Monthly Archives: January 2025

Sid’s 33rd Birthday Thursday Rundown

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Let it be known, it is still the birthday week of Sid so I will continue to treat her like the Birthday Queen she is. In fact, I will go beyond that and celebrate with vigor throughout the remainder of her birthday month! (Just don’t tell Sid her birthday week ends the same day that her birthday month does). Okay, here we go with tonight’s rundown…

Sid’s Birthday Cake – I think this might be the fourth straight year I got Sid a cake from Rosauers. Looks good, right? Tastes even better! And if you noticed, I wrote “taste” in present tense because we have a lot left over. I opted for a quarter sheet cake. So, if you want to join us for dessert tonight, please don’t hesitate to stop by. One more final note: This was the first time I opted to have Sidney’s nickname (“Ninny”) reflected on the cake.

Sidney’s 33rd birthday cake from Rosauers.

Tooth Update – It was on this date a year ago that Sloan lost her first tooth. I chronicled the experience here. Fast forward 12 months and Sloan has lost an additional 3 teeth. Adult teeth are coming in and the Tooth Fairy is still coming. In fact, the Tooth Fairy made it to South Carolina after Sloan lost a tooth in Myrtle Beach at the very beginning of the year.

Sloan when she lost her first tooth on January 30, 2024, and Sloan smiling for the camera on January 29, 2025.

The 1960s – Far out! Yesterday, I attended the EWU New Year’s Party presented by the Office of the President. The theme was “Fashion Through the Decades” as departments were all assigned a different decade to model their attire after. Advancement (which Marketing and Communications falls under) was given the 1960s. My colleagues dressed to impress but the “gold star” award goes to my boss, Eric Limburg, who played the part of Austin Powers perfectly. I threw something together myself although it was hard—there isn’t necessarily a clean break between when 1960s fashion ends and 1970s fashion begins.

Our Eastern Washington University Advancement team at President McMahan’s New Year’s party. Can you spot me?

21 Flashbacks – As I was looking at old birthday photos of Sid, I came across a picture from when she turned 21. She celebrated the milestone with her first round of legal drinks at Outback. Nothing like a cocktail and steak, right? I thought it would be fun to compare her “21 photo” with mine. I celebrated my 21st birthday with a bar run in Missoula.

Sid and I on our respective 21st birthdays.

Drone Update – Back in December, I voiced my concern regarding the drones that kept filling the New Jersey sky on a nightly basis. I called the consistent aerial events as “unnerving.” Well, we finally got an answer for what was in the sky. President Trump had his White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, relay the message that the drones were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons. These sightings generated even more drones in the sky because it inspired hobbyists to fly their own unmanned aerial vehicles. Alas, the drones didn’t come from an enemy or outer space.

The mystery of the origin of the drones over Jersey is now solved.

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Thanks for joining me tonight. Please pray for those who lost their lives in the D.C. air crash. Also, let’s pray for the families of the victims and those participating in the recovery effort. Don’t Blink.

Sid Is 33

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When I turned 33, I called it my “Mrs. Pryor Year.” Melva Pryor was a favorite teacher of mine who taught me in elementary school. She was my teacher for third grade and that year she turned 33. I remember thinking that age seemed so old and from that point forward it became a milestone birthday in my mind.

Today, another amazing teacher turns 33. Although it has been nearly five years since Sidney last taught in a classroom, her teaching skills come in handy each day. I hope she puts them to use tonight as she instructs Sloan how to make all those candles fit on her birthday cake!

Happy Birthday, Sidney! Today she turns 33 (photo courtesy of Nicole Lynn Photos).

Okay, sorry, I always try to include a bad joke in these birthday blog posts. But before we focus on today’s special occasion and the 364 days that will follow, let’s look back at what was an extraordinary year of life for Sid: she organized two exceptional birthday parties (Bluey-themed and Taylor Swift-themed), presented at two weekend retreats, pulled off a surprise cross-country trip for the kids, earned a promotion, and received a prestigious award at work. And that just scratches the surface!

Yes, 32 was good.

As she begins her trip around the sun as a 33-year-old, I know it is going to be epic. The career achievements she attained this past year will bear beautiful fruit this year but you will have to stay tuned to learn the specifics. Sid’s devotion to Christ continues to inspire and she has set herself up for even greater ways to evangelize this year. Finally, she has shown zero signs of wanting to trade in her title as the best mom/wife so expect more unique birthday parties, special memories, and classroom project volunteering.

