Monthly Archives: December 2025

2025: Stepping Up

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About three weeks ago, I sat down on the couch with the kids prior to school. Usually things are hectic in the morning and I don’t get the chance to hang with them before loading up the car.

I asked Sloan and Beau a question: What is a leader?

“The person who stands at the front of the line,” my son responded.

Hmmm. Not exactly what I was going for.

“Someone who sets an example and shows people how to do things,” Sloan said, before adding, “And brings others closer to God.”

In 2025, the themes of leadership and prioritization emerged (photo taken by Nicole Lynn Photography).

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It has been a good year. As I write in every one of these annual entries, even-numbered years always bring change and disruption to our family while odd-numbered years usually bring more consistency. This pattern once again held true as 2025—although busy and adventurous—didn’t pack life changes or any “rug pulled from under us” moments.

Our 2025 didn’t pack too many surprises…which isn’t a bad thing.

It was a busy 12 months for our family. Compared to last year, we boarded more planes, embarked on more trips, played more sports, and even lost more teeth. Let’s see if I can summarize 2025 in two paragraphs…

Usually, for us, the first half of the year is mellower than the second half. Don’t know if that was the case in 2025. The year started in South Carolina with Sidney’s family. Once back west, Sid celebrated her 33rd birthday at the end of January and Beau marked his “golden” birthday (5 years old) in early February. During this latter month, Sloan asked me to be her date to the Daddy/Daughter dance and she won a Taylor Swift trivia competition. Speaking of my sassy daughter, Sid threw her a spa-themed 8th birthday party in March and then our family friend, Fidela, took her to the real thing shortly after. Sports ramped up in April with soccer and t-ball seasons but the real highlight of the month was going on our first cruise. Before our Caribbean tans disappeared, we were off to Disney World a couple weeks later. June was nuts with participation in a color run, Catholic Summer Camp, a wedding in Brewster, and a family affair at Hoopfest.

Sloan and I living our best lives on Freedom of the Seas. Our family went on our first cruise in April 2025.

In July, we attended numerous community events from park concerts to parades to outdoor movies. But the ultimate pinnacle was becoming godparents to Neteyam. In August we watched my niece get married, spent 24 hours in Walla Walla, and vacationed in Leavenworth. Sidney’s uncle and aunt paid us a visit and I went with my brother and dad to Seattle to watch the Mariners play. Baseball was a constant theme throughout the summer as I took my kids to several Spokane Indians games and we even branched out and attended a professional soccer match. The fall brought the Spokane Interstate Fair, lots of high school football, a visit from Sid’s parents, and a weekend trip to Missoula. Both kids played fall soccer seasons, Sloan joined Chess Club, and Sid and I presided over our second Engaged Encounter retreat of the year. During the winter Beau played basketball, we tried our luck at bingo, we hired a babysitter for the first time, and we attended as many holiday events as possible.

During the second half of the year, Sid’s parents came and visited. We had the pleasure of taking them to Montana for a portion of that visit. This photo was at a Griz football game.

Dang, did you catch all that? If you didn’t, perhaps what I am about to discuss next will be easier to digest. As all the fun mentioned above transpired, a couple themes that defined the year developed…

The first theme of 2025 for us was leadership. In January, Sid and I were elected leaders of our Spokane Catholic Engaged Encounter chapter. We didn’t seek the position nor expect it, but it has been a blessing (and a lot of work) to oversee such an important ministry. Teaming up with Sid makes it even sweeter. 2025 also marked the first full year in my marketing director role at EWU. As I continue to manage more people than I have ever before, I seized the chance to sharpen my leadership chops. Additionally, Sid volunteered for a 24-hour work innovation challenge and ran point of her squad. Despite all that, Sid and I realized where our leadership is needed most of all: in our family. I feel like we have relished the role God has given us to be the best guiders and examples for/to our children.

Sid and I were elected leaders of the Spokane Catholic Engaged Encounter chapter in January 2025. In this photo we pose with Ric and Cindy Gaunt (former leaders) plus Fr. Ken Krall during an October 2025 retreat.

Speaking of Sid and I, the other theme that manifested itself in 2025 was prioritization. And what I mean by this is placing my relationship with my wife above all earthly things—including our children. The necessity of this became apparent during one of the Engaged Encounter weekends we gave in May. The couple we presented with conveyed the importance of this prioritization and it really hit home. Sid and I have enjoyed a fruitful marriage but I thought forever that I was “doing it right” by embracing a “kids are always first” attitude. We tweaked things after that retreat and things have never been better.

I am lucky to have such an awesome wife; we had a wonderful 2025. #Prioritization

With those two unique themes defining 2025, the big three values I pinpoint each year continued to be critical in our lives…

Let’s start with family. The prioritization theme I just finished explaining contributed to the positive dynamic in the Reser household this year. The truth is that when the husband/wife bond is placed before all earthly relationships, everything else—children, extended families, friends, in-laws—will seamlessly and orderly fall right in line behind it. With Sid and I taking more time for each other—even hiring a babysitter at times—we set the necessary foundation for solid family life. It was a blessing to spend time with Sloan and Beau in fun spots like the Caribbean, Orlando, and Leavenworth but we continued to make memories inside our own home. Perhaps some of the best bonding time occurred when we had movie nights centered on “classic” films that Sid and I watched as children. My parents’ home continued to be a haven for my siblings and our respective families to gather for birthdays, holidays, Sunday dinners, and special events. We were blessed to see Sid’s parents three times this year—South Carolina in January, Florida in May, and Washington in October. Perhaps I should add “Montana” to the October meeting because a true highlight of that trip was taking “Gami and Dada” to Big Sky Country for their first time when we spent a weekend in Missoula. The Florida excursion was especially meaningful because in addition to my in-laws, Sid’s siblings and their families joined us as well.

