Double Decker Thursday Rundown

Did you know that a week from today it will already be May? Guess it goes without saying that this is the last Thursday Rundown of April so I better get to it…

Surgery Anniversary – This past Tuesday marked the eighth anniversary of Sloan’s pyloric stenosis surgery that saved her life. Although we didn’t say anything about it for that first year after the operation, Sid and I have opened up more about the rare condition over time. Basically, food was unable to pass through Sloan’s small intestine. Since the food was unable to pass through her digestive system, it naturally went the way it came and she just threw it up. You can learn more by watching this video I made or by reading one of the several blog posts I have written about it. But for today, I just want to thank lead surgeon Dr. Robert Cina for his masterful skill and God for his grace.

During Sloan’s bout with Pyloric Stenosis and for over a year afterwards, we kept it between immediate family. Sidney and I are so thankful for the support of our parents. This photo shows our moms and dads with Sloan at the children’s hospital where the surgery took place (MUSC).

Double Decker Buses – Some of you might know that I ride the bus to work on a frequent basis. In fact, I have mentioned that my free bus pass (thanks, EWU!) is the best perk I have received from any college I have worked at. With all that said, you can imagine that I am pretty excited about what will soon be transporting me between Spokane and Cheney. On Tuesday, one of the new Spokane Transit Authority (STA) double decker buses was on campus for us to tour. I boarded the bus and went right to the top. These buses will ease overcrowding and provide quite a view! They will be in circulation come September 2025.

I am excited for the Spokane Transit Authority (STA) double decker buses to start servicing my route.

Passion/Easter Scenes – When I opened Sloan’s school folder this morning and saw her comic drawings of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, I was touched. The thought she put forth was so pure and it made me once again so thankful that they attend St. Mary. She sketched out multiple drawings but the one below stuck out to me.

Sloan recently drew this at school.

McDonald’s Secret Menu item – Nope, this “secret” menu item at McDonald’s is not for me. I don’t need my soft serve and Oreo cookies mixing with my potatoes. If someone gave me $20 to eat it, I would, but that is not something I would willingly order. Besides the disagreeable combination, I wouldn’t want anything to do with the sogginess that would result. One of the best parts about a McDonald’s hash brown is its crispiness. Let’s not ruin a good thing.

This doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest.

Easter Vigil – I gave a detailed rundown of our 2025 Easter Sunday but I didn’t mention the equally spectacular Easter Vigil. On Saturday night, Sloan and I attended the 8:30 p.m. Easter Vigil mass at St. Mary. The service ran for 2.5 hours as we welcomed a large group of people into the Catholic Church. It is such a rich and meaningful service! We started outside as the Paschal candle was lit from the Easter fire. We then all processed back into the church as our own personal candles were lit from the Paschal candle flame. It was beautiful! Congrats and welcome to all our new Catholics!

What a blessing to attend the St. Mary Easter Vigil.

—————————

That will do it for tonight. Please continue to pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, especially as his funeral is held on Saturday. Have a nice weekend, everyone. Don’t Blink.

Our First Cruise!

My family experienced something for the first time this month: We went on a cruise! And when I say “my family” I don’t just mean just the four of us—my parents and my sister’s family came along too. In fact, it was my sister who pitched the idea of a family cruise and who worked really hard to convince us to sail with her. 🙂

All 12 of us in the West Palm Beach Airport.

I am glad she was successful.

Sloan and I living our best lives on Freedom of the Seas.

Our contingent of 12 boarded the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas for a six-night western Caribbean cruise. We made stops in the Bahamas (Nassau), Jamaica (Falmouth), and Haiti (Labadee). But interestingly enough, although all beautiful, it wasn’t really the countries we visited that made the trip so special but rather the time spent with family and the unique cruise culture that really defined our time at sea.

My parents hang with Sidney, Sloan, and Beau on the Freedom of the Seas. It was so nice to vacation with them.

There is so much to say about the seven days we spent cruising the western Caribbean but not enough space to do so. The best way I can provide an accurate snapshot of what made the trip so endearing and memorable is to breakdown the 10 themes/activities that best highlighted our vacation…

Pools – The sunshine and humidity greeted us each day of the cruise. If not for the refreshing pools, the transition from humidity-free and cool Spokane may have been a difficult one. It was so relaxing to hang poolside and watch the kids have a ball. Adding to the experience were competitions/entertainment, a giant video board, all the ice cream you could eat, live music, and full-service bars.