Happy birthday, Sid! I admire your fearlessness, love for others, and willingness to chart your own path. I love you and can’t wait for these next 52 weeks. Don’t Blink.

Marky Mark

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It was a Mark Wahlberg weekend for us. On Friday night, Sidney and I had the opportunity to enjoy a date night together. We ventured to downtown Spokane where we ate at P.F. Chang’s and then we went across the street to River Park Square where we visited the AMC Theater to watch “Flight Risk.” Wahlberg plays a bald-headed villain who pilots a plane with a U.S. marshal and captured fugitive on board with the hopes of leading them astray. Sid and I appreciated the rare chance to watch a move in the theater and were quite entertained by what transpired on the big screen.

Our tickets for “Flight Risk.”

On Saturday night, we watched “The Union” on Netflix. Wahlberg had a full head of hair in this one as he is recruited by his high school sweetheart (Halle Berry) into a covert organization to embark on an espionage mission. Let’s just say we didn’t gain much by watching it.

Even though the second Wahlberg movie of the weekend was a dud, it doesn’t mean that we won’t ever watch another film with him in it. My wife is a huge Marky Mark fan. In fact, her dad is too. Whenever those two get a chance to watch a Wahlberg movie together, you better believe they are going to cook up the popcorn and remain glued to the TV from start to finish.

I have grown to be a Mark Wahlberg fan, too. He is a versatile actor but also a faith-filled person. Wahlberg is a devout Catholic who has used his platform to evangelize and bring others closer to Christ. Talk about a role model!

When I think of Mark Wahlberg, three favorite movies come to mind…

We are Mark Wahlberg fans!

3. The Departed – Talk about a trip! This film has you guessing the whole way through and nothing beats the final 20 minutes when the cops and gangsters are both trying to figure out who infiltrated their respective organizations. Wahlberg didn’t need to carry the cast because he had Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, and Alec Baldwin helping him out.

2. Fr. Stu – This movie is a true story about a rough-around-the-edges guy who dabbled in boxing, acting, and plenty of booze before meeting a special girl. They started dating and her faith influenced Stu so much that he converted to Catholicism. After a near death motorcycle accident, Stu decides to end the relationship and begin the process of becoming a priest. Watching “Fr. Stu” was so powerful because you could tell Wahlberg was playing it with authenticity and reverence. One cool fact: My friend, Fr. Kevin Oiland, actually went to seminary with Fr. Stu.

1. Lone Survivor – Possibly my favorite war movie ever, Mark Wahlberg plays Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrel. The film had me on pins and needles the entire time and the scene where he thanks the local Afghan tribe for shielding him from the Taliban after his rescue gives me goosebumps. It is possibly the most memorable movie I have ever watched in a theater. After a stoic and respectful audience watched in silence from beginning to end, a thunderous ovation endued the moment the credits rolled.

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After that ode to Mark Wahlberg, I feel like Sidney and I need to find another movie of his to watch tonight. Any suggestions? Don’t Blink.

Golden Tire Thursday Rundown

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Was that a long college football season or what?! Even though I didn’t watch a minute of Ohio State’s victory on Monday night, I was sad that Notre Dame failed to complete an epic comeback. Okay, let’s get to tonight’s five topics…

So Lucky – On Monday, I found myself looking at my tire in a Papa Murphy’s parking lot. A screw was lodged in my tire. Not wanting to yank it out, I drove to a nearby Perfection Tire to let the professionals deal with it. Upon seeing the situation, the employee told me I was going to need a new tire. After accepting the quote he gave me, the guy sprayed a substance on my tire and removed the screw. To his astonishment (and my joy), the screw was just a tad longer than what you can see in the below photo and there was no puncture. I left the parking lot pretty happy that I got to keep the $150 I was ready to throw down for a new tire.

Thankfully my tire survived.

Scavenger Hunt Anniversary – I might need to repeat this with Beau. On this date four years ago, my sister and I staged a Dollar Tree scavenger hunt (back when everything was still $1) for her kids and Sloan. They had to find items such as “a green food,” “something to use in the bathtub,” “a red drink,” and more. Watching them run through the store and observing the items they selected was a blast. If you want to do something fun and affordable with your kids this weekend, you might consider your own Dollar Tree scavenger hunt.

