What a Race it Was

Posted on May 4, 2016 by brent

With John Kasich dropping out of the 2016 presidential race today, there is now a likely Republican nominee for President of the United States.

Okay, let me catch my breath.

It was an insane primary season for the Republican Party. It was just this past August when 16 candidates declared themselves as a viable choice for the nomination, all with high optimism and strong opinions. From that point on, it was an absolute slugfest. The storylines, the debates, the interviews, and the social media all made this high stakes competition an absolute spectacle. It was better than must-see-TV, it was a real life drama centered on the right to run for the most powerful position on the planet. Of course, there was no shortage of twists and turns.

I admit it, I couldn’t keep my eye off it. I watched a lot of CNN, followed all the candidates on Twitter, and even started reading political blogs such as FiveThirtyEight. The race was just so gripping, so intense, so personal. The craziest part? It just seemed to get better and better.

The reality show elements definitely added a lot of juice to this one. You had eliminations, you had drama, you had manipulation, and, most importantly, you had characters.

It is an understatement to say that no character stood out more than Donald J. Trump. Heck, just look at this blog. It takes a lot for me to write once about a person, let alone FOUR times. However, during the primary season I wrote about how I thought he was intelligent, how I thought he was fascinating, how I thought he was a poor sport, and how I thought he had doomed his campaign. Say what you want about those first three topics, one thing is clear about the fourth one: I was dead wrong.

What this man did was pretty spectacular.

But so were a lot of other people. Trump was discredited before he even entered the race and was written off numerous times during it. Love him or hate him, Trump has defined the meaning of resiliency and showed us what it looks like to be a competitor.

To be completely honest, I am a little exhausted from the primary season. It wasn’t for the faint of heart. We are now staring directly at the undoubtedly most bitter and outrageous presidential election we most likely will ever see. That is why I said above that I need to catch my breath. As someone who isn’t that interested in politics, I have definitely gotten my fill over the last several months. Now it looks like I need to prepare myself for something that will be even more extreme.

Donald Trump vs. Hilary Clinton is going to be brutal. We are looking at six months of pure mania. I am excited to see them debate each other and I am interested to see their revised social media strategies but I don’t know if I am ready for the day-to-day grind. But I guess it is one of those things where it doesn’t matter if you are ready or not, it is going to come regardless.

I am not a Democrat nor Republican so I will monitor this race without a dog in the fight. However, I know I will be drawn in and will most likely have a preference come November. Pace yourself, it is going to be a long, bumpy, and CRAZY ride. Don’t Blink.

My Favorite Carnival Game

Posted on May 3, 2016 by brent

Last night, Sidney and I watched a movie called “Adventureland.” It is a coming-of-age film chronicling the summer experience of a bunch of teens and young adults working at a dusty amusement park. The main character, James, is put on carnival game duty. Upon his hire at the park, James is introduced to the rigged nature of pretty much every game available.

As we were watching this, Sidney told me that growing up her dad would try to steer the family away from the carnival games. It wasn’t that he detested the fact that most of them were corrupt, it was that he didn’t want to deal with the hassle of carrying around the consolation prizes that were given out. I don’t blame him!

Sid then asked if I had a favorite carnival game growing up. I told her yes I did, but it wasn’t just my favorite carnival game…it was my family’s favorite carnival game.

My dad’s passion for a game that was always at the Walla Walla Fair rubbed off on us. Have you ever heard of the Dime Toss? In a square space area boxed in by wooden tables was a skirted platform that served as the base of a “sculpture.” Glasses, plates, bowls, ash trays, and other containers were piled high and long on top of each other. Participants stood behind the tables and flicked dimes at the sculpture, hoping that their coin would fall on top of a plate or inside a cup. If the coin did in fact rest inside or on a piece of glassware, the item was theirs.

This was the best image I could find on the internet of a Dime Toss that looked similar to what we played growing up.