Beau holds up a score of 5/10 during a Freedom of the Seas belly flop competition at the pool.

Shows – As a first-time cruiser, I didn’t realize the quality of the nightly shows that are offered. From comedy to Broadway-themed performances to ice skating spectaculars, they had something fun and unique each night. My personal favorite was juggler/comedian Pete Matthews.

A photo I took of Pete Matthews performing on our ship.

Beaches – The top way we engaged with the countries we visited was to hang out on their beaches. We enjoyed the white sand and “Windex” blue waters of both Nassau and Labadee. Best part? The water was warm enough to actually hang out in!

Beau hanging out at the beach we visited in the Bahamas.

Dinners – Overall, the food was delicious, plentiful, and diverse. But what I enjoyed most about the culinary experience was nightly dinner. Each evening, we reported to the elegant dining room at the same time to be served by the same waiter. It proved to be the best bonding time for my family. We got to recap the day and look forward to the night. The menu changed nightly and I never had one bad meal. What a treat!

My family posing for a photo at the table we are dinner at every night we were on the cruise. I really valued these special meals.

Crew Members – By mentioning our waiter in the previous theme, I realized it was the perfect segue to recognizing the incredible crew members aboard Freedom of the Seas. From our aforementioned waiter (Barton) to our housekeeper (Ronaldo) to our favorite lunch greeter (Siya aka Ms. “Washy Washy”) to the cruise director herself (Caroline), everyone was phenomenal. Service is emphasized and evident from the moment you step on the ship.

Everyone who worked aboard Freedom of the Seas were awesome. Sloan is shown with our waiter (Barton) and a Windjammer greeter (Siya). In the bottom right hand corner is a photo of Sloan and Beau with the Freedom of the Seas cruise director (Caroline).

Ducks – This might entail an entirely separate blog post, but I quickly found out that “duck hunting” is a thing on cruise ships. People hide toy ducks for others to find as it takes on a life of its own. Sloan became a little obsessive with the challenge and brought home 13 ducks. When our waiter heard about our daughter’s enthusiasm for the activity, he surprised her with two ducks waiting on her plate when we went to dinner the last night.

Sloan holding one of the ducks she found on Freedom of the Seas.

Casino – A two-level casino complete with table games and slots awaited my wife when we boarded the ship. On a few of the nights, we would check Sloan and Beau into “Kid’s Adventure” (the ship’s daycare program) and we would try our luck…well, Sid would try her luck at least. On this particular trip, her mojo was good! We stepped on land with more gambling money than we took on the ship.

Sidney winning some money on a Freedom of the Seas slot machine.

Karaoke – The ship offered so many activities such as crafts, dance lessons, trivia, putt putt, and much more. The one option that Sid and Sloan couldn’t get enough of was karaoke. The entertainment staff made the sessions so much fun whether you wanted to just sing along from your seat or belt out your favorite tune in front of everyone. At one particular Taylor Swift-themed event, Sloan sang some of “Anti-Hero” and then joined all the other Swifties in attendance for a rendition of “Shake It Off.” But my proud moment came the evening that Sid and Sloan performed a mother/daughter duet of “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” The lounge was filled to capacity as my girls did Justin Timberlake proud.

Sloan and her fellow Swifties aboard Freedom of the Seas belt out “Shake It Off.”

Parties – If you weren’t exhausted at the end of the day from sun, fun, and activities you could party the night away. The ship offered themed bashes that took place right in the middle of the interior common area. The 70s party and the 80s party were my favorites. It was a highlight for Sloan when we brought her to the party area one night and she got to join a conga line. That same night, the cameras caught Beau break dancing. You see, all the parties were streamed live to the ship’s closed circuit TV station and you could go back and re-watch. You better believe we watched Beau’s moves more than once.

Sidney enjoying herself at the Freedom of the Seas 70s party.

Gym – If you aren’t working out while on a cruise ship, you are just setting yourself up to gain 15 pounds by the time your vacation ends. Okay, I am being dramatic. But the immaculate gym on the Freedom of the Seas was too good to pass up. Every full day of the cruise I started my day by exercising the moment the facility opened at 6 a.m. With breathtaking views, I would watch the sun rise while getting my cardio in.

I got in five good workout at the Freedom of the Seas gym. Watching the sun rise while working out was pretty cool.