Sloan holds the card she picked out to satisfy the “greeting card to send a friend” item on the scavenger hunt list.

Sour Powerade – The other day at WinCo I thought I found a bargain. At a display by the checkout lanes, Powerades were on sale for 48 cents each. But these weren’t just regular Powerades, they were a line of the sports drink I had never heard of before…SOURS. As someone who loves to try fun/new products, I bought several. I quickly learned why they were so heavily discounted. No bait and switch here, all flavors under this line were really SOUR. However, that’s pretty much all they were…an obvious shot of sourness with no detection of flavor or quench of thirst. A total fail for sure.

These Powerade Sours were terrible!

Texas Roadhouse Experience – Last Saturday, my family went to Texas Roadhouse for the first time in at least a couple years. Two things surprised me: First, the prices were actually much better than I remembered. Pretty much everything was under $20 and came with two sides. Add on unlimited rolls and peanuts and you have an incredible value (and a potential stomach ache). The second thing that surprised me was that the restaurant was still playing Christmas music. I joked with Sid that Texas Roadhouse celebrates Christmas even longer than us Catholics do 😂. Although the food itself was so-so, we had a nice time.

I ordered a cheeseburger at Texas Roadhouse this past Saturday.

Back in Action – I really wanted to enjoy this movie because I am a big Kyle Chandler fan. Throw in Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, and Glenn Close for good measure. What can go wrong? Ugh, I didn’t like this movie. The premise is that a duo of skilled government operatives (Diaz and Foxx) go off the grid to live a normal live and to raise a family. But they are then brought “back into action” to secure a piece of technology that would change the world if it landed in the wrong hands. I could deal with the fact that the movie is totally unbelievable and outrageous. But what really annoyed me was how they tried to overcomplicate everything and the over the top acting. It was seriously like I was watching one of the ridiculous “challenge-based” YouTube videos that Sloan loves where everyone acts so dramatic. I wouldn’t recommend “Back in Action.”

“Back In Action” wasn’t worth my time.

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Hope all is well with you now that 2025 is truly in swing. Crossing my fingers that your resolutions are intact and that you are happy. If you need motivation, know that Blue Monday is now over and the days are noticeably getting longer. Don’t Blink.

Finally! A Myrtle Beach Winter Wonderland

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I had never seen a community so in the dumps. It was seven years ago this month that Myrtle Beach was robbed of a post-Christmas gift that was supposed to turn the Grand Stand into a winter wonderland. Despite a week of promising forecasts and assurances from area meteorologists that 3-5 inches of snow would blanket the city, it turned out to be a “busted forecast.” A snow-deprived region would once again go without. I thought I captured the sentiment well.

This is the extent of the snow we received at our house in 2018 after consistent forecasts promised us 3-5 inches. 

That disappointment from 2018 isn’t as bitter today. Mother Nature finally came through and covered Myrtle Beach with at least five inches of snow in most places. My nephew, who was devastated by the botched forecast from seven years ago, can finally experience the magic that so many of us take for granted.

After the bitter disappointment my nephew experienced back in 2018, I texted him this morning to celebrate the snow that finally came.

It has been pretty cool (and a little surreal) to see some of the recent images from the place I lived for almost six years. From the Coastal Carolina University campus to Carolina Forest to the Boardwalk, I must admit that snow looks pretty good on my former community.

A beautiful snowy scene near the Oceanfront Bar and Grill in Myrtle Beach (photo courtesy of Olivia Thompson).

So bust out the sleds, build that fort, and start a snow ball fight because you deserve this, Myrtle Beach! Oh, did you really have to ask? YES, school and work are canceled!

A snow Myrtle Beach Boardwalk (photo courtesy of the City of Myrtle Beach).

But, in all honesty, I hope everyone in Myrtle Beach and throughout the South also exercises some caution. With the accumulations received, many people will drive for the first time in true winter conditions. Take it slow!

Snow covers the sports complex at Coastal Carolina University (photo courtesy of Lawson Cannon).

As we currently have 0 inches of snow in Spokane, I will live vicariously through my South Carolina family and friends as they enjoy the winter bliss. It is about time! Don’t Blink.

Take a Bow, Carrie Underwood

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I watched the entire Inauguration yesterday because I always watch them. I could write a lot about it, but instead I want to focus on one of the non-political, side stories that emerged.

How about a standing ovation for Carrie Underwood?