We probably came close a couple times to wiping the carny out of dimes. My dad couldn’t be kept away from the game so neither could we. The Dime Toss was cheap and challenging. Having the opportunity to play for ten cents a pop was attractive and even though the game took skill, it wasn’t impossible to win. Just ask my mom…

Now she is probably going to kill me for revealing this, but growing up our most used drinkware in the house came from the Walla Walla Fair. Even back then, I can remember my mom cringing just a little bit when we enthusiastically stuffed under her nose the latest glass we won. Not only would she be responsible for safely packing it for the three hour drive back to Spokane, but she also knew that we would insist it be inserted into the circulation of the Reser Family Glassware Collection. Because she is such a nice mom, she would oblige, and I honestly think they would grow on her.

Okay, I am really pressing my luck now, and I feel an angry text might soon be on its way, but I kid you not when I say my mom still has some of the Dime Toss glassware in her cupboard. Yes, 20 years later, my mom still uses several cups that we won her at the fair. Mom, if you are reading this, I am talking about those glasses with the strawberry design on them that were still around when I visited this past summer.

Of course I don’t think it is anything to be embarrassed about. I love those glasses and they bring back great memories whenever I go home. I just have a feeling my mom is probably more concerned about what her neighbors will think.

But I still haven’t arrived at the best part of the story. My brother and I loved the Dime Toss so much that we replicated it at home. During those long summer days, we would raid my mom’s cupboards and take out glasses we won at the fair and glasses we didn’t win at the fair. We would take our loot downstairs and build our own sculpture. At that point, we would let the coins fly! We would compete against each other to see who could record the most makes and we also invited the neighbor kids over and made them use their own coins to participate. No one got to keep any glasses, it was just done for the fun/challenge of it. Like I am fond of saying, my parents didn’t believe in Nintendo so we had to come up with alternative forms of indoor entertainment.

I haven’t gone to a carnival in years so I don’t know if the Dime Toss is still around, I doubt it. But I can say that game was another memorable sliver of my childhood. As for “Adentureland,” I give it three stars. Don’t Blink.

Getting a Deal at the Movies

Posted on May 2, 2016 by brent

I go to the movie theater a lot. I love watching the hottest blockbusters in a packed auditorium while stuffing my face with popcorn and drinking Pibb XTRA. Evidenced by the names Carmike, Regal, and Cinemark frequently appearing on my debit card transaction list, I spend a lot of money at the movies.

Whether it be a loyalty points card, special email offers, or Fandango, I am always up for ways to make going to the movies less expensive and/or more convenient. This past weekend I utilized a service that saved me both money and time.

Someone at work told me about an app called Dealflicks. I had never heard of it nor realized that such a service existed. However, after he told me about it I internally described the app as this: Fandango meets Expedia.

If you like going to the movies, make sure to check Dealflicks out.

Contracting with various theaters, Dealflicks is an app that lets you purchase discounted movie tickets with something else thrown in to sweeten the deal. This “something else” usually takes the form of a concessions item, such as a box of candy or a soda. Depending on the theater, the film, and the side item offered, Dealflicks will quote you a total price. If it is enticing enough to meet your needs, you just click on the deal and provide your credit card information.

On Saturday night, Sidney and I wanted to go see a movie. I pulled out my phone and opened up Dealflicks. The app automatically used my GPS positioning to tell me the closest participating theaters and the movies playing. Luckily, the theater that is closest to us happened to be a Dealflicks partner. We looked through the listings and decided on “Criminal,” a thriller starring Kevin Costner.

I clicked on the showtime we desired and was presented with the deal: For $9, I could receive a movie ticket and a medium sized popcorn. I said Yes Please! I purchased the deal twice and for $18 Sidney and I had plans for the evening.

I never took a screenshot of when I purchased my tickets for “Criminal” but here is a similar screenshot I took of a movie that played earlier today. Not bad for tickets and popcorn, huh?

Even before leaving for the theater, the benefits were pretty clear. We had already bought our tickets so we didn’t have to worry about the show selling out, the tickets themselves were discounted, and we were each getting a free popcorn. I am not that much of a penny-pincher but when it comes to attending a movie you aren’t talking pennies these days!

