We are all familiar with the generic Facebook status that goes “Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes! It was a great day and I felt so special.” Although I am notorious for encouraging people not to go this route and instead do something more personal (at least on a social media front), I am going to neglect my own advice for the purpose of this blog post.

So, let me start off by thanking everyone for the birthday wishes and stating that I felt really special yesterday. Ha!

But I did want to provide a few specific examples of people really going out of their way for me. You see, I am not usually a birthday guy but some of yesterday’s acts gave me a much needed birthday boost.

Gummy Bears and Dr. Pepper – My co-worker Geoff brought me a Dr. Pepper and a pack of gummy bears. He literally Googled Brent Reser Favorite Soda because he knew I most likely wrote about the topic before. Sure enough it took him to my post detailing my top five favorite sodas, letting him know exactly what to get me. For him to do the research and then brighten my day first thing in the morning was pretty cool. 

Dr. Pepper and gummy bears…a winning combination!

Office Decoration – My boss, Lindsi, surprised me in my office (we work in different buildings) with decorations, cupcakes, and a singing telegram. After happy birthday was performed, she started decorating my office in emoji-themed décor. I totally didn’t expect it and I actually didn’t mind sticking out like a sore thumb the rest of the day when people walked by. Lindsi went the whole nine yards and it was the first time my office had ever been decorated.

Lindsi decorated my office in an emoji-theme.

Spoiled By My Girls – When Sloan and I arrived home last night, Sidney already had a birthday celebration laid out. The marquee had a message on it, gift bags were set, and a card was placed. I sat on the couch and opened my presents as Sloan assisted and Sid watched. After that, we went out to dinner and then returned home for cake and ice cream. By far the highlight of my day, spending the evening with my girls was the best way to mark my birthday.

My girls spoiled me so much last night that Sloan even helped me blow out the candles.

Facetime Birthday Love – From about 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. last night, I gladly entertained Facetime calls from my sister, brother, and parents. I even talked on the phone to my brother’s fiancée who was in Portland for work. During each call the person I was chatting with sang happy birthday and quizzed me about my day. I then opened the gifts they sent me through the mail in front of them. Sloan and Sid participated in these Facetime calls as well and it was just so nice to catch up with my West Coast family.

Not Done Yet – On Sunday, Sidney’s family will celebrate October birthdays. That means my sister-in-law (Steph) and myself will take center stage for an afternoon of delicious food and NFL football. I am already looking forward to it.

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I was once again reminded yesterday how lucky I am. Thanks to everyone who reached out, it really meant a lot. Don’t Blink.

It is funny how you remember the little things even after decades have passed. When I was in the fourth grade, I vividly remember my teacher, Mrs. Pryor, celebrating her 33rd birthday. She was a class favorite and we all really liked her, but I remember thinking dang, she is kind of old.

Well, let’s fast forward 23 years and today I am the one turning 33 years old. Although from my mature perspective I like to think I am still a young adult, I can’t ignore the fact that most kids probably consider me an old dog. Oh well, I guess I should probably embrace it.

And embrace it I have––at least over the past few years. In my late twenties I became pretty self-conscious about my age but once I turned 30, interestingly enough, I stopped worrying about it. I was content with where I was at in life––faith, family, job––that I didn’t need to fret about another ring around my trunk.

I feel the same at 33 as I did at 30, 31, and 32. Life is just good when you get to spend each day with the people you love the most. There is nothing to fear about aging a year when you have a beautiful wife and a sweet daughter beaming at you as you blow out the candles on the cake.

Speaking of celebrating, my girls once again went all out making me feel special. They gave me some nice gifts and took me out to dinner at Michael’s Pizza, Pasta, and Grill. The food was delicious and Sloan, just like last year, was on her best behavior. My parents and siblings Facetimed me to sing happy birthday and Sid’s family went out of their way to mark the day as well.

Sloan and I at my birthday dinner. We ate at Michael’s Pizza, Pasta, and Grill.

Of course I couldn’t stop thinking that next birthday will be much different. Yes, turning 34 isn’t a “sexy” number so to speak, but it will be the first birthday that I will have TWO children helping me to celebrate it. But enough about that, first thing’s first…let’s do 33!

