Good evening! I hope everyone is having a great week so far. I wanted to quickly check in with my readers and explain why I haven’t written since this Sunday when I published Sloan’s birthday post.

Things have been BUSY and I have been a bit exhausted. My parents recently wrapped up their visit and plenty is going on at work including an office change. Add to that a string of late nights and early mornings and I am finding myself playing catch up – both with sleep and extracurriculars, such as my blog.

However, things will eventually slow down and my fatigue will subside. At that time my blogging juices will be flowing and I will be publishing content, which is a good thing, because I have a lot to write about! Next week expect pieces on my parents’ visit, Sloan’s birthday, and my experience at Topgolf.

But you might not have to wait that long! There is a chance I might mess around and write a Thursday Rundown tomorrow. You will just have to wait and see. Thanks for your continued support of this blog. Don’t Blink.

Today my little girl is 2. How did 730 days go by so fast? As I reflect on the latter 365 days of her life, I think I can sum it up this way: Gosh that was fun!

Having a 1-year-old was an incredible experience. Complete 180 from the first year, which was an incredible experience as well, but just so different. Instead of us managing a baby, we were being managed by a toddler. In a way, it kind of relieved some stress when it came to decisions; nothing like deferring to your daughter to make them for you 🙂  

Sloan started off her time as a 1-year-old with a birthday party surrounded by friends and family.

The development from someone’s first birthday to their second birthday is insane. Two facets really stick out to me about Sloan’s growth…

A look at Sloan and myself (notice the same shirt) on March 17 in 2019, 2018, and 2017.

First, her intellectual capacity increased greater than I could have imagined. From saying basic words like “dada,” “mama,” and “bye bye” when she turned 1 to now talking our ears off, her vocabulary and reasoning skills soared. Our little girl now says the alphabet, sings songs, and recites prayers. Her daycare teachers, grandparents, and people at church marvel at her abilities. Over the past year, at the end of each day, Sid and I would swap notes on something new she did. It was neat to watch her progress and observe the wheels moving in her head.

It has been a great year for Sloan and our family.

Second, and most rewarding, has been watching her express emotions. Sloan is loving. She makes Sidney and I feel like the most important people in the world when we walk into a room. She melts our hearts when she says “I love you, daddy/mommy.” She changes our entire day for the better when she gives us a random kiss. She energizes us when she runs from 20 feet away to give us a hug. She is affectionate and sweet, attributes I am trying to cherish, because I know the degree to which she worships us in the present won’t always be the case in the future. Her capacity to love, so passionately demonstrated over the past 52 weeks, has challenged us to love even greater ourselves.

Thanks for the laughs this past year, Sloan.

It has been a good year for Sloan. She has stayed healthy and prospered at her daycare. She has played hard during the day and slept well at night. She has become attached to a couple stuffed animals but also developed friendships with little girls and boys. She loves books but has discovered the magic of iPads and iPhones. She enjoys hamburgers, fruit snacks, pasta, and bananas but can be extremely picky at dinner. She has proven that she can sit still but prefers to be untamable 95% of the time.

Sloan has made many friends throughout the year. This is her with her best friend, Jacqueline.

Sloan’s time as a 1-year-old contained some highlights. She visited Disney World. She flew back-and-forth across the country…twice. She moved houses, changed daycares, and grew in all her teeth. She attended an air show, dressed up as a unicorn for Halloween, and played on jungle gyms across Myrtle Beach. She visited the zoo, “bowled” at the bowling alley, and encountered marine life at the aquarium. She ate at Chick-fil-A for the first time and developed a love for McDonald’s hamburgers. Aside from bugs that affect all toddlers, she stayed healthy and met all benchmarks for growth.

As evidenced by the first photo in this blog post, Sloan has changed physically quite a bit in the past year. However, her sweet heart she was born with still has not changed.

This past year, Sloan lived with happiness, curiosity, and love. She continued to endear herself to those around her. She gave Sid and I countless proud parent moments and always started and ended our day with a smile. Today we celebrate Sloan’s second birthday. We will look forward to the “terrible two” year but also reflect on what was a very special past 365 days. Sloan, your mommy and I think the world of you and are very proud of you. Happy Birthday!! Don’t Blink.

