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Happy 12th Ordination Anniversary, Fr. Jeff

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It is a date that Sidney and I now celebrate just like family birthdays and our wedding anniversary. When May 26 rolls around we immediately recognize it for one reason: The ordination anniversary of our pastor, Fr. Jeff Lewis.

Today, Friday, May 26, 2023, Fr. Jeff Lewis celebrates his 12th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Earlier this week we got a head start on the celebrating as we recognized his anniversary at our Engaged Encounter meeting.

Today marks the 12th anniversary of when Fr. Jeff was ordained to the priesthood. We are proud to say we have known “Papa J” for almost a quarter of those dozen years.

During the nearly three years we have known Fr. Jeff, he has helped get us involved in different ministries. One of those is St. Mary’s marriage prep Pre-Cana program where we get the opportunity to mentor engaged couples. This photo is of Sid, Fr. Jeff. and I with Sarah and Brendan–a couple we mentored who will get married in July.

The first time we walked through the doors of St. Mary Catholic Church, Fr. Jeff greeted us immediately. After some small talk he asked us where we lived in the Spokane Valley. We told him the area where we had recently settled and even though we were on the wrong side of Pines Road and thus outside the parish lines, Fr. Jeff laughed and said, “It’s okay, you’re welcome here anyway…just don’t tell Fr. Kevin” (Fr. Kevin Oiland is the pastor of St. John Vianney Parish, the Catholic community we technically should have attended based on geography).

Fr. Jeff and Fr. Kevin Oiland started a Young Adult Group for Spokane Valley Catholics. It launched 2.5 years ago and because of the time and energy that Fr. Jeff and Fr. Kevin devoted to it, our group continues to grow and thrive. This effort by the two priests really helped Sidney and I find friends and grow in our faith upon moving to Washington.

Fr. Jeff was exactly what we needed after our cross country move and Sidney’s recent conversion to Catholicism. We joined his Young Adult Group that he started with Fr. Kevin and from there he kept getting us more and more involved in other ministries—both at the parish and diocesan levels. Just a text message away, Fr. Jeff has always been there for us. Whether we have needed him for the sacraments, a house blessing, prayer support, his presence at retreats/events, a Hoopfest sponsorship, or a host of other things, he continues to be that constant rock in our daily drive to grow closer to God.

Fr. Jeff Lewis with us at our house blessing.

We admire Fr. Jeff for his faith, self-deprecating sense of humor, and the insane schedule he maintains. Sidney and I are grateful for how much he cares about St. Mary School and its mission to deliver the best Catholic education possible. Speaking of children, it warms our hearts how he always makes time for Sloan and Beau, effortlessly connecting with them no matter the situation. I am inspired by his ambitious goals for evangelization, his commitment to his parishioners, and his love/defense of the Catholic Church.

Fr. Jeff has a genuine love for children…and the relationship is reciprocal! You should see how excited Sloan and Beau get when they see Fr. Jeff.

In my life, I have never had a priest as invested in me as Fr. Jeff. Because of this, I can only say Thanks Be To God. Let us pray that impactful and holy priests like Fr. Jeff Lewis continue to be invigorated by their vocation. Happy anniversary to our very special pastor. Don’t Blink.

Wine Thursday Rundown

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Hello again friends. I know I always act surprised when a new month is around the corner, but can you believe that next week’s Thursday Rundown will be published in June? But for the time being let’s not worry about next month and instead focus on this month with tonight’s rundown. Here are five topics…

National Wine Day – Happy National Wine Day to all my wine connoisseur friends who enjoy nothing more than curling up on the couch with a glass (or two). However, you won’t find me celebrating. I have been pretty vocal about my distaste for wine, going as far as to include it on my famous The Drinks I Hate list. I find wine too complicated for a simple dude like myself. I like my drinks to be refreshing and wine is definitely not a beverage you drink to satisfy your thirst. I admit it, when it comes to this “holiday” I am a scrooge.