Welcome to the Reser family Thanksgiving table! We had a lot of good times around my parents’ dining room table in 2025.

Our faith was in action in 2025. Thanks to our election as Engaged Encounter leaders, we spent lots of time nurturing the ministry through planning retreats, running meetings, hosting social events, and doing the behind-the-scenes work to keep our chapter healthy. Sloan and Beau finished and started school years at St. Mary Catholic School, attended Catholic Summer Camp, and showed up for as many Family Faith Nights as possible. It was a big year for Sloan and the sacraments. She made her first confession and started prep for the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Sid and I mentored two couples for marriage, gave two Engaged Encounter retreats, and became Godparents again. Other highlights included hiking to a sunrise mass, attending the Easter vigil, joining a Catholic young family group, continuing my membership with the Knights of Columbus, and worshipping as guests at some beautiful Catholic churches across the country. For the second year, I made it through the entire bible. We mourned the death of Pope Francis and cheered the election of Pope Leo. We celebrated the ordination anniversaries of Fr. Ken Krall (54th), Fr. Mike Kwiatkowski (47th), Fr. Pat Kerst (35th), and Fr. Jeff Lewis (14th).  It was a faithful year that can best be described in four words: Thanks be to God!

Me, Sidney, Fr. Jeff Lewis, Fidela, Neteyam, and Dylan pose for a photo in the St. Mary sanctuary after the baptism on July 6, 2025. Thanks be to God! (Photo courtesy of Dylan/Fidela/Family).

Our careers continued to progress thanks to the supportive family and strong faith I just highlighted. Sid earned her company’s national In-Synch Award, traveled to Orlando for special recognition, and was promoted to underwriter. I enjoyed my first full year at Eastern Washington University as I grew our team, marketed our academic programs, generated community pride for the return of commencement to Cheney, and produced the 2025 EWU holiday video. But my proudest accomplishment in 2025 was writing a successful proposal that funded our marketing program and enabled the launch of a major brand awareness campaign. The key to our professional success in 2025 was the support we gave each other. Whether it was visiting each other at our respective offices, attending one another’s work events, or just being a cheerleader/open ear, there was never a doubt that we valued the workplace growth of each other in the same way that we value our own.

It was a good professional year for both Sid and me. This photo shows me with my colleagues in November 2025 with communications director Linn Parish on the left and digital marketing supervisor Ginny Baxter on the right.

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My apologies, these year-end blog posts always run long. As I prepare to sign off, I want to mention those our family knew who passed away this year: Ed Galloway, James Gibson, Rob Heacock, and Susan Yarborough. May perpetual light shine on them all.

Although it has been a good year for our family, we did lose some really good people. This photo was taken on Christmas Day at my parents’ house.

Thanks to everyone who entered/remained in our orbit over the past 365 days. We thank God for his many blessings and hope to use the lessons learned and the experiences gained throughout 2025 in the years to come. Don’t Blink.

My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2025

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Let’s make it a dozen. Today marks the 12th time I have scrutinized my blogging from the past year to recognize my top posts. A tradition I started in 2014, I affectionately refer to this entry as “The Big Blog Post.”

With an unofficial title like that, I always try to bring my “A” game for this post. When crafting this countdown, I take great care to select posts that matter to me. Entries that required extra effort, mixed in creativity, recognized special people, or adequately documented major milestones will always appear before posts that only stand out because of high views or social media popularity. Quality over vanity.

For the fifth straight year, I increased my blogging output by penning 188 posts in 2025 (2020: 172 posts, 2021: 173 posts, 2022: 180 posts, 2023: 185 posts, 2024: 187 posts). Faced with my highest number of published posts since 2019, I had the challenging task of identifying the top 5% of my work for this prestigious recognition. I think I did okay…

10. Soda and App Family (March 19) – Sid and I are aware of our different familial upbringings and we usually see the humor in it. One such instance occurred this year when we watched a TikTok video about “Soda and App” families and “Only Water” families. In my blog post I highlighted that dining out with the Mathis family usually meant fun/colorful drinks and a couple appetizers for the table. In my family, we stuck to water and if we ate anything prior to the main course it was either free bread or free chips that the restaurant provided. Our different ordering preferences growing up established the way we order as our own family of four. This entry makes the list because it is humorous but it also conveys how traditions from our families of origin can be fused together to make new ones.

Our family eating at Prospector’s, a delicious restaurant in North Spokane. Portions were so huge at this restaurant that there was never a need to order appetizers.

9. The Fun of Taste Tests (September 17) – My my my, we are starting strong with food-related blog posts, huh? Well, losing weight wasn’t one of my goals for 2025. In an attempt to offer my readers a fun idea to do with their families on a rainy day, I suggested unofficial taste tests conducted right in the living room. I demonstrated how easy it is to conduct such a test by re-hashing some of the ones my family conducted in the past. From jalapeno chips to cookie dough ice cream to lemon lime soda, I offered not just examples but tips as well. This post was entertaining to write and I hope I sparked some inspiration among my readers.

Sloan received the opportunity of a 5-year-old’s lifetime when I told her she would get to sample three lemon lime sodas.