The way Carrie Underwood kept her cool and thrived under immense pressure was admirable.

I think all of us were sweating bullets for her yesterday when the background music wouldn’t start. Well, perhaps I should say “most of us” as I am sure some viewers who were unfair to Underwood for accepting the singing engagement were probably licking their chops.

The awkward and tense silence was broken when an Inauguration production coordinator locked eyes with Underwood and told her they couldn’t get the background track to play. The superstar then took matters into her own hands. She politely recognized what the staffer said, smiled, remarked “I can just sing it,” asked the audience to join her, and then she belted out an acappella rendition of “America the Beautiful” that was probably 10X better than anything she would have done with the background music.

Underwood was thrown a major curve ball on one of our country’s greatest stages and under immense pressure she hit a grand slam.

I remember giving a presentation during my sophomore year of high school in a humanities class that didn’t go the way I envisioned it. From that point forward, I told my Type-A self that if I ever stood in front of people again, I would be prepared.

For the past 23 years since that moment, I like to think I have lived up to my personal pledge. Whether I am speaking at a professional conference, work meeting, church retreat, or family special occasion, I prepare so I am confident and on-point when show time comes. This preparation even extends to scouting the venue beforehand and testing technology to make sure things are ready to go…luxuries I am sure Carrie Underwood didn’t have.

My talents don’t extend much to improvisation and reacting off-the-cuff. No matter how much I try to set myself up for success by putting in the time prior to doing something in front of people, if you threw a wrench at me like what was hurled at Underwood, I would fizzle.

Now of course you might say, Carrie Underwood is a professional and it is par for the course to adjust. Well, I don’t know about that. No matter how good of an entertainer you are, performing a song for every living U.S. President along with other major politicians, dignitaries, and legends in front of an enormous live TV audience is no easy feat. To just perform it in a decent and composed way is a big enough challenge—never mind pulling it off with something completely unexpected and debilitating taking place.

Bravo to Carrie Underwood. She rolled with some brutal punches and managed to sing the song with an abundance of class and grace. You better believe I am taking note of her amazing example of mental toughness and resolve…and I hope her haters are too. Carrie Underwood was meant to sing “America the Beautiful” on that stage yesterday. Don’t Blink.

My Top 5 Favorites Cheeses

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I don’t feel like I would do Martin Luther King Jr. justice if I tried to write about his impact and I don’t want to get political with today’s Inauguration. So, I guess I will write a cheesy blog post instead. Sharing today with MLK Day and Inauguration Day is National Cheese Lover’s Day. Almost five years ago, I wrote about my cheese preferences but I didn’t go as far as to rank them. I shall do that today by sharing my top five cheeses.

Let’s talk about the cheeses I love! Spoiler alert: parmesan cheese might make an appearance.

5. Parmesan Cheese (Grated/Shredded) – When I talk about parmesan cheese, I am referring to the kind you sprinkle on spaghetti. Oh wait, I don’t just “sprinkle” it, I make it rain and/or cover any possible Italian food item ranging from pasta to sandwiches to soups to pizza. When I go to the Olive Garden, our server is going to get a workout as he turns the handle on the parmesan cheese dispenser before I eventually tell him to stop. The only other person who I know who likes parmesan cheese more than me? My wife!

4. Queso – Is there anything more enjoyable than a hot bowl of queso paired with fresh chips? It is probably my favorite appetizer. I also really enjoy queso inside a burrito. If I could tolerate eating it by itself, it would probably rank higher on this countdown but at least it made it. Whether white or yellow queso, please pass it my way.

3. Blue Cheese – You either love it or you hate it. When it comes to my own palate, I absolutely love it. Blue cheese crumbles are completely agreeable with me as I enjoy them on burgers, salads, and mac and cheese. The taste of blue cheese is unique and strong—a combination that doesn’t agree with everyone but it surely does with me. Yes, go heavy on the blue cheese crumbles.

2. Cougar Gold – When I worked at Washington State University, I became acquainted very quickly with the institution’s signature cheese. In fact, I even produced a video about it where University of Wisconsin fans touted how incredible it was. Packaged in a can, Cougar Gold is a white sharp cheddar that has a delicious taste and even better texture. It pairs perfectly with crackers but go ahead and just eat it straight from the can…you won’t be able to stop.

