Monthly Archives: May 2023

Walmart Takes A Stand

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Back in October of 2021, the state of Washington issued a ban on single-use plastic bags. This was supposed to save the environment by eliminating plastic bags from grocery and retail stores. However, it seemed to backfire.

A year later, in October of 2022, I wrote that the plastic bag ban didn’t really ban anything—it merely upgraded the item that was supposed to be purged. Grocery stores still used single-use plastic bags, they were just higher quality and you had to pay for them. However, at a fee of 8 cents per bag, I considered the product a bargain. These plastic bags were sturdy, dependable, and re-usable. Most of the time I visited the grocery store I was tempted to buy MORE plastic bags than what I needed just because they were so useful for day-to-day life.

This is me holding one of the new bags in October 2021. I found them very useful.

Well, I have an update for you!…

I can no longer purchase these useful plastic bags at the grocery/retail giant our family shops at the most. Why? Because Walmart has banned all single-use plastic bags—flimsy old version AND sturdy new version—from all its stores in Washington. Wally World has swooped in and given teeth to the initiative that the state started.

Walmart started bracing us for the change a couple months ago and then it actually went into effect in April. At the check out areas you won’t see a plastic bag in sight. Unless you bring your own tote bags or pay 74 cents for the Walmart “reusable shopping bag” (made in China), you will be carrying your groceries out of the store by hand. Try doing that after going Sunday grocery shopping.

This is the reusable Walmart shopping bag that I purchased the other day because I didn’t have any tote bags with me.

I miss the new plastic bags we could purchase. At the same time, I kind of respect Walmart for taking a stand and doing what the state had probably hoped it could do at the onset. I will continue to follow future developments. There are still mom and pop stores around Spokane that offer plastic and paper bags free of charge, but I am curious to see what other major grocery chains do. Stay tuned. Don’t Blink.

Spokanite Thursday Rundown

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Thank you for inviting me into your computer, phone, ipad, or other smart device. I am back with another Thursday Rundown so instead of fawning over the terrific weather, let’s get right to the five topics…

True Spokanites – This week marked the three-year anniversary of when Sidney, Sloan, and Beau arrived in Spokane. I greeted them at the airport and although it had only been two months it felt like two years. I posted this video of our happy reunion. I am so impressed by how everyone has adapted. We miss everyone so much in South Carolina but feel so fortunate that we found such a great home in Washington.

Sidney holds a sign my dad made for her and the kids upon their arrival in Spokane.

Bloomsday Quilt – Those people familiar with Bloomsday know that the finisher t-shirt is a huge deal. Kept under lock and key until the first person finishes, participants will guess and debate what color it will be. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if Vegas has odds on it. When Sloan and I went to the Bloomsday trade show on Friday so I could pick up my bib, there was a beautiful quilt hanging that was stitched with every Bloomsday t-shirt over the course of the race’s 46 iterations (47 now). It was a lot of fun to point out to Sloan all the Bloomsdays I had completed in my youth by pointing to its corresponding shirt on the quilt. A photo op was impossible to pass up (Read my Bloomsday blog post).

Sloan poses for a photo with the Bloomsday t-shirt quilt that was displayed at the Bloomsday Trade Show.

Inspiring Morning Drives – How do I know summer is almost here? When I now drive home from the gym, it is no longer pitch black. Instead, the sun is rising and beautiful landscapes are revealed. With endorphins still buzzing combined with the promise of a new day, these sunrises are the icing on the cake for some pretty powerful moments of solitude in my car.

There is something beautiful and calming about these Spokane sun rises that reveal industrial landscapes. This was the scene outside my windshield yesterday morning.

Power Rangers Throwback Thursday – This week I walked into the living room to see Beau watching a classic from my childhood. Sid had turned on the ORIGINAL Power Rangers series from the 1990s for him. I wasn’t as fanatic about the Power Rangers as my brother was, in fact, I made fun of the series to look cool, but it was still a big part from when I was a kid. My impression nearly 30 years later? I couldn’t believe how old, outdated, and low budget everything was! It truly was a blast from the past.

Beau chilling on the couch while watching Power Rangers.

Mother’s Day Challenge – It is Mother’s Day this Sunday and I would like to pose a challenge to you. Make sure to spoil your wife and your own mom but don’t stop there. On Sunday, reach out to five additional moms and wish them a happy Mother’s Day. It can be a co-worker, friend, teammate, acquaintance, or maybe just a stranger at the grocery store. But try to extend the “Mother’s Day cheer” to multiple moms who you wouldn’t usually celebrate. It won’t go unappreciated.

