Author Archives: brent

Turning Point Thursday Rundown

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Okay, the soreness from Bloomsday is starting to fade away. Thankfully, that discomfort never infiltrated these fingertips because they are hitting the keys at a rapid rate. While I am still in top notch typing form, let’s get to the rundown.

509 Day – Happy 509 Day, friends! As a born and raised Spokanite who now resides here once again after a 15-year hiatus, I have a genuine pride for those three numbers. Did that pride burn intensely in my soul when I left the state as an 18-year-old? To be honest, probably not. But after all those years of being away and noticing from afar that I didn’t live in such an awful place, the digits started to mean a little more to me. I wrote this post on 509 Day two years ago.

I took this photo from my seat window as we flew over Spokane in Nov. 2022. I love the 509!

Crowning – It is the Month of Mary and one way to honor our Blessed Mother is by crownings. Sloan and Beau had their Mary crowning at school earlier this week. Every student was invited to bring flowers to lay at the feet of the school’s Marian statue. Sidney made sure our children were prepared by purchasing flowers at our local grocery store florist and then arranging them into two bouquets. You can view Sloan placing the flowers with her classmate, Mariano, at the 2:10 mark of this video. St. Mary, pray for us!

Beau and Sloan hold their flowers that they used for the crowning of Mary at the St. Mary School (Spokane Valley) 2023-24 crowning.

Kids vs. Parents – Earlier this week, an unfortunate miscommunication between coaches left Beau’s t-ball team without an opponent. Since the miscommunication didn’t become apparent until a few minutes before game time, Team Navy had already traveled to the ball field. Thankfully, we made the best of it. Moms and dads joined forces to play the kids. Although I wish Beau’s team had players their own age to compete against, I had a great time squaring off against my son and his teammates on a gorgeous early May evening. Oh yeah, the kids won.

We weren’t going to let a beautiful, sunny evening go to waste so us parents played them. My son is up to bat and that is me at short stop.

Turning Point – I recently finished up a pretty deep historical documentary series titled Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War. The Netflix series is comprised of nine installments and begins with the rise of Stalin and ends with Putin’s rule and the current conflict in Ukraine. In between those two events you have 100 years of history! The show chronicles Russia vs. USA relations with a particular emphasis on the Cold War. It is quite the investment time-wise but if you are a history buff like me, you will appreciate (and be alarmed by) it. The footage is superb and the commentary on-point. If you want much better context on what is happening in Ukraine today, I highly recommend.

“Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War” was well done.

Blonde Brownie Ode – I kid you not, today is National Butterscotch Brownie Day. Not trying to brag but yours truly can make a pretty mean batch of blonde brownies. Don’t believe me? I made this video of me baking them a couple years ago. If learning off TikTok isn’t your thing, you can reference my top secret recipe (😂) by tapping here. Come on people, who doesn’t love a warm, gooey blonde brownie?! Chef’s kiss.

A pan of blonde brownies I made a couple years ago.

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I can’t wait for the weekend! It is going to be gorgeous and busy as usual. Let’s pray for the innocent people in Ukraine who continue to suffer devastation. Don’t Blink.

Unfrosted

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I had the debut of “Unfrosted” circled on my calendar for a month. I bugged Sidney to clear her Friday evening so we could watch it on premiere night. I took up time in a Zoom meeting to tell some colleagues that they needed to be as excited as me about the film. Basically, I was all-in for Jerry Seinfeld’s movie about the origin of Pop-Tarts.

“Unfrosted” is a dive into complete absurdity.

Did it live up to expectations? Did a movie about Pop-Tarts resonate with a nerdy blogger who is semi-obsessed with the toaster pastry?

Well, if I was looking for a film determined to reach new heights of absurdity then this film would have crushed my expectations. Don’t get me wrong, I love myself some ridiculousness but the sheer craziness and tomfoolery of “Unfrosted” even crossed a line for me.

Here’s the thing: I think “Unfrosted” flirted the line between being too funny and trying too hard. Wait, you are critiquing a movie for being too funny? Believe it or not, I have raised this issue before. Way back in 2016 I mentioned how “Fuller House” wore me out because that first episode was just joke after joke after joke. It gets to the point of being overwhelming. I think there is an art to telling a joke, letting it marinate for a bit, and then returning with another well-placed joke. In “Unfrosted,” I feel the joke pace was just too fast.

