Monthly Archives: February 2021

My Super Bowl LV Review

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Well Super Bowl LV, it was fun…kind of. In all honesty, the best part was that the game was over by 8 p.m. This was a welcome development after living in non-pacific time zones for the past 15 years. With that said, I do have a few brief things to say about last night.

The Game: Let’s start with the game. It has been several years since I could remember a contest so one-sided and, um, boring. That says a lot coming from me as I can usually find the silver lining in any game, especially one at the championship level. But watching Mahomes drop back and scramble every play only to wildly toss the ball got old by the second half. It was cool to see Brady connect with Gronk a couple times in the first half but I found the third and fourth quarters to be extremely melodramatic. Congrats to the Bucs but I wish it was a little more entertaining.

The game was boring, even by my standards (photo courtesy of Awful Announcing).

The Anthem: I know a lot of traditionalists rolled their eyes with the duet national anthem but it didn’t bother me. I would describe the performance as “laid back” but that’s not to say it wasn’t good. I didn’t mind Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan divvying up opening verses and I thought when they came together to finish the song that it worked out pretty well.

I didn’t mind the duet with Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan.

The Halftime Show: The halftime show was plagued with audio issues. I found this to be a shame because without them I think it would have been a solid performance. No, I don’t think it would have gone down as a necessarily memorable show but at least an entertaining one. When the Weeknd’s vocals came through without audio obstruction, it was a smooth and catchy delivery. I thought it was unique how he started up in the rafters but I wish he came down to the turf sooner—it just feels like you can connect with the performance better at field level. Bottom line, I have seen better and I have seen worse.

I was not overwhelmed by the halftime show.

The Commercials: As for the commercials, I think it was an average year. I will always take the emotional ads over the funny spots so it will come as no surprise to my readers what my favorites were. The Toyota commercial about Jessica Long, a Paralympic swimmer, and the acceptance from her adopted parents was a testament to human dignity and compassion, something we really need in the world right now. I also really liked the Anheuser-Busch’s “let’s grab a beer” commercial. I think it did an excellent job showcasing the many ways sharing a beer can mark life events and I think it probably resonated with 90% of those of us watching the game. Although not as authentic as Toyota’s or Busch’s commercials, I thought Jeep’s “middle” commercial with Bruce Springsteen carried a decent message, even if it was a tad bit corny.

The Toyota commercial was my favorite of Super Bowl LV.

Probably my top choice out of the many humorous spots was the Uber Eats commercial with Wayne’s World and Cardi B. It mixed retro with trendy to produce a creative “what will happen next” 1-minute ride. I thought two certain ads featuring power couples were cute. Both Gwen Stefani/Blake Shelton (T-Mobile) and Mila Kunis/Ashton Kutcher (Cheetos) made me laugh and humanized all four superstars. I also believed that M&M’s made good use of its leadoff spot in the commercial lineup by suggesting that a pack of the candy can smooth anything over. In a way, the theme kind of reminded me as Anheuser-Busch’s commercial.

Despite an ongoing major pandemic, I think we should all be pleased by Super Bowl LV. Sure, it wasn’t the best game and the halftime show didn’t blow anybody away, but I still think it was more than we could have asked for given the current situation of the world. So please excuse any of my cynicism above because I truly am appreciative. Don’t Blink.

Our Baby Boy is 1

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Can it really be one year? Our baby boy adds a vertical line to his age today as we celebrate his first birthday. Thanks be to God for this milestone!

Beau is 1 today!

Beau was born on an unsuspecting sunny February day. Just like with Sloan, we had no idea we would welcome a child on the date that we did. But after the doctor did a quick exam on Sidney at a routine checkup and proclaimed “You’re going to have a baby today,” there was no looking back.

Beau was born at 1:37 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020.

Just a few hours later Beau would be born. He entered the world in the waning days of pre-pandemic normalcy. Despite the challenges he would soon face, those few sweet moments when Sidney and I held our son immediately after the delivery were filled with indescribable joy.

Moments after Beau’s birth, the nurse who recorded his initial measurements brought him up close to the glass so we could all see him.

After that short period of bliss, Beau’s irregular breathing would come into focus. After a couple days at Conway Medical Center he would be transferred to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, SC, where he was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. A 10-day stay in the NICU was trying on us all but we could not have felt more blessed that mid-February day when we took a healthy baby boy home to his adoring sister.

The NICU was tough but as his condition improved so did our moods.

