Hot Dog Experiences From Past 12 Months

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Today is National Hot Dog Day. Over the years I have devoted a lot of ink to hot dogs but I won’t re-hash the many mentions tonight—you can just read about them here (it is pretty entertaining).

So while I won’t re-hash the old, I will update everyone with three extremely brief hot dog stories and developments from the past 12 months…

By the way, I really love hot dogs!

– I took Beau to a 250th America celebration in June. I packed us picnic lunches as it was an outdoor event that occurred over the course of lunchtime. When he saw I had packed him a Subway sandwich that had a topping he didn’t like, he started to throw a fit. I was content to let him just feast on the chip but he insisted on a hot dog. Since there was a local hot dog vendor close to us, I decided to comply with his request.

I stood in line and eventually made it to the front and ordered him a marked up hot dog. Despite the cost, it looked and smelled great—way better than anything that comes in an Oscar Mayer package. In fact, if I didn’t have to put ketchup on it to appease Beau, I think I would have ate it myself and accepted the scorn when I returned empty-handed. Alas, I didn’t do that. When I presented Beau with the hot dog, you should have seen the look of disgust on his face. Although grill lines indicate a hot dog that was cooked right, my son apparently considered them to be the plague.

Knowing this probably wasn’t going to end well, I told him to at the very least try it. He took the smallest nibble and spit it out. What a waste of time, money, and food.

Beau hanging with some colonial men at the “Celebrating America’s 250th: Picnic in the Park” event at Balfour Park in Spokane Valley. This was a few minutes before the lunch disaster.

Two more super quick hot dog anecdotes…

– Although Beau won’t eat a hot dog with grill lines, he will certainly eat one surrounded by sour candy. When we attended a Gonzaga Prep football game this past fall, Sloan and Beau took advantage of the free hot dogs given away prior to kickoff. Instead of topping his frank with ketchup, he topped it with Sour Patch Kids. I will take the “Worst Dad of the Year Award” for actually letting him eat it.

Beau’s candy hot dog. He would later sprinkle Nerds on it too.

– And finally a positive story about hot dogs. Back in August, my brother caught something special from the sky during a Seattle Mariners game. If you have never heard of the team’s Hot Dogs from Heaven promotion let me enlighten you. Once each game, hot dogs that are attached to parachutes are dropped from the upper deck onto a lucky lower deck section. The cards aligned during our Seattle visit and my brother used his height to snag one of the dogs that floated over our row of seats.

My brother holds the hot dog he caught during the “Hot Dogs from Heaven” promotion.

Hope everyone takes some time to celebrate today by eating a hot dog. Here’s to more hot dog experiences (hopefully all positive) between now and the 2027 National Hot Dog Day. Don’t Blink.

Still Jamming Out To My Thoughts

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This summer marks the 13th anniversary of a blog post I wrote about a gym preference of mine. Back in August of 2013, I made it very clear that when I am working out, I don’t listen to a personal music device. Instead, as I said then, my thoughts are my music.

Thirteen years later, music technology has increased tremendously. Even though the ipods offered back in 2013 were pretty slick, the earbud applications offered today via Bluetooth activation provide a rich and non-invasive music experience that allow gym-goers to exercise without even sensing equipment attached to them.

Have the tech advances changed my personal choice of not using a music device when working out? Hardly!

13 years later I still don’t listen to music at the gym. I cherish the time I have to contemplate my thoughts when I am working out at the Snap Fitness at Ponderosa Village in the Spokane Valley.

My favorite songs could be sent seamlessly into my head via top-secret government technology and I would still opt out. Because as I alluded to above, it has never been about the ease of listening to music—it has always been about taking advantage of the time with my own thoughts (nobody else’s lyrics needed).

Despite cycling through at least five different gyms over the past 13 years, my partiality toward silence has remained the same at each stop. Simply, while pumping iron and hitting the cardio, I get lost in my own thoughts sans any music.