I received a Total Wine gift card for Christmas and I love the store! But I won’t be using it to buy wine 😉

Lilac Parade – Last Saturday, I took the kids to Spokane’s Armed Forces Torchlight Lilac Parade. The day set a city record for hottest May 20 ever which boded well for a night parade. We met my sister and her children for the event that features floats, military personnel/vehicles, and high school bands. After taking Sloan to last year’s parade, Beau got to experience it for the first time this go-around. Everyone had a blast and the kids had no problem returning to the house at 11 p.m.

Beau and Sloan at the 2023 Lilac Parade on Saturday night.

A Man Called Otto – Sidney and I recently watched “A Man Called Otto” on Netflix. Starring Tom Hanks, the film originated in theaters but is now available to stream. The whole time I watched it, I couldn’t help but think this just an updated version of Gran Torino. Not saying that is a bad thing because I thought “Gran Torino” was an awesome movie and I felt the same way about “A Man Called Otto.” Tom Hanks plays a bitter aging man who is eventually able to make peace with the world because of some people who come into his life. Hanks is great in the film and I would 100% recommend it if you are looking for a movie to watch with your spouse this Memorial Day weekend.

Sidney and I enjoyed watching “A Man Called Otto.”

Spirit Week – St. Mary School just wrapped up Spirit Week. It started with Mismatch/Crazy Hair Day on Monday, Career Day on Tuesday, Sports Day on Wednesday, and concluded with Decade Day today. Sloan participated each day and enjoyed the opportunity to take a break from wearing her uniform.

Sloan on Mismatch/Crazy Hair Day of Spirit Week at St. Mary School.

Classic Chinese Restaurant Experience – There is nothing better than an excellent outing at the local Chinese restaurant. Last Friday night we ate at the Dragon Inn on Sprague in Spokane for the first time. It had everything from a marquee with an inspiring message to a fountain with a dragon emerging from it to a yummy sweet and sour sauce. Did it stand out enough for us to go out of our way to visit again soon? No, but if we are ever in the area and hungry we will definitely consider walking through the doors.

We had a decent experience at Dragon Inn in Spokane Valley on Sprague.

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That will wrap things up. If you enjoyed this blog post with a glass of wine, more power to you! Stay safe out there and let’s pray for kindness and civility in our country. Don’t Blink.

Same Name

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My mom tells the following story whenever the opportunity presents itself. When I was just a little older than Beau, my dad and I walked over to our next door neighbor’s house. When we arrived, our neighbor had a contractor over. Upon my dad meeting him, he excitedly told me that his name was “Brent” too.

I didn’t share my dad’s enthusiasm.

A meltdown ensued as I demanded he change his name because there could only be one “Brent” in the world. Never mind the fact that he had the name first, I was predestined to be the sole Brent to walk the planet. My tantrum was intense.

Last night at Sloan’s t-ball game, Beau played with the son of a fellow team parent. This little boy was also 3 years old, born in February, and…(drum roll)…named “Beau.” It was the first time that Beau had hung out with someone who shared his name. And, no, he did not suffer a breakdown like his daddy did 30+ years before him.

We did chat with the parent about names and identities. To us, Beau is Beau (if that makes sense). He encapsulates the name in our minds. For another little boy to also have the name does feel a tad bit strange.

Beau is a Beau to us.

I think this is just another illustration of how humans are self-absorbed creatures. Names are such a central part of our identity that it can be hard to go beyond that and realize that other people share it as well—whether it be our own name or that of our toddler.

Instead, we need to frame shared names as a special connection with the person or people who also have it bestowed on them. We need to celebrate the other person for also having good taste, right? I think for the most part we embrace this but sometimes it is harder to grasp for ornery little boys and parents (like Sid and I) who hold their children as the center of their world. Don’t Blink.

