Good evening. I want to start off by adding a few more reasons for why I do and don’t like April…

Just kidding! Since I have beat that to a pulp, I am sure everyone is ready for a Thursday Rundown. Let’s get started…

Our Artist – Sloan recently brought home another one of her masterpieces. She (or is it her teacher?) is definitely expressing the best version of her artistic self. The 2-year-old grind is pleasant so far. Sloan keeps learning and talking. Her favorite thing to do currently is sing “Johnny, Johnny,” a song that requires another person to participate. As you can imagine, mommy and daddy take turns performing the duet with our little diva.

On the left is a photo of Sloan I took today and on the right is her elephant artwork.

Settling In – A couple weeks ago, I wrote about how I changed office buildings. Our social media and photography departments moved to Hampton Hall to be with video production, ensuring that our media-based content creators are all under one roof. So far, so good. However, I have still not unpacked all my boxes nor put a thing on the walls so I can’t give you a photo that looks much different from the one I shared in the March 21 Thursday Rundown. What I can share, however, is an article written about our move. It comes complete with quotes from our director of photography and myself.

Because I haven’t made much progress with my new office, you instead get a selfie with a mostly empty bookshelf.

Season 3 of This Is Us – This past Tuesday night, the season finale of “This Is Us” aired. I thought it was one of the better episodes of the season and a fitting way to conclude things until the fall. I believe the series is still very healthy. Throughout this past season, everything seemed fresh and I never thought wow, these writers are really searching for ideas. My favorite episode of the third season was the one that took place in the hospital waiting room for practically the whole show. You could really feel the tension and conflict. Of course we are all now on the edges of our seats for the next several months after Tuesday’s ending, but I guess it gives us something to look forward to.

I enjoyed the third season of “This Is Us.”

BURRITOS – In terms of food, I would say it was definitely an upgrade when I moved to the South. From the pancake houses to the fast food chicken restaurants to regional dishes such as chicken bog, I love eating in South Carolina! However, the West has one thing on my current home: burritos! Both in Washington and Montana, you will find numerous mom and pop burrito shops that specialize in creating large, delicious mission-style burritos. The eatery I miss the absolute most in Missoula is Taco Del Sol. I have never enjoyed a better burrito than the ones served there. When Sidney and I paid a visit to Montana a couple years ago, you better believe we ate at Taco Del Sol for our first meal. Happy National Burrito Day!

This is Sid at Taco Del Sol in Missoula in July 2017.

The Power of FaceTime – Two years ago, during Sloan’s first month of life, I wrote about how comforting it was to FaceTime her after my paternity leave ended. During my lunch break at work, I would Facetime my two favorite girls and get a glimpse of what mommy and baby were doing. Exactly two years since I wrote that post, I am still a big proponent of FaceTime, especially when it comes to letting your daughter see her out-of-town grandparents! Kind of surprisingly, FaceTime hasn’t evolved much over the past 24 months; wonder if anything will be in store over the next 24?

During Sloan’s first month of life, it was especially nice to be able to FaceTime with her.

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I want to wish everyone a great weekend. Since Gonzaga was eliminated on Saturday, I don’t have too much of an interest in the Final Four. However, if you have a dog (obviously not a bulldog) in the fight, I wish your team good luck. Don’t Blink.

Last night, I listed the 10 reasons why I like April. However, in the post, I subtly mentioned that April is not my favorite month. So, tonight, I am not subtly going to explain why. I will use the same format as last night, listing 10 reasons in no particular order.

But before we get to that, I want to list an 11th reason for liking April…my Aunt Nancy and my brother’s girlfriend, Carrie, were both born this month. Happy birthday to both!

In April, I get allergies. Although you might not be able to tell in this photo, I was MISERABLE (it was taken in April).

Not off to a good start – As I have mentioned before, I am not a fan of April Fools’ Day.

Memories of snow – Even though I now enjoy nice April weather in Myrtle Beach, I am still bitter about all the “spring” days that were ruined by snow living in Washington and Montana.

Hitler was born in April – Enough said.

Allergies – I didn’t discover that I am susceptible to allergies until I moved to South Carolina and April is one of the most difficult months for me.