This was the screen I showed the theater employee. She tapped “Mark as Used” and I was good to go.

We arrived at the theater and I pulled out my phone. I brought up the Dealflicks screen and the employee immediately knew what to do. She took my phone from my hands, tapped the screen a couple times, and we were all set. We were handed our tickets and given our bags of popcorn. As I looked at the concessions menu, I noticed that a medium popcorn was $7.24 (totally random price, I know). That was justification enough for using Dealflicks.

Getting our tickets was easy.

The process was seamless. We were given everything we thought we would. It was totally legit. I guess I was just expecting it all to be a little more sketchy than what it was. I mean why isn’t this app more well-known? Why aren’t more people doing it?

Dealflicks set us up nicely this past Saturday night.

Like I said, Dealflicks is half Fandango, half Expedia. It is like Fandango because you purchase your tickets electronically ahead of time. It is like Expedia because it is acting as a third party to help sell the surplus movie tickets (such as hotel rooms or airline tickets) at a discounted price. Luckily, whatever hybrid Dealflicks might be, it works.

I plan to use Dealflicks in the future. If you enjoy saving around $10-$15 and prefer a heavy dose of convenience, I recommend it. See you at the movies. Don’t Blink.

Sidney’s Smorgasbord

Posted on May 1, 2016 by brent

Note: This evening, Sidney once again takes over Don’t Blink. As you will see, she also takes over one of Brent’s weekly blogging traditions.

After having a month long hiatus away from guest blogging for Brent, I think it’s time that I get back to it. This month, I decided to rip out a page from my husband-to-be’s playbook, and write a rundown post. Now he just calls his posts “The Thursday Rundown”, but my post is more uniquely known as “Sid’s Sunday Subject Smorgasbord” (Okay…I know…this title is really corny…but cut me some slack. I taught my kids all about alliteration this week and I’m having a hard time getting away from it!). Also, Brent normally writes about five topics but I am going to opt with just four; he doesn’t pay me enough to do an extra one. So here we go…ladies and gents..I present to you my four subject rundown!

Tooth Pulling Extraordinaire! – So I had not originally had this idea for one of my rundown subjects, but the idea literally just fell into my lap, or more truthfully came to me via FaceTime call. My niece, Russell, “FaceTimed” me in the middle of writing this blog. She is on the way home from a weekend spent with her cousins, and she called me from the car on her Daddy’s cell phone. When I answered the call she politely requested that I meet her at her house when she gets home. The reason? She needs me to pull out her tooth. My niece is a quick-witted little firecracker, much akin to her ever-so-lovely aunt. Anyway…she is six and at that prime age of Tooth Fairy excitement. Now why did she call and demand my presence, and not ask one of her parents to do the job? Well, that’s because I accidentally pulled out her first tooth. A year or so ago, she had her first wiggly tooth. She wanted me to wiggle it, and when I did, she jerked her head back and the tooth was left in my hand. OOPS!! Ever since, I’ve been entrusted with high-honor of pulling her teeth. Not the biggest claim to fame, but hey…those are memories with my niece that ONLY I will ever have! (On a side-note…Brent witnessed me pull out Russell’s tooth once. He instantaneously turned as white as a ghost. Needless to say, I think I will continue to reign as the Tooth Pulling Extraordinaire for our kids too).

It was a fast trip…mission accomplished!

Mac vs PC – All through college, I dubbed myself solely an Apple product person. I used a MacBook and had an iPhone. The wireless router in my house was an AirPort router. I even used AppleTV on a daily basis. I still love Apple products and to this day still use all of these products on the daily. But I have slowly started to develop a love-hate relationship with my MacBook. At school, I have a district issued PC laptop. I use this piece of technology for LITERALLY every aspect of my school day. As you can guess, I have become very familiar with all things PC. And I’m still MacBook literate, but DAMN! Sometimes it takes me forever to complete a remedial task on my Mac that would’ve taken me two seconds a couple years ago. So it makes me wonder. You know how people from other countries move to the United States to adopt the English language, and slowly lose the ability to speak or read their native language? Could this be what’s happened to me and my Mac? What do you all think? Am I losing my Mac-Ability?

