In public, I am a pretty restrained individual. I don’t feel the need to voice my political views or offer commentary in group settings. The same holds true for social media. I don’t use my accounts as an avenue to pop off about current events or debate with others.

However, in the comfort of my own home I am a little more uninhibited. I might offer my two cents on certain topics if something irks me on TV. When skimming the newspaper this morning, I saw a certain letter to an advice columnist that almost made me feel like my wife could be writing it if only we haven’t been separated during the majority of this COVID pandemic (just 11 days until we reunite!).

This was the advice column that resonated with me today.

Truth of the matter, I started to develop a habit of freely gracing Sidney with my “expert” commentary when watching television together. Just like the person seeking advice, I could at times drive my wife over the edge with my unsolicited revelations.

I found myself in major violation on a few different fronts…

1. Demeaning the reality shows that Sidney enjoys watching.

2. Predicting what would happen in movies or pointing out inconsistencies in the plot.

3. Yelling at the news over national stories I did not care for.

For a while, I couldn’t help myself from chiming in with my hot takes. It inflated my sense of self with my perceived cleverness and provided an outlet to blow off some steam. But what I was too proud to realize at the time was that my outbursts were completely self-serving.

You see, my commentary made TV-watching for Sid miserable. We both work hard and after the kids are in bed at night, we enjoy relaxing in front of the television. This therapeutic time for both of us was dampened by a certain loudmouth. Sidney was able to communicate this to me and I got better at it. Was it instantaneous? No. But I did gradually improve.

I think the response from Carolyn Hax, the advice columnist, was too flowery and complicated. Just give straight-forward advice, right? I would have told the annoyed wife to have a conversation with her husband and not simply tell him to “go away.” Rather, explain how the commentary not only adds absolutely nothing of value to your television-viewing experience but that it actually detracts from it. Explain how it turns a time of relaxation into a time of dread.

If he is a decent dude, he will get it…pandemic or no pandemic.

Do you have a perspective on armchair commentators? If so, I would love to hear it. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. Don’t Blink.

Another Thursday in this uncertain COVID-19 has arrived and once again I am here to at least provide some certainty with my delivery of another Thursday Rundown. Let’s get started…

Such a Good Idea for Kids – My good friend from high school and his wife came up with the best quarantine activity for their kids. They set up a root beer tasting challenge! They purchased some of the heavyweights in the root beer industry and allowed their daughters (and themselves) to blind taste test the sodas. After everything was said and done, the verdict was mixed. Cody liked Henry Weinhard’s the best. His wife and youngest daughter opted for Sioux City Root Beer (I will have to try it one of these days). His oldest daughter chose the only canned root beer in the challenge––Barq’s! Nice work, everyone.

Absolutely loved this Root Beer Challenge idea!

A Sign… – For the first time in more than a month, I saw toilet paper actually stocked on the shelves of a grocery store with my own eyes. I was in Rosauers on Saturday when I spotted several rolls that were up for grabs. It definitely wasn’t Charmin or Cottonelle but it was a welcome sight to see. I know we have a long way to go but I have seen several encouraging signs this week with respect to our coronavirus battle.

It was good to see toilet paper back on the shelves!

Never Forget – On the three-year anniversary of Sloan’s Pyloric Stenosis corrective surgery, I would like to take a moment to thank Dr. Robert Cina and his talented surgical team at MUSC in Charleston. They are the reason why Sloan is a healthy and sassy toddler who makes us all so happy. It took a year of reflection before I wrote this blog post two years ago.

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

The Masked Coug – A little humor could be felt on campus last Friday when the “Cougar Pride” sculpture was outfitted with its own PPE. We don’t know who fitted the WSU landmark with the mask but it sure was a hit on social media. Breathe easy!

The “Cougar Pride” sculpture was outfitted with its own mask.

Have a Good One, Mel – The NFL Draft is already underway (so weird adjusting back to west coast start times) and I am not watching. However, if I do tune in later tonight, it will be to watch Mel Kiper’s analysis. Six years ago, I wrote this ode to one of the smartest people I have ever watched on television. Even if you aren’t a fan of Kiper, you have to admit that Darren Rovell’s tweet is pretty good.

It is Draft #37 for Mel Kiper Jr. tonight.

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Thanks for spending a few minutes of your Thursday with me. Enjoy your weekend and be safe! Don’t Blink.

When we started to pack up our house in Myrtle Beach, Sidney and I realized something…we had A LOT of clothes. No, it wasn’t just my wife with a stuffed closet––I was guilty too. For a dude, I had an embarrassingly large wardrobe. Unless we wanted to fill the entire 16-wheel moving truck with our clothes, we had to do some purging.