———————

It took me long enough to experience a cruise but I definitely now understand the appeal. The “cruise culture” I earlier mentioned is infectious and the ability to go as hard (sign up for every excursion possible) or easy (just enjoy life on the ship) makes the experience inclusive to all. You would be surprised at how affordable cruises are and when you factor in the all-inclusive nature of most, the value is superb. What other vacation offers the chance to see multiple countries, eat all you want, and enjoy first class entertainment each night?

It was cool to go on a vacation with my parents and sister’s family.

So from a bang-for-your-buck perspective, I think it made a lot of sense for us to set sail on the Freedom of the Seas. But again, the fact that we got to do it as a big family made our cruise totally worth it—discounted or not. Thanks again to my sister for spearheading this special trip and I hope to “cruise” again in the future.

Beau and Sloan hanging out with one of the Jamaican locals.

Keep an eye out for those ducks! Don’t Blink.

Pope Francis: A Humble Servant

I was shocked. When I awoke bright and early on Easter Monday morning to the news that Pope Francis had passed, it took a moment for it to sink in. Although he had been critically ill, I thought his discharge from the hospital last month was the start of a new golden era in his papacy. Furthermore, I had seen him just hours ago blessing the St. Peter Square Easter audience and cruising around on the Popemobile.

I didn’t expect this to be Pope Francis’ last time he would be seen alive, but what a way to go out.

But after the fog settled, the Holy Father’s death was no longer a conundrum. In fact, it made perfect sense.

Our photo of Pope Francis on the Reser family bulletin board.

God used Pope Francis in a most profound way. The world watched the Pope grind and suffer through Lent. They watched as he was pushed around in a wheelchair, often unable to talk. When he made it through that desert, he emerged front and center on the balcony that overlooks the faithful to deliver a triumphant Easter Sunday blessing. His release from the hospital wasn’t the beginning of a new act on earth but rather a humble and glorious worldly exit to Heaven.

Pope Francis suffered through Lent and was rewarded with one final Easter Sunday.

When I reflect on Pope Francis, this is what comes to mind: a worthy example. There is no one on this planet—no matter your faith—who could observe Francis and think anything less than this man is truly holy. He shunned worldly comforts, human praise, and perks of the papacy for servant leadership and devotion to God. He was a testament to living out the beatitudes, eagerly and willingly placing himself into each marginalized group blessed by Jesus. His example was beyond admirable and nothing short of holy.

Personally, Pope Francis will always mean a lot to my family. He was pontiff when Sid and I entered into the sacrament of holy matrimony. He was the Bishop of Rome when Sid was welcomed into the Catholic Church. He was St. Peter’s successor when both our children were baptized. He was leading the Church when he made the great decision to elevate my college priest to a bishop. So many of the sacramental graces that have helped and defined us came during his papacy. You just don’t forget that.

Bishop Jeff Fleming greets Pope Francis in Rome. When I was in college, then-Fr. Jeff was the priest of the University of Montana Newman Center.

When I look back on Francis’ 12 years as pope, I fondly remember his 2015 visit to the United States. I watched hours of the television coverage from my apartment in Myrtle Beach and remember feeling exhausted for him! His itinerary was packed as he was pushed from one engagement to the next. However, for all the smiles during that trip, nothing has stayed with me more than when he visited the Ground Zero memorial. The look of contemplation and anguish on his face as he prayed at the site stays with me to this day.

God bless the soul of Pope Francis.

The funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday and soon thereafter a Conclave will convene to elect a new pontiff. During these hectic days of mourning and tradition, let’s not allow the busyness to detract us from praying for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. May he receive his heavenly reward. Don’t Blink.

Easter 2025

This Easter 2025 post is dedicated to Pope Francis. What a witness he was during this past Lent. He suffered greatly but was rewarded with one final Easter. Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

Easter was late this year so perhaps that made yesterday even a little sweeter. After a challenging but much-needed Lent, we used this past Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As always, Easter Sunday is a very special day for my family so I make it a point to document it. Here is a look at how the Resers celebrated Easter 2025…

Easter Sunday started at our house with Sloan and Beau in hot pursuit of possible Easter treats. They arose at 6:30 a.m. and navigated their way downstairs where they found what they were looking for. There might have even been a smaller Easter treat arrangement for yours truly from the Sid Bunny.