TV seasons end – Season finales for television shows are abundant in April. In fact, “This is Us” aired its season finale last night.

MLB Baseball Season Letdown – By the time April is over, my favorite Major League Baseball team, the Seattle Mariners, are already out of playoff contention.

Long month – Even though April is only 30 days, it can be a long month. Working in higher education, it is the last full month before the academic year ends and people become anxious. Also, in general, it is the final month before you can really start to feel summer vibes.

Scrabble – If you were to play the word “April” in Scrabble, with all tiles just being face value, it would give you the least amount of points out of any other month.

Titanic Sunk – I wasn’t just fascinated by the United States Presidents as a kid – I was a Titanic nut too! Although the ship set sail in April, it also sunk in April. Tough to think about the over 1,500 people who lost their lives.

Unfairness – Sid gets spring break and I don’t.

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Sorry for listing negative aspects of April. To be honest, it isn’t my least favorite month, it just happens to have some qualities I don’t particularly enjoy. Don’t Blink.

No frills in tonight’s blog post, just the 10 things (in no particular order) that I like about the month of April.

I love Easter and it often falls during the month of April.

It is in the middle of two months I really enjoy – Sorry April, I would take March or May over you.

Many years, Easter is in April – Not my favorite month, but many times my favorite holiday takes place during it.

Half Birthday – I make it halfway around the sun on April 8! Even though I have never celebrated a half birthday in my life, perhaps I change that this year?

A tradition unlike any other – There is no better sporting event in April than The Master’s.

Sloan was cured – When this month rolls around, I think about the courage of Sloan and the talented doctor who performed a life-saving surgery on her.

The weather is really nice! – I wouldn’t have included this five years ago because April is just another month of winter in Montana.

April O’Neil – As a major Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan as a boy, I correlated the month with the pretty news reporter.

Start of the 2nd quarter – Once March is done, the honeymoon of the new year is over. April is the start of the next 25% of the year (April-May-June). Will you build on what you did the first three months or reevaluate? #GreatBenchmark

Things looking bright – Each day during April, the days get longer and longer. The extended daylight becomes very noticeable and my mood improves.

Looooooow key – For me, April is chill. No annual appointments, no family birthdays, no big events. Although I like activity, it is nice to have one month without a lot on the calendar.

I admit it, I overlook April. However, sometimes you need to take a step back and give it a little bit of credit. I hope to make the most out of the remaining 27 days. Don’t Blink.

Sloan woke up especially early this morning. We put her in our bed to watch Mickey Mouse while we got ready for the day. Sidney went outside to put a few items in her car. Several seconds after she walked out, I dashed after her. With great alarm in my voice, I exclaimed, SIDNEY! Sloan just threw up all over herself and the bed!

With us running on such a tight schedule, a soiled bed and a sick child was the last thing we needed. Sidney let out a big groan. However, I wasn’t going to keep her in misery for long.

APRIL FOOLS’, Sid! April Fools’.

Relief and a little bit of anger set in. I offered an apology and we went on with our morning.

I felt a little bad pulling that prank because, to be honest, I don’t like April Fools’ Day myself. I especially despise how it plays out on social media, something I made perfectly clear four years ago. But my desire to subtly celebrate today got the best of me this morning.

Here is my philosophy on April Fools’ jokes: First, stay away from social media pranks. Nothing asks for shameless attention more than a sad attempt at announcing you are moving to a different country or that you are pregnant when really you are not.

The second half of my philosophy is to startle, not excite. Wait, what does that even mean?…

What I mean is this – play a joke that delivers bad news (will cause a startle), not a joke that delivers good news (will excite the person). Does this confuse you even more? I believe a joke is more cruel that gives someone hope that something really good happened to them (won the lottery, received a promotion, etc.) than a joke that gives someone a negative jolt (accident happened, made a big mistake, etc.).

I feel like if you must play a joke on someone, leave the person with a positive emotion rather than a negative emotion. Pulling someone’s leg in a way that they are happy a bad event never happened is better than making someone sad that a good event never did. To lift up someone’s hopes only to crush them is not very funny…it is mean.

Still have a gag up your sleeve for the remaining hours of April Fools’ Day? If so, I hope your execution is seamless and the joke itself funny for all involved. Don’t Blink.