My mom, Sidney, and my sister pose for a photo during our 2022 Mother’s Day celebration.

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That’s a wrap for tonight. I hope everyone is able to get outside this weekend and enjoy the glorious weather. Thanks for reading and godspeed. Don’t Blink.

Bloomsday 2023: It’s Now A Tradition

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We are building a tradition! After completing my first Bloomsday in a couple decades last year, we did it again this past weekend. I once again joined my brother and sister-in-law for Spokane’s signature road race.

Beau took a moment to snap a selfie with me on Bloomsday morning.

As with last year, we all drove in one vehicle to Ferris High School where a Spokane Transit Authority (STA) shuttle took us downtown. On Sunday, our shuttle was pretty full so I was separated from Glen and Carrie. With no one to talk to, I took the 15-minute ride to gaze out the window and psych myself up for the race.

The four of us arrived on the streets of downtown about 90 minutes before our heat of the race started. Oh, did you catch how I mentioned the four of us? Glen’s friend, Grant, had met us at Ferris to do Bloomsday with us. Anyway, because of our incredible excitement, we arrived a bit earlier than necessary. No matter, we made the most out of the hour and a half by playing “Guess the Tune” to the pump up songs blaring from the Bloomsday speakers.

The four of us hanging near the start line prior to the beginning of Bloomsday 2023.

The long countdown eventually elapsed and the moment had arrived to run! I threw my long sleeve shirt on one of the Riverside trees, spiked a couple of the beach balls flying around, and approached the start line. The four of us crossed the threshold together and we were officially on the clock.

Can you spot my discarded white long sleeve on the tree?

Although we crossed the starting line as a group, we would soon separate. I went off on my own, tackling a course that seemed more familiar to me this year compared to the previous year when I navigated it after a long absence. Despite the threat of rain that loomed over the race the week leading up to it, all precipitation held off and racing conditions were perfect. However, despite the ideal conditions, I found myself struggling more than last year. Perhaps I lacked the additional adrenaline boost I had last year from doing something for the first time in a long time OR perhaps it was just because I was a year older, but it felt like I was grinding a lot more in 2023.

A photo of me navigating the Bloomsday course. Thankfully the race conditions were good but I did have to grind.

Despite the increase in difficulty, I actually achieved something I didn’t expect at all—a PR! I beat my time from last year by two minutes, crossing the finish line at 1 hour, 9 minutes. I didn’t bring a watch or phone with me to downtown so I really had no idea how I was doing until I saw my time at the finish line.

Soaked in sweat, I crossed the finish line at 1 hour 9 minutes.

I waited for Glen, Carrie, and Grant to finish the race. While I awaited their completion, I hung out on the Monroe Street Bridge and people watched. I observed as finishers celebrated with their friends, whipped out their phones to check their times on the app, and posed for photos. Watching my fellow Bloomies rejoice in their accomplishment made the time fly by and soon my crew was reunited with me.

From that point it was off to claim our finisher t-shirts. The four of us took a poll prior to the race with our t-shirt color prediction and none of us entertained the idea that it could possibly be black—not that we were disappointed! We approved of the surprise color (black is slimming, folks) and the abstract design.

A look at my personal 2023 Bloomsday finisher t-shirt.

I threw my t-shirt on over my sweat-drenched race shirt and we headed to Flat Stick Pub, another part of the Bloomsday experience that has become part of the tradition. A beer never tasted so good as I downed that mason jar of hops in a few minutes.

After Bloomsday we went for a beer at Flat Stick Pub. The brew I had tasted amazing.

After the round of beers we hopped on the STA shuttle and headed back to Ferris High School. As I got off the bus, I could feel the soreness start to manifest itself throughout my body. But some aches and pains wouldn’t be enough to derail our victory lap. Still clad in our Bloomsday shirts, my brother and I waltzed into a watering hole close to our homes.

Glen with his victory beer and Bloomsday t-shirt at Stormin’ Norman’s Shipfaced Saloon.

The rest of the afternoon was a bit of a struggle. I was pretty sore by this point and battled cramps. But it was a good sore and my wife helped me with my electrolyte intake by running to the store to get me plenty of Powerade. Also, sitting next to a certain 3-year-old made everything a bit better, too.

Beau hanging with me on the couch on Bloomsday afternoon. I used the Bloomsday app filter for this photo.

Will I be back on the Bloomsday course in 2024? You bet. Will I achieve another PR? Doubtful. But regardless, I love the Spokane community and our beloved Bloomsday race. Stay classy, Bloomies. Don’t Blink.