Beau and Sloan hold their Easter baskets.

The most significant part of our day came at 9 a.m. when we attended Easter Sunday mass at St. Mary Catholic Church. The sanctuary was packed as Fr. Jeff Lewis presided and proclaimed that the empty tomb was the most welcome and triumphant site that Christians could have hoped for. After attending all the rich masses and services of Holy Week, including last night’s powerful Easter Vigil, the Easter Sunday mass was so fulfilling and encompassing.

Sloan and Beau pose for a photo inside the vestibule of St. Mary Catholic Church in Spokane Valley prior to Easter Sunday mass.

After mass we headed to the reception in the church gym. We sat with our good friends, the Andrades, and savored Jesus’ victory over death. Everything about the beautiful reception—including an elaborate photo backdrop—screamed the handiwork of Marie Bricher.

Our family posed for a photo in front of the backdrop in the St. Mary gym after mass.

We then came home to enjoy the late morning/early afternoon of Easter. While the kids hung out downstairs with their Easter candy and new games, Sid and I retreated upstairs to watch “The Chosen.” With the significance of Easter, the season 4 episodes we watched just seemed to hit even harder than usual.

Walking through the St. Mary parking lot on Easter morning.

Next, we headed over to my parents’ house for our Easter celebration. My siblings and their families also joined us as we rejoiced in the resurrection of our Lord. We shared a delicious ham meal and had some pretty entertaining dinner table conversation.

Delicious food and great conversation at the Reser Easter dinner table.

With our bellies full, we tried to burn some of those calories by staging the annual Aunt Carrie and Uncle Glen Easter Egg Hunt (watch video here). It was once again a competitive affair that saw a new participant this year—11-month-old cousin Olivia.

The Aunt Carrie and Uncle Glen Easter Egg Hunt participants after all the eggs were found.

Any calories that were burned from the hunt were promptly added back on with dessert. We gathered in the living room and kitchen to eat a brownie whipped pie and lemon blueberry cake. Conversation and bonding continued to take place during dessert and well beyond it.

Conversations in my parents’ living room lasted long beyond the dessert was consumed.

At a little before 8 p.m., we started the 34-minute drive home. Once we arrived at the house, we started to prepare for the week ahead while still feeling extremely thankful for the greatest gift ever given.

Rejoice! He is risen.

————–

On the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, Fr. Mike Kwiatkowski challenged us to look in the spiritual mirror. If we didn’t like what we saw, he questioned, could we improve that reflection by Easter? Much in the same way that you can take measures to improve your physical reflection, the same idea holds true for the spiritual reflection. Taking the Lenten season to pray, fast, and give alms results in spiritual reflection growth. Do I see any positive changes in my own spiritual reflection after Lent 2025? Sure, some. Is it enough? Hardly!  Thanks be to God that the Easter season lasts for 50 days and provides plenty more time to improve that reflection. Rejoice my friends, He is risen! Don’t Blink.

Easter 2024
Easter 2023
Easter 2022
Easter 2021
Easter 2020
Easter 2019
Easter 2018

Good Friday Eve Thursday Rundown

Greetings on this blessed Holy Thursday. I hope your preparations for Easter are going well and that you have a few moments for five random topics…

Plates – Growing up in my parents’ house, I definitely didn’t eat off a silver platter. Rather, I ate off plastic plates decorated with sloppy drawings and scribbles. On this date 11 years ago, I published one of my all-time favorite blog posts. I wrote about our annual childhood family tradition of adoring our dinner plates with our art. Every year, my mom would give us a circular piece of paper. We would draw whatever we wanted on it and then she would send the papers to a factory. A couple months later, our drawings would come back in plate-form. We ate off those plates every night growing up. And guess what? My own family now eats off them every night, too. When I got married and had kids, my mom gave me the plates I created as a child and we have put them to good use.

We would draw designs on a circular piece of paper and then my mom would send them off and they would come back in plate-form.

Fruity Pebbles Clearance – I live for deals like these. I spotted this bargain on “Berry Pebbles” this past weekend at Grocery Outlet. Just 17 cents? Does that even cover the cost of the box? Sure, the “sell by” date might be at the end of this month but it is cereal—it will be good for another year. Of course you can just eat these with milk and a spoon like most normal people, but what a neat opportunity to make colorful and unique rice krispie treats. As you probably guessed, I did buy a couple boxes.