Since living in Myrtle Beach for almost five years, my dad has visited me several times. Over the course of those visits, we have done just about everything there is to do in the area. However, during my dad’s most recent trip, a brand new option presented itself.

One afternoon last week, we went to Topgolf. Ever heard of it before? With over 50 locations worldwide, it is referred to by the Myrtle Beach owner as “a driving range on steroids.” In my opinion, that description massively undersells it.

A photo of my dad outside of Topgolf in Myrtle Beach.

Topgolf is an enormous entertainment center that offers a high tech golfing experience. Customers hit golf balls out onto a 215-yard outfield, aiming to connect with giant targets that will earn them points. All balls have microchips in them to capture information that is relayed back to the customer who hit it. The game is played in an intoxicating atmosphere complete with club, sports bar, and bowling influences.

Okay, enough with my sad summarization of the Topgolf concept. I think I can better explain what it is all about by just telling you about the experience that my dad and I had at the Myrtle Beach location.

Just weeks old, Topgolf Myrtle Beach is in high demand. Sidney and I tried to play on a Saturday night and were faced with a three hour wait. To beat the crowds, my dad and I went on a late Monday afternoon. Not only did we save us the hassle of waiting but we saved money as well. Depending on the day of the week and the time of the day that you go, the hourly rate will fluctuate. For example, if Sid and I waited out the 180 minutes to play on that weekend night, we would have paid $47 for an hour. Since my dad and I played on a weekday afternoon/evening, we paid $35 for an hour. If I didn’t have to work and we went that morning, we would have only paid $25.

The areas where you hit the golf balls are called bays. Each bay is taken care of by a host. Once we were assigned our bay, we took the elevator up to the second deck (oh, wait…I didn’t tell you? Topgolf Myrtle Beach has three different levels) where our host was waiting for us at our bay. She took time to explain the rules and playing options. This was very much appreciated because we were both pretty clueless on how everything worked. After her presentation, we were ready to let a rip!

My silhouette teeing up to play Topgolf.

It was so cool to hit golf balls while elevated above ground. I have always seen multilevel golfing ranges on TV and social media, but never actually played at one. Looking out over the deck and smacking a golf ball is fun! It took my dad and I few rounds to get comfortable with how the game and equipment worked, but the learning curve was short. Before long we were having a blast.

Food and drink is a big draw at Topgolf. People go solely to order off the menu as many creative culinary delights are offered. Although we passed on food, we did order a couple rounds of beer. Served in heavy duty pint glasses, our beers were nice and cold. With the sun shining, good tunes playing, drinks in hand, and a beautiful golfing oasis in front of us, we really couldn’t ask for much more.

It was a picture perfect afternoon for Topgolf when we went to play.

Golf clubs are provided and multiple screens keep score of the game and let you know how much time you have left to play. When you go up to hit a ball, you wave your club in front of a sensor and one is dispensed. Bays are climate controlled so you should never get too hot or too cold. When we were there, the facility was immaculately clean and our host was extremely attentive.

It works like bowling. A frame or round is complete when each player has taken a turn. The game of Topgolf consists of 20 rounds. Because it was just my dad and I playing at our bay, we almost completed two games. I imagine that if a group of four played for an hour, it would translate perfectly to one complete game being played.

My dad ready to let loose on a ball at Topgolf.

After our time ran out, we went inside the second level and finished our beers in the bar area – not that we didn’t have other options. Throughout the three levels, there are multiple lounges and patios to dine. Large built in wall televisions span the entire three levels. It is an impressive setup and a paradise for sports fans.

My dad and I inside Topgolf.

I would describe Topgolf in one word: Atmosphere. While there, you just feel energized and engaged. If you want to do something unique and fun in a great environment, go to Topgolf for your next night out. Don’t Blink.

It has been almost a week since my parents left warm Myrtle Beach to return to, what turned out to be, warm Spokane (perhaps they brought the weather with them?). It was sad for us to see my parents go, and, even though my mom told me before the trip that “We aren’t coming to see you guys, we are coming to see Sloan,” I could tell by her misty eyes that saying goodbye to all three of us was hard.

It was so nice to have my parents in Myrtle Beach with us earlier this month.