Seinfeld was relentless on the pace of the jokes. It was a little “much” for me.

I found myself a little caught off guard by the narrative spun in “Unfrosted.” I wasn’t expecting a drama that followed the true story to a “T” of how Pop-Tarts were invented. I prepared myself for a healthy dose of embellishment and satire…perhaps in similar vein to “Flamin’ Hot” which I reviewed almost a year ago. What I didn’t foresee was a complete fantasy tale of hijinks and impossibility. The fact that nothing in that movie honored the true spirit of the conception of Pop-Tarts was disappointing.

But look, I don’t want to go on and on about the finer points of “Unfrosted.” To be honest, I don’t think the film deserves a lot of my time and that is really saying something because people often tell me that I must have a lot of it. All I can convey to you is that this movie is ABSURD (have I told you that yet? 😉). Let me just leave you with the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Good – The joke that is based on the title of the movie is saved for the very end. I give Seinfeld points for his patience. The quip actually made me laugh pretty hard but I still don’t know if it was a genuine laugh or a “SMH this movie is finally over” relieved type of laugh.

Bad – This movie is simply all over the place. Quite simply a train wreck with so many side plots and unnecessary gags. One ploy that seemed especially unhelpful was the decision to introduce a “dream team” of pop culture icons from the 1960s to help produce a superior toaster pastry. This squad included Chef Boyardee, Jack LaLanne, and Tom Carvel. It was so random and distracting. Perhaps the most annoying/least funny product of these characters was the living sea monkey ravioli that was nothing short of problematic and stupid.

Ugly – Oh man, have I mentioned yet that this movie is OUTRAGEOUS? Just wait until you see the funeral scene. Yes, I will admit that I laughed, but it was U-G-L-Y. The jokes, the imagery, the audacity…it is something that you have to see to believe. If you truly want a WTF moment, watch the flippin’ funeral scene.

The funeral scene in “Unfrosted” is something else.

You want to know how I planned to judge this movie? I was going to grade it a success if I was inspired to open my pantry and grab a Pop-Tart upon finishing it. Well, guess what? I haven’t eaten one of those things since watching “Unfrosted.” Don’t Blink.

Bloomsday 2024: A Bit Damp

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Perhaps this year’s Bloomsday experience was dampened a bit. Why do I write this? Well, it was literally damp—like really damp. For the seven days leading up to the race, the forecast called for cold temperatures and a constant rain. Unfortunately, for once, the weather people got it right. The rain started by the time we made it downtown and continued throughout the race.

Despite pleas from Sloan and Beau, they couldn’t get KREM 2 meteorologist Jeremy LaGoo to change his rainy forecast for Bloomsday. My kids talked to Jeremy at the Bloomsday Trade Show.

My experience was also dampened in a more figurative sense because I failed to PR this year. I hoped to run faster than my personal course record of 1:09:34. Instead, I ran 86 seconds slower than last year, crossing the finish line at 1:11:00. Although I still beat my 2022 time of 1:11:27, I wanted to be under the 70-minute mark and notch another PR.

A look at me as I near the finish line. Wish I would have ran a little faster!

But enough of the complaining, I still had fun! With my sister-in-law pregnant, it was just my brother and me this year. We hopped on the STA shuttle at Ferris High School and rode the bus downtown. To avoid standing in the rain for an extended period of time, we arrived at our starting line a little later this year. Although we always enjoy passing time by spiking beach balls and listening to the pre-race music, the enjoyment lessens under heavy rain.

My brother and I wear our ponchos at the Bloomsday starting line as we wait for the race to start.

When we crossed the starting line, that unmistakable first mile Bloomsday adrenaline kicked in. My boss calls it “race energy” and there really isn’t anything like it. As the contagious excitement engulfed us and we ran shoulder-to-shoulder with the masses, Glen and I veered to the side as we came upon Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral. By pulling over, we were able to receive a blessing from Fr. David Gaines who was on-hand to minister to Bloomies. After receiving God’s protection, we were set to cover the next seven miles.

My brother and I receive a blessing from Fr. David Gaines right outside of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral during Bloomsday 2024.

Glen and I soon separated as we ran our own races. By this time, the steady precipitation didn’t matter anymore. With my focus fixed on putting one foot in front of the other combined with the sense of community that was ever present, the wet weather didn’t register with me. I was cruising.