1. Pepper Jack – My favorite cheese is pepper jack. A spice lover like me can’t resist the heat that a single slice packs. I don’t think I have ever ordered a Subway sandwich without pepper jack on it. At cookouts during the summer, people who truly know me will have a slice on hand to top my burger with while they are cooking it on the grill. Flavorful, spicy, and colorful, I believe pepper jack is truly a cheese of deliciousness and beauty.

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Dang, when I took a look at my list, I would say I am a fan of a wide variety of cheeses. From blue cheese to pepper jack to queso, I am a man of many cheesy tastes. What is your favorite? Don’t Blink.

Fantastic Thursday Rundown

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After getting back into the swing of things with the first Thursday Rundown of 2025 last week, I am stoked to begin a streak. Let’s get started with tonight’s five topics…

Baptism Birthday Bash – This past weekend, we attended the latest Family Faith Night at our parish. The theme this month was Baptism Birthday Bash as it coincided with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Sunday. Marie Bricher, our director of religious education at St. Mary, once again did a phenomenal job of presenting the content. She covered the significance of baptism, the necessity of baptizing infants, and the importance of celebrating our own baptismal birthdays (I was baptized by Fr. Adrian Van der Hyden on Nov. 30, 1986, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Walla Walla). The kids played games, took photos in front of the “happy birthday” backdrop with their favorite priest, and decorated cupcakes.

My family had a really nice time at the latest St. Mary (Spokane Valley) Family Faith Night. It was a baptism theme.

Fargo – Over the weekend, Sidney and I decided to make a super random movie choice. We decided to give Peacock a chance and I pretty much blindly chose “Fargo.” I had heard of the movie before (mostly thanks to the song “Hey Leonardo”) but had no idea what it was about. Turns out the 1996 film is about a family man who hires a couple of outcasts to kidnap his wife so he can scheme ransom money out of his father-in-law. “Fargo” actually exceeded my expectations as I got a big kick out of the “Minnesota Nice” midwestern accents and solid performance from Frances McDormand. Also, as a marketer, I enjoyed how product placement was inserted into the movie. If you have nothing else to watch and you subscribe to Peacock, give “Fargo” a shot.

It took me long enough, but Sid and I watched “Fargo” this past weekend.

Decade Ago – On this date 10 years ago, Sidney and I went to the movie theater to watch “American Sniper.” To this day, I categorize it as one of the best acting jobs turned in by Bradley Cooper. The amount of preparation he devoted to playing the role of Chris Kyle was evident. But what I want to focus on is the price of a movie ticket. As you can see from the stub below, a single ticket in 2015 was $8.75. When Sidney and Sloan went to “Wicked” at the end of December, it was $15.99 for an adult ticket. Heck, when we went to “Moana” on Thanksgiving, the adult matinee price was $11.99. If movie ticket prices increase the same way they did the previous 10 years, we could be looking at movie tickets that are north of $30 in 2034.

My ticket from “American Sniper” back in 2015. It was a superb movie.

TBT – Thought I would share a throwback photo in tonight’s rundown. I chose this image because my dad always mentions that one of his favorite memories of me as a little boy was when I would throw on my favorite white hat and “mow the lawn.” What caught my eye about this photo was how old the cars in our garage look! Talk about dating myself. On the other side of the coin, check out the camcorder my dad is holding. For this photo to have been taken probably in the 1989-1991 range, I would have expected it to be some gigantic video camera resting on his shoulder.

The cars look old but my dad’s camcorder looks surprisingly modern.

Dry January – It seems like “Dry January” is a real thing this year. A couple nights ago, Sid remarked to me that she knows many people who are doing it. This morning, we threw out a bunch of beer in the garbage. However, I can’t claim it was because we jumped on the Dry January band wagon. Rather, it was because the beer expired long ago! When readers learn that it was Bud Light beer that was tossed, I am sure many of my IPA-loving friends will reach out and say that is where it belongs (expired or not!). Kudos and support to all those at the halfway point of Dry January.

We threw away Bud Light this morning simply because we didn’t drink it in time.

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Thank you for reading. Let’s continue to pray for those impacted by the California fires, especially those who have lost their homes and those who are first responders. May we never know the hell they are experiencing. Don’t Blink.