There is no doubt about it, my best thinking comes between 3:30 a.m. – 5 a.m. each morning while exercising. I anticipate the upcoming day at work, rehearse presentations, figure out how to support my wife/kids that week, plan the weekend, brainstorm blog ideas, and pray.

After my first 10 minutes in the gym, my brain activity is firing on all cylinders. An inner-dialogue plays out as I take care of as much mentally as I possibly can. Progress is always made.

And I think that is why I have remained so dedicated to the gym since the start of high school. The physical benefits are one thing, but the mental well-being I receive is invaluable.

Why let music interfere?

If you ever encounter me at the gym (set your alarm clock early), chances are that I will be deep in thought. However, don’t let that stop you from saying “hi”—the best thing about not wearing earbuds is that I can hear every word. Don’t Blink.

Public and Horrific

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Notable people such as Frida Kahlo, George Steinbrenner, and Richard Simmons all passed away on July 13.

Two years later I still don’t know how Donald Trump doesn’t share that date with them.

On June 13, 2024, then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump turned ever-so-slightly at the exact perfect time and nearly missed instant death when an assassin tried to kill him.

I didn’t sleep much that night. The reason for my insomnia didn’t have anything to do with any support or dislike I might have had for Trump. Instead, it was just the vulnerability and catastrophe (as other people did die) I watched that day. In the blog post I wrote that sleepless evening (and what I reiterated a year ago), I agonized over what would have happened if the bullet did more than graze Trump’s ear. What would have happened if the assassination succeeded and the gruesome killing was captured in HD for the rest of time?

The day Trump was shot will be one of those days that people will always remember.

That question made me think especially of my children (and Trump’s children for that matter) and how they would inevitably be subjected to the clip during their childhoods and throughout the rest of their lives.

Having that documentation of brutality in our digital age was a thought that jarred me as I hoped nothing would ever come closer than the assassination attempt on Trump. My wish would last about 14 months.

Charlie Kirk’s death was graphic, scarring, and just as horrific as I imagined something like that to be. However, thanks be to God, my kids haven’t seen it. I hope it stays that way.

I think tonight is a good time to pray for peace and the conversion of potential murderers. Don’t Blink.

Sugar Cookie Thursday Rundown

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I know it is depressing that the United States is no longer in the World Cup. However, now that it has been 48 hours, I hope you are back to doing normal things—like reading my Thursday Rundown. Let’s get to tonight’s five topics…

Most Engaging Parade Entry – When we attended the Coeur d’Alene American Heroes Parade on Independence Day, we saw so many patriotic and inspiring floats. But what probably caught the attention of my son the most was the entry from the Inland Northwest Pickleball Club. The members of the club carried a net and actually played pickleball on the street as they navigated the parade route. The sport is red hot right now and there is money to be made so I don’t blame the club for marching (or rallying?) in the parade.

Members of the Inland Northwest Pickleball Club play pickleball while marching during the American Heroes Parade in Coeur d’Alene.

Bowling – I have never been much of a bowling fan. Although I enjoyed playing with my colleagues recently, bowling isn’t necessarily my idea of fun. With that said, I have still played a lot of it over the years and have been exposed to different alleys and approaches. On this date right years ago, I wrote about the different ways bowling can be enjoyed based on your mood and preferences. It is worth a read.

This is me at Lilac Lanes in Spokane, a pretty basic/standard venue. However, if you want something else when it comes to your bowling experience, there are options.

National Sugar Cookie Day – Who doesn’t love a sugar cookie? Especially during Christmas, I don’t think there is anything better to do than sit on the couch with a comfy blanket while admiring the tree, listening to carols, and nibbling on a sugar cookie. The sugar cookie flavor is enticing to many just because it is associated with special times, nostalgia, and deliciousness. Those factors definitely drove me to purchase sugar cookie ice cream in 2023. However, the thought was better than the reality. Unfortunately, sugar cookie ice cream was just a shell of the real thing.

The Tillamook holiday sugar cookie ice cream wasn’t very good.