My little family had such a great time with “grandma and papa.” Having both my parents for almost an entire week all to ourselves was refreshing and special. They both made sacrifices to travel across the country to be with Sloan on her birthday but they wouldn’t hesitate to say that it was worth it.

For my recap blog post of my parents’ visit, I wanted to list 10 themes from a really great week.

Sloan 24/7 – I knew my parents wanted to spend a lot of time with Sloan. However, I told them to consider taking at least a day to spend by themselves so they could explore Myrtle Beach or at least relax. They wouldn’t have any of it. With the option of letting Sloan spend a couple of hours at daycare to take at least a quick breather, my mom passed on the offer and looked after Sloan every single minute she was in Myrtle Beach.

My mom never let Sloan out of her sight.

Home Cooked Meals – You all know how it is, cooking takes time and energy. It is even more complicated when both adults are following dietary programs. At the urging of my parents (and our appetites), we let them cook us delicious meals while they were here. By the time we were home from work, we had dishes waiting for us such as chicken alfredo and steaks. One night my mom put together a nacho bar for us to enjoy while we all watched “Green Book.” Then, to top it all off, before she left, my mom made her famous lasagna for Sid and I to enjoy later on in the week.

My parents cooked delicious meals for us.

Meals Out on the Town – Even though I would have taken my mom’s cooking all week long, we also went out for some family dinners. We dined at Drunken Jack’s, the restaurant Sidney and I both count as our favorite in the area, on Friday evening. The final night they were in town, we ate at Longhorn Steakhouse, another one of our favorites. I even broke away for lunch one weekday and met my parents at Rotelli, an Italian restaurant in the CCU district. Always on their dime, my parents spoiled us.

A photo of us enjoying dinner at Drunken Jack’s.

Build It and Sloan Will Come – As a joint birthday gift, my parents and Sidney’s parents went in together to buy Sloan a jungle gym for her birthday. Not only did they share the cost of purchasing it, they also shared the labor of putting it together. Sid’s dad, my dad, and Sidney worked long hours on Saturday and Sunday to build it so that it would be ready for Sloan’s birthday party that afternoon. They did an admirable job putting it together, a true showing of teamwork by the grandpas (and by Sidney).

These three worked long and hard to put this together (I was Sid’s assistant).

The Parade – On Saturday morning, my parents and I took Sloan out to North Myrtle Beach for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It is a tradition for my dad to take another one of his granddaughters, Mikayla, to the Spokane St. Patrick’s Day Parade so it was neat that he was able to share the ritual with Sloan.

My dad and Sloan at the North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Lawn and Laundry Service – While Sidney and I worked our jobs during the day, my parents were at our house doing what they could to help us out. My dad mowed the lawn, cleaned out the garage, and tended to other landscaping projects. My mom did laundry, washed dishes, and folded clothes. I guess they never got the memo that they were on vacation.

My parents did a lot around the house for us.

A Night Out for Mommy and Daddy – Sid and I rarely get the chance to go out on date nights. Long before my parents even packed their bags to visit us, they made it clear that the two of us were to go out at least once while they were there. Although we felt a little guilty leaving my parents at our house when we would have been perfectly content just visiting with them, we honored my mom’s orders and hit the town. Sidney and I enjoyed a nice dinner and then went to one of our favorite hangouts afterwards.

While my parents were here, Sid and I got to enjoy a rare night out.

Church as a Family – When we are in Spokane, it is always fun to attend church at St. Thomas More (church that I attended as a child). When my parents are in Myrtle Beach, it is always fun to attend church at St. Andrew. My parents, Sid, Sloan, and I worshipped at the 6:15 p.m. vigil mass on Saturday evening. It was the Transfiguration and the clergy member who baptized Sloan, Deacon Jones, actually delivered the homily! Although Sloan wasn’t on her best behavior, it sure was nice that all of us were together to celebrate the Eucharist during the Lenten season.

My mom and dad returned to the church where Sloan was baptized.