Even though my final time suggests otherwise, Bloomsday didn’t seem as taxing this year. I didn’t battle cramps like I did in 2023 and Doomsday Hill didn’t seem as daunting. When I crossed the finish line, I wasn’t gasping for air.

A photo of me just about to cross the finish line (I am far right).

After the race, my bro and I continued a now three-year tradition of hitting up Flatstick Pub (which is super close to the finish line) for a celebratory beer. Once we downed those brews, we boarded the shuttle and headed back to Ferris High School and extended the second half of our post-Bloomsday tradition of finding a random dive to eat a greasy lunch and drink another round of beers. I then went home to rest on the couch.

Cheers! Glen and I share a celebratory beer at Flatstick Pub after Bloomsday 2024.

Race energy. I go back to that term from my boss. Although I wish I ran a couple minutes faster, I wasn’t deprived of the community excitement that was so abundant on Sunday morning. In the end, getting a heavy dose of race energy and crossing the finish line is all that matters. And when you experience both of those things, nothing can rain on your parade. Don’t Blink.

My Participation Shirts

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It took until this past weekend for my wife to realize the significance of the Bloomsday finisher t-shirt. The color prediction contest in my family’s text thread, the media coverage, and the tradition of secrecy seemed to rub off on her this year. Last night she told me, “I didn’t know until this Bloomsday what a big deal the t-shirt is.”

You are becoming a true Spokanite, Sid!

With all that said, while I do get excited for that first glimpse of the t-shirt once I cross the finish line, I don’t get too enthusiastic about actually wearing it—at least in the long term. But right after the race? You bet! I throw that thing on and blend in with the thousands of other people who slip it on after receiving theirs from the army of Bloomsday volunteers. I truly enjoy admiring the throngs of Bloomies sporting their shirts by late morning in downtown Spokane. In my opinion, there isn’t a better sense of community.

A candid shot my brother took of me wearing my 2024 Bloomsday finisher t-shirt that I proudly wore as we drank a post-race beer.

After wearing my Bloomsday shirt post-race on Sunday, I might wear it the next day as well. Growing up in Spokane, it was a badge of honor to wear your Bloomsday shirt to school on Monday. In fact, I had to mess around and wear this year’s shirt to my son’s t-ball game tonight.

And that might be the last time I wear it.

I don’t have a very sustainable record with participation shirts I have received. Whether for a race, camp, or event I don’t usually wear them for “everyday living” beyond maybe once. But I have my reasons…

– For whatever reason the shirts don’t fit me well

– After one washing they shrink and their appearance deteriorates

– Usually they are 100% cotton and the material isn’t the best…and it shows

Even for shirts earned for accomplishing something–like the finalist t-shirt our team received for Hoopfest last year–it is usually one-and-done when it comes to how much I wear it.

I admire the crafty people who gather the t-shirts their kids accumulate throughout a childhood of many activities and stitch them into a quilt. I could never dream of doing something like that. However, although I don’t wear them as part of my daily attire, I do try to re-purpose my participation shirts in different ways such as…

– Night shirt

– Layering up an outfit

– Ripping into smaller pieces to create rags

What do you do with your participation shirts? Do you proudly wear them as part of your normal wardrobe? Do you only wear the ones of particular significance? Do you donate them? Let me know. Don’t Blink.

Sour Patch Thursday Rundown

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Hopefully your month started off with plenty of May flowers. If not, hang in there, we still have four weeks left. But while you might have to wait for flowers, there is no delay with my latest Thursday Rundown. Let’s get started with tonight’s five topics…

Anyone But You – Sidney and I recently watched a romantic comedy called “Anyone But You.” We couldn’t resist as the film was #1 on Netflix and the leading female role was played by Spokane native Sydney Sweeney. There has been a big buzz about Sweeney lately and we wanted to give her our support. Well, the film wasn’t anything special. I did laugh throughout the 1 hour, 44 minute runtime but I found it predictable and corny. Definitely not something I would watch twice.

I was pretty indifferent to “Anyone But You.”

Sour Patch Oreos – It has been a recurring topic to analyze different Oreo flavors with some special colleagues from work. So, when I learned yesterday that Nabisco plans to release a Sour Patch Kids cookie I naturally sent them the link. I am not a “sour” person so I don’t think the treat will be my thing but I will still gladly try them because let’s get real—this blogger isn’t going to say “no” to the most audacious Oreo flavor he has ever heard of to date. The cookie hits shelves May 6.