GO NOODLE! – Last week in school, the upper elementary grades were taking the SC READY Test, a state issued end of the year assessment. Primary grades (i.e. Kindergarten, first grade, second grade) do not take this test. However, when the test is being administered there are strict rules. The school is under lock-down procedure. No visitors. No movement in the hallways. No outdoor recess. No Special area classes. As you can guess, when you have 25 little kids trapped in the classroom all day, they start to get stir crazy. So to help get the wiggles out (and give myself a chuckle) I let my kids GoNoodle for approximately 30 minutes a day. GoNoodle is a cool website that has lots of activities that involve moving, dancing, and singing. It even has stress relief activities and yoga!! It’s ideal for indoor recess or brain breaks, because it lets the kids exert come energy in a constructive and safe way. My kids are obsessed with the MooseTube songs and dances. And I have to admit…watching them do these silly activities gives me a deep-belly laugh. And sometimes in the stress of a school day, a good laugh is just what I need to turn a bad day into a good one. If you have a bunch of kids to wrangle, or even one or two, check it out. It’s FREEEEE!!!!

Moving Day – A couple Thursdays back, Brent mentioned that I was writing the post for that following Sunday, but then…low and behold…Brent wrote last Sunday..not me! Now because all of you LOVE my writing, I know you were disappointed, and surely spent most of the day grieving my absence. But have no fear…an explanation is here!! (Clearly, I spend too much time with children. I need more adult friends.) Anyway…the reason for neglecting my blogging duty was because Brent moved into my house! I know right?! Exciting times! Because Brent’s lease ended at his apartment, I decided to take him in rather than have him fend for himself as a homeless bum on the Myrtle Beach streets. This arrangement is based on VERY STRICT STIPULATIONS. For the time being, Brent and I share an address but that’s as far as the sharing goes. We have separate sleeping quarters, separate closets, separate bathrooms, and we even have separate baskets to collect our mail. So essentially, Brent and I are living like roommates. It is nice to have my best friend under the same roof, but we both thought it was important that we not jump right in to acting like a married couple (because obviously we aren’t married yet). To some, it might seem ridiculous, but for us, and thousands of others in the same situation, it works. So until next month (ahhhhh!!!) Brent is more like my roomie than my hubby, and I’m okay with that.

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Well guys, that’s all I have for you this Sunday evening. It is a rainy one here in SC, so hopefully I can convince my new ROOMMATE (hehehehe) to watch a good movie with me on the couch! The next time I blog for you guys, summer break will be in full swing and I will be days away from getting married! Crazy how fast time flies…but as always…DON’T BLINK!

Two Years After Arriving in Myrtle Beach, I Write a Thursday Rundown

Posted on April 28, 2016 by brent

Good evening to you all. Thanks for coming back to read another Thursday Rundown. Here we go with this week’s five topics…

Two Years in Myrtle Beach – Two years ago on this date, I rolled into Myrtle Beach to start a new stage in my life. I have loved my time here and have enjoyed many blessings, the biggest one of course meeting my soon-to-be-wife. Myrtle Beach is a great place with countless ice cream shops and fabulous weather so it goes without saying that I get along just fine down here. I do miss my family but technology helps to fill that void and having my new family (Sidney’s family) makes things easier as well.

The Chanticleer Final Issue – I always say that the best recognition I can receive doing my job is recognition that comes from the students. Our student newspaper, The Chanticleer, released its final issue of the academic year yesterday. It was pretty cool that the editor gave me a shout out but I got really excited when I saw my life motto used in the “Top 5” feature. It was the best issue ever…well maybe except for this one.

Student recognition is the best recognition.