Sloan’s Birthday Party! – The main reason for my parents’ visit took place on Sunday afternoon. On a beautiful St. Patrick’s Day, they got to celebrate Sloan’s birthday at our backyard party. I know Sloan appreciated having all four of her grandparents in attendance. Speaking of those four grandparents, they all worked hard to prepare for the big party. Sid’s mom and my mom ran all sorts of errands on Saturday and they helped decorate the house on Sunday. The grandpas of course put the jungle gym together and then grilled the hot dogs. It could not have turned out more perfect.

A photo of my parents helping to set up for the party.

Waaalks for Daaayys – With beautiful weather during my parents’ time in Myrtle Beach, walks were aplenty. My mom and dad would take Sloan out in her mini pink car or just hold her hand and walk down the street. Whether it was going to the park in the neighborhood or strolling along the Marshwalk in Murrells Inlet, my parents and Sloan were on the move.

Sloan burned lots of calories walking with grandma and papa.

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The best part of my parents visiting us was the love. By love I mean the reciprocity by which it was given by Sloan and my parents. From the moment we picked up Sloan from daycare the afternoon her grandma and papa arrived, there was no mistaking the special bond that exists between them. Sloan was stuck to them the whole time they were here and my mom would make any excuse to spend an extra minute with Sloan (change a diaper, get her from the crib when she barely made a sound, sit in the backseat with her, etc.).

We are missing grandma and papa a lot.

It is sad that they are once again 3,000 miles apart. However, Sloan still calls out for her grandma and papa, she still lights up when they Facetime us, and she still shouts with glee when we point to a picture of them. So, despite the distance, one thing is for sure: The bond is as strong as ever. Don’t Blink.

What’s the word, my friends?! Turns out a Thursday Rundown was in the cards for this week after all. For your reading pleasure, I present this week’s five topics…

St. Patrick’s Day Fun – Because Sloan was born on St. Patrick’s Day, we have to celebrate accordingly, right? People remind us constantly that this will mean something else in about 19 years. But for a 2-year-old, dressing up in green with her daddy and going to the local St. Patty’s Day parade is the wholesome way to do it. We went to North Myrtle Beach and enjoyed the Irish spirit and numerous floats. Sloan was good for the most part and perhaps we might make it a tradition.

Sloan and I prior to leaving for the St. Pat’s parade in North Myrtle Beach.

Changing Offices – A project in the making for about a year recently came to fruition this week. It was determined that it would make sense if all our University Communication media-based services were under one roof. So, the photography department and social media department abandoned Laurel Hall and moved to join video production in Hampton Hall. All of us are excited for this arrangement. We already work so closely together that it feels great to now communicate by walking down the hall as opposed to making a phone call or sending an email. It also makes it much easier on campus constituents who now only need to go one place for their media needs. My office is a work in progress but I hope to spruce it up soon.

I had the wall in the back painted teal! Excited to get my new office set up.

World Down Syndrome Day – Today is World Down Syndrome Day. At Sloan’s daycare, they encouraged the children to participate in the #LotsOfSocks initiative that is associated with the day (you simply wear crazy socks). Whether you wore colorful socks or not, today is a good day to reflect on how we treat people with disabilities. All life is sacred, no matter if we have a physical or mental handicap. In society we need to treat people with disabilities, from the time they are in the womb to the day they die, with accommodation and compassion.

2019 NCAA Tournament – The Big Dance started in earnest today and I am happy to be along for the ride. I no longer watch it as obsessively as I used to, but I still follow it. I will be pulling for Gonzaga and Montana to keep winning until they would play each other in the Elite Eight. This is a great time of the year and I hope plenty of memories are made (although how do you top a #16 seed beating a #1 seed like last year?).

In 2015, I traveled with the Chanticleer men’s basketball team to the NCAA tournament. I won’t be at a site this year, but I hope to watch some of the tournament on TV.

Throwback Photo – I thought I would sneak in a retro photo to end today’s rundown. This is me with my sister. We are having a stuffed animal party, much like the ones Sloan enjoys. I want to say that this might have been prior to a themed day at school based on the book “Teddy Bears’ Picnic.” I wonder if any of those bears in this photo are still around? What do you think, mom?

Chilling with our teddy bears.

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I am looking forward to a quiet weekend. Whether yours is low key or hectic, I hope it is at least enjoyable. I will catch up with you all next week. Don’t Blink.