A box of “Fruity Pebbles” costs less than a gum ball.

Spring Sports – Our family calendar just filled up. On Monday, spring sports started for both our kids. Sloan attended her first soccer practice and Beau reported to his first t-ball practice. There will be something going on pretty much every week night for the next 6-7 weeks so we are settling into the grind. Although things will be hectic, thanks be to God that our children have the opportunity to play sports and have fun with other kids.

Beau is ready for some t-ball. He had his first practice on Monday.

Easter Commercialism – Do you plan to take your children to an Easter egg hunt this weekend? If so, do some research on how the hunt will be conducted. Three years ago, I called out certain events that don’t reward children like they should. Hopefully the candy will be superb at whatever hunt you do attend. More than seven years ago, I counted down my top 5 favorite Easter candies. Finally, watch out for sketchy-looking Easter Bunnies. I still maintain my position from 10 years ago that Easter Bunnies are just plain weird.

I love an Easter basket filled with delicious candy.

The Chosen – As we journey deeper into Holy Week and with Easter right on the horizon, you might be looking for something to watch that pairs well with this sacred time. Trust me, you can’t go wrong with “The Chosen.” You can read my blog post from three years ago that delves into what makes this Jesus series so outstanding but for the sake of the limited space I have in this Thursday Rundown, I will say this: give it a try. Jonathan Roumie’s portrayal of Jesus is superb and many of the scenes are beyond profound. I am navigating season four right now and it is the same great stuff.

I recommend that you watch “The Chosen.”

———————

Although I have alluded to Easter this whole post, let’s keep in mind that tomorrow is Good Friday. Before we celebrate His resurrection, we must come to terms with his crucifixion. Thank you for reading! Don’t Blink.

Beyond Perfect

At Eastern Washington University, we partner with the area’s high school sports conference—the Greater Spokane League (GSL)—to ensure that our local prep student-athletes are given the best experience possible. This partnership hits close to home because I am a former GSL athlete myself.

I attended Mead High School of the Greater Spokane League.

Toward the end of each athletic season, the league hosts the GSL Scholar-Athlete Luncheon. At this event, a male and female athlete from each member school are honored for their outstanding performance on the field and in the classroom. Because of EWU’s support of the GSL, I attended yesterday’s luncheon with Jens Larson, our associate vice president for enrollment management.

It was a distinct joy to attend this event. Jens and I enjoyed front row seats as the selected student-athletes from each school were honored together on stage. I was blown away by the exploits of all the young people recognized. Each one boasted a resume that put my own high school accomplishments to shame.

A photo I took at yesterday’s GSL Scholarship-Athlete Luncheon. Up on stage are the Rogers High School recipients and athletic director.

One particular student stood out. In addition to all the athletic honors and extracurricular activities of Lewis & Clark High School recipient Michael Mann, there was something else about him that made me pay close attention. He had earned a 4.2 GPA.

In high school (and in college), I allowed myself to become obsessed with my grade point average. At the time, I put way too much weight on one’s GPA and basically thought it was the be-all and end-all. I went to bed each night thinking 4.0 and I did whatever I could to achieve it. I did reach my goal in high school but fell a tenth of a point short in college.

Again, I admit that my motivation was bit misplaced when it came to my quest for a perfect GPA. I think I could have focused on other areas and goals that would have made me a more complete student. But after yesterday’s luncheon, there is something that I am glad about: my high school didn’t offer a GPA above 4.0.

My guess is that Mike’s 4.2 GPA is due to the fact that he earned multiple “A+” grades. Just another example of that incredible student doing incredible things. If the option was available to earn an “A+” that would boost my GPA, I think I would have stressed myself out even more to obtain it. And you know what? I think I would have failed.

If my memory is correct, I barely made a standard “A” in multiple courses I took in high school. In some of those classes, such as art history (😂), my obsessive effort to go beyond just squeaking by would have resulted in failure. Earning a 4.0 was hard enough for me and anything above that would have been impossible. I am glad I wasn’t reaching for something that would have been out of my bandwidth.

To Mike and all the other students honored yesterday, you impress me. Attending Tuesday’s event cemented the fact that we are in good hands with our youth. I know big things are in store for LC’s 4.2 man. Don’t Blink.

A Different Flying Experience

You would have thought I developed a fear of flying. Why? I went nearly a year and a half without stepping foot on a plane. But my streak of staying grounded recently ended and I experienced something for the first time.