New M&M Flavor – I always include new candy I see at the checkout aisle on my Thursday Rundown posts. This past Sunday I saw new Chili Nut M&M’s. To be honest, I am not 100% certain what a chili nut is, but I am guessing it is just a spicy peanut. Now I love original peanut M&M’s and I also love spicy peanuts but I don’t know if I am digging a chili nut flavor of M&M’s. To me, spice just doesn’t go well with chocolate. However, I will try a pack eventually.

I held a bag of the new Chili Nut M&M’s on Sunday night.

NBA Playoffs – Last weekend I finally started to watch the NBA Playoffs. On Friday night I watched the Cleveland vs. Detroit game. On Saturday, I sat down with my future father-in-law and watched a doubleheader…Charlotte vs. Miami and Dallas vs. Oklahoma City. Heck, we event started to watch the late night game (Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland). On Sunday we watched as Steph Curry re-injured himself in Golden State’s win over Houston. I would love to see the Golden State Warriors vs. Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Finals. Although the injuries have tarnished the playoffs thus far, I still enjoy watching the postseason just because of the storylines that develop and the increased effort that is exerted.

Wedding Update #29 – We are just 44 days away from the big date. Sidney’s bridal shower invites went out in the mail this week. Items are disappearing from our registry. My mom bought her dress. It is all very exciting and hopefully other big developments will transpire between now and when I give my big Wedding Update #30 next week.

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Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I send my best wishes for a great weekend. Now, if you will excuse me, I got to get in front of a TV so I can see who is picked #1 in the 2016 NFL Draft. Don’t Blink.

My Advice to New College Graduates

Posted on April 27, 2016 by brent

College graduation season is upon us. Next weekend, eligible students here at Coastal Carolina University will participate in commencement exercises as will countless other students from universities across the nation. Then, for the next several weekends that follow, scores of additional higher learning institutions will also hold graduation ceremonies. ‘Tis the season.

I graduated from college seven years ago. Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday, sometimes it feels like it has been much longer. One thing is for sure though, since 2009 I have sat through many commencement addresses while working for two different universities. The speakers I have listened to have all had polished, logical messages to deliver to the students.

I graduated from college in 2009.

While I am a couple degrees and many accomplishments short of ever giving a commencement address, I do have an idea of what I would say. Of course it would be much less elegant and much more brief than what the big wigs bring to the podium but hopefully my words would resonate with the young people sitting in front of me.

Like I said, it would be brief:

I would tell all the students who have not found jobs or won’t find one for the next year to not freak out. Sometimes finding that first opportunity takes a little time. Sooner or later, however, someone will call your name and put your skills to use. From that point on, you will be working for the better part of the rest of your life. While the days of post-graduation unemployment might seem long and depressing, stick in there! It won’t be forever.

To the students who have jobs secured and to the unemployed students who will be working soon enough, I would tell them to enjoy the start of their careers. It is fun to be a young professional. Enjoy learning the culture of the American workplace and discovering what it means to be a functioning member of society. No matter how small (or big) your starting salary is, savor that first paycheck and take time to tell yourself that you have made it.

I would stress to all graduating students the importance of building a personal brand. I would communicate that building a solid online profile will only help in future career moves. By all means, take the first couple of years to get acquainted with your position and with the professional environment in general. But know that each day you can improve yourself for your next journey just by staying current and engaged electronically. Embrace your digital footprint and do whatever you can to make it attractive whether it be starting a blog, maintaining strong social media accounts, or doing outstanding work that will get you recognized by media outlets and industry organizations with strong online presences.

Lastly, I would look at my audience of students and let them know that they have hit it big. Although the job market still isn’t the best and the economy is still struggling, I would tell everyone wearing a cap and gown to put it all in perspective. When it comes down to it, they are part of a very select group. Not only do they have the privilege of living in America but they also now hold a college degree. Billions of people on this planet wish they could only be so fortunate. With this understanding, I would tell the students that they can never legitimately consider themselves failures but at the same time they should strive to do whatever they can do maximize their potential. To those who much is given, much is expected.