Well, purging isn’t exactly a good word. We threw out a very minimal amount of clothes, just the stuff that was pretty much unwearable. The other stuff we made available so others could get use out of it. We repurposed our clothes in three main ways…

I alone had enough thermals to fill a regular-sized closet.

1. Consignment – I feel a little guilty admitting this, but we did sell some of our clothes. Sidney and I each made a couple trips to Plato’s Closet with boxes of clothes. I would describe what they accepted and what they paid out as disappointing. Each time we went to the store, we walked back out with a majority of the clothes that we brought in. We averaged about $25 per trip and placed all proceeds in an envelope labeled Moving Fund.

2. Goodwill – When sorting out our clothes, we had boxes earmarked for Goodwill. In addition to those boxes, we added the rejected consignment clothing as well. Our trips to Goodwill were always therapeutic because it felt so good to drop off large loads that took up space in our house during the cluttered moving process. On a more somber note, it was also a reminder that we could have helped those in need much sooner if we made regular trips and didn’t hoard (bigger issue for me than Sid).

Even with multiple stops to Goodwill and Plato’s Closet, we still shipped UHAUL wardrobe closets filled with clothes to Washington.

3. Office Giveaway – I obtained TONS of Coastal Carolina University gear during my nearly six years at the institution. I took a couple items with me as keepsakes, but I knew I would have to leave most of it behind. When my mentor and friend, Kenny Dow, left the University of Montana for another job, he allowed his co-workers to poach his UM wardrobe. Likewise, when Bill Plate left CCU, he gave me his Chanticleer ties. I took their examples and put my Coastal Carolina gear up for grabs. I put a video of my large collection on social media, stipulating that you had to be a CCU employee if you wanted dibs, and within seconds it was claimed.

A glimpse at a portion of the CCU polos I had in my possession.

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Funniest/Saddest thing of all? I probably still packed more clothes than what I needed. Something I am trying to work on is to let go of items and resist the temptation to stockpile. It is a learning process. Don’t Blink.

Over the weekend, my parents surprised me. But before I describe what they did, let me give you some context.

Since I started working from home (aka my parents’ house), I have taken over the dining room as my makeshift office. It has worked fine for me, and, fortunately, my mom insists that she does not mind my main level occupancy. But I do feel bad that I am essentially closing down a large portion of the house during the workday.

For the most part, my “current” office has been working out.

Also, I can’t fully escape the noises from traffic and nearby yard work that regularly infiltrates into the dining room. Additionally, looking to the near future when my family arrives, my location in the middle of the house will render me as a play option for my 3-year-old daughter. As much as I love to entertain her, playtime isn’t conducive to the workday.

As our working from home arrangement continues at WSU, I brought up the subject of securing alternative office space to my “landlords.” They had the perfect idea…

Yes, my dad wrote out a nameplate to hang on my “office” door. If anyone gets lost on their way to a Zoom meeting I am hosting, I am sure it will help them find their way…

My dad made me this fancy nameplate.

Crack open the door a bit and you can catch a glimpse of the very nice work my parents did converting this space to my new office…

An initial glimpse into my new office.

But let’s actually go in, shall we?

Check out this work area! I got a desk, comfy chair, computer, and even a globe if I forget where Pullman is…

A look at my working space.

But let’s conclude this tour by zooming out.

Welcome to my new office…and old bedroom?

Here is the complete view of my office/guestroom.

That’s right! My parents converted my old basement bedroom from my teenage years into my new office as a 33-year-old professional.

Before the jokes start coming my way (besides the ones about me living with my parents) this bedroom was turned into a guestroom after I left the state 15 years ago. So, no, the floral bedspread and curtains aren’t a holdover from 2005.

Any sarcasm aside, I am really appreciative of my parents for doing this. Don’t Blink.

This weekend as I consume the latest COVID developments and reflect on many of the devastating impacts, I find myself focusing on a specific byproduct of this mess: the layoffs.

It is hard to not feel discouraged about the many thousands of people losing their jobs as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. These people are out of work due to absolutely no fault of their own. Most are outstanding employees who have had the proverbial rug pulled from underneath them. It is not fair.

It goes without saying that the impact is not industry-specific; rather, the ramifications seem to terrorize every line of work, including higher education digital marketers. But perhaps the biggest irony and kick to the gut is that healthcare workers, the folks who are most needed to battle this pandemic, are especially vulnerable to furloughs and layoffs. How is this possible?

Well, it happens when a once-in-a-lifetime deadly virus wreaks havoc on the world. The disease itself is just the tip of the iceberg as the trickle-down effect negatively upends many other aspects of life, including employment.