Cancel The “Taco Tuesday” Trademark

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Because I grew up in Spokane and then lived in Missoula for several years thereafter, I became familiar with Taco John’s. Although I didn’t eat there on a regular basis, I was still fond of the regional fast food Mexican chain that served its signature Potato Oles.

I always thought Taco John’s was pretty solid.

However, one bit of trivia that I was not aware of at that time was that Taco John’s actually trademarked the phrase “Taco Tuesday.” That’s right, the Patent and Trademark office approved the trademark for Taco John’s back in 1989.

Fast forward almost 35 years later and “Taco Tuesday” is a major cultural event for bars, restaurants, and family dining rooms across the country. In fact, back in September of 2020, I wrote about the insane level the Taco Tuesday phenomenon had reached and even revealed that our family observes its own Taco Tuesday.

A couple tacos prepared at one of our family Taco Tuesday evenings.

Thankfully, Taco John’s isn’t coming after Sid and I with cease and desist letters to halt our usage of the phrase during our Tuesday dinners. The same is true for the local dive near our house that uses the popular phrase every Tuesday when it offers up the greasiest tacos you have ever seen.

But while American homes and local watering holes are seemingly safe from Taco Tuesday trademark enforcement, the same can’t be said for Taco John’s competitors. Needless to say, the worldwide giant of Mexican fast food is counted as a worthy rival and restricted from using the alliterative term. However, Taco Bell is officially sick of it.

Sloan enjoying a Taco Tuesday at our house a couple years ago.

Last week, Taco Bell filed a petition of cancellation to the Patent and Trademark office asking for “Taco Tuesday” to no longer be trademarked. Now, I am usually a guy who will side with the underdog to exploit any competitive advantage it might hold over a gigantic corporation, but I must side with Taco Bell on this one.

I think we can all admit that the term “Taco Tuesday” is not overly creative and very much generic. It is a phrase comprised of a popular Mexican food and a day of the week for Pete’s sake. Any kindergartener could naturally piece together the phrase, no marketing background needed. A trademark is issued to help a business distinguish itself from competitors, but other than the ultra amount of media coverage Taco John’s has garnered because of the Taco Bell challenge, no one in the country ever connected “Taco Tuesday” with Taco John’s.

While my argument above is that “Taco Tuesday” should never have received trademark protection in the first place, Taco Bell is arguing its case from a slightly different angle. The main argument of Yum Brands, which owns the Taco Bell brand, is that “Taco Tuesday” has reached a point where it is so common that it is now a “ubiquitous term.” It cites terms such as escalator, aspirin, and yo-yo that used to be trademarked but had the protection removed because of how common and mainstream the words had become.

Taco Tuesday is simply not a Taco John’s “thing.” Let’s use common sense and remove the “Taco Tuesday” trademark. Don’t Blink.

A Dozen Years of “Don’t Blink”

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Make it a dozen. Last weekend I celebrated my 12th anniversary of Don’t Blink. For those itching to guess my age, I can now say that I have authored my blog for exactly a third of my life. During that span, I have written more than 2,340 posts.

I have authored “Don’t Blink” for 12 years…way before these children were born! (thanks to Sloan for making her own handmade sign to commemorate the anniversary).

Just a quick history lesson: My blog launched as a Blogger site back in 2011. After a year of writing on that free platform, I decided to “get serious.” During a summer night in 2012, my friend and I bellied up at our favorite college bar so we could use the establishment’s free internet. With drinks in hand, he set me up on WordPress and we purchased my current domain name (brentreser.com).

So while the destination to Don’t Blink has been the same for most of its existence, the primary goal has not. I started blogging as a cocky young 20-something who wanted to spout off his “insightful” hot takes. As my ego lessened (but just a bit) I started writing more to maintain a personal brand, strategically grow my digital footprint, and increase my professional prospects. These days, I am no longer writing solely for me. Rather, I put forth such an effort with this blog to chronicle memories. My posts have become dramatically more family-centered over the last several years. It is less about my opinion and more about lifestyle. My hope is that my writings will forever remind my family about these precious years and be something that my children will value decades down the road.