Doesn’t sound good, but I would definitely try a Sour Patch Oreo cookie.

Kong vs. Godzilla – Last night, we read a book called “King Kong’s Cousin.” It told the story of Junior, a meeker ape who lived in the shadow of his celebrity cousin. But as I was reading it, I realized I should have found a book about Godzilla. Why? Even though I will take King Kong over the lizard all day, this year marks the 70th anniversary of Godzilla. I have fond memories of checking out books in my elementary school library about Godzilla and after so much anticipation I remember watching the 1998 film.

“King Kong’s Cousin” by Mark Teague was a pretty simple book.

Random Throwback – This photo was taken three years ago on May 2, 2021. It made me think, my kids are growing up too fast! The image was captured in my parents’ front lawn after the ice cream truck made a stop through the neighborhood. Beau appears to be working on his basketball skills. Although you can’t see the hoop, I plan to write about it during the summer as it is celebrating a milestone year. I bet you are all so excited for an entire blog post dedicated to my parents’ basketball hoop.

Beau and Sloan hanging out on May 2, 2021.

Costco Top Items – Yesterday was the 10-year anniversary of my Top Five Things I Buy At Costco blog post. I was very intrigued to read it and compare the items to what Sidney and I buy in present day. Well, the one item that hasn’t changed one bit from my 2014 list is the Costco muffin. I am semi-obsessed with Coscto muffins and I know for a fact that the item will be on my list in 2034 too. I laughed at my final item on the list—a hot dog from the food stand. At the time of the post, I remarked on how affordable a Costco dog was at only $1.50. It is good to know that some things don’t change. Despite inflation and prices going up on seemingly everything, a Costco dog on May 2, 2024, is still just $1.50.

Me with Costco Apple Crumb muffins in 2014.

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That will wrap things up for tonight. Wishing all WSU students a wonderful commencement weekend! Don’t Blink.

The Separation of Time

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A thought came upon me yesterday for the first time. It occurred to me that I had now lived more of my life on my own than under the roof of my parents. Kind of a random thought, but it did give me pause. As is normal for many American children, I moved out at 18 to navigate this crazy world myself.

In the years that would follow, if I experienced either an accomplishment or pitfall of being an adult under my own roof, I would think back to the not-so-distant past and compare it to when I lived with my mom and dad. Well, it doesn’t really seem as appropriate to do that now.

My brother and I stand in my parents’ driveway during a simpler time.

Then this morning another related thought hit me. It won’t be too long until I have lived more of my life with no grandparents alive than with any of them still on this earth. My grandma (and last living grandparent) passed away when I was a 19-year-old college freshman.

Again, I don’t know why over the past 24 hours these thoughts have registered with me. But I guess I can glean two things from them. One, I am old. And two, as I continue to log more and more time of separation from eras and events, I hope I never forget about them.

No matter how much time passes, may I always pleasantly remember the comfort of living home and the kindness of my grandparents. Don’t Blink.

From April to May

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So how did April treat you? As we approach this month’s conclusion, it is worth noting that 1/3 of 2024 is just about in the books. Good time to reflect on goals, right?

I have been honest that April isn’t my favorite month. Although I don’t dislike it, it wouldn’t crack the top half of my preferred months. But it definitely has some good things going for it.

When I look at April 2024, I think of it as the kickoff to a busy three-month stretch. Both our kids started sports that in turn sacrificed most days of our week to practices and games. This has resulted in us logging lots of miles as we travel to different schools (competition sites) while eating many meals on the run. But the hecticness is worth it as Sloan continues to improve at soccer and Beau is trying his hardest to learn the basics of t-ball.

Beau runs the bases during an April t-ball game.

The month started with spring break. Sid and I each had the opportunity to take some time off to spend with the kids. Our St. Mary community kept us busy with its fundraising gala, Family Faith Night, Springo Bingo, Knights of Columbus events, and more. Work was insane with some major announcements and high priority projects. At the same time, it also offered some lighter moments: I interviewed former Amazing Race contestant Alex Boylan who was on campus for the filming of WSU Pullman’s “College Tour” episode and I had the opportunity to treat our graduating interns to a celebratory/farewell lunch.

Sloan participates in an activity at St Mary’s April Family Faith Night.