Sid spoiled me once again on my birthday.

So as I begin my “Mrs. Pryor year,” I look forward to the adventures, blessings, and challenges that await me. I hope to make it the best one yet. Don’t Blink.

I always save my “year in review” blog posts for the end of the calendar year. This means that I wait until Dec. 31 to look back on the previous 364 days. However, this isn’t the only way to do things. Some people will assess a year based on their own personal trip around the sun––in other words, from birthday to birthday.

Although I am not going to break with tradition, I felt like a brief mention regarding my year as a 32-year-old (I honestly typed “23” and it made me feel happy for a minute) was acceptable. You see, it is my birthday eve and I will turn a new year tomorrow. Not wanting to look back much when it becomes official at 8:11 a.m., I got to quickly get in my thoughts regarding October 8, 2018 – October 7, 2019.

Years from now when I look back at being 32, I will say “Hey, that’s when Sid became pregnant with our second child!” No doubt about it, that is what will register with me. Lots of other cool things happened during the past 52 weeks, like my brother proposing to his fiancée and my sister-in-law getting married, but I won’t remember those events in terms of my age. Rather, I will remember them for occurring in 2019. There is just something special that connects your major personal family milestones and age.

Other than that, I won’t remember 32 as a banner year. But that isn’t to say that it wasn’t special, I just don’t remember any of my personal years as “banner years” (well, maybe except for being 21). I do remember the night I turned 32 well. Sidney made homemade lasagna and her parents came over to join us for my birthday meal. It was a nice beginning to my 365 days.

Sid and I on my first day as a 31-year-old.

Now I come full circle with a nice ending to my 365 days as I am surrounded by my wife and daughter. Although I am just about to head off to a Knights of Columbus meeting, I will be back soon enough to conclude the evening with my girls. As I drift off to sleep tonight, I will be thankful for another year that God has given me on this Earth. Don’t Blink.

We are at the end of another blogging week and we know what that means….the Thursday Rundown. If you don’t mind, let’s jump right in tonight.

Sleeping With Her Friends – Sloan insists on sleeping with her “friends” which means every single stuffed animal she has. Yesterday morning I took this photo of her entourage. Who needs covers when you have an enormous stuffed unicorn draped across your body?

Sloan sleeping with her friends.

Southern Eating – There is a little restaurant in downtown Conway called the Pickled Cucumber. Forgive me for not taking photos of the building itself but at least I got the food. It is all about homemade Southern cooking at this place. I went with Sidney’s family for Sunday lunch and I thought it was pretty impressive. This is a “meat and three” establishment so you typically choose an entrée and three sides. I opted for just two sides––mashed potatoes and rice––and for my main course I ordered chicken and dumplings. Can’t forget about the corn bread that was thrown on there either.

My dish from the Pickled Cucumber in Conway.

Didn’t Win No Beauty Contest – I wasn’t the cutest baby by any means, there is no disputing that. But with a birthday drawing near, I thought it was appropriate to share this newborn photo that recently popped up on my Timehop. Not all babies can be adorable and I am just thankful that I was delivered into this world.

I wasn’t the prettiest baby, that’s for sure.

A Looooong July–A Facebook friend posted this and I couldn’t help but laugh. Although we have had a glimpse here and there of fall, it has still been really hot here. Today the high temperature was 94 degrees. I don’t mind the sizzling temperatures, but it is of funny to think of it as a long extension of July. I know how it is the other way around too. They say February is the shortest month but in Montana I swear it lasted until February 82nd.

This is actually kind of true.

Care to Stay a Night? – Thanks to my friend, Erik, I am following an interesting (but weird) Twitter account that publishes some oddball content. To get a full extent of what I am talking about you will have to follow it (@41strange) but here is an example of a post. The only clown hotel I think I would stay at in Nevada is Circus Circus. I know this word if overused, but this joint looks sketchy. I am always up for an adventure but I don’t know if I will be making a reservation here.

Even though clowns don’t bother me, this isn’t my first choice for a hotel.