Prices Going Up

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Everything costs more these days, there really is no debate about that. What you can argue, however, is whether all price hikes are caused by inflation or something else. I am no economist so I can’t give an expert opinion but I can unequivocally say the following: This blogger is often annoyed and impacted by the constant price escalations. Heck, even my blog hosting fees doubled this year!

Just this past week I was a little agitated by a few items that seemed to be priced excessively. Because I am a good American and reserve my right to complain, I thought I would use tonight to point out what they were. Okay consumers, watch out for the following…

Sunscreen ($15.49 for 5 oz. bottle) – In response to last week’s heat wave, Beau’s daycare contacted all parents and requested we bring in a bottle of sunscreen for our respective children. The daycare employees then label each bottle and apply it on the kids before they go out for recess. I am all for the application of sunscreen but I wasn’t enthusiastic about the prices. I went to Safeway on Thursday morning and couldn’t believe how much they wanted for a small bottle. Obviously Sidney had done the sunscreen shopping for the past several years because I could not remember a time when the product was so expensive. I ended up opting for the double pack generic brand that I could secure for $16.99.

A photo I took of the corner of the sunscreen aisle at Safeway. Prices are getting outrageous.

Parking ($18.34) – On Friday, Sloan and I went to the Bloomsday Trade Show in downtown Spokane. Yes, I knew I would have to purchase parking but I had no idea how much that would end up costing. We felt we lucked out by finding a single spot in a packed lot when a car pulled out. I prepared myself to pay up to $10 for the hour we would be there but was a little mortified when presented with the $18.34 minimum charge. By default, the app offered the price for four hours. I managed to highlight just an hour time block but the price was the same. When we left the lot after visiting the trade show, we had paid about $1 per every three minutes we were parked.

If we weren’t already out of our car there is no way I would have paid this.

Lotus Drinks ($11.56 for 2) – I have written before that while I don’t drink coffee, I will sometimes order Lotus energy drinks from the espresso stands that are on every corner in Spokane. Believe it or not, I have even converted Sid to embrace my taste as she has ditched her typical white chocolate mocha for a Lotus. We try to treat ourselves once a week to espresso drinks but it seems like we might have to revert to a can of Rockstar instead. To be fair, these espresso stands have been placing notes on their menu for several months now warning about price increases but paying over $10 for a couple drinks is still a tough pill to swallow.

These were our Lotus drinks from last week. So good but perhaps too expensive.

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Okay, time to stop complaining. To be honest, there are items and services out there that are still affordable so perhaps I will highlight them one of these days. Until then, make smart decisions with your hard-earned money. Don’t Blink.

Scrambled Thursday Rundown

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For the past several days, our state has been home to the best weather in the nation as we have enjoyed sunny skies and humidity-free 80-degree temperatures. We have basked in these pleasant conditions while areas like Washington D.C., New York, and even Los Angeles deal with cool weather and rain. Okay, enough of the weatherman act, let’s get to tonight’s five topics…

Softball Update – Sloan is now exactly halfway through her t-ball season. To commemorate her first five games, I made this “highlight reel” video. I am pleased with Sloan’s hitting and team spirit but I really need to teach her how to throw. The first major test Sloan will have once the second half of the season begins? Snacks! We are responsible for the end-of-game refreshments on Monday. Last t-ball season (and coincidentally enough a year ago on this date) I wrote about this important and highly scrutinized task.

Sloan after her t-ball game last night.

Kentucky Derby – These days I don’t care too much about the Kentucky Derby but I was sure singing a different tune when I lived in the South. When Myrtle Beach was still home, my boss (who is now just my meme bestie—Lindsi) would throw epic Kentucky Derby parties. Prior to coming to Coastal Carolina University, Lindsi worked at Churchill Downs and knew a thing or two about how to do the Derby right. Sidney and I had a lot of fun dressing up for the parties and drinking mint juleps. The photo below was taken exactly four years ago. Hope everyone enjoys the race this weekend!

Sidney and I at Lindsi’s Kentucky Derby Party on May 4, 2019.

Omelette Guy – I have become pretty proficient at making omelettes. I had to master the art of getting the eggs to cook just perfectly before executing the tricky flip but I am getting quite good at it. As someone who has naturally low protein levels, the best way for me to address it is by making a three-egg omelette stuffed with various meats. Let me make you one!

I cooked up this omelette last Friday.