The airport itself and TSA didn’t change a bit. Same hustle and bustle, overpriced food, and stress of moving kids through the security line. But what did change was the airline we flew. For the first time (at least in my adult life), we flew Southwest.

Sloan on a Southwest Airlines flight.

I have come to realize that not all airlines are created equal. You just have to step on a Spirit Airlines flight to figure that out. But for the most part, I have flown Alaska, American, and Delta over the past 20 years. Those three airline giants have a standardized way of doing things and their policies/protocols are similar. Southwest contrasted greatly from the trio.

Beau preparing to board a Southwest flight.

The three main differences I experienced for the first time included…

Free checked bags. I am not kidding! Although this is going away soon, we had the pleasure of flying Southwest while the perk was still in place. And you just aren’t allowed to check one free bag, you are welcome to check TWO free bags. For a family of four, that is a cost savings of $480 roundtrip (when you factor in a $30 per bag fee charged by most airlines). How refreshing this was!

– No assigned seating. This one was a little weird. In the same way that you buy a general admission ticket at a sports event, Southwest’s seating plan is entirely open. This means that whenever you board, you choose whatever seat you want—or whatever seat is available. Finding an open seat was never an issue for my family because we boarded early in the process since Beau is under 6 years old. Still, it is a little unnerving to know that your seat isn’t assigned and awkward “May I sit here?” conversations may be necessary with strangers.

– Fewer amenities. Perhaps Southwest makes up for lost revenue incurred from free checked bags in other ways. For example, the planes don’t come equipped with screens to watch movies and shows. You must use your own device to tap into their entertainment options. You also won’t receive complimentary ear buds nor will you be subjected to the over-the-top safety production videos championed by the other guys. But have no fear, free soft drinks and snacks do come with your plane ticket.

Sloan on another leg of a Southwest Airlines flight.

—————

Based on the above differences, I would fly Southwest again. However, this past trip we did face a lot of other issues. To me, Southwest is kind of the Aldi of airlines. Have you flown Southwest before? What is your opinion? Don’t Blink.

Holy Week 2025: Getting Back Up

Holy Week started yesterday with Palm Sunday. It is always interesting attending the mass because you are presented with two different gospel readings that convey two very different attitudes. The first reading describes Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as people hold up palms and shout “Hosana” as he passes by on donkey. The second gospel reading is always a passion account that details the same people who cheered Jesus now exclaiming “crucify him!”

During yesterday’s mass at St. Mary Catholic Church in Spokane Valley, I was touched by some simple yet profound words from Fr. Jeff Lewis during his homily. He mentioned that in the same way that Jesus fell three times while carrying the cross, Christians also sometimes fall. But, just like Jesus did, we must get back up when we do.

Sloan holding the palm she folded into a palm yesterday. Fr. Jeff Lewis delivered a very profound Palm Sunday homily.

Talk about setting the stage for the next several days to come.

How has Lent treated you? Did it have some bumps? Maybe some unexpected turns? I will you this: it has been one of the more unique and challenging Lents I have journeyed through.

But if you did find yourself taking a fall or two since Lent started back in early March, there isn’t a better time to get up than now. Holy Week is the most significant period on the calendar and I believe that any Lent can be redeemed over the course of these seven sacred days.

As we continue to reflect on the passion of Christ that culminates in his crucifixion, let’s bounce back. I am going to do my best to be holy this week. During this home stretch to Easter Sunday, let’s devote all energy we have to exiting the desert in the best possible position so we may truly appreciate and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Don’t Blink.

Braces

My “sentence” was from my 7th grade year in middle school until the middle of my freshman year of high school. This two-year period brought plenty of awkwardness, many inconveniences, and some pain but by the end of it, I was completely rehabilitated. Or at least my teeth were.

I am of course talking about braces.

Much gratitude to my parents for investing in the smiles of all three Reser kids. They shelled out the monthly payments so we could all wear braces and achieve straight smiles.

Of course at the time you never quite appreciate it. I remember pretty vividly getting my braces on and the several days of soreness that followed. I tried to keep a low profile when I wore them. Every single time I got my bands changed, I only got white. That lasted until the very last time I got them changed. I told my orthodontic hygienist that I wanted my usual but when she finished, she told me to go look in the mirror. After only getting white for two years, it was pretty wild what I saw: Christmas colors!

