tasted the same too.

Wasn’t too impressed with this “Milkilicious” Hershey’s bar.

JUMANJI – On Friday night, I looked through Disney+ to find a movie for my family to watch. After taking too long to make a choice, I settled on the original “Jumanji” movie. I know I had seen it when it came out but I had absolutely no recollection of everything that went down in the film—cause come on people, it was made in 1995! And, according to Sloan, it definitely looked like it was 30 years old based on the special effects. But Sid and I explained to her that it truly was cutting edge for the time. Despite the “fakey” effects, Sloan loved the movie! I was pleased to have her captivated for nearly two hours. Beau on the other hand? He eventually went upstairs and watched his own show. For me personally, it was fun to watch a film from my childhood and I am always happy to watch something with Robin Williams in it.

Watching “Jumanji” was a fun way to spend a family-focused Friday night.

Insomnia Cookies – While we watched “Jumanji” on Friday night, my wife made a somewhat impulse purchase. She put in an order with Insomnia Cookies, a company that specializes in delivering hot cookies to the doors of customers. Sid ordered from Insomnia Cookies while a college student and was hoping for a little bit of taste bud nostalgia. Sloan enjoyed opening the door when the knock came. The cookies are sized like regular cookies (not ginormous like Crumbl or Crave) and they deliver on their promise…HOT! They weren’t bad for a Friday night treat.

Sloan posing with the Insomnia Cookies we ordered on Friday night.

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We have temperatures forecast in the 90s for this weekend! Hope everyone stays cool and I look forward to catching up next week. Don’t Blink.