And now we look forward to May, a month I always enjoy. I love spring in full bloom, Mother’s Day tributes, and commencement excitement. Personally, it will be even more busy for our family than April. Sports, school, and church activities will continue. Sidney and I will preside over another retreat for engaged couples and I will attend an internal work conference. Bloomsday, birthday parties, and baby showers are also all on tap. It will be fun!

So as we bridge the gap between April and May, I hope you find yourself in a good spot. Take some time to assess your 2024 thus far and prepare for an amazing month! Don’t Blink.

Family Ice Cream Party

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Last week, my St. Mary Knights of Columbus council (#4196) held a bingo event. Capitalizing on the Turkey Bingo phenomenon that draws huge crowds every November, my Brother Knights decided it would be smart to host a spring bingo opportunity, too. We put this thought into practice last year with Mardi Gras Bingo and then this year we staged Springo Bingo.

Our St. Mary Knights of Columbus Council (#4196) held a Springo Bingo event on April 21.

Making Springo Bingo unique from Turkey Bingo and Mardi Gras Bingo was the prize offering. Instead of turkeys and hams, my Brother Knights broke the mold by preparing themed prize packages. Carefully wrapped baskets filled with meats/wines, yard tools, candies, spa items, and much more were designated for specific games throughout the afternoon.

Fr. Jeff joined our table for some Bingo and snacks. (photo courtesy of Carl Lockwood).

At one point during the event, a “kids only” Bingo game was announced. Adults could play, but only children could win. The prize up for grabs? An ice cream sundae basket!

A look at the Springo Bingo event at St. Mary.

Sloan and Beau played this particular round hard but their cards just weren’t hot. Things were different for a nice lady at a neighboring table. She quickly made a Bingo and ran over to our table to hand off the card to Sloan. My daughter knew just what to do as she yelled the magic word. When we walked out of the St. Mary gym, we were hauling the ice cream sundae basket with us.

Sloan posing with her ice cream sundae basket.

That basket proved to be a great motivator. I told Sloan and Beau that if they each had a solid week of good behavior and kindness then we would have an ice cream party on Friday night. My ploy worked! I had two (mostly) perfect angels for five days straight.

The card that was placed inside the basket outlining its contents.

True to my promise, we busted out the ice cream sundae basket on Friday evening. We separated the contents of the package and Sid started to fill bowls with ice cream using the brand new scoop. While she did this, I oversaw an ice cream tic-tac-toe competition thanks to the board that was included in the basket.

Sloan and Beau play ice cream tic-tac-toe bingo.

We asked Sloan and Beau what they wanted on their vanilla ice cream and gave them what they requested. Both had a bowl of ice cream topped with gummy bears, caramel topping, chocolate sauce, sprinkles, and cherries. It might seem a little excessive but it was a well-earned reward.

They waited a whole week for this!

After they were served, Sid and I made sundaes too. I had something similar to what the kids had but I held the gummy bears and cherries for lots of nuts. The four of us then had a really nice time eating our elaborate desserts and talking. It was one of those instances when I thought, It doesn’t really get much better than this. Hopefully simple memories like this will remain with the kids once they grow up and have their own children.

This was my ice cream sundae….yes, I did add sprinkles.

Kudos to my Brother Knights Keith Miner and Greg Hanson for putting on the Springo Bingo event. My family paid $20 for bingo cards, 50/50 raffle tickets, food, drinks, and two prize packages that each surpassed the $20 we paid. How is that for good, clean, affordable entertainment? And that doesn’t even take into account the priceless ice cream party my family got to enjoy together on Friday night.

How sweet it is! Don’t Blink.

Earth Thursday Rundown

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Can we be nearing the end of April already? Well, let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, we still have a handful of days left. But tonight’s blog post does mark the final Thursday Rundown of the month so I guess May will be here sooner than we know it. Here are tonight’s five topics…

Earth Girl – On Monday, Sloan received some serious Earth Day inspiration at school. I say this because by the time I picked her up in the afternoon, she was chomping at the bit to do something for the environment. When we arrived at our house, she took the initiative to roam our neighborhood and pick up random garbage. Her heart was definitely in the right place but I wasn’t too thrilled with my first grader picking up cigarette butts and other random “surprises” that people had discarded. Despite some of my hesitations, Sloan did help to beautify our street by filling a bag with trash.

Sloan holding the bag of trash she picked up on Earth Day.