8. Wishing Your Spouse “Happy Birthday” On Social Media – This post made the countdown because it did spark some debate and because I had a strong opinion about it. A smug influencer made a cringy video in which he declared that spouses who wish each other “happy birthday” on social media are insecure. Hmmmm. Although I conceded that I might be subconsciously insecure, I made it clear that I consciously wish Sidney a “happy birthday” on social media for other reasons. In the post I fleshed them out, including the desire to notify others that it my wife’s birthday, the creativity that social media allows for birthday wishes, and the documentation/historical aspect that digital communication offers. If the happy birthday/insecure arguments becomes “trendy” in the future, I won’t hesitate to point to this blog post.

I always wish my wife a “happy birthday” on all my social platforms.

7. Falling Down the Stairs (August 19) – Although short and rather insignificant, I knew when I wrote it that this post would make my yearly rundown. This entry takes the reader through my traumatic experience of falling down the stairs and the toll it took on my old body. But what seemed to really make this post shine was my daughter’s response when I told her my fall was caused by tripping on one of her toys. I still don’t appreciate what she said.

A look at the stairs I fell down in our house.

6. One Year An Eag (August 1) – I had multiple work-related posts I considered including but I decided to go with the most significant and all-encompassing option. I celebrated my one-year anniversary at Eastern Washington University by looking back at the main themes from my first 365 days while including a pretty spiffy Dr. Pepper motif. In the post I highlighted the meaningful work I embraced, the powerful work relationships I made, and the growth I experienced. I also questioned whether people telling me “It seems like you have been here much longer than a year” was a good thing or not.

Members of my team and I take a photo during a video shoot at Turnbull National Refuge. My first year at EWU was full of growth and adventure.

5. Our Father/Daughter Dance Tradition (February 11) – Earlier this year, I attended the St. Mary Catholic School Father/Daughter Dance with Sloan for the third consecutive year. Over those three evenings from 2023-25, some special traditions have been established. This blog post shared those traditions and included photos from each dance. I am grateful for this post because I think it will help Sloan and me uphold traditions at future dances and also serve as something to look back on years after my daughter has finished her time at St. Mary.

This post touched on the traditions we have established at the Father/Daughter Dance and showcased photos from all three years.

4. Why We Went to Disney World (May 5) – In 2025, we had the privilege of going on two major vacations: a cruise and a trip to Disney World. However, the blog posts that covered those adventures didn’t make “The Big Blog Post.” Rather, the post I wrote about why we went to visit Mickey did. You see, the only reason why we had the opportunity was because of my wife’s incredible work with her company, Traveler’s Insurance. Sidney won a prestigious award and was granted an all-expenses paid trip to Orlando. This post dove more in-depth about why she received the honor and how she was celebrated once we arrived at Disney World. Yep, the post is brimming with pride but it was the least an awestruck husband could do to properly say CONGRATS to his wife.

Thanks to Sidney’s work performance with Traveler’s Insurance, we were given an all-expenses paid visit to Disney World. This is us at the beach welcome party on Thursday, May 1.

3. Fr. David Gaines Dispensing Healing and Forgiveness (February 7) – Earlier this year, a priest I know was suddenly thrust on the national news outlets after being attacked at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral. Fr. David Gaines was participating in a prayer service from the cathedral’s sanctuary when a mentally ill individual sprinted from the pews and ambushed him. In the post, I expressed how touched I was by the way Fr. Gaines conducted himself both during and after the attack. While the attacker was throwing punches, Fr. Gaines did his best to calm him down. Afterwards, when Fr. Gaines was sought by organizations ranging from TMZ to NBC News (and everything in-between), his message was the same: forgiveness. How inspiring! The post allowed me to convey that I am proud to be Catholic, proud to be part of the Diocese of Spokane, and proud to know Fr. Gaines.

My brother and I receive a blessing from Fr. David Gaines right outside of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral during Bloomsday 2024. About nine months later he would be attacked inside that very same church.

2. Travis Overton: A Kind and Selfless Leader (January 1) – 2024 ended on a sad note when I learned on New Year’s Eve that Travis Overton had passed away unexpectedly. I worked with Travis during my time at Coastal Carolina University and was shocked to learn of his death. I wrote the entire next morning about our history together, his ascension up the career ladder, and how I respected him. I then told a story I had never shared publicly about Travis coming to my rescue during a very vulnerable moment. By far, the post was my most-read entry in 2025 but like I said before—I don’t strongly consider views when building this countdown. Rather, this blog post earned such an esteemed spot because it was a raw tribute to a friend and mentor.

Travis Overton was a special person. This photo is a screenshot from the 2016 holiday video. I was pretty surprised that I didn’t have an actual photo with Travis but you can spot me in the background trying to do a “dance move” in the teal hoodie.

1. Godparents to Neteyam (July 15) – This past summer, Sidney and I received the incredible blessing of becoming godparents again. That’s justification enough to earn the top spot on this countdown! However, the post I wrote regarding our godson receiving the holy sacrament went beyond just Neteyam getting baptized. It also delved into what set us up to become his godparents: our friendship with his mom and dad.

My top blog post of the year chronicles the mass in which Fr. Jeff Lewis baptized Neteyam Perry but it also speaks to our relationship with his parents, Dylan and Fidela. In just about four years we have gone from not knowing them to serving in one of the most important roles one couple can bestow upon another. The post fills in the blanks of those four years and reveals the glue that keeps us so united. It also gives glory to God for the gift of baptism. A post of the year for sure.