The “Love You, Forever” Moments That Hit Hard

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As a parent, I have encountered many full circle moments. Things that my parents told me as a kid that would happen once I became a dad have—in fact—happened. One small example of this is the book “Love You, Forever.” I remember my mom reading this to me as a child and struggling to get through the whole book. When a parent gets emotional, it is something you remember. When I questioned my mom about why she was crying, she told me it was something I would understand once I got older.

When Sloan was young, I read “Love You, Forever” and definitely felt what my mom was talking about. Last night, I read the book to Beau and, like my mom, struggled to finish. It seems like as each year passes, it takes more and more of an emotional toll on me.

I thought tonight I would reflect on four of the pages in “Love You, Forever” that really tug at my heartstrings. I know I usually organize most of my blog posts in groups of five but I needed to give Sloan and Beau an equal number of chances to hold the book. So here we go…

Our copy of “Love You, Forever” resting on the couch.

Aging – This spread comes about halfway through the book and stands out to me because of the mom’s appearance. Whereas the son ages each time you turn the page, this is the first time the mom looks noticeably older. Last night, Beau said “Is that a grandma?” Those of us older than 4 can tell it isn’t a grandmother but rather the mom at a different stage in her life. The bright smile and energy is still there, but the page chronicles the reality of aging—even of moms.

This spread is the first one to really show the mom’s aging. It conveys a fact of life.

The Call – This spread is very emotional. The son is going about his life and then receives a call that stops him in his tracks. You can tell the concern on his face. The mom’s request for him to come visit her is so sweet, brave, and sad. And then the page really brings the tears. The mom can’t finish singing the song because she is “too old and sick.”

A sad call to take. The mom not being able to finish the song is devastating.

No Words – In my opinion, I don’t even think the author needed to include words on this page. With roles completely reversed, the son cuddles his mom in his arms while sitting in the rocking chair. It is the ultimate display of an adult child returning the love, care, and guidance he was given. Again, the illustration says it all.

Roles are reversed as the son finishes the song.

Thoughts – Many of you might think it is strange that I find this spread the most impactful of the book. However, it just hits me. The author nails it with the single sentence he uses: When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs. Even the cat looking at him knows the sadness filling his soul. The author doesn’t need to tell us his mom has passed, we can just share in his grief. Poignant and touching.

This spread hits the hardest for me in the entire book.

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“Love You, Forever” is a classic. Beyond the emotion it invokes, it conveys so much about the cycle of life, parenting, and paying it forward. Do you have a favorite scene or theme from the book? Don’t Blink.

Fun With Banished Words in 2025

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In January 2022, I had some fun chatting with my WSU colleagues about that year’s Banished Words List. My enthusiasm from that conversation led to a blog post and in 2023 I wrote a blog post about that year’s list as well. I don’t know what happened in 2024 other than I refrained from using all overused words because I did not write about that year’s list.

But my language is suspect again because I am all over the 2025 Banished Words List. For those who are unfamiliar, Lake Superior State University curates the list each year by identifying “overworked, redundant, oxymoronic, clichéd, illogical, and nonsensical” words and terms. That reminds me, have I ever chatted about my family’s streaming habits?…

This streaming era is getting out of control. Period. We utilize a handful of platforms and it actually makes choosing a movie/show 100% harder (IYKYK). When Disney+ dropped it was supposed to be a game changer for our kids but it just made things more expensive. Beau watches Skibidi Toilet on YouTube more than he watches Mickey Mouse…talk about cringe. Sorry not sorry, but I am tempted to cancel some subscriptions or just go back to cable.

A look at the 2025 Banished Words.

When I reflect on this list, I am guilty of using some of the words frequently in my writing. Although not influenced by Taylor Swift in any way, I use era to categorize periods of time. In fact, I devoted a blog post about “eras” while Sid and I even delivered an entire presentation on the word.

I also ashamedly insert utilize in my writing like it is going out of style. You can also call me out for using sorry not sorry and cringe from time to time as well. Honestly, what right does a blogger in his late 30s have to use those expressions?

I do agree that a couple of the words on the list need immediate retirement. The first one is game changer. It belongs in the same category as “the next level” when it comes to phrases that lazily try to convey an innovative upgrade. I also hope to never hear the word Skibidi again but my son will prevent that wish from ever coming true. Perhaps at the very least I will finally find out what it means. Because IYKYK, right?

What are your thoughts on this year’s banished list? Is there a word that you can’t seem to stop using OR is there one that needed to be banned yesterday? Come on everyone, let’s get cringe 😂. Don’t Blink.