As you could probably guess, I followed the “rules” when it came to my braces. I didn’t eat popcorn, I very rarely drank soda, and I never entertained the preposterous idea of eating caramel.

Still, even though I took my braces seriously and did what was recommended by my orthodontist, it wasn’t always easy. As a lifelong battler of gum disease, having braces only irritated them more. Visits to the dentist were never fun when I had braces because of the special way they had to clean your teeth.

Despite all that, I persevered. Getting my braces off was one of the most liberating feelings in my life. The confidence I felt was pretty special.

Sadly, 23 years after I got my braces off, one of my bottom front teeth has shifted. So much for that perfectly straight smile. I never got a built-in retainer as my orthodontist gave me ones I could remove. I continued to wear my retainers at night through college but then ceased doing so. My teeth held straight for many years after that but in the past couple years I have experienced the shift. Oh well, it could be worse.

Even though my smile might not be perfect anymore, I am still grateful to my mom and dad for their investment. It at least paid off in the respect that my smile was attractive enough for someone to marry me. Don’t Blink.

Breakfast For Lunch Thursday Rundown

Happy April! I hope your month is off to a great start. The second quarter of 2025 is underway so either stay on track or get back on it depending where you are at. Let’s begin with the Thursday rundown.

Spa Date – For our daughter’s birthday party, we opened up Sloan’s Salon for an afternoon. A week later, Sloan had the chance to get pampered at a real salon. Our dear friend, Fidela, took Sloan on a “girl’s afternoon” to the Coeur d’Alene Resort Spa. In addition to getting manicures, they also walked the pier, ate lunch, and visited the toy store. It was such a generous and special way for Fidela to celebrate Sloan. And she did all this while pregnant! Which reminds me, please pray for Fidela that she continues to have a safe pregnancy and pray for her unborn baby.

Fidela spoiled Sloan with a special spa afternoon.

Free Concessions – My former place of employment has made a big splash this week. The Coastal Carolina University athletic department recently announced it will offer FREE concessions items during the 2025 football season. We are talking free hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, and soda. Dubbed the CCU Kickoff Meal Deal, fans will be able to order four free items at a time and will be allowed to go through the line as many times as desired. Perhaps the timing of this announcement was the most ingenious part of the whole thing. Because CCU announced the promotion on March 31, people speculated that it could be an April Fool’s joke. Nope, it is totally legit—but the speculation added to the buzz.

When I started working at CCU, Brooks Stadium still had green grass and a fraction of its current capacity. It also didn’t offer free concessions. It will be interesting to see how it all works out.

Breakfast For Lunch – On Tuesday, our EWU marketing and communications team hosted a potluck during the lunch hour. Everyone was told to bring their favorite breakfast item. Let me tell you, my colleagues went all out and brought some delicious fare. As for me? Even though I have felt extremely burned by recent modifications, I couldn’t help but bring Costco muffins to the party.

Can you see my muffins? This was before most of the other food arrived. That’s my boss, Eric Limburg, flipping chocolate chip pancakes.

To Catch A Killer – While browsing Netflix for a movie to watch on Sunday, Sidney and I selected “To Catch A Killer.” The film is from 2023 and it stars Shailene Woodley, who I like, as a Baltimore police officer. When a mass shooter murders scores of people at multiple events, an FBI special agent leans on Woodley for her insight. When Sid and I talked about the movie during dinner the following night, I told her I didn’t really like it. She asked why. I told her I didn’t really know. But as she pressed me, I mentioned it was really dark, a little hokey, and just not very clever.

Although I like Shailene Woodley, I wouldn’t recommend “To Catch A Killer.”

Keep Scrolling – Many of you know that I try to end these rundowns on a humorous note and tonight I have the opportunity to do so. My friend, Lindsi, shared this four years ago but it still makes me laugh because it 100% resonates with me. Whenever I submit an online application that requires my birth date, I find the “year” field defaulting to something like 2007. Alas, this requires me to scroll back quite a bit to find my respective birth year. It is funny and concerning at the same time, but, believe it or not, sometimes I feel a pinch of pride mixed in that I have lived to this point.

This “Price Is Right” meme resonated with me.

——————–

This is going to be a record April for the Resers so I have to sign off for now. Hope you have a great weekend and thanks for reading! Don’t Blink.