Me, Sidney, Fr. Jeff Lewis, Fidela, Neteyam, and Dylan pose for a photo in the St. Mary sanctuary after the baptism on July 6, 2025. Thanks be to God! (Photo courtesy of Dylan/Fidela/Family).

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And that will do it for my top posts of 2025. Thank you for your readership throughout this year and for any feedback you might have about my selections. The plan is to continue to write in 2026 so I hope you will continue to read Don’t Blink as we enter the new year. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s annual year-in-review. Don’t Blink.

Past Annual Top Blog Post Entries
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2024
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2023
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2022
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2021
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2020
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2019
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2018
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2017
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2016
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2015
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2014

Grinchmas

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With Christmas Day now passed (but Christmas Season just getting started), there is one trend that stuck out like a green thumb in the lead up to December 25.

My family noticed that Santa was frequently replaced with the Grinch. Numerous times in December, it was Dr. Seuss’ cranky character that was the main draw over St. Nick. From tree lightings to meet and greets at stores, it was the Grinch who was pressing the button or sitting in the throne—actions and places of honor usually reserved for Mr. Claus.

My thoughts? I think it is a cool deal to have the Grinch appear maybe at a single community event during the holiday season. Keeping his appearance at the novelty level is key. But making the Grinch’s prevalence anywhere near that of Santa oversaturates the character. Additionally, I also think it sends the wrong message during Christmastime.

Don’t get me wrong, I know the entire theme of the Grinch centers on his conversion from a Christmas-hating fiend to a Yuletide-loving pillar of the community. This message should be celebrated with zeal this time of the year. The problem is that at the Grinch appearances I witnessed this season (and the countless others my son watched on YouTube) he shows up in pre-transformation character. The costumes/make up depict him scowling and he acts mischievous. Sorry for my unpopular opinion, but I rather have my kids exposed to a kind man in a red suit than someone trying to replicate the aura of Jim Carrey’s 2000 performance.

With all that said, I thought I would end this post on a fun note instead of a lecturing one. As I mentioned, we encountered the Grinch numerous times the past few weeks. Just like with Santa, there are so many variables when it comes to putting together the “total look” that one Grinch might look completely different than another Grinch. Such was the case for us. Please tell me which Grinch we met “wore it best”…

Grinch at the Union District (Spokane) tree lighting event…

This Grinch we met at the Union District tree lighting ceremony in Spokane was the most human-like.

Grinch at the “Grinch House” Christmas light display…

This Grinch we met at a holiday display in Spokane was probably the kindest Grinch we met.

Grinch at Players & Spectators (bowling alley/fun center)…

This Grinch we met at Players & Spectators in Spokane Valley was by far the most cartoon-ish.

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday week! Don’t Blink.

Beau The Baller

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It has been quite the year for Beau and team sports. He played t-ball for the second straight season in the spring. Much like the first year, it was tough to keep him focused. He tried soccer for the first time this fall. It seemed to fit him better and he was able to expend more energy. Finally, this past Saturday, Beau finished his debut basketball season. He might not be Lebron but he seemed like a natural.

Beau played basketball this year for the Spokane YMCA league.

Beau played in the YMCA league on a team comprised of his male classmates from St. Mary Catholic School. A parent had discovered that the Y was offering a kindergarten league and asked everyone else in the class if we wanted to sign up our sons. Even though Sid and I were itching for a break from sports, the opportunity was too good to pass up.

You probably noticed that I mentioned kindergarten league and your first thought may have been “Isn’t that a little too young for organized basketball?”

Beau dribbles/holds the basketball during a recent game at Horizon Middle School.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t think the same thing (at first). However, the league really does try to cater to 5-year-olds. The baskets are set at lower heights and they hire some of the most patient and supportive referees. Traveling? Just like in the NBA, it is rarely called.

The YMCA league helped make the game relevant/accessible to Beau’s kindergarten team. The referees knew exactly how to call the game in a way that kept the action moving and encouraged the kids. The official in this photo was phenomenal (Beau is #33).

Yes, the style of play could give a normal basketball fan some anxiety. Like I mentioned, kids run with the ball at times and forget basic things like taking the ball out after a made basket (that’s correct, baskets are actually made at this level!). Stealing the ball is prohibited and dunking is too so I had to tell Beau to play below the rim. 😂

Speaking of Beau, it was a thrill to see him score some points throughout the season. It was also rewarding to see him pass the ball better and more frequently as the season went on. Every Saturday morning when we went to one of his games he was excited to play. When we told him the season was over, he was sad.

Beau stands with my parents after his final basketball game of the season.

I give a lot of credit for his positive experience to Jaysanna Wang. She graciously (and bravely) volunteered to coach and did a superb job. She taught the “Knicks” the basics and brought consistency and organization to the team. After observing numerous sports seasons that my kids have participated in the past several years, the coach can truly make a difference—for better or worse. Jaysanna positively enhanced Beau’s first basketball opportunity.

Say hello to the Knicks. Jaysanna Wang volunteered to coach the squad and did an exceptional job.

There is no question Beau will play basketball again next year. I hope he continues to improve. Like I have alluded to before, our son isn’t going to get much help from his genes—his parents lack athleticism and height—but as long as he is having fun and progressing that is all you can really hope for.

It was a great first year of basketball for Beau. We look forward to next season.

As for now? That break from sports that Sid and I were itching for when soccer ended is now a reality. We are very thankful that Beau had the chance to play hoops with his closest friends but we are excited for the holidays and some downtime. Don’t Blink.

Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2025

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Hit the music, DJ! I hope you have room on your playlist for five more songs because I am back with my top picks for 2025. This is my 11th time counting down my top five songs of the year but if you are a Don’t Blink newbie, let me give my annual disclaimer: I know as much about music as my dad knows about the 6-7 trend (which is to say NADA). However, I am a good American who always has an opinion so I never hesitate to grace my readers with what I feel qualifies as good music.

My overall assessment of music in 2025? Let’s just say that when November arrived I knew this blog post was going to be a tough one. The last time I struggled so much with picking five decent songs was in 2022. So, with that said, here is the best I could do from the past 11+ months…

Tonight I once count down my top five favorite songs from another year.

5. Anxiety –Doechii

If not for tremendous creativity, this song would not be on my list. Usually I select songs based on listenability and I would argue that this song is anything but pleasant to listen to. However, it did such a masterful job of creating a sound that encompasses the emotion of anxiety that I felt compelled to recognize it during a year where the pickings were slim.

A couple intangibles also helped this Doechii track crack the countdown. First, the music video is pretty entertaining. Just like with the song, it really captures anxiety. Also, the spoken part of the song (And it’s like I get this tightness in my chest…like an elephant…) is pretty great. 

4. What Was That – Lorde

Lorde, where have you been all my life?! After going quiet for several years, Lorde re-emerged in 2025 and I thought she did herself proud with her first single off the new album. In my opinion, “What Was That” fell right in line with Lorde’s distinct and at times mysterious vocals. It reminded me a little bit of her hit “Team” from 2013.

Out of all the songs on this countdown, “What Was That” provides the vibe-check, the one track that I can listen to while just chilling out. Even though I could care less about the lyrics and I couldn’t even tell you what they are about, the song has a quality that allows you to either do some deep thinking or to just zone out completely.

3. Ordinary – Alex Warren

What made this song work? When it comes to our family, the answer was simple: cadence. The beat of the song is structured and powerful, making it easy to follow along. While driving the kids to school it was so easy for us to all exclaim the word “ordinary” on key. For someone like your favorite blogger who is usually unable to sing anything by himself on key, this was quite thrilling.

The song is also ultra meaningful as it is a tribute to Alex Warren’s wife. Throw in the fact that Warren is Catholic and he uses religious imagery to describe his devotion to his bride and it just all seems to come together.

2. Golden – EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI

Was there anyone with a child in the 5 to 10-year-old range who didn’t find themselves secretly energized by “Golden”? The title track from “K-Pop Demon Hunters” became a smash hit and I can’t say it was unwarranted. Catchy and easy to sing along to, I admit that as a 39-year-old man I found it quite delightful.

I think the appeal of “Golden” goes beyond its pop culture significance and addictive melody. Again, I am not an authority in music, but I believe the vocals to be outstanding as the trio truly belts it out. I also find the song to be positive and inspiring overall. And if you never found yourself singing We’re goin’ up, up up then you are lying.

1. Undressed – Sombr

This is an unconventional song to find a spot on my annual countdown, let alone the top spot. I don’t necessarily think it is catchy or easy to sing along to. It isn’t even a song I am dying to play when doing the dishes. However, despite missing all those things, it does make me feel some type of way.

No, it isn’t the lyrics themselves that resonate. Rather, it is just the sound. “Undressed” packs some serious nostalgia as it transports me back to high school in the 2003-05 era. A lot of people connect Sombr’s sound to various singers and bands but for me one act comes to mind: The Killers. Yep, Sombr reminds me of The Killers, a band that I loved to listen to and reminds me of good times. When it comes to this challenging year in music, a solid dose of “retroness” was enough to ascend my list.

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That will do it for my top songs in 2025. Before I sign off, I want to answer the questions I asked at the end of my 2024 post: Yes, Taylor Swift still rules the world. Yes, Sabrina Carpenter is still on her upward trajectory. And, no, Shaboozy didn’t come close to releasing anything nearly as catchy as “Bar Song.” My only question for 2026 is pretty simple: Will the music please be better? Don’t Blink.

Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2024
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2023
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2022
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2021
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2020
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2019
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2018
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2017
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2016
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2015
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2012

2025 EWU Holiday Video: Teamwork

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To watch the 2025 #EWU Holiday Video, tap here.

The thing about creating something that is memorable and well-received is the pressure to replicate it. After our 2024 holiday video was released, it didn’t take long before the EWU community was asking, “How do you plan to top that?”

It was a question that packed plenty of stress. How could we surpass a highly-viewed video that was lauded for its creativity, student-involvement, and on-brand messaging?

My answer for rivaling last year’s video was simple: Let my team shine.

Thinking about how we would top the 2024 holiday video had me grabbing my head like the student in the middle (source: 2024 EWU holiday video thumbnail)

An Idea Is Born

In 2024, we had a direction. Our holiday video needed to reflect our newly-launched brand positioning (“The Region’s Polytechnic”). In 2025, the directive was more wide open. Because of this freedom, I decided to hold a pitch session.

The 2025 holiday video odyssey started in September. I summoned a small team to our meeting room. We went around the table and we each pitched two ideas. We listened as each person presented and then asked questions. The meeting went well-beyond its allotted hour but by the time we left the room, we had eight possible directions for the video.

Our 2025 EWU holiday video crew consisted of Amy Bradberry (social media manager), Luke Kenneally (multimedia specialist), Ginny Baxter (digital marketing supervisor), Swoop (mascot…but not a crew member), and me.