Quick Joke – Whenever I come across a French fry joke I feel compelled to share it. I saw this Off the Mark strip in yesterday’s paper. If you are interested about my opinion when it comes to McDonald’s fries tap here and if you are curious about my Ancestry results you can tap here.

This is the 7/8/2026 “Off the Mark” comic strip. I always enjoy French Fry references.

Americana – I came across “Americana” over the Fourth of July weekend and decided to give it a shot. Starring Sydney Sweeney and Halsey, it was described as a modern day western and I think it fit the bill. It reminded me exactly of a Tarantino film (it is not) for all the good reasons as I was engaged throughout the entire movie. If you have access to Hulu, I would recommend you give “Americana” a shot.

When a rare artifact falls onto the black market in a small South Dakota town, the lives of local outsiders and outcasts violently intertwine. Make sure to watch “Americana.”


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That will wrap things up for tonight. Take this upcoming mid-July weekend to enjoy some swimming and ice cream. Don’t Blink.

My Dad: Time Well-Spent at 68

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Today my dad celebrates his 69th birthday. As I said in my blog post I wrote for his 68th birthday, I value every second I have with him. This appreciation was established after living out-of-state for 15 years. After going several of those years only seeing him a couple times, I told myself I would never take our moments together for granted.

Thankfully, I saw my dad A LOT during his latest trip around the sun. In fact, I saw him so much that I can easily pull together a double-digit list of my favorite times with him over the past 365 days.

In chronological order, here are my 10 best moments with my incredible dad during his time as a 68-year-old.

Concerts Under the Pines – Nothing beats live music in a park on a summer evening. Shortly after my dad turned 68, I took the kids to Audubon Park where we met my parents and my sister’s family. We ate KFC and listened to a band during the latest “Concerts Under the Pines” event. My dad was in his element.

Hanging with my dad at the “Concerts Under the Pines” series at Audubon Park.

Mariners Trip – It was a special trip for the Reser boys as my dad, brother, and I ventured to Seattle for a Mariners game. We arrived in Bellevue on Saturday and attended mass and then went out to dinner. The next day we went to T-Mobile Park where we watched the Mariners defeat the Rangers. The weekend reminded us of the magical trips we took to Seattle decades prior.

A selfie with my dad and brother shortly after we found our seats behind home plate during our Mariners trip to Seattle in August 2025.

Birthday Fun – For my birthday, all I wanted was to hang at home and eat pizza. My dad made my wish come true as he brought over a couple of large pies from my favorite pizzeria after I arrived home from work. Although hanging with my wife, kids, and parents at home was pretty low-key, it was one of the best birthdays I could remember.

Just hanging with my dad and eating pizza during my 39th birthday party.

High School Football – On a cold November evening, I met my dad at University High School to watch the Titans play Walla Walla High School in a playoff game. We sipped hot chocolate and enjoyed watching my dad’s alma mater (Walla Walla) in our own little corner of the bleachers. We walked out of the stadium together talking about how happy we were that we went together.

My dad and I at University High School on a cold November evening to watch playoff high school football.

Turkey Bingo – There is nothing better than turkey bingo and it is even sweeter when you get to play it with those important to you. My dad (and mom) traveled all the way from north Spokane to spend time with us at the 2025 St. Mary turkey bingo event. My dad played a couple cards but of course his sole purpose for doing so was to pass his card off to either Sloan or Beau if he ever won.

My dad eating some popcorn and playing his cards at the 2025 St. Mary (Spokane Valley) turkey bingo event.

EWU vs. WSU Basketball – For the second straight year, my dad and I attended the 509 Classic together. During this latest time, I pulled my dad into the EWU Alumni pre-game rally. As an EWU alumnus himself (and also a WSU alumnus), he felt right at home. I had the opportunity to introduce him to President Shari McMahan and Athletics Director Tim Collins. After the rally we watched the game together as the Cougs beat the Eagles.

My dad and I pose with Swoop at an EWU Alumni rally prior to the 509 Classic basketball game between WSU and EWU.