Call it perspective, I guess.

Cheers to 12 years of blogging, indeed (and cheers to my wife’s artistic skills).

I questioned the sustainability of this blog during my past several major life events, especially when I got married and when my children were born. But I have continued to write. And at this current point in my existence, I don’t see anything—including a major lack of sleep from writing late at night and early in the morning—preventing me from publishing blog posts. Besides, I just paid my annual hosting dues so you are stuck with me for at least another year.

Thank you to everyone who chooses to hang around. I have never suffered from a lack of reader support and for that I am grateful. For all my posts about silly TikTok trends and nerdy food reviews, I hope that every now and then I publish something that actually resonates with you. Again, thank you. Don’t Blink.

Eccentric Pancakes Thursday Rundown

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I can’t help but feel optimistic. The weather is gorgeous, the days are longer, and the birds are chirping. Summer is on the horizon. But before we get to that point, I want to enjoy the rest of what has been a busy and fun month of May. Let’s go to the Thursday Rundown…

May At St. Mary – Speaking of May, it has been a blessed month for Sloan at St. Mary. She helped with the Mary crowning, participated in a special children’s rosary, and won a class raffle for a Happy Meal lunch. But what really made me proud was on Tuesday when she delivered a reading during the school mass. Proclaiming from the Acts of the Apostles, Sloan stood at the lectern and read flawlessly in front of the entire school and a crowd of parents. I admired the bravery of Sloan and her classmates who also read during the mass.

It has been a busy month at St. Mary School in Spokane Valley. Photos include Sloan and her friend holding Mary’s crown, the group of children who prayed the rosary, and Sloan delivering the reading at the school mass.

Lucky Charms Pancakes – On Mother’s Day, Sidney requested I make my famous pancakes. I happily obliged and in addition to the traditional buttermilk hot cakes I made for her, I whipped up something a little different for the kids. I had a package of Lucky Charms pancake mix that I threw on the griddle for Sloan and Beau. The mix itself had Lucky Charms bits inside it and the box was accompanied with a package of actual Lucky Charms pieces that I sprinkled on top. Overall, the Lucky Charm pancakes were better than the Cinnamon Toast Crunch pancakes I made 15 months ago.

Despite Beau’s scowl, these Lucky Chams pancakes weren’t that bad.

Last MLB Game – It is hard to believe that it has been four years since I last attended a Major League Baseball game. On this date in 2019, Sidney and I visited brand new SunTrust Park to watch the Atlanta Braves host the Milwaukee Brewers. Sid’s parents took care of Sloan as we had a fantastic weekend that also included TopGolf and Cheesecake Factory. Perhaps we will break our MLB drought this summer and go to a Seattle Mariners game.

A photo of Sidney and I from our seats at SunTrust Park on May 18, 2019.

Mother’s Day Photo – During our Mother’s Day celebration at my parents’ house, my siblings and I took a break from the good food, ladder golf, and the metal detector to snap this photo with my mom. We sure owe a lot of gratitude to her for all she has done for us over 3+ decades.

My sister, brother, and I stand with my mom.

7th Grade School Photo – Not much else to share tonight so I thought I would throw in this headshot of a pudgy seventh grader. Let’s hope Beau doesn’t go through this awkward phase 😂

My school photo from seventh grade at Northwood Middle School in north Spokane.

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Yet another Thursday Rundown is now in the books. Thanks for reading and keep your eyes open for a rare Friday blog post tomorrow. Don’t Blink.

Not Striking Gold

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It was another perfect Mother’s Day celebration at my parents’ house this past weekend. The weather was gorgeous, we ate grilled hamburgers on my dad’s new deck, and we played competitive games of ladder golf.

Mother’s Day 2023 was a blessing with beautiful weather, delicious food, and fantastic moms.