I would then probably say “Don’t Blink” and walk off the stage. I wish nothing but the best to the 2016 college graduates. May your futures be bright. Don’t Blink.

Customer Service, Please

Posted on April 26, 2016 by brent

Lately I have spent a lot of time on customer service calls. As I cancel different amenities in preparation for Sidney and I establishing our own joint accounts together, I have talked with agents from cable, appliance, insurance, energy, and other companies.

The process is never that enjoyable. You call up the customer service center of the company, listen to a long automated recording, type in a bunch of numbers, wait on hold forever while listening to repetitive music, and then listen to the automated voice cut in and out to tell you that all representatives are busy.

Finally, you are connected with someone. This customer service agent will have you repeat all the information you gave while dealing with the automated recording and then afterwards he/she will plead with you to take a satisfaction survey.

However, in between the hustle for information and the request to spend even more time on the phone, in my experience, it has been a very productive and professional conversation.

Over the past month or so, I have had really great customer service from agents representing companies such as Time Warner, Appliance Warehouse, and Santee Cooper. Any frustration I had from a long hold time or overall dissatisfaction from the company’s service/product went away when I talked to the customer service representative. These people are pleasant, knowledgeable, empathetic, and relatable. Basically, they are impeccably trained.

I applaud these major companies for instituting a strong central customer service center with highly capable individuals. I mean let’s face it, you can’t place just anyone in a chair and have him answer telephone calls.

So, with all this said, there is one thing I have noticed when being on these calls. Believe it or not, the person we talk to on the other end of the line is surrounded by a whole bunch of co-workers who are also on the phone with people like you and I. This makes it so a customer can also hear one side of another agent-customer conversation.

In almost all instances, I could hear background conversations. Most of the time, I could hear the agent on the defensive. How did I know that the employee was in fact dealing with an angry customer? Well, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that phrases such as “Sir, I sincerely apologize that you are so unhappy” and “Ma’am, could you please calm down?” signify displeasure. Also, truth be told, in the past I haven’t always been a perfect angel calling up the customer service line either. I regret a couple instances when I was short and impatient when airing out issues regarding my spotty internet connection or lack of newspaper delivery service.

Basically, what I am interested in knowing is this: Are any of my readers out there customer service professionals at call centers? I would really like some information on whether you like your job or not. From the outside looking in it looks like it might be tough taking calls all the day and putting up with angry customers. Is my sentiment right? Or perhaps is it a little more rewarding than what I might think?

I thank people in these positions for the great work they do. I also apologize to the ones I wasn’t especially cheerful with. If you don’t mind, I would like to know a little bit more about your profession. Don’t Blink.

Using My Internal Clock

Posted on April 25, 2016 by brent

I always find myself slightly amazed at how our mind and body work together to manage time. In my opinion, our internal clocks work much better than any watch or digital alarm.

Even though I set three different alarms on my phone each night, I really don’t need to. I just take those measures because I am a tad paranoid. You see, it doesn’t matter if it is a Tuesday or Sunday, my body will wake me up at 5:10 a.m. (although on Sundays I will choose to go right back to sleep). But if I wanted to adjust my internal clock 20 minutes one way or the other I could. I am able to simply tell myself the night before that I want to get up at 5:30 a.m. and just like “clockwork” it happens.

The way our bodies and minds manage time goes way beyond dictating when we get up. For example, I know exactly how long it will take me to complete my workout routines. I follow the same regimen on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I have a different routine on Tuesday and Thursday. On the MWF days, it takes me 75 minutes to complete my exercise; on Tuesday and Thursday it takes me 67 minutes. I lift weights, run on the track, and do body-resistance exercises so I have no timers set for me. I just naturally go through my workout and depending on what day it is I finish at the exact same time. With so many factors at the gym that could play into varying the time of each workout, it never does for me. I don’t look at the clock at all until I complete my exercise but I always manage to finish at the same time.