The Future Is Bright

Eric Limburg, our associate vice president of University Relations, took our ideas to EWU President Shari McMahan. She chose her two favorites and told our team to develop them more. Our crew returned to the meeting room and fleshed out each idea with a full script. Eric then took the built-out concepts to President McMahan for a final decision.

You can probably imagine that the four of us waited with great anticipation for President McMahan’s choice. When Eric relayed her decision to us, we were excited and ready to get to work. Our president selected a concept titled “The Future is Bright.” Originally pitched by our social media manager, Amy Bradberry, the script detailed a quest by Swoop to create an ornament using inspiration and collaboration from all four EWU academic colleges.

After a pretty intense process to identify a theme for our holiday video, President Shari McMahan chose an idea pitched by Amy Bradberry called “The Future Is Bright.”

Refinement

Reflecting on the evolution of the idea is fascinating. Over the course of different script workshops, we refined the story and made some significant changes. For example, the ornament changed to a tree topper, the opening scene changed locations from the Eagle Store to the Arevalo Student Mall, and the assembly morphed from the foundry to the robotics lab—just to name a few.

We also added enhancements that we originally didn’t specify in the script. Fun extras like a map overlay to show Swoop’s campus movements, the incorporation of CGI, and even some Easter eggs were added in the hope of keeping viewers engaged.

But even with those changes, the overall theme pitched by Amy stayed true to its original intent of Swoop uniting the colleges to create some seriously BRIGHT holiday cheer. With the script bolstered and the theme intact, it was time to throw caution to the wind and actually film this son of a nutcracker…

The filming of the holiday video would have our crew doing a lot of running around. Ginny Baxter and I carry the all-important tree with Amy Bradberry walking behind to pick up any ornaments that might fall off (photo courtesy of EWU/Luke Kenneally).

Lights! Camera! Action!

Filming took place over two days in mid-November. After checking the weather each day starting two weeks out, our fears of rain went unfounded. We had calm conditions for both days, a relief for our entire production team—including Josue Schneegans and Tony Thompson from Dryland Media. We brought on Josue and Tony midway through script development for their creative assistance with bringing our idea to life.

As a producer, you can only hope the work you put forth prior to shoot day pays off once the filming begins. Although we had a chaotic moment or two, filming for the most part went very smoothly. However, that isn’t as much to my credit as it is to EWU and the professionalism of Josue—but more on that in just a bit.

We filmed at seven different locations over the course of the two days. The first day wrapped after 8 p.m. but it was well worth it. We needed the darkness to film the final scene when Swoop revealed the illuminated tree topper to President McMahan and the 20+ students who volunteered to make cameos. In exchange for the positive vibes brought by the students, we reciprocated by serving them plenty of hot coco and cookies to maintain their high energy levels.  What a great way to end the day!

Josue Schneegans gives direction to President McMahan during the filming of the final scene that we shot on Wednesday, Nov. 12. It may have been late but this part of the shoot was a lot of fun as the students brought a lot of energy. (photo courtesy of EWU/Luke Kenneally).

The Talent

As evidenced by my description of the final scene, we had many people appear in front of the camera. However, the participation just didn’t extend to that one scene but rather the entire video. We were fortunate to have many students volunteer their time by representing their academic college in the scenes where Swoop picked up tree topper items.

President McMahan once again delivered a strong performance. She was a good sport and devoted an entire Wednesday evening to hanging out with our crew. Even with multiple takes and the chilly temperatures she was nothing but supportive and helpful. As always, she was in her complete element surrounded by the students.

But the true MVP of the video was Swoop. It is a big request to ask an intercollegiate mascot to be available for two hours—we asked Swoop to be available for TWO DAYS. That is a lot of time to be in the suit, especially for something as demanding as a video shoot. But no matter what we asked Swoop to do or how many times we asked him to do it, he always gave 100%. Swoop was professional and coachable from the beginning to the end.

I have so much gratitude and respect for the role Swoop played for us (photo courtesy of EWU/Luke Kenneally).

Post-Production/Launch

The collaboration continued after the filming ended. With each draft we inched closer and closer to where we needed to be. Nothing was more exciting than when the CGI was added that revealed the tree topper in its full glory. At that point, I simply couldn’t wait until the release date.

That day came yesterday. After more than two months of planning and collaborating, my team executed our distribution strategy and launched the 2025 EWU Holiday Video. As the positive feedback rolled in, I visited Amy, Luke, and Ginny in their offices to congratulate them and thank them for their commitment to the project.

Senior graphic designer Emily Ausere designed the YouTube thumbnail. If that isn’t clickbait I don’t know what is…

Gratitude

Speaking of thanks, any higher ed marketing director will tell you that gratitude is abundant with any successful holiday video. As I mentioned earlier, everyone at EWU was so accommodating. From faculty members providing students/classroom space to Dining Services catering meals to Facilities graciously halting their leaf blowers during outdoor scenes, my team was given every opportunity to succeed. Special thanks to the President’s Office for their support and to our Risk Management team for allowing us to do things I wasn’t sure they would.

Much appreciation also to Dryland Media. We have worked with those guys before and they always keep us sane with their talent and humor. On the first day we found ourselves in a couple tight spots and Josue, who directed the video, was so professional and quick on his feet. They did all they could to help us achieve our vision.

And last, but certainly not least, BIG thanks to our own department—University Relations. This year, I offered shifts during each scene of the video for our marketing and communications staffers to hang out on set and assist. We had nearly full participation as everyone contributed in unique ways. Special thanks to Eric Limburg for his support and guidance throughout the project and to Emily Ausere, our senior graphic designer, who is an honorary member of our crew. Emily created the YouTube/social media thumbnails, designed external pieces that promoted the video, drew the picture that Swoop references on-screen, and assisted during the actual shoot.