During this time I am thankful for my job but also very sad for those who have been let go. Again, their misfortune has been completely out of their control. I believe we need to do our individual part to help those out of work. Whether that be recommending them for other jobs, sending them a restaurant gift card, or just offering a word of encouragement, let’s take the time to reach out to those who have had their occupations disrupted.

Also, let’s make sure we continue to pray for a swift end to the coronavirus. Hopefully we will continue to make gains over this next week. Don’t Blink.

Good evening everyone and thanks for choosing to spend a few minutes of your precious time on Don’t Blink. It is Thursday so you all know what that means. Let’s begin with the latest Rundown…

Honoring the Class of 2020 – Yesterday I called out the “post your senior photo to support the Class of 2020” Facebook gimmick as disingenuous. I offered a few alternatives to do something more meaningful but they didn’t come close to what I read about in the local paper today. Teachers and staff members from a Spokane high school (a rival of my high school nonetheless) did something special for their 2020 class. Overnight, they went to the houses of every senior student at Ferris High School and planted a sign in their yard that read “Saxons Class of 2020. #SaxonPride.” Based on interviews the students did with the paper, they really enjoyed it. What a thoughtful and morale-boosting thing to do.

I think Ferris High School hit the mark with this effort.

Quick Trip to Walla Walla – Due to some essential reasons, I had to make a quick trip to Walla Walla this past weekend. I had not visited the town in five years so it was good to return and see a place that meant so much to me growing up. I got to see the house my grandparents’ lived in, drive by the old family business, visit relatives, and even play a little bit of cornhole (one of the best social distancing games there is). It was nice to get a change of scenery!

A few shots from my very quick trip to Walla Walla.

National Siblings Day – Last Friday was National Siblings Day and I decided to go retro for my social media posts. An advantage of living with your parents is that you have quick access to the family photo albums. Below are the images I shared on some of my social channels. I am very lucky to have an awesome sister and an awesome brother.

Some old photos to celebrate National Siblings Day.

Movies – In the wake of current events, I like to escape in the evenings from the news cycle. For me, this means watching a lot of movies. Over the course of the past week, I have watched the following films with my dad….

1917
Hostiles
The Score
The Water Diviner
End of Watch

All of these films were pretty good and it became no secret to me why “1917” was an Academy Award-winning film. Out of the other movies listed, all of which can be watched on Netflix, I think I liked “End of Watch” the best. It is a cop movie from 2012 that stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena.

1917 was an outstanding film.

Mamba – Everyone enjoys a good Kobe story and this one hit home for me. I attended high school with Adam Morrison and followed his college and NBA careers closely. I thought it was really cool that Bryant would do this random act of kindness while Adam was going through a tough time.

I thought this stpry was kind of cool.

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Let us continue to pray for a resolution to this pandemic. Promising developments are starting to transpire but it is going to take some time. Have a great weekend. Don’t Blink.

This post isn’t meant to criticize anyone’s Facebook prowess, but I am just seeking clarification. Before I elaborate, let me preface what I am about to say with a fact: I really enjoy many of the current social media engagement trends. In fact, I am so tickled by some of them that I wrote an entire blog post about it last week.

However, I am scratching my head at a certain one that is extremely popular right now. Again, please don’t take this personal if you have participated because it is a fun idea. My point of contention is whether it really does anything to promote the cause it is supposedly triumphing.

I am not a big fan of the senior photo post. You know what I am talking about, right? Facebook users are asked to copy and paste text that states something along the lines of “In solidarity with the Class of 2020, share your own senior pictures no matter how silly or old they might be.” Of course, this text is paired with a photo (or an entire album) from that individual’s senior portrait photoshoot.

If only it was just a prank…

Okay, I couldn’t care less if people are sharing photos from their senior year on social media. Heck, I am known to post images from my unremarkable high school football career. If you want to relive your glory years and celebrate a time when you weighed less and had more hair, I get it.

But my problem is when this reminiscing is done under the guise of a worthy cause.

In no way, shape, or form do I understand how posting professional photos of oneself is “showing support” for this year’s senior class. How does uploading an old photo of yourself to Facebook help a poor high school student dealing with the loss of their senior year? You aren’t “honoring” any students—you are only honoring yourself and perhaps the photographer who took the photos. And if that photographer isn’t a high school senior devoted to media arts, you are falling short there too.

If we truly want to honor the Class of 2020 on social media, I have a few options that I thought of off the top of my head…

1. Post the senior photo of an actual member of the Class of 2020.

2. Share to your wall the photo of the Class of 2020 from the local high school in your area or from the high school you graduated from.

3. Attend and share virtual high school events that are taking place on Facebook Live.

During this time when students are missing out on major rite of passage events that we all got to enjoy, let’s try harder to be empathetic. The focus should be on them, not us. Don’t Blink.