And healthy he would remain for the duration of his first year on this planet. Beau has had a happy, ailment-free 11.5 months. Don’t get me wrong, he has faced developmental challenges such as a misshaped head and some eating issues but nothing that some therapy couldn’t handle. And by no means would those issues mess with our son’s natural pleasant and low-key temperament, a nice complement to his sister’s rather unruly personality.

This is Beau at a month old. He was happy and healthy after those initial couple weeks.

Beau has rolled with the punches since making his debut. A cross country move didn’t rattle him nor did a couple months away from his daddy (although the same can’t be said for the old man). He wore wires for two weeks in the NICU and a helmet for four months in the summer. He has thrived in a pandemic world and impressed his fellow passengers on long plane rides. Simply, Beau is a cool customer. He sleeps soundly, eats a lot, and loves to cuddle.

Although Beau had to wear a helmet for four months, it never slowed him down.

Our family has benefited so much because of Beau. I have my son, Sid has her mama’s boy, and Sloan has her brother. Beau has brought symmetry to our Reser clan and with it a new familial identify that I really dig. I couldn’t imagine life without him.

Beau has brought a lot of joy to the three of us.

As I reflect on his first year, a lot of favorite memories come to mind. His triumphant homecoming when we was discharged from McLeod. His baptism at St. Andrew in front of family and friends. Our reunion at the airport after two long months. The hilarious and heartfelt interactions between him and his sister. The moment when crawling just clicked and he was off to the races. The time he unexpectedly picked up Sloan’s milk cup and guzzled everything that was remaining.

This little boy is everything.

Over the next year, Beau will walk and start to say words. But before we focus on those developmental achievements, we will take today and the rest of the weekend to celebrate the road he paved just to arrive at this point. We love our Beau Bear very much and thank God for giving us such a blessing. Don’t Blink.

Beau Bear Eve Thursday Rundown

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It is Beau’s Birthday Eve! Tomorrow we will have a 1-year-old. As I come to grips with this upcoming milestone, I decided to write a Thursday Rundown. Let’s go…

Latest Blizzard – The Thursday Rundown is a landing spot for my Dairy Queen Blizzard reviews (here and here). In honor of Sidney’s birthday weekend, we picked up dessert on Saturday night. I opted for the red velvet flavor which happened to be the Blizzard of the Month. The DQ famous vanilla ice cream was blended with red velvet cake pieces and cream cheese icing. It had really good texture and really good flavor…for the first few bites. After I scratched the surface of my blizzard, it was just pure white the rest of the way. Unfortunately the classic problem plagued me—all the toppings and mix-ins were at the very top with plain vanilla ice cream the rest of the day.

This was my red velvet Dairy Queen Blizzard from Saturday night.

Super Bowl Hope/Prediction – Last week I humbled myself and gave mad respect to Tom Brady and the mesmerizing career he has enjoyed. Although I will savor the chance to watch a legend play on Sunday, it doesn’t mean I want him to win. I hope the Kansas City Chiefs will repeat as Super Bowl champs? Do I think they will do it? Actually, I do. Chiefs beat Bucs, 28-24.

I will be rooting for Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Preparing to Sleep – Please use your imagination and read the below meme from my wife’s point of view. Okay, did you do it? This explains Sid and I exactly. Out of the numerous fluffy pillows that Sid keeps on the bed, I take the oldest and skinniest. I also have a bad habit of throwing some of the excess pillows on the floor, which will get me a prompt scolding. I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow whereas Sid needs pretty much everything listed in this meme, plus the TV turned on. I know Sid thinks it is unfair that I can simply shut my eyes and go to sleep but perhaps this is the way it is for many married couples.

This nailed it.

Heart’s On Fire Men’s Conference – Last Saturday, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Heart’s On Fire Men’s Conference sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Spokane. Having enjoyed the South Carolina Catholic Men’s Conference, I knew that attending a similar event out west was a must. The conference took into account social distancing. Instead of everyone meeting at a designated spot, different parishes in the diocese served as satellite locations where guys could go to watch the livestreamed presentations with a small group. I attended the conference at St. Thomas More, the parish I actually grew up in. Fr. Pat Kerst celebrated mass with our group in the morning and heard confessions at lunch. During the morning and afternoon we listened to Dr. John Bergsma, a professor at Franciscan University, deliver four different talks. After each talk, we gathered in our small groups at our satellite location to discuss the content. Thanks to the Diocese of Spokane for putting this conference on during difficult times, I sure got a lot out of it.