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I have a wide open weekend coming up which is nice because the rest of October is jammed packed. Going to make sure I savor it! Enjoy your evening, everyone. Don’t Blink.

As I continue to backtrack on my 6-year-old bold statement that I wouldn’t recognize gimmicky “national holidays,” I couldn’t help but notice that today is National Soft Taco Day. Per usual, I was a little annoyed with the item being celebrated. Really? Not just National Taco Day but National SOFT Taco Day? This is getting ridiculous.

But then I realized something. Sidney and I actually have a pretty heated debate when it comes to taco shells. She likes hard, I like soft. We are pretty adamant about our preferences and when we purchase a taco kit we make sure it has hard and soft shells.

Sidney prefers hard shells.

In my opinion, it is a no-brainer. Soft shells do a better job at containing the toppings. They also absorb the flavors and juices of those toppings. With a hard shell, toppings freely fall from either side of the taco the moment you move it –– that’s to say if the toppings haven’t already fallen out. In my experiences, after I prepare my hard shell taco and place it on my plate, it plops on its side and toppings scatter.

If you really crave what a hard shell offers, why don’t you just enjoy taco night with a bag of tortilla chips? Don’t mess up the composition of a taco just for that extra crunch. Of course you can make the best of both worlds and opt for a double decker taco by placing a hard shell inside of a soft shell…it will definitely help with stability. But not the best option if you are counting calories.

So perhaps the distinction of “soft” in today’s “holiday” isn’t so petty after all. We didn’t eat tacos for dinner tonight, but if we did, I would have made Sid eat a soft shell. Don’t Blink.

This morning, my boss walked into our meeting room and exclaimed, “Happy HalloweenGivingMas!” It was the first time I heard the phrase but it immediately resonated with me. I liked it.

The three month period that started today is my favorite sequence during the year. Believe it or not, I like this quarter of the calendar even more than summer. For me, it just comes down to the family and holiday components.

October itself is awesome. I have written extensively about this before…and it is not just because it is my birthday month. The smell and feel of autumn is unbeatable and who doesn’t love corn mazes, beautiful colors, scary movies, and Halloween? November is highlighted by the four-day holiday weekend and themes of thankfulness and family. December is a month-long celebration filled with magic, joy, and warm cheer.

Combined together, it is a 90+ day ride of excitement and anticipation. As we begin this three month run, I have high hopes for more memories and highlights. Enjoy everyone, the calendar always saves the best three months for last. Happy HalloweenGivingMas! Don’t Blink.

As a marketer, I know the value of a name. Fair or not, the success of a business can be tied to what it calls itself. Lots of money is spent on research and surveys to determine the best names for companies and products. It is definitely not a decision to be taken lightly.

With such a premium placed on names, perhaps there is nothing more valuable than a business that already has a name that is established and resonates with its customers. For these lucky entities, the thought of ever changing the core of its identity is preposterous.

Unless it is practically forced to.

One of the saddest examples of a strong-arm campaign to force a name change impacted a local business I frequent several times a week. Gold’s Gym in Myrtle Beach, at least under its old name, is no longer. After 37 years of association with the famous gym chain, our area location was left with little choice but to switch to a new name. More on the updated moniker in a minute, but first a quick explanation on what caused the switch…

Of course I don’t know all the details, but it boiled down to this: Corporate wanted the Myrtle Beach Gold’s Gym to move to a new location to encourage growth. The gym has been located on Jason Blvd. since 1989, tucked off of the intersection of Mr. Joe White Avenue and U.S. 17. Perhaps a little hidden, the location never stopped locals and tourists alike from gravitating to the old building with brick on the walls outside and 1980s depictions of body builders on the walls inside.

I have enjoyed my early mornings at Gold Gyms over the past few years.

Ah yes, nothing in the area has ever compared to the former Gold’s Gym. A true throwback in every sense of the word, the location has always delivered a no-frills but fitness-centric experience. Tourists made pilgrimages to the place based on word-of-mouth and online reviews. Simply look the gym up by its location on Instagram and see the special connection it has with so many people across the country. The name drew people to the place but the experience kept them coming back.