Cereal Straws – The other day we found these Froot Loops Cereal Straws at the store. Because Beau had a good day, I allowed us to get them. The idea is to use one of the straws to drink your cereal bowl milk. However, Beau used them to simply drink milk out of a glass. As someone like me who will usually try anything, you can probably guess my thoughts on the straws by my decision to stay as far away as possible from them.

Although Beau seemed to enjoy the Froot Loop straws, I stayed away.

30-Year Mustache – I am surprised that during the six years I lived in South Carolina, this guy’s mustache never reached out and touched me. Paul Slosar of Summerville holds the Guinness World Record for longest mustache on a living person. He has been growing it for 30 years as it now measures 2 ft 1 in. Good for Paul, but this is definitely not something that I would ever want to aspire to. But if I did have to grow something for 30 years, I think I would opt for the mustache over something like…ummm…fingernails? I remember as a child looking at Guinness World Record books and seeing a guy from India with fingernails measuring over 30 feet that took all sorts of twists and turns. So ridiculous!

Paul Slosar has a pretty long mustache (photo courtesy of Guinness).

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A big weekend is coming up for me so I should probably wrap things up. Got to focus for Bloomsday this Sunday. Hopefully by the time I touch base early next week I won’t be too sore. Don’t Blink.

Anxiety About the Future

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I had a beer with a friend over the weekend and he made an insightful observation. He said that often times we can look at future life events/milestones that are years away with apprehension and anxiety. While the example he provided isn’t mine to tell, I do have a few random ones that I can share…

Sometimes we just need to take it one day at a time and realize that the future will take care of itself

– When I was in elementary school, I was nervous about middle school gym class because of the shower requirement. How was I going to finish gym, take a shower in strange facilities, and then make it to my next class in time? Well, those couple of sleepless nights were for naught because there was no shower requirement and no one used them anyway.

– I had a hard time visualizing myself driving in my later pre-teen years. Someone is going to trust me behind the wheel of 3,000 pounds of steel? In 8th grade, my math teacher had us write letters to our high school senior-selves. She kept those letters and four years later mailed them to us the week of our graduation. In my letter I specifically asked my older self whether I had managed to get my driver’s license and what car I drove.

– In college I constantly fretted over whether I would get a job upon graduation and what it would be. Every night I prayed to God asking for his guidance on what I should do career-wise for the rest of my life.

Despite my concerns, everything in the three examples worked out just fine. Do I have new worries for future life events that don’t deal with middle school showers and getting behind the wheel? Sure. But even though they are always in the back of my mind, I don’t necessarily allow them to gnaw at me. Things have a way of working themselves out and we just need to trust in God’s plan. Don’t Blink.

Hello May!

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As we mark May 1, I am so excited and optimistic about this month. I think when the previous month ends on such a good note, like April did for us, it makes the ensuing one even more desirable. After a final April weekend filled with sunshine, friends, and relaxation, there is plenty of momentum as we usher in the fifth month of the year.

For me, the month of May is an enigma. It is the second phase of that famous expression (April showers brings May flowers) but it isn’t quite summer. School is still in session but hints are apparent that the end of classes are near. Mornings are cool but daylight extends past 8 p.m. Some days require a jacket, some days don’t.

Sloan and Beau eating Happy Meals at Eastgate Lions Park in Walla Walla in May of 2021.

I think it is safe to say that this month is a tune up for summer. In fact, the first four weeks will actually lead us to May’s epic encore and the official start of summer…Memorial Day weekend. Now if that isn’t something to look forward to I don’t know what is.

But May isn’t simply an opening act or a prelude to the June-July-August trifecta. In my opinion, May is pretty swell as a standalone month. Cinco De Mayo, Kentucky Derby, Bloomsday, WSU graduation, the Spokane Lilac Parade, and the aforementioned Memorial Day all make the next 31 days special.

With all that fun about to take place, it is important to denote that it is merely a backdrop for what May is about—women. On May 14 we celebrate Mother’s Day, a holiday that seems way too significant to confine to one day. Thankfully, we take the entire month of May to pay special devotion to our Blessed Virgin Mary. It might come as no surprise to you that the parish we attend, St. Mary, places special emphasis on this month of dedication to our Lady. On May 9, Sloan’s school will hold a special crowning of Mary.

My mom, Sidney, and my sister pose for a photo during our 2022 Mother’s Day celebration.

My major goal for May is to savor each day. Like I said, this month can be overlooked as merely a tune up for summer. This year, we could almost classify it as just a tune up for June as next month will be a mammoth one for the Resers. But I am doing my best to live in the moment and savor this beautiful month as much as possible. I hope you will too. Don’t Blink.