It is an exciting time to write a Thursday Rundown. We are approaching Sloan’s birthday weekend and my parents flew into town yesterday. Why hold this up any longer? Let’s get started…

Parents in Myrtle Beach – This year, my mom and dad selected Sloan’s birthday weekend to make their annual trip to Myrtle Beach. My parents arrived yesterday afternoon and are blown away by Sloan’s development just over the past few months. Saying their goal is to spend time with their granddaughter and give Sidney and I time to spend together, we are so thankful that “grandma and papa” are here.

My parents with Sloan tonight.

Cake Heaven – This past weekend, we ordered Sloan’s birthday cake. We went into Coccadotts Cake Shop and ordered something that will fit her party theme. Next week I will explain more and publish photos of the cake. But for now, the purpose of this Thursday Rundown topic is to discuss how much fun Sloan had inside the store. As she ran from one side of the counter to the other, leaving her fingerprints all over the glass, she kept saying “birthday cake! birthday cake!” She didn’t really like being told that she would have to be patient until next weekend but I think the wait will be worth it.

Sloan got pretty excited in Coccadotts on Sunday.

Social@Coastal – A project I had envisioned for a couple years came to fruition last week. Thanks to the direction of our social media specialist, Anthony Bowser, a spotlight on the student influencers at Coastal Carolina University made its debut on Friday. Called Social@Coastal: #Influencers, this campaign features the social media innovators on campus who have distinguished themselves in the digital world by building large audiences. Senior public health student Taylor Freeman, an Instagram model, led us off. She explained how she achieved influencer status and how CCU helped her along the way. By doing this campaign, it is our hope that we can provide our audience with excellent content on some of our most creative students while also developing relationships with our influencer population. You can view Taylor’s feature by going here.

Our Social@Coastal: Influencers campaign made its debut last Friday.

He’s Not Here – About 12 months ago, I started going to a different place to get my hair cut. Although I liked the previous place I frequented, it was hard to get an appointment. They say everything happens for a reason! I now go to He’s Not Here, a barbershop just for men. Not only are the cuts great, but you get the full treatment. I am talking a scalp massage, hot towel facial, and straight razor neck finish. I had definitely not experienced something like this in my life until I made the switch a year ago. If you want to treat yourself, try out He’s Not Here on Broadway Street in Myrtle Beach and ask for Chelsea!

He’s Not Here is located on Broadway St. in Myrtle Beach (photo courtesy of Yelp).

Dear Soon-To-Be First Time Dads… – On this date two years ago, I confessed in a blog post that I had a lot to learn about becoming a dad. Anxious and nervous when writing it, I found comfort as well. How so? I knew that my wife was a baby pro and extremely excited to teach me how to be a great parent. With Sid’s guidance and the love I felt immediately when Sloan was born, the transition from childless to daddy was smoother than what I thought. Ironically, when I wrote this post, I thought I had several weeks until my daughter would come. Not so. I published this post on the eve of when Sidney would go to the hospital and the doctor would make the decision to start the induction process. Sloan would be born less than 72 hours from the blog post going live.

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Well, I got parents and an almost 2-year-old girl to tend to. When I write next, there won’t be anything “almost” about it. Enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day. Don’t Blink.

I don’t usually post in the morning, which is a shame, because mornings are really important. I think we have all had experiences when we wake up and dread getting out of bed. It could be because of fatigue, dark and cold outdoor conditions, stress of the particular day, or a myriad of other factors. We have all been there.

But I think if we truly view each day as a gift and the morning as the opportunity to set ourselves up for maximizing its possibilities, we won’t dread our alarms as much.

I highly recommend taking advantage of the early morning to complete a self-improvement task before starting your real-life responsibilities. Whether it be going to the gym, reading a book, or working on a blog post, do something to start the day off right. Get the good vibes flowing and improve your chances of making the next 12-15 hours successful.

Things are looking up, my friends. We are entering a time of the year when mornings will be more tolerable naturally. The days are getting longer and the weather is getting better. If you are lucky, you might be able to now hear birds chirping. The dark days of winter are starting to transform into the radiant days of early spring.