Christmas Eve – Much in the same way that my 2025 birthday really stood out, our 2025 Christmas Eve did as well. My parents joined us for a beautiful Christmas Eve mass at St. Mary and then afterwards they come over to our house where I cooked a ham dinner. Everything that night was perfect and I felt grateful for the special time we had with my parents.

On Christmas Eve 2025, my parents came over and I cooked a ham dinner.

Pizza Parlor Feast – In January, the adult girls in the Reser family (Sid, mom, sister, niece) went to Las Vegas. That weekend they were gone, my dad invited all the guys and children to Market Street Pizza for dinner. While the kids played the arcade games, my dad held court as we ate pizza and drank beer. Although we missed them dearly, we managed just fine that evening without the ladies.

My dad holding down our table at Market Street Pizza in Jan. 2026.

Super Bowl Victory – My parents hosted a Super Bowl LX party and it was pretty epic as the Seattle Seahawks hoisted the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the night. But what made the evening even more interesting was the Super Bowl square board that everyone in our families (and beyond) participated in. With the fourth quarter winding down, there was a possibility that my dad could win the big bucks. We were all cheering for him as his luck held out and he won $200.

My dad is surrounded by my mom and his grandchildren after the Super Bowl. My dad is holding the poster board that contained our various numbers on the board of squares. My dad won the top prize.

Hoopfest Tip-Off Party – In April, I asked my dad to be “my date” at the Hoopfest tip-off party. He gladly accepted. I met him after work as we had a relaxing time at the event. We had some drinks, ate a really nice dinner, watched the NCAA men’s basketball championship game, and witnessed the reveal of the Hoopfest 2026 poster and game ball.

My dad was my date at the 2026 Hoopfest tip-off party.

Ron White – My dad was so excited to see his favorite comedian with his two sons! Not only did he pay for our Ron White tickets, he also bought us dinner at one of the Northern Quest restaurants before we moved to the resort’s outside venue to watch the show. How great it was to hear my dad laugh again and again. I hope he laughs like that during his time as a 69-year-old as well.

My dad and I inside Northern Quest shortly before hitting up the outdoor venue for the Ron White show.

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Happy birthday, dad! You lived it up as a 68-year-old and my expectation is that you don’t slow down one bit during your final year in your sixties. I couldn’t ask for a better father. Don’t Blink.

Independence Day Weekend 2026

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The 2026 Independence Day weekend is now in the books. This year’s holiday brought beautiful weather and a semiquincetennial (happy 250th birthday, America!). With the Fourth of July falling on a Saturday, it meant that many people were given Friday (July 3) off. Sid and I both were afforded this luxury. Here is how we spent our three-day holiday weekend…

Blurry Fourth of July photos are the best photos, right? Let’s take a look at how we spent the Independence Day weekend.

Friday, July 3

We started the Fourth of July weekend off by visiting the Southside Aquatic Center. One of Spokane County’s swimming facilities, it comes complete with water slides, a lazy river, and water structures to climb on. We spent every minute of the three-hour session enjoying the water and sun. With Beau considerably taller this summer than last, he was able to go down the slides for the first time.

Beau excited after going down one of the Southside Aquatic Center water slides. This is the first year he can actually use them.

Later that night, we headed north to a community called Colbert where one of my childhood best friends (John Toguchi) owns some beautiful property. On this particular evening, he offered some Fourth of July magic by hauling out one of those large outdoor screens and showing the 1996 blockbuster “Independence Day.” A popcorn machine was on-site along with soda and candy. Because I had Sloan and Beau, I thought we would catch maybe 45-60 minutes of the movie and then go home. Boy, was I wrong. Sloan was so engaged and mesmerized by the movie that we stayed for the entire 2.5-hour runtime. We didn’t arrive home until 12:30 a.m.

My friend John plays with Sloan and Beau as we await for the sun to go down. You can see the move screen in the distance. Sloan absolutely loved “Independence Day.”