However, come to think of it, there may have been one thing that wasn’t so perfect.

As a kid, I dreamed about how cool it would be to have a metal detector. The way I saw it, there was buried treasure waiting to be found in every yard or park I stepped foot in. If only I had the right implement to verify where my fortune rested.

I do remember a particularly magical moment from my childhood when we had a family gathering at Pioneer Park, Walla Walla’s oldest and largest green space. We spotted a man with a metal detector searching near our picnic tables. Much to the poor dude’s chagrin, a few of us kids became his shadow and followed him around the area as he ran his device over the ground. I remember he had small digging tools with him and would artfully puncture the ground when he found a hit worth investigating. Although we didn’t find anything of value while stalking him, my fascination grew.

The years passed and I became an adult. Up until Sunday I had never placed my hands on a metal detector despite my dream of going on treasure hunts. Well, wouldn’t you know it? For my sister’s birthday in March she was given a metal detector—apparently she had the same aspirations as me.

Over the past couple months, she has taken it to the campground where her family stays, the park across the street from my parents’ house, and other various locations. On Sunday, I asked her to bring it over to the Mother’s Day celebration. She obliged.

Miranda gave me permission to “play” with her new toy. When I removed it from the trunk of her car, I realized that it wasn’t some rinky-dink metal detector. Rather, it was a high-tech piece of equipment with multiple settings and all the bells and whistles. Alright, let’s do this.

I took the metal detector to my parents’ yard and started to search for the gold that I knew always existed within the earth. Of course, much in the same way that I observed the man in the park years ago, I suddenly had my own kids and Miranda’s kids tracking my every move.

Unfortunately, sometimes the fantasy doesn’t quite live up to the reality.

Although it was exhilarating at first to move around with the detector, I kind of started to lose interest with it. It wasn’t that I was not registering hits with it—because I was—but there is only so much you can pursue when your dad has stricter “no dig” rules than the Utilities and Transportation Commission. And even if I did have permission to disrupt even a single blade of grass on my dad’s prized lawn, I wouldn’t really know where to start as pretty much the whole premises made the detector go off. Gigantic treasure chest that spanned the entire area or sprinklers and pipes? Sadly, most likely the latter.

It wasn’t long before the detector was off my hand and in the possession of the aspiring young buccaneers who had matched every step I had taken for the past 15 minutes.

I wouldn’t say that my time with the metal detector was a complete bust. I just think it was impossible for it to live up to my expectations that were years and years in the making. I believe if in the future I am able to conduct a “Round 2” in a spot where I can dig freely that isn’t tainted with irrigation equipment, I might have a better experience…and perhaps even find some gold. Don’t Blink.

Walmart Takes A Stand

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Back in October of 2021, the state of Washington issued a ban on single-use plastic bags. This was supposed to save the environment by eliminating plastic bags from grocery and retail stores. However, it seemed to backfire.

A year later, in October of 2022, I wrote that the plastic bag ban didn’t really ban anything—it merely upgraded the item that was supposed to be purged. Grocery stores still used single-use plastic bags, they were just higher quality and you had to pay for them. However, at a fee of 8 cents per bag, I considered the product a bargain. These plastic bags were sturdy, dependable, and re-usable. Most of the time I visited the grocery store I was tempted to buy MORE plastic bags than what I needed just because they were so useful for day-to-day life.

This is me holding one of the new bags in October 2021. I found them very useful.

Well, I have an update for you!…

I can no longer purchase these useful plastic bags at the grocery/retail giant our family shops at the most. Why? Because Walmart has banned all single-use plastic bags—flimsy old version AND sturdy new version—from all its stores in Washington. Wally World has swooped in and given teeth to the initiative that the state started.

Walmart started bracing us for the change a couple months ago and then it actually went into effect in April. At the check out areas you won’t see a plastic bag in sight. Unless you bring your own tote bags or pay 74 cents for the Walmart “reusable shopping bag” (made in China), you will be carrying your groceries out of the store by hand. Try doing that after going Sunday grocery shopping.