The last time I saw the inside of a gym was exactly a month ago. On March 14, the after I arrived from Myrtle Beach, I worked out at an Anytime Fitness in Spokane. Later that weekend, Governor Inslee issued a stay home order and all gyms in the state closed.

It has been hard adjusting to no gym access. After doing something consistently on a daily basis for 20 years, it stings a little to no longer have the option. Yes, I am making the best of it by finding alternative ways to exercise but it still isn’t the same. Working out at a gym isn’t solely a physical experience; it is a social one too.

My calluses have healed, my muscle mass has decreased, and my gym towels remain folded and unused. There is no way of telling when I will be able to pump iron or run on the treadmill again. But if I find myself dwelling on not having a gym to go to, I remind myself that most people in this country have to deal with actual devastating COVID-19 impacts like job loss, financial hardship, and/or serious health issues.

OR, I think about what hurts more personally than not going to the gym…

Not seeing my family.

Yesterday was the one-month mark since I last saw my wife, toddler, and newborn. I said goodbye to my trio on March 13 and have missed them every day since. This virus has pushed back when I will see them again from this Thursday to the beginning of next month. For a family guy like myself, being away from them pains me much more than the loss of any physical strength.

But I am blessed that this is the greatest hardship I have had to endure in relation to this terrible pandemic and am so thankful for the modern marvel of FaceTime. We will be together soon.

As most of us now have 30 days under our belts of strict social distancing, it is a thoughtful exercise to look back and realize all that we have taken for granted––both big and small. Although we might not come out of this physically stronger, let’s hope we do at least mentally. Don’t Blink.

Although Easter itself is always glorious, celebrating it yesterday was bittersweet. I did not get to spend the day with my wife and babies, a tough pill to swallow on the holiest day of the year. However, I did have the distinct pleasure of marking the day with my parents and siblings (and their families), something I had not done in six years. Under the circumstances, it was a terrific day.

Thank you to my mother-in-law for snapping this photo of Sloan decorating eggs yesterday.

My parents and I watched Easter Sunday mass from Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese of Spokane. In his homily, Bishop Thomas Daly preached that the empty churches caused by COVID-19 will strengthen our faith community even more, helping us realize how important parish life is. As the mass ended, Fr. Darrin Connall recognized the sadness that the candidates who had hoped to be welcomed into the Church this past weekend must be feeling. It made me a little emotional as I thought about their disappointment and then contrasted it with how lucky Sidney was to be confirmed at the start of the Lenten season.

Bishop Daly was the presider at Easter Sunday mass from Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Spokane.

After mass, we ate a sweet and savory brunch. Besides the banana bread and caramel bread, my mom made an Easter Italian pie called pizzagaina. To those who are unfamiliar with this delicacy, visualize a flaky crust filled with ham and macaroni and cheese.

A look at my Easter brunch with the pizzagaina on the left.

My brother and his fiancée, Carrie, came over in the early afternoon. We spent a couple hours chatting in the living room and munching on candy. At around 3 p.m., my sister and her family arrived. Just so we could get it all over with, we converged on the front yard to take some pictures.

This photo with my siblings was part of our front yard photo shoot.

After the photoshoot, we moved from the front yard to the back yard. My brother and Carrie had set up an Easter egg hunt for my sister’s youngest children, Mikayla and Johnny. They scooped up plastic eggs and placed them into their overflowing baskets.

Johnny and Mik during yesterday’s Easter egg hunt.

Once the eggcitement from the hunt dissipated, we had our Easter meal. The menu included ham, salad, fruit, corn casserole, scalloped potatoes, and rolls. Despite all the candy and sweet bread I had ate earlier, I still managed to have a healthy appetite for this delicious dinner. We gave thanks for our salvation and enjoyed the delicious food coupled with great discussion.

This Easter meal was delicious.

We finished up in time to go outside and watch the Easter Bunny ride by in a pickup truck. With the neighborhood Easter egg hunt canceled, those in the community still wanted to do something for the children. Although odd-looking, it was nice for Mikayla and Johnny to see yet another strangely costumed rabbit ride by.

The Easter Bunny drove by in the back of a truck yesterday.

The family gathering concluded with my mom’s famous ice cream cake. Another specialty that I had not enjoyed for years, this particular version with Cold Stone cake batter ice cream was even better than what I remembered. We all sat around the living room and continued to talk until it was time for us to prepare for Monday.

My mom’s ice cream cake was even better than I remembered it.

Easter Sunday might be over but the season of Easter has just started. I look forward to the weeks to come as we continue to celebrate our resurrected Lord. Don’t Blink.

Easter 2019
Easter 2018