Ginny Baxter, Emily Ausere, and student intern Aaron Weer working behind the scenes of the 2025 EWU holiday video. It was a lot of fun to have so many of our University Relations staffers assist on the shoot days. In this photo, Emily is actually drawing the picture that Swoop holds up throughout the video (photo courtesy of EWU/Luke Kenneally).

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After all those notes of gratitude, I hope to not appall you with one more “thank you” but here it goes: Ginny Baxter, Amy Bradberry, and Luke Kenneally…what a pleasure it was! Thanks for the creativity and positivity you brought to this entire process. As I noted earlier, watching an idea come to fruition that evolved greatly but still maintained its initial integrity was the most rewarding of all.

The future truly is bright…because I don’t have to worry about another holiday video for at least 9.5 more months. Don’t Blink.

One Of Them Days Thursday Rundown

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Well, it is three weeks before Christmas, I hope you are managing any stress you might be feeling. It is my hope that this latest Thursday Rundown can be a welcome distraction for the next 10 minutes…

Tree Lighting – For the second year in a row, my family attended the Riverfront Park tree lighting. The event combined ice skating, caroling, hot chocolate-sipping, and Santa Claus greeting with the illumination of an impressive tree on the edge of the park. The occasion also allowed us to visit the Lego Store and ride the carousel. The holiday magic was definitely in the air.

Our family had a really nice time at the Riverfront Park tree lighting.

Domino’s Visit – My family eats Domino’s a lot…probably much more than we should. Normally, I pick it up by myself. Every now and then, we have it delivered. But rarely do my kids actually see inside the store where their pepperoni pizzas are made. I changed that on Thanksgiving Eve when I brought Sloan and Beau to our local Domino’s location. They had the chance to watch the pizza artists in action on a very busy night. I think when we ate that evening, the pizza might have tasted just a little better considering they got to see behind the scenes.

Beau and Sloan watch how pizza is made at our local Domino’s.

Netflix Recommendation – If I didn’t see the recommendation in the newspaper, I don’t think I ever would have watched “One of Them Days.” But since the column said the film was a great post-Thanksgiving meal option, Sid and I decided to give it a chance. Let me be honest with you, we laughed the whole way through. The movie stars Keke Palmer and SZA as they try to raise enough money in one hectic day to satisfy their rent payment. If you are looking for an option that doesn’t require all your brainpower and will put you in a better mood, give “One of Them Days” a chance.

Sid and I got a pretty good laugh out of “One Of Them Days.”

Simon Cowell – Much publicity was generated this week as Simon Cowell apologized for the insults he hurled at “American Idol” contestants during his time on the show from 2002-10. Cowell has definitely softened over the years and I think his consciousness got the best of him…which I consider a good thing. However, I don’t think all the blame falls on Simon’s shoulders. I watched portions of several “American Idol” seasons and I must admit that I found Cowell’s rants and put-downs to be extremely entertaining. It was the viewership and approval from people like me that aided Cowell and show producers to keep it coming. I need to apologize for being complicit, too.

I laughed right along with most of America at the insults delivered by Simon Cowell.

From The Archives – Just a few items to reminisce about. On this date four years ago, my family tried the viral Pepsi sensation Pilk for the first time. I would later write about the experience. After two ornament-related blog posts in a row, you are probably sick and tired of the topic but nine years ago I wrote about my five most-treasured ornaments on our Christmas tree. The following year I would write about an additional special five ornaments. Then, going back 11 years, I wrote about an extremely creative and unique tradition that my did carried on for my siblings and me. Fast forward to the present, and my dad is doing the same tradition for his grand kids.

Sloan trying Pilk. She claimed to like it.

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That will put a fork in the first Thursday Rundown of December. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for a rare Friday blog post coming your way tomorrow. Don’t Blink.

Making Our Ornament Tradition Official

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Last holiday season, I stumbled upon a magical warehouse tucked away in a non-descript industrial area of Spokane. The space belonged to Old World Christmas, a national ornament company that produces and ships their products to locations all over the world.

There is a lot of Christmas goodness inside this warehouse.

On the same property as the warehouse is a gift shop that sells the company’s overstocked, outdated, and chipped ornaments for a fraction of the retail price. Entering the shop is like strolling into Santa’s Workshop. The kids and I made a couple trips to Old World Christmas last year and at the time I declared that a new tradition was born: Each holiday season we would visit the shop so Sloan and Beau could choose an ornament to hang on our own tree.

Sloan browses inside Old World Christmas in Spokane in 2024.

And since I made the tradition pledge via this blog, I knew I would have to update my readers each year we honored it. I can report that we made good on our Old World Christmas tradition in 2025.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the kids and I made our pilgrimage to East Central Spokane. The shop hadn’t changed a bit nor had my children’s indecisiveness. However, after a considerable amount of time, Sloan and Beau selected their ornaments…

We kept our Old World Christmas tradition going in 2025. Beau went with a Siberian husky and Sloan chose chicken tenders and fries.

Sloan chose an ornament that fits her dining preferences perfectly: chicken strips and fries. The only thing that would have made the ornament better, she said, would be if the dipping sauce was ranch instead of ketchup.

Sloan decided upon a chicken tenders and fries ornament at Old World Christmas.