This is the reusable Walmart shopping bag that I purchased the other day because I didn’t have any tote bags with me.

I miss the new plastic bags we could purchase. At the same time, I kind of respect Walmart for taking a stand and doing what the state had probably hoped it could do at the onset. I will continue to follow future developments. There are still mom and pop stores around Spokane that offer plastic and paper bags free of charge, but I am curious to see what other major grocery chains do. Stay tuned. Don’t Blink.

Spokanite Thursday Rundown

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Thank you for inviting me into your computer, phone, ipad, or other smart device. I am back with another Thursday Rundown so instead of fawning over the terrific weather, let’s get right to the five topics…

True Spokanites – This week marked the three-year anniversary of when Sidney, Sloan, and Beau arrived in Spokane. I greeted them at the airport and although it had only been two months it felt like two years. I posted this video of our happy reunion. I am so impressed by how everyone has adapted. We miss everyone so much in South Carolina but feel so fortunate that we found such a great home in Washington.

Sidney holds a sign my dad made for her and the kids upon their arrival in Spokane.

Bloomsday Quilt – Those people familiar with Bloomsday know that the finisher t-shirt is a huge deal. Kept under lock and key until the first person finishes, participants will guess and debate what color it will be. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if Vegas has odds on it. When Sloan and I went to the Bloomsday trade show on Friday so I could pick up my bib, there was a beautiful quilt hanging that was stitched with every Bloomsday t-shirt over the course of the race’s 46 iterations (47 now). It was a lot of fun to point out to Sloan all the Bloomsdays I had completed in my youth by pointing to its corresponding shirt on the quilt. A photo op was impossible to pass up (Read my Bloomsday blog post).

Sloan poses for a photo with the Bloomsday t-shirt quilt that was displayed at the Bloomsday Trade Show.

Inspiring Morning Drives – How do I know summer is almost here? When I now drive home from the gym, it is no longer pitch black. Instead, the sun is rising and beautiful landscapes are revealed. With endorphins still buzzing combined with the promise of a new day, these sunrises are the icing on the cake for some pretty powerful moments of solitude in my car.

There is something beautiful and calming about these Spokane sun rises that reveal industrial landscapes. This was the scene outside my windshield yesterday morning.

Power Rangers Throwback Thursday – This week I walked into the living room to see Beau watching a classic from my childhood. Sid had turned on the ORIGINAL Power Rangers series from the 1990s for him. I wasn’t as fanatic about the Power Rangers as my brother was, in fact, I made fun of the series to look cool, but it was still a big part from when I was a kid. My impression nearly 30 years later? I couldn’t believe how old, outdated, and low budget everything was! It truly was a blast from the past.

Beau chilling on the couch while watching Power Rangers.

Mother’s Day Challenge – It is Mother’s Day this Sunday and I would like to pose a challenge to you. Make sure to spoil your wife and your own mom but don’t stop there. On Sunday, reach out to five additional moms and wish them a happy Mother’s Day. It can be a co-worker, friend, teammate, acquaintance, or maybe just a stranger at the grocery store. But try to extend the “Mother’s Day cheer” to multiple moms who you wouldn’t usually celebrate. It won’t go unappreciated.

My mom, Sidney, and my sister pose for a photo during our 2022 Mother’s Day celebration.

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That’s a wrap for tonight. I hope everyone is able to get outside this weekend and enjoy the glorious weather. Thanks for reading and godspeed. Don’t Blink.

Bloomsday 2023: It’s Now A Tradition

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We are building a tradition! After completing my first Bloomsday in a couple decades last year, we did it again this past weekend. I once again joined my brother and sister-in-law for Spokane’s signature road race.

Beau took a moment to snap a selfie with me on Bloomsday morning.