Saturday, July 4

As per our relatively new tradition (three years strong, baby!), we started Independence Day 2026 by driving out to Coeur d’Alene, ID, for the city’s American Heroes Parade. I must say, I think this year’s parade was the most enjoyable one yet as the kids sat relatively still and the patriotism was in abundant supply.

Beau and Sloan pose for a photo at the 2026 Coeur d’Alene American Heroes Parade. It was the third straight year we attended the parade.

Later that day we went over to my parents’ house for their traditional Fourth of July cookout. We played sports, ate steaks, sipped beverages, and celebrated America.

Of course we had to pose for a family photo at my parents’ house. Happy 250th birthday, America!

We then made a return visit out to John’s property for his private fireworks show. He had a setup that would earn him the immediate respect of any professional pyrotechnic. The show was incredible as it was choreographed to music and the fireworks were literally exploding just above our heads. After going to a park the past three years for a public show, this year’s experience just packed more intimacy and a bigger BOOM. As we made the 40-minute drive back home, we watched fireworks light up the sky around us.

Sid and the kids enjoy the fireworks. Sidney would eventually have to take Beau about 10 feet back because the close proximity of the fireworks scared him just a little.

Sunday, July 5

The last day of our Independence Day weekend started with 9 a.m. mass. It was the debut of Fr. Curtis Seidel at St. Mary. The gospel was Jesus’ invitation to follow him and receive rest (Matthew 11:25-30). Fr. Seidel used the passage to reflect on his 12-year priesthood and relate that things have always worked out better when he trusted in the Lord as opposed to tackling projects and assignments by himself.

Not a church photo but it does foreshadow the rest of the day (Sloan would help bake a cake…this is her topping it).

Back at home, I took Beau down to the pickleball court and rallied back-and-forth. It is nice to see Beau’s skills continue to improve. After I finished some yard work, Beau joined me back outside for some front porch sitting as he received some screen time and I read my book.

Beau plays pickleball with me on Sunday. He is becoming a decent player.

Later that evening, the kids helped me bake a pound cake. We then capped the weekend with an outdoor cookout…have I mentioned that the weather was beautiful? 😉

We had a back yard cookout on Sunday night.

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Thank God for this country and a wonderful weekend. I am excited to continue this month of sun and relaxation. Don’t Blink.

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

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I love Independence Day. The sun, fireworks, cookouts, parades, and cold adult beverages are all things I appreciate about this holiday that epitomizes summer.

Over the years, I have enjoyed getting in the patriotic spirit every Independence Day.

But above all else, I love the Fourth of July because I love my country.

And on America’s 250th birthday, I don’t think there is a better time to truly reflect on the privilege we have been afforded to live in the United States. As I wrote last month, this anniversary/birthday is a BIG deal. It is the semiquincentennial and since I was 10 years late for the bicentennial and odds are against me that I will live for the tricentennial (can you imagine me as an 89-year-old man?), I guess I have to get all my celebrating in today.

What an honor and milestone it is to mark the 250th birthday of the United States of America.

Hold on, I am getting ahead of myself. I think the word I used at the start of the above paragraph—reflect—is probably more important for me to do than what I used at the end (celebrate). Don’t get me wrong, there will definitely be some celebrating but I do feel taking the time to reflect is a little more appropriate.

And here is what we all should reflect on: Regardless of what party is in power, we have the right to speak, worship, and organize how we want. We can vote, we can travel, and we can petition. We can peacefully live in a country that is defended by the most powerful military that the world has ever seen.

All of this is given to us because of pure luck of the draw. Most days I pray to God thanking him for being born in America but then I follow it up by admitting that for those who were given much (like living in this country), much is expected. A lot of times I fear that I haven’t done my share for the blessing I have received.

Although I have fallen short in giving back the way I should, there are countless American citizens who have “given much” in numerous ways. Perhaps the most obvious way is through military service. I think today we should all do whatever we can to honor those who have served and defended our country over the past 250 years to ensure that we could/can continue to be “one nation, under God.”

