Monthly Archives: July 2026

Independence Day Weekend 2026

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

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

Friday, July 3

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

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

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

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

Saturday, July 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday, July 5

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

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

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

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

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

We had a back yard cookout on Sunday night.

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

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remember, political ideology can’t overshadow this fact.

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

Volcano Thursday Rundown

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bridging The Vacation Miles With Our Daughter

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

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

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

Sloan is a girl who loves ducks,

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

My dear readers, please meet Banana Pudding.

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

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

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

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

Banana Pudding in the refreshing pool at Sun Palace.

She caught some rays with Sid…

Sid invited Banana Pudding to sun bathe with her.

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

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

Banana Pudding admired the view from our balcony…

What duck doesn’t love a view?

She took a mandatory selfie with me…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Banana Pudding loved the energy of the hotel lobby.

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

We gave Banana Pudding a window seat on the plane.

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