As with last year, we all drove in one vehicle to Ferris High School where a Spokane Transit Authority (STA) shuttle took us downtown. On Sunday, our shuttle was pretty full so I was separated from Glen and Carrie. With no one to talk to, I took the 15-minute ride to gaze out the window and psych myself up for the race.

The four of us arrived on the streets of downtown about 90 minutes before our heat of the race started. Oh, did you catch how I mentioned the four of us? Glen’s friend, Grant, had met us at Ferris to do Bloomsday with us. Anyway, because of our incredible excitement, we arrived a bit earlier than necessary. No matter, we made the most out of the hour and a half by playing “Guess the Tune” to the pump up songs blaring from the Bloomsday speakers.

The four of us hanging near the start line prior to the beginning of Bloomsday 2023.

The long countdown eventually elapsed and the moment had arrived to run! I threw my long sleeve shirt on one of the Riverside trees, spiked a couple of the beach balls flying around, and approached the start line. The four of us crossed the threshold together and we were officially on the clock.

Can you spot my discarded white long sleeve on the tree?

Although we crossed the starting line as a group, we would soon separate. I went off on my own, tackling a course that seemed more familiar to me this year compared to the previous year when I navigated it after a long absence. Despite the threat of rain that loomed over the race the week leading up to it, all precipitation held off and racing conditions were perfect. However, despite the ideal conditions, I found myself struggling more than last year. Perhaps I lacked the additional adrenaline boost I had last year from doing something for the first time in a long time OR perhaps it was just because I was a year older, but it felt like I was grinding a lot more in 2023.

A photo of me navigating the Bloomsday course. Thankfully the race conditions were good but I did have to grind.

Despite the increase in difficulty, I actually achieved something I didn’t expect at all—a PR! I beat my time from last year by two minutes, crossing the finish line at 1 hour, 9 minutes. I didn’t bring a watch or phone with me to downtown so I really had no idea how I was doing until I saw my time at the finish line.

Soaked in sweat, I crossed the finish line at 1 hour 9 minutes.

I waited for Glen, Carrie, and Grant to finish the race. While I awaited their completion, I hung out on the Monroe Street Bridge and people watched. I observed as finishers celebrated with their friends, whipped out their phones to check their times on the app, and posed for photos. Watching my fellow Bloomies rejoice in their accomplishment made the time fly by and soon my crew was reunited with me.

From that point it was off to claim our finisher t-shirts. The four of us took a poll prior to the race with our t-shirt color prediction and none of us entertained the idea that it could possibly be black—not that we were disappointed! We approved of the surprise color (black is slimming, folks) and the abstract design.

A look at my personal 2023 Bloomsday finisher t-shirt.

I threw my t-shirt on over my sweat-drenched race shirt and we headed to Flat Stick Pub, another part of the Bloomsday experience that has become part of the tradition. A beer never tasted so good as I downed that mason jar of hops in a few minutes.

After Bloomsday we went for a beer at Flat Stick Pub. The brew I had tasted amazing.

After the round of beers we hopped on the STA shuttle and headed back to Ferris High School. As I got off the bus, I could feel the soreness start to manifest itself throughout my body. But some aches and pains wouldn’t be enough to derail our victory lap. Still clad in our Bloomsday shirts, my brother and I waltzed into a watering hole close to our homes.

Glen with his victory beer and Bloomsday t-shirt at Stormin’ Norman’s Shipfaced Saloon.

The rest of the afternoon was a bit of a struggle. I was pretty sore by this point and battled cramps. But it was a good sore and my wife helped me with my electrolyte intake by running to the store to get me plenty of Powerade. Also, sitting next to a certain 3-year-old made everything a bit better, too.

Beau hanging with me on the couch on Bloomsday afternoon. I used the Bloomsday app filter for this photo.

Will I be back on the Bloomsday course in 2024? You bet. Will I achieve another PR? Doubtful. But regardless, I love the Spokane community and our beloved Bloomsday race. Stay classy, Bloomies. Don’t Blink.