As I have grown older, my gratitude for this country has increased with each passing year. This is mainly due to the fact that a day doesn’t pass when I don’t hear about an atrocity occurring in some other country. When it comes to this soil, we are spared from major natural disaster, brutal war, devastatingly poor conditions, crazed dictators, and mass oppression. The fact that I can go to bed each night in peace and comfort is a luxury that many people in this world don’t have.

Remember, political ideology can’t overshadow this fact.

Happy Birthday, America! And thank you, God, for allowing me to be born here. May there be plenty of reflecting and celebrating today but with a heavy dose of prayer, too. Don’t Blink.

Volcano Thursday Rundown

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Happy Independence Day Eve Eve! As you prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, I hope you read the latest Don’t Blink entry from a blog that has been around for 6% of those years.

Outdoor Movie – We did something last night for the first time this summer: We went to an outdoor movie. I took the kids to the Pavilion in Riverfront Park to watch “Captain America.” Doing these things is quickly becoming a tradition for my family. After years of skepticism and lukewarmness toward outdoor movies, I took Sloan and Beau to a whole bunch of them last year and even wrote this blog post about my new attitude toward them. We ushered in the outdoor movie season by drinking Zip’s milkshakes while we (more like “me” as all the kids wanted to do was run around 😂) watched the film.

Beau sits under the Riverfront Park Pavilion drinking his Zip’s milkshake while “Captain America” plays.

Volcano of Fries – In my Hoopfest post, I mentioned that since my bracket only had 10 teams in it, we had some time to enjoy the event away from our court. One thing we did was get food in Riverfront Park. On Sunday, our entire family was fed by what was called a “Volcano of Fries.” The idea was that in the middle of the “volcano” you could fill it with lava (ketchup, nacho cheese, etc.)…but we stuck with just plain potatoes. Lava or no lava, it was so good!

Sidney holds the plate of volcano fries at Hoopfest before we dug in.

Can’t Take Him Home – On a recent evening walk around the neighborhood, we encountered three cats at different points during our stroll. By the time we stopped to pet the third one, Beau had a question: Can we take this kitty home to be our pet? The photo below is Sidney actually explaining to Beau that the car actually belongs to someone else and it wouldn’t be right for us to keep him at our home. Ah, the innocence.

The exact moment when Sidney had to educate Beau on why we couldn’t just take the cat home as our own.

One of My Favorites – This photo was taken in a grocery store parking lot of all places but it is one of my favorites. Even though it was snapped in a sea of asphalt, the gorgeous sunset accented by my beautiful wife and kids never fails to make me smile. It was taken on this date (July 2) four years ago.

This photo was taken in the Yoke’s parking lot on Argonne and Montgomery in Spokane Valley on July 2, 2022.

EWU University Relations Student-Workers – One of the early things I was allowed to do when I arrived at EWU was to build our University Relations student intern program. I oversaw the hiring of three student-workers in 2025 and five student-workers in 2026. These EWU students bring a lot to our department via their talent but what I appreciate most is the energy they radiate on a daily basis. At the end of the spring quarter we had a small “thank you” gathering for our awesome and motivated young people.

A handful of our EWU University Relations student-workers. In addition to the five students I hired, we also had an Alumni Relations student-worker and a graduate assistant communications write (photo courtesy of Linn Parish).

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Thank you for taking the time to read! I am officially on the Fourth of July holiday weekend and I can’t wait for what is in store. I hope you get tomorrow off as well. God bless America. Don’t Blink.

Bridging The Vacation Miles With Our Daughter

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To put it mildly, Sloan was a little disappointed that she couldn’t come with Sid and me to Cancun. We tried to explain to our daughter that it was an anniversary trip and that we were staying at an adults-only resort.

However, although kids weren’t permitted at the Sun Palace, toy ducks were.

A couple months ago I mentioned that Sloan has an eccentric personality. One such eccentricity is her love for tiny toy ducks. Trust me, my sister didn’t get Sloan an “Just A Girl Who Loves Ducks” sign for nothing.