Megan Leavey – On Sunday afternoon, Sidney and I picked one of the current Netflix Top 10 movies to watch. We settled upon “Megan Leavey,” a film from 2017 that tells the story of a struggling young woman in an uninspiring small town who ends up enlisting in the Marines. After going through basic training, she finds her calling as a K9 handler. Megan’s role requires her to train her dog to find explosives in a high stress combat situations. Once troubled, Megan’s job gives her purpose and she is sent to Iraq to assist with crucial missions. I found the movie interesting, emotional, and heroic. If you have the chance to watch it, I recommend the film.

I enjoyed “Megan Leavey.”

Road Trip 10-Year Anniversary – Time sure flies. We are in the midst of the four-day stretch in which my dad and I drove across the country 10 years ago. We rented a U-Haul and trekked to South Carolina where I would start my job at Coastal Carolina University a few days later. On the particular evening of April 25, 2024, we called it a day in Council Bluffs, Iowa. We stopped in better cities over the course of the road trip but every town that we spent the night in now holds a special spot in our hearts.

Although Council Bluffs wasn’t my favorite town we stayed the night in, it now holds a special place in my heart.

National DNA Day – Today is National DNA Day and I can’t get enough of all the true crime stories that highlight how cold cases are now getting solved due to genealogy companies. Just a couple days ago, Sid and I watched a Dateline where a man was arrested for two murders that took place 40 years ago. The guy was living in an extremely remote Canadian community where he never would have been found if not for distant family members submitting their DNA to genealogy companies. Several years ago, I signed up for ancestry.com and it might have been one of the best decisions I ever made. There isn’t a week that goes by where I don’t receive a notification that I have a new match.

My DNA test got really specific on what areas of Italy my DNA is from.

Channel 13 – I think I need to make an adjustment to my top SiriusXM channel list. For the past two weeks, we have listened non-stop to the limited time Taylor Swift station that is appropriately located on Channel 13. The first week entailed my Swiftie-obsessed daughter belting out the lyrics to all of Taylor’s hits. This second week has taken the form of a listening session as my wife and Sloan learn Swift’s new music from her Tortured Poets Department album. By now I have grown pretty tired of Channel 13 but I guess I could be listening to worse.

Sloan walking into the theater to watch the Taylor Swift movie.

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It is always a pleasure, friends. I hope everyone has a smashing weekend and I look forward to catching up next week. Don’t Blink.

Annoying My Front Seat Passenger

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When it comes to old school, stereotypical gender roles, our family follows suit when it comes to driving. Whenever the four of us go somewhere, I am almost always behind the wheel. Naturally, this means we are usually in my car. And forgive me, but if we are in my car it usually means my rules…or at least my preferences.

Here are five ways I operate my car that Sidney absolutely hates.

I operate my car in a manner that sometimes annoys Sid

There Is a Horn For a Reason – In order to move things along when we have some place to be, I will back out the car from the garage while Sidney and/or one of the kids finishes getting ready. If we are at risk of running late for church or school, I will tap the horn to instill a sense of urgency. Yep, I usually get my rear end chewed for that one.

Safe Driver – I have documented this in depth before, but I am a grandma driver compared to Sid. I follow the rules of the road and go the speed limit. My world came crashing down on me when I received a speeding ticket this past fall. You better believe that I am not going to put myself in position to get another one anytime soon.

Freshness – I am a fan of the vehicle air freshener trees and Yankee candles. My wife? Not so much. In fact, the only thing she dislikes more than the air fresheners themselves are the scents I choose. You should see the face she makes when she hops in my car after I just hung a wild cherry tree on the rear view mirror.

In Your Face – Whether I have the heat cranked or the air conditioning blowing, I have the vents set to expel air toward the faces of the driver and front seat passenger. Sidney prefers to set it so the feet receive the air. Whenever she challenges me on it, I tell her, “Our feet are covered but our faces aren’t.”

Appliances Off – I inherited this one from my dad, but before shutting off my car I make sure to turn off all other appliances. Radio? AC? Seat warmers? I take my time to diligently turn off each one before cutting the engine. I guess Sidney wishes she could have back the five whole seconds it takes me to do that.

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Despite all these inconveniences Sid has to put up with when I drive, they don’t add up to trumping her perceived greatest inconvenience of all: driving. So until she wants to get behind the wheel, she might just have to put up with that hot air blowing in her face 😂. Don’t Blink.