I do worry that the hook is now gone. The Gold’s Gym name is, well, at least in the fitness world, golden. To have this identity stripped is a blow. There is a correlation between fitness buffs who love the beach and Gold’s Gym. What will happen now that the name is no longer? Even from a personal standpoint, I am bummed. I took pride in telling people that I frequent Gold’s Gym, even though I don’t necessarily fit the hardcore “pumping iron” persona it is so well known for. I respected the history and tradition of the chain.

I would wear this Gold’s Gym pullover to the gym every morning.

But to be honest, I respect the history and tradition of the individual gym I attend at 4 a.m. more than the corporate baloney. Gold’s Gym or not, I have grown to love the friendly and clean exercise facility on Jason Blvd. I have the utmost respect for the owners who maintain the 24/7 operation and the people who exercise there. I appreciate the vibe and community-feel that is evident whenever I walk through the doors. I am so thankful that I have a place to exercise that allows me to get in early and return home before my daughter wakes up.

I am excited to support Iron Legacy Gym.

I am over Gold’s Gym. Way to go, Nancy and Tedd, for not taking caving to unrealistic demands. I am excited to be part of Iron Legacy Gym and will continue to support it no matter what –– fancy name or not. Don’t Blink.

I no longer have to write about it feeling like fall because it is now officially fall! I hope the season is off to a wondrous start for you all. Here we go with my latest Thursday Rundown…

Price of Froyo Going Up – On Sunday, I really needed a cold treat. On my way home from Sam’s Club, I stopped at a froyo place right next to my house. I am a pro at these self-serve froyo shops and know how it all works, but my experience couldn’t prepare me for what happened at the register. Yes, I did fill my cup up with yogurt and a few toppings, but I didn’t expect it to cost more than two pints of Ben & Jerry’s. When the employee said $9.47, I felt both embarrassed and shocked. Oh well, at least it was really good.

The froyo was good but the price was steep.

Sounds Refreshing – I have written about pink Starbursts a couple times before (here and here). But until this week, I had no idea that a pink Starburst DRINK exists. I saw this on an Instagram account I follow and couldn’t help but think about how it would taste. Basically just a Kool-Aid mix, I do want to try it sooner rather than later.

I gotta try this!

Water Rodents (yuck) – In the newspaper this morning, I read the wildest story about water rodents. Animals called nutria are infesting the riverbanksof California. These 20 pound creatures have webbed feet, white whiskers, shaggy fur, and orange bucked teeth that look like carrots! Nutria are destroying wetland habitats and jeopardizing California’s water supply. I think I would freak out if jumped in the water and one swam up to me. Anyway, nutria are an invasive species from South America and the only thing I kept thinking while reading the article was I sure don’t want to drink water that those creatures have been swimming in. Got a couple minutes? Read the story.

Not the most attractive things, right?

Not Much Has Changed – It was another one of those ironic moments. This week, Sloan has taken a liking to the booster eating set she used as a baby. She prefers to sit in it during her precious “pad” time at the end of the night. This morning when I was looking at TimeHop I came across this photo from exactly two years ago of Sidney feeding Sloan. Same booster, different purpose.

Sloan in her booster seat in 2017 and 2019.

TV Tidbits – I give the “This Is Us” season premiere a B+. It is slightly annoying when some of my favorite characters aren’t included for most of the show but the final eight minutes of the season opener had me thinking, damn it, they did it again. So many light bulb epiphanies in the extended 480 seconds. As for the Big Brother 21 finale, the person who deserved to win based off of game play (Michie) did. However, if you didn’t see how the finale ended, you really have to Google it.

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Thank you for your enthusiasm of my blog. Have a terrific evening and enjoy your first weekend of autumn. Don’t Blink.

This is the post each year when I lose 90% of my daily reader traffic because I discuss a niche topic: Big Brother.

Ah yes, the season finale of Big Brother 21 is tonight and I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t give my thoughts on the past 100 days and offer a prediction. So, as I conclude my fifth season of watching Big Brother (seventh season if you count the two celebrity versions), let me get a few things off my chest.