I took this photo at St Thomas More Parish in Spokane. Although a premium was placed on social distancing at the Diocese of Spokane Men’s Conference, it was still a very worthwhile experience.

Soups – Who out there loves a flavorful, piping hot bowl of soup? Your favorite blogger sure does! If I am given a choice between soup or salad at a restaurant, 9/10 times I am opting for the former. A few years ago, I actually ranked my top five favorite soups. My list consisted of clam chowder (#5), chili (#4), butternut squash (#3), potato (#2), and pasta fagioli (#1). Oh yeah, Italian wedding was included as an honorable mention. Happy National Soup Day! 

I love a good bowl of soup.

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Time to cuddle my baby boy tonight before he wakes up a man tomorrow. Okay, I exaggerate, but do you get the picture? I got to go. Have a wonderful night, my friends. Don’t Blink.

Enjoying a Quieter Super Bowl

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If there is one annual holiday/event that I am glad the pandemic is messing with it is the Super Bowl. Undoubtedly the huge parties, packed bars, and movie theater screenings will be few and far between this year.

Good.

But I am not satisfied simply because social distancing standards will be respected. Rather, I am looking forward to the experience that millions of Americans will enjoy for the first time on Sunday: The chance to actually watch the Super Bowl in peace.

Super Bowl LV will be a quieter experience for many. Try to enjoy it!

Don’t get me wrong, Super Bowl parties are fun. Good food is prepared, alcohol is guzzled, bets are placed, coaching decisions are debated, and halftime musical performances are scrutinized. These gatherings easily get to the point where they are so fantastic that I have famously advocated for the Super Bowl to be moved to Saturday.

There is something to be said about watching the game with no distractions. No, let me take that back. There is something to be said about watching the Super Bowl with no distractions. We all know that the event taking place in Florida on February 7 is more than just the Buccaneers vs. the Chiefs. It is as much of Americana as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Nestled around the 60 minutes of football are must-see commercials, a national anthem performance, a concert, guaranteed viral moments, and much more.

However, it is impossible to catch every big play, every one-liner, every powerful note if you have more stimuli at your house party than at a Vegas casino. No matter how focused you believe yourself to be, you can’t serve both your fellow drunk partygoers and the CBS broadcast.

Now some of you might be saying so what? You claim that the Super Bowl is the afterthought and that the social gathering is the only thing that makes the football worth it. Okay, I kind of understand what your reasoning. However, this year most of you will probably have to give the broadcast a chance while skipping the big party.

I think you might actually enjoy yourself. You will probably find that four unobstructed hours of musical acts, competitive football, million-dollar ads, and pop culture references aren’t that bad. For optimal enjoyment, I would suggest having your favorite beverage in one hand and your smart phone (to follow real time social media commentary) in the other.

Take advantage of your quieter Super Bowl opportunity. Who knows, if by next year the Big Game still has not been moved to Saturday, you might want to skip the hangover and stay home again. Don’t Blink.

Ushering In February 2021

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Good morning! I felt compelled to write at the beginning of the day as we begin the month of February. We have entered the midpoint of what can be a difficult two-month stretch for many but I hope we can look optimistically at the next four weeks.

Well, before we look at four weeks, I feel it is more appropriate to just look at this first week. It is a big one for the Reser family. It is the birthday week of Beau as he will turn 1 on Friday. The weekend will bring a small joint birthday celebration for Sidney and Beau hosted by my parents. Then, of course, Super Bowl LV will commence on Sunday.

This boy will turn 1 this week.

Shifting back to a monthly outlook, there is no doubt we will be doing a lot of reflecting. Starting with Beau’s birthday on Friday, we will remember the tough days that followed as he spent time in the NICU. But the month will also bring with it fond reminiscing as we mark February 16, the day we brought Beau home and the joyous days that followed as we started life as a family of four.

February is a very spiritual month for us. Lent begins on February 17 and then on February 27 we will celebrate the one-year anniversary of when Beau was baptized and Sid was welcomed into the Catholic Church. What a great time to both sacrifice and be thankful.

Whether you dislike February or enjoy it, I hope you can make the most out of the next 28 days. At the very least, we can use it as a springboard to March and the longer, brighter, and warmer days that is promises. But if at all possible, I challenge you not to write off February as simply a precursor to the spring months. Instead, try to savor each day and make the most of it. Remember, we will never get them back. Have a blessed month my friends. Don’t Blink.