I am also able to pinpoint with great accuracy how long it will take me to do a random set of tasks. For example, if Sidney asked me what time I planned to go over to her house on a Tuesday evening as I was driving home from work, my mind immediately goes to work. It adds up the drive to my apartment, how long it will take me to eat dinner, my shower time, my blogging activities, the drive to Sidney’s house, etc. It then spits out an arrival time that is usually spot on. So for example, if I am talking to Sidney at 5:15 p.m. I can add up the numbers and tell her with great confidence that I will be walking through her door at 7:45 p.m.

One thing I am HORRENDOUS at doing is estimating lengths and distances. Don’t ask me how many feet tall a tree is or how far it is around the block. I am clueless. However, ask me how much time has elapsed and I can give you a respectable estimate. As I never bring my phone inside church, I obviously can’t check the time during mass. This allows me to play a little game with myself on how long the service was. I usually guess within two or three minutes of the actual time (i.e. If the mass was at 10 a.m. I would formulate a guess on what time it was right before I turned on my car and saw the clock. If I projected that the mass lasted an hour and 15 minutes, the clock would most likely read 11:15 a.m. or perhaps 11:14 a.m. or 11:16 a.m.). I can also accurately project the elapse of time for longer events as well, rather it be an athletic contest or a morning hike.

We are all wired to keep time to some degree. Some of us have a little more precision than others but we all have a clock ticking in our heads. Make sure to trust it. Don’t Blink.

Making the Most Out of a Trip Across the Country

Posted on April 24, 2016 by brent

Two years ago on this date, my dad and I set off on a trip across the country. I was moving from the west to the east as I had accepted a job at Coastal Carolina University and would now be living in Myrtle Beach. The trek across the nation was an incredible experience, one that I made sure to document well.

Two years ago, my dad and I started our journey across the nation. On the evening of April 24, we rolled into Spearfish, South Dakota.

When I hear of other people making the same type of journey, I get a little excited for them. While feelings of anxiety and fear are only natural when traveling thousands of miles to a new beginning, my hope is that those concerns won’t overwhelm them. Rather, I hope they focus much more on the feelings of happiness and optimism that are also associated with such a significant event.

In order to limit some of the stress of a cross country move and thus optimize the positive feelings I just explained, I want to offer my best five tips (in no particular order) for managing such a trip.

Set Goals: It is important to set a minimum destination point for each day on your trip. When my dad and I embarked on our trek, we either set a targeted city or a targeted state to reach before calling it a day. Not only will this organize your daily travel and keep you on track, it is just something that will also keep you hungry throughout the day. When you can put a destination point in your GPS at the start of the day and follow it on mileage signs, it gives you purpose and motivation. Some people will opt to simply drive a long time and see where they end up at the end of the day but I recommend trying to be a little more organized than that.

Start Early in the Morning: Begin each travel day as early as possible. Two years ago, my dad and I departed the hotel early enough each morning so we could arrive at the next one with a full evening to relax and enjoy our surroundings. It was nice to arrive in a town before 5 p.m., hang out in the hotel, find a place to eat, and then watch some TV. before going to bed. If you start late, you end late. Just from a safety standpoint, you don’t want to find yourself driving in the dark. From a psychological standpoint, it will be taxing on your mind/body if you roll into town at 10 p.m. only to go right to sleep and then wake up later the next morning with the sense of urgency to get right back into the U-Haul. Embrace the open road during the early morning hours. There is nothing more peaceful than passing through beautiful country at 7 a.m.

Document the Experience: More likely than not, you won’t go on too many cross country driving trips in your life. Make sure you never forget about your adventure by doing all you can to document it. Take plenty of photos, save receipts, and jot down notes. My dad kept track of our mileage and stops each day. This information helped me write my daily blog posts from the road. Keeping tabs on your travels via social media will also help to paint a comprehensive portrait of your trip. Two years later, because of our thorough documentation, I can go back and feel almost like I am back in that U-Haul truck with my dad in the middle of nowhere.

My dad and I at a rest stop in Tennessee. I recommend documenting every possible detail.