Beau was more of a wild card. Instead of choosing something that aligned with his personality, he decided to reach for randomness. My son’s decision? A Siberian husky. Hmmm…okay.

Beau selected a Siberian husky ornament.

Both of these ornaments now proudly hang on our tree. They join the Taylor Swift ornament (Sloan) and mushroom ornament (Beau) from last year. More importantly, they add to a tradition that is now fully established within my family—because like Sidney says, it is officially a tradition once it happens twice. Don’t Blink.

My Recommended Gift for the 2025 Holiday Season

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Black Friday was last week. Hopefully you finished all your shopping but if not, no sweat—your favorite blogger is here to help. I am just about to solve all your gift-giving conundrums but before I reveal my recommended present for 2025, let me provide some context…

For “Brent’s Gift of the Year” I choose a practical and inexpensive gift suggestion that retails in the $10-$15 range. The goal is for it to be versatile in a way that makes it a perfect choice for a white elephant gift exchange, stocking stuffer, or thoughtful present.

For example, in 2018 I suggested an LED cinema lightbox marquee, in 2019 I championed a blanket, in 2020 I pushed a framed photo, in 2021 I recommended a book of stamps, in 2022 I invited my readers to pick out a tasty six-pack of beer, in 2023 I pitched cookie mix, and in 2024 I endorsed premium air freshener.

My goal each year is to suggest a gift that goes beyond something that is solely material. Although I always pick something that is tangible/physical, I try to ensure that it elicits emotion, too. I think this year’s gift once again hits that benchmark.

Each year, our Christmas tree becomes more special. It obviously has nothing to do with the tree itself—we put up the same artificial pine every December. However, what increases its value is the collection of ornaments we hang from it. And no, I am not eluding to monetary value because we surely aren’t hanging diamonds or gold nuggets. Instead, I am talking about the sentimental value that is priceless.

Most of the ornaments that hang on our tree are special. This ornament follows the “date it and name it” formula I will mention below.

Take a look at our tree and most every ornament will tell a story. Either it marks a milestone, vacation, experience, preference, belief, or gift. Did you catch that last item? I said gift. Some of our favorite ornaments were gifts that now hang on our tree year after year.

My recommended gift of the year is an ornament.

There are so many options when gifting someone an ornament. The easiest route might be to simply find something that matches the person’s tastes. Give them an ornament of their favorite team, food, beer, or board game. This gesture conveys that you know the person and that you took time to celebrate their preferences in a meaningful way.

Sloan looks at a Snickers ornament found inside Old World Christmas. Gifting someone an ornament of their favorite candy bar shows thought and uniqueness.

You can also go the extra mile and customize an ornament. Head to the mall or go online where you can easily use a vendor to produce a picture ornament. Capture a special moment for the recipient (and even yourself) by choosing a photo that includes both of you. The picture ornament will be etched in time as it hangs on the person’s tree through the decades. Although the person will get older as each Christmas passes, their youthfulness will remain intact on whatever branch the ornament hangs.

Sloan will always be a baby in this picture ornament we gleefully hang from our tree each year.

But you don’t even have to go the lengths of finding a photo to achieve customization. You can convey thought and uniqueness by marking or engraving your ornament with something special. Honor someone’s milestone or life event by “naming it and dating it.” For example, the white elephant gift I am bringing to my work’s holiday party simply commemorates the party itself. Honestly, it’s not that hard…but it is thoughtful.

This is the EWU ornament I had customized for our office holiday party later this month.

And again, let me re-iterate in a bold way the best part of gifting an ornament: it has lasting power.

If the ornament you give is thoughtful and unique, it will stay on the recipient’s tree every year. Whenever they take it out at the beginning of the Christmas season or return it to storage post-December, you (or your family) will most likely be on that person’s mind. If the combination of the event/preference the ornament celebrates and the thought of yourself brings a smile to the recipient’s face, you have succeeded at giving a truly remarkable Christmas gift.

This ornament celebrated our wedding and was a gift from our mentor couple, Tim and Kathy McCormick. Sid and I remember them each time we look at this ornament.

Go on, give a thoughtful ornament to someone this Christmas season. I recommend visiting Old World Christmas for an impressive collection of branded ornaments or reaching out to JJ’s Designs for a beautiful but inexpensive customized ornament. Don’t Blink.

The Annual Home Stretch for Don’t Blink

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We are now in the home stretch!

It is December and that means we are in the final month of 2025. My best advice to my readers is to end the year on a good note and make the most out of the next 31 days.

Over here at Don’t Blink, I am going to try to do the same. December is always the most significant month for my blog. However, it’s not the quantity of content that will make December shine. In fact, my overall blogging output for this month will be the lowest of the year.

It is a huge month for “Don’t Blink.”

But the quality of the content (at least I hope) is what will distinguish this month’s output from all the others. I have several annual blog posts that will hit over the next 4+ weeks.

Tomorrow I will publish my annual recommended gift for the holiday season. This will be the seventh year in a row that I provide you with some shopping inspiration so make sure you don’t miss it.

The following week I will embrace my totally undeserved role of music critic and reveal my top five songs of the year. When you view my choices for 2025, it will mark the 12th time I have evaluated the world of music for Don’t Blink.

Then later in the month I will present my most beloved annual blog posts. My BIG blog post—a look back at my top 10 blog posts of the year—will drop the last week of December. Finally, my blogging for 2025 will conclude with my annual wrap up/reflection post of the past year.

Thanks for your readership this year. I am excited to end 2025 on a bang and I hope you will come along for the ride. Don’t Blink.