Time to offer some thoughts on Big Brother 21

Season 21 won’t go down as one of my favorite seasons. There never really was a houseguest who I was actively rooting for. When the season started, I tabbed Bella and Jack as my early favorites, but it only took a couple episodes before I was turned off by both of them. As the season went on, I would start to warm up to a certain houseguest but then they would get evicted. I liked Michie and Holly enough, but I never got on the Cliff or Nicole bandwagons. Basically, I never felt passionately one way or the other about any of the final four houseguests.

I think Season 21 lacked signature moments. A year from now, I doubt I will remember much about what happened over the past few months. One way I remember seasons is by the musical guest who performed in the house (i.e. Bebe Rexha last year) and they didn’t even have one this year. Even the “twist” of having two people know each other (Tommy and Christie) didn’t excite me that much.

But I don’t want to sound too critical of all the twists. I thought the Camp Comeback concept was kind of interesting. Having evicted houseguests inside the house in a purgatory state was a unique social experiment. I also liked the “make a pie” punishment, especially the instance when they had to pie other houseguests who were sound asleep in their beds in the middle of the night.

The season honored tradition by including classic challenges and appearances (you made me laugh again, Zingbot). Game play seemed pretty solid (Michie’s blatant lying at the house meeting to evict Tommy was a bold move). Julie was Julie, although I think she was a little more aggressive than usual during the eviction interviews.

So, I wouldn’t say Season 21 was a disaster by any means because it delivered what it was supposed to. But it just didn’t standout and it didn’t keep me glued to the TV. Oh well, not every season can be a sensational success.

No questions asked, Michie should win tonight. I am pulling for him to win and I believe every jury member should vote for him. But I am not naïve. If there is one thing I have learned over the past few years, it is that the deserving houseguest rarely goes home with the half million dollars. I am predicting that Nicole will win. Although it is a little sad that the Big Brother season is concluding, I am excited to have my Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights back! Don’t Blink.

This summer, a frustrating thing happened. Our cable company had a contract dispute with the parent company of a TV station we watch a lot. During this stalemate, which lasted two months, the station went dark. Not only did we lose local news and “Big Brother,” but we lost “Jeopardy.”

My dedicated readers know that “Jeopardy” is part of the nightly routine at our house. To lose this Reser family staple was pretty hard. During this period, my depression was strong enough that I had no interest in channel surfing to find another game show to fill the void. The same can’t be said for Sidney.

The Game Show Network became Sidney’s rebound as she searched for something that could replace Alex. After testing the waters, she found just the person…

Steve Harvey.

Over the past several weeks, my wife has become a major “Family Feud” fan. Because it plays on multiple stations and because she records the shows, there is a good chance that it will be on our TV if you ever decide to unexpectedly walk through the front door. Like with other things, except for her reality TV preferences, I have followed suit in enjoying what my wife watches. Yes, I can admit that “The Feud” isn’t that bad.

Steve Harvey does a pretty darn good job on “Family Feud.”

I remember watching the show as a kid when Louie Anderson was the host. I watched maybe once or twice when the sidekick from “Home Improvement” took over. But I have never watched it as much as I have over the past month. In my opinion, I am glad it has worked out this way.

Why? Because Steve Harvey is HILARIOUS!!

Harvey’s facial expressions, rapport with contestants, and quick one-liners are entertaining. He knows when to let a moment play out with no narration and he can subtly question the intelligence of the contestants without appearing mean. The way he confidently walks out on stage sets the tone for the show and the way he will remove himself from a family’s celebration at the end puts a bow on it. He does a really nice job.

The show itself isn’t bad. It takes an entirely different skillset than Jeopardy but it is kind of a nice change. There are things I don’t like. I believe playing first is more of an advantage than it should be, I think some of the categories contain peculiar/insignificant answers, and I think the scoring system is wonky. But there is something simple and fun about playing Scattergories on TV.

The dispute has ended and Jeopardy is back on our TV…but Family Feud hasn’t gone anywhere. For now we are a two-game show household, at least until Steve Harvey leaves the show. Don’t Blink.