Take in the Culture: When driving two or three thousand miles, you can bet that you will drive by and pass through countless communities, cities, and towns. You owe it to yourself to enjoy a small slice of culture from each stop. It goes without saying that you should pass on the Taco Bell. Instead, eat at a local establishment or enjoy a cold beer at a neighborhood dive. Engage locals in conversation and take each moment in as you realize that there is a good possibility you might never set foot in that area again. One way my dad and I experienced the attitude of each town we passed through was by listening to the local sports radio station. It was a great way to sense the attitude of the community while enjoying a pastime (sports) that we both love.

Safety First: Know there are risks with making such a long trip but know that as long as you put yourself in a safe position, you will be fine. My mom gave my dad and I a medal with Our Lady of the Highway and St. Christopher on it so we were good from the start. However, we still made sure to never let our gas tank get too low, we inspected the U-Haul each morning, and we even stopped by one of the U-Haul outlets about halfway through the trip so they could re-tighten the car trailer to the truck.

This is the medal my mom gave my dad and I to keep us safe.

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If you are setting out soon for a point in a different part of the country, I wish you well. Feel free to reach out to me for more specific tips and advice. Again, remember to look forward to the adventure as opposed to dreading it. Don’t Blink.

Writing Another Rundown

Posted on April 21, 2016 by brent

Where the heck is April going? Are we really already three weeks in? Are we really less than ten days away from May? Oh my. Let’s not waste anymore time and get right to the Thursday Rundown.

Banner Week for My Blog – Two big reasons contributed to this week earning a spot in the top three busiest weeks ever for Don’t Blink. First, Barry Anderson retired. Who is Barry Anderson? He is better known as the mascot named Benny the Bull. Before that, he was Monte at the University of Montana. I worked with him multiple times and wrote this blog post about him. When his retirement was announced this past weekend, it resulted in thousands of Chicago Bulls fans visiting my site. Good luck in the next stage of your life, Barry (and thanks for the traffic).

The second reason for an influx of traffic was my “The Truth About a Bar Rescue Experience” post from Sunday. It just so happened that a major paraody Facebook page, Server Memes, decided to share it. I have no idea how they found it but I will take it! It was a great week for Don’t Blink.

Our New Show – Sidney and I have found our newest show! You can watch a program on Netflix called “Love.” The series tells the story of two people in their early thirties who have different careers and very different lives. However, they meet by chance and start to fall for each other. The show is hilarious and I really like the male lead. He is a nerdy/awkward type and has me constantly laughing. Check it out.

I recommend watching “Love.”

Purchase – Sidney and I made our first big purchase as a soon-to-be married couple. Last Thursday we bought a couch! After work, Sid called me and had me stop by America’s Furniture Warehouse. She was looking at furniture and wanted me to give her opinion on a few couches. We never intended to buy that day but there was one couch I sat down in and didn’t get up from it until I told the salesman we would take it. The couch itself is reason enough to get excited about moving in with Sid!

Say hello to our new couch.

More Speaking – This morning I spoke to a commerical recreation class about social media here at Coastal Carolina. Professors are adding social media principles to the curriculum more and more as I have spoken in several different classrooms this semester. I enjoy the opportunities because I get to engage with college students and also talk about what I do. Thankfully it also allows me to improve my public speaking skills. I am not a natural speaker but I feel I am getting better.

Wedding Update #28 – Sidney keeps telling people that the major responsibilities are taken care of. Now it is just handling the smaller things that will come up over these final 50 days. This past weekend, Sid’s mom finalized the reception dinner menu. Relatives of the bride are also now in the process of planning Sidney’s bridal shower. Little or big, each new development is exciting as we inch closer to the date.

We are 50 days away from the big date!

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Enjoy your last full weekend of April. Sidney is scheduled to be with you on Sunday so please be nice to her as she once again takes over my blog. The pressure is on her to leadoff a week that will be as successful as this one. Don’t Blink.

Don't Blink

By Brent Reser

Author Archives: brent