Sloan is a girl who loves ducks,

So as a way to kind of bridge both the physical gap (3,000+ miles between Spokane and Cancun) and the emotional gap, we brought one of Sloan’s favorite “friends” with us.

My dear readers, please meet Banana Pudding.

Let me introduce you to Banana Pudding. She truly was a “lucky duck” as she joined us in Cancun for our anniversary vacation.

Banana Pudding is one of Sloan’s approximately 60 miniature ducks she keeps on her night stand (yeah, she has names for them all). This lucky duck was randomly chosen by yours truly and placed in my wallet to accompany my wife and me to Cancun. Once at our destination, I included Banana Pudding in a variety of our activities and documented it. I would then send Sloan the photos at the end of each day. I thought I would share some of Banana Pudding’s adventures with you…

Playing ping pong was one of our favorite activities on our vacation and it was one of Banana Pudding’s too.

Ducks love to swim so we let Banana Pudding take a dip…

Banana Pudding in the refreshing pool at Sun Palace.

She caught some rays with Sid…

Sid invited Banana Pudding to sun bathe with her.

In the interest of public safety, she assumed the role of life guard…

Making sure that Sidney doesn’t drown, Banana Pudding was a great life guard.

Banana Pudding admired the view from our balcony…

What duck doesn’t love a view?

She took a mandatory selfie with me…

I think Banana Pudding liked Sidney more, but she still tolerated a selfie with me.

Cheers! The duck tried to get a drink at the bar…

It was tough for Banana Pudding to get the bartender’s attention at the Sun Palace bar.

A dip in our jacuzzi was too hard to pass up…

Just like with the pool, ducks tend to gravitate toward water so our jacuzzi was a natural spot.

And some people-watching in the hotel lobby was a must…

Banana Pudding loved the energy of the hotel lobby.

Finally, she even comforted us on the plane when we had to depart Cancun…

We gave Banana Pudding a window seat on the plane.

Needless to say, Banana Pudding had a tan when we released her back to Sloan. Better yet, the duck had a faint smell of our resort’s signature scent. Thanks to good behavior and the patience displayed for all the photos we took, Banana Pudding now has a seat of honor in our daughter’s room. Don’t Blink.

Halftime of 2026

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I always feel it is important to recognize the halfway mark of the year. Today we conclude the first half of 2026 and then the final six months begin tomorrow with July 1.

For me, I do look at July 1 as a beginning in a couple different ways. Even though it is the halfway mark in a calendar-sense, I think it is totally appropriate to frame the second half as an entirely separate unit of time to be used to your advantage. If the first half of 2026 was tough, regroup for the second half and make those ensuing six months so good that they erase the sting from the previous six months. If the first half of the year was positive, keep the momentum going for the second half to build the best year ever.

July 1 also conveys a new beginning for me and many others with the start of a new fiscal year. Many of us who close the books on June 30 know the stresses and processes that go into concluding a fiscal year. For FY26 to be in the rearview mirror and for FY27 to finally be here (at least come tomorrow) is a major relief and breath of fresh air.

But please forgive me, I don’t want to cloud this post with work-speak. Whether July 1 matters to you from a professional standpoint or not, make sure to put more focus on the personal ramifications of July 1.

And when it comes to my own personal ramifications of July 1, I am blessed to be in the camp of people who will try to do whatever possible to at least match the positivity of the previous six months. Thanks be to God, 2026 has been a blessing thus far. However, I will wait to recap 2026 when the time comes in late December. But I will say this right now…

Out of the first six months of 2026, we definitely went out with a bang. The month of June was even better than what I projected and might go down as one of the best months of my life. From celebrating our 10th anniversary to going on a special trip to Hoopfest with the family to many other things, this month has rocked.

June 2026 was epic for us.

In fact, this month has treated me so well that I am going to try and savor the last few hours of it before we turn the page to July. Yes, it has been that good.

To those of you not happy with 2026 thus far, I wish you six upcoming months that bring the same satisfaction that this June has brought to me. Stick in there, good things are in store! Bring on the final 183 days of 2026. Don’t Blink.