Don’t just seize the day but seize the mornings. As spring approaches, challenge yourself to be motivated in those early hours. Develop a positive routine now so that when the bleaker months come around next year, you will be ready to conquer. Don’t Blink.

Good evening, friends. I hope your first full week in March has gone great. It is that day of the week when I like to write about five random topics. Let’s get started with my latest Thursday Rundown…

Words Ring True – I listen to a Catholic podcast that is excellent. This morning while driving to work the topic was fatherhood. One of the clergy members said this: Children listen to their mothers but watch their fathers. Although Sid might disagree to an extent on the listening observation, I found the sentiment beautiful and telling. It is a great reminder to us dads to always conduct ourselves with integrity and love. Actions speak louder than words and our kids always have a watchful eye.

I need to realize that Sloan is going to be watching me hard.

Wife is Right…Again – I like to think that our marriage is successful because we agree on major topics…you know…politics, societal issues, religion, etc. But, there is one point of contention that has been driving a wedge between us – toilet paper! No, I am not talking about the fact that Sid likes premium and I can live with the cheap stuff; I am talking about how you position a roll. Sidney sets toilet paper so it hangs over and I position it so it hangs under. This week, an article was released that set the score. Over 125 years ago, a patent was issued for a toilet paper holder that clearly stated it was intended to hold the product so that you  would pull from the top. I stand corrected!

Here is the patent that illustrates how the toilet paper should be placed.

Alex Trebek – I write so much about Jeopardy in my blog that I know people get sick of it. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t address Alex Trebek’s announcement yesterday that he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Using his famous wit, he stated that while the diagnosis is bleak, he has no choice but to beat it because his Jeopardy contract still runs another three years. Although it says a lot about Trebek that he can joke about it, I have to admit that I am sad. When you welcome someone into your living room every weeknight for many years, you become a little attached. I respect Trebek and feel bad for his family. I am rooting and praying for him to defy the odds!

I hope Trebek beats cancer.

To the Dance – Seven years ago on this date, the University of Montana men’s basketball team punched a ticket to the NCAA tournament. Because the Griz won the regular season Big Sky Conference championship, we hosted the conference tournament in Missoula. What a fun several days! As part of our athletic department’s marketing team, I worked every game of the tournament. It all climaxed with a wild championship game against Weber State. The Griz would claim victory and I would accompany the team to the first round of the Big Dance in Albuquerque. The best part? Wearing that sweet sweater vest!

In this photo with my boss, Christie, I am wearing the outfit (that included a sweater vest) that was provided to the table crew. I never felt more like a stud in my life.

National Cereal Day – Today is National Cereal Day and I am sure most of you won’t be surprised to learn that I have written extensively about cereal in the past. In fact, I have written a blog post about my three favorite healthy cereals of all-time and my three favorite unhealthy cereals of all-time. Because I am feeling nice tonight, I won’t make you follow those links, I will just tell you straight up what my favorites are. In the healthy category, I like Sun Belt Granola, Honey Bunches of Oats, and Cracklin’ Oat Bran. For my three sugary cereals, my favorites are Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Reeses Puffs, and Rice Krispie Treats. Nothing like straight candy for breakfast, right?

I once had Sid sample Fruity Pebbles and a generic version of the cereal.

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Sloan has 10 days left as a 1-year-old so we got to make them count, starting with this weekend! I will check in again next week. Don’t Blink.

On this date five years ago, I interviewed at Coastal Carolina University. I had landed in Myrtle Beach for the first time in my life the night before. After falling asleep to the sound of waves in my hotel room that overlooked the ocean, I was ready to nail the day of interviews. The next several hours would prove to be extremely crucial for my future.

A selfie I took on the balcony of my hotel room on March 5, 2014. This was moments before I went downstairs to catch my ride to campus for my day of interviewing.

Three people chaired the interview committee. One person is now the vice president of marketing and communications at Utah State, one is now the athletic director here at CCU, and the other was recently named our interim chief communication officer. I was speaking to some pretty important (but very humble) people. I get nervous for all interviews so you can imagine I was a little anxious for this one.

I talked extensively with Bill, Matt, and Martha. I had interviews with the University Communication team and a group of campus staff members who also specialized in communication. I had to submit a social media plan and present it. What a day!

My interview took place on, coincidentally, Ash Wednesday. It was a rainy and cool day, much like today. Bill drove me back to the airport in bumper to bumper traffic as the rain continued to fall. He told me I would know in a week or two if I got the position. When we shook hands outside the terminal, I wondered if I would be setting my feet on South Carolina soil ever again.

If only I knew then what I know now, I don’t think I would have accepted a ride back to the airport. I would have told Bill that he had to hire me and that I would work for free if it meant him giving me the job.

You see, accepting a position at CCU turned out to be the best decision I ever made. Of course the job itself has been incredible and more than I imagined, but it goes deeper than that. If not for the opportunity given to me by Coastal Carolina, I would not have Sidney or Sloan in my life. To think about not having my two girls is devastating.

If not for five years ago, I would not have this!!

So, on this five-year anniversary of visiting Myrtle Beach for the first time and sealing what would turn out to be a job offer, I thank God for letting the stars align. I am one lucky guy. Don’t Blink.

Good evening, my readers. To be honest, some days I am more excited than others for the Thursday Rundown. But tonight I am pretty ecstatic! Let’s get started with the five topics.

Discussing TikTok On the News – On Tuesday, Amy Kawata from WMBF news came to my office to discuss the social media app TikTok. Her main goal was to get safety tips for parents. You see, TikTok is a social media outlet that is embraced by Generation Z. Many grade school kids and middle schoolers are on it. The app let’s users create 15 second videos while providing them with some sophisticated editing tools. As you can imagine, there are perverts out there who prey on young TikTok users. I gave several tips on how parents can monitor the TikTok usage of their kids but I also cautioned against banning the app entirely. In my opinion, TikTok helps promote creativity and other important digital skills. Click here to watch.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Amy Kawata of WMBF News about TikTok.

Bookstore Score – When Sid and I were touring Charleston the other day, we randomly turned into one of the many shops on King Street. Imagine our surprise and joy when we discovered that we were inside a Catholic bookstore! We had found Pauline Books & Media, a store run by the Daughters of St. Paul. We looked around and decided on a couple books for Sloan – a coloring book that depicts the different scenes of mass and a beautifully illustrated guide that explores the sights and sounds inside a church. The bookstore even had a small chapel inside of it and a connecting meditation garden.

We picked up some great books for Sloan while at Pauline Books & Media.

Fun Week at Daycare – It is Dr. Seuss Week at Oxford Children’s Academy and Sloan has participated in each spirit day. Monday was based on “Sleep Book” (she wore pajamas), Tuesday was “Green Eggs and Ham” (she wore green), yesterday was “Wacky Wednesday” (she wore mismatched clothes), and today was “The Cat in the Hat” (she wore her favorite hat). We have had fun getting her ready each morning and taking photos. The best part is taking her to daycare and seeing what the other toddlers are wearing while they check out what she is wearing! Thanks for another great activity, O.C.A.

Sloan dressed up for Wacky Wednesday (even her socks weren’t matching) and Cat in the Hat Day.

Student Success – I always take great joy when a student I know well achieves success. I met Adrianna Seals during my first full year at CCU. She participated in one of our social media campaigns and continued to get more involved with our program. She served two years on my #CCU Student Advisory Group and contributed her ideas and time. Today I saw her for the first time in at least a year. She was on campus to talk to a Writing for Broadcast class because she is now a hot shot news producer for Myrtle Beach station WBTW. It was really cool to see her having such a big impact in the community. Now I don’t know if this is true or not, but she said her involvement in #CCUSocialMedia has already helped her in her young career. Day made.

It was a joy to see Adrianna having success.

How Do You Eat Your Toast? – The other day, Sid and I were watching TV and this chart appeared on the screen. Immediately Sidney accused me of making my toast like #16. She told me that I really don’t make toast, I just “make warm bread.” Well, well, well. It is true that I like my toast a little rarer than most, but I would put myself at a #11.

According to this chart, how do you eat your toast?

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Thank you for your time tonight. I am really excited about this upcoming weekend and hope to report on it next week. Hope everyone stays away from the flu. Don’t Blink.