Debate Before Feast

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Can it be seven years already? Back in November 2017, I offered a plethora of ideas for a particular conundrum. Thanksgiving week and the following week all have numerous “days” that reflect the giving season (High School Reunion At The Bar Wednesday, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, etc.). But what about today? Why doesn’t Thanksgiving Eve Eve have its own day?

Well, I simply didn’t just complain about it. Instead, I offered five creative and (mostly) plausible ideas for how we could observe “the day before the day before.” I am not going to explain each one in excruciating detail like I did seven years ago (just go here) but I did pitch the following: The Day of Apology, Pre-Thanksgiving Movie Day, Dress As A Pilgrim Day, Americana History Day, and Grande Taco Tuesday.

However, as I have grown older and wiser, an additional option for a new day has come to mind. I like to call it Debate Before Feast Day.

I propose that on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we debate.

Over the past several years, I hear more and more about how people dread saddling up to the Thanksgiving table for fear that politics will be brought up. With division seemingly at an all-time high in this country, any political discussion is bound to bring up passionate arguments and perceived insults. Nothing like a seething back-and-forth to ruin a holiday meal, right?

In order to prevent hurt feelings and a possible food fight, I propose Debate Before Feast Day. On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, individuals attending a particular Turkey Day celebration have the option to expel any political thoughts or election analysis with other passionate guests. Participants can jump on a video call and debate until they are blue or red (depending on the color of your political party) in the face.

It would take a little bit of coordination and perhaps a brave soul to moderate the clash, but it shouldn’t be too much work. The idea is that folks can get everything political out of their system so instead of being filled with partisan angst they have more room to fill with turkey and stuffing. People who cringe at the mere mention of “Trump” or “Harris” won’t have to worry about losing their appetite. Well-mannered individuals who couldn’t care less about politics won’t have to worry about refereeing any fist fights. It is simply a win-win-win.

Best of all, after Debate Before Feast Day, perhaps the people with opposing viewpoints had enough time to explain their positions to each other that they come to the Thanksgiving table with a renewed sense of mutual respect.

We might need Debate Before Feast Day more than ever this year. Unfortunately, I don’t know if I am going to get the “official day” declaration within the next couple hours. Oh well, maybe next year! Until then, go ahead and celebrate Dress As A Pilgrim Day. Don’t Blink.

The NyQuil Fraud

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For much of my life, I have suffered from a re-occurring debilitating illness. It knocks me out, cripples my productivity, removes enjoyment from life, and reduces me to a shell of my normal self.

My wife calls it a man cold.

It’s true, Sidney will tell you I become a little dramatic when the common cold afflicts me. However, I maintain that the colds that enter my body are a little more “uncommon” than the typical junk most people deal with. My colds are a little more savage in nature—my eyes water up without notice, my voice takes a hike, I lose all sense of taste, and my poor nose closes up like a Chic-Fil-A on Sunday.

Oh well, I probably shouldn’t waste space by attempting to convince you that my colds are worse than your husband’s. Because aside from my subjective belief that my symptoms are perhaps harsher than those of everyone else, the other reason that made me think my colds packed more of a punch is now debunked.

For years and years, I turned to NyQuil and its generic equivalents to provide some relief when my colds became especially nasty. And despite my positive attitude, hope, and attention to dosage detail, there was always one consistent result when I took these medications: Absolutely NOTHING.

Besides knock me out if I ever took the night time version, NyQuil never did a thing for me. Glad that it is now being held accountable.

If only I had a dime for each time I complained to Sid that these cold medicines did ZILCH to improve my condition I would be a rich man. Despite my anger that these over-the-counter options failed to even make a single iota of improvement in my symptoms, I would still turn to them every now and then. These are the industry standards, I thought, perhaps this time they will make a difference.

They never did.

In the past few years, I had come resigned to the fact that when I get a cold, the only effective/worthwhile medicine (at least in my case) was just time. My best option was to just take it on the chin and hope I felt better in a week. Oral cold medicine simply did not work for me.

Last week, I received some vindication along with the reality that I wasn’t the only one immune to oral cold medicines. The Food and Drug Administration has proposed completely ceasing the sale of medicines like NyQuil, Benadryl, Sudafed PE and others. Why? Because the active ingredient in these substances, oral phenylephrine, simply doesn’t work. The FDA is accepting the years and years of research from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy that says NyQuil can’t stop a cold any better than placebo pills can.

That is a big deal. For as long as I have been alive, NyQuil was the industry standard for combating a stuffy nose. Even though it never worked for me, I thought I was an anomaly. Not so. People have been shooting this stuff back for decades thinking it would help them. Anyone else mad?

Some pharmacies aren’t even waiting for the FDA’s proposal process to play out, they are simply yanking the products off their shelves right now. Good for them! For those who are still supplying it, the clock is ticking. Within six months, he FDA is expected to declare that oral phenylephrine is a fraud and demand that it be removed from all shelves in the country.

Although I have already moved on from giving chances to NyQuil, I am pleased that others won’t have to experiment with it. Get it off the shelves and let’s stop lying to people. Don’t Blink.

Turkey Preview Thursday Rundown

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It is the last Thursday Rundown of November! Next Thursday is Thanksgiving so please forgive me as I watch football and eat pumpkin pie instead of tapping away on these keys. If it is any consolation, I will try and make this rundown good enough to hold you off until the next one publishes in two weeks…

Turkey Bingo – One of the most entertaining Catholic staples is turkey bingo. As I have written about before, many parishes will host November bingo gatherings with turkeys up for grabs. Our version at St. Mary (hosted by my Knight’s Of Columbus council) was held this past Sunday. Even though we didn’t win, we had a great time with friends. We will try to avenge our defeat this weekend when we attend the turkey bingo event at my parents’ parish 😂.

Our crew playing Turkey Bingo at St. Mary in the Spokane Valley.

It’s Peecan Pie, Not Pecaaan Pie – As we approach pie season, just a friendly reminder on how to correctly pronounce “pecan.” To use phonics that I think describe it better than the photo below, it is PEE-CAN, not PEE-CON. Of course, I write this in jest. I hope readers pronounce words the way they prefer. However, “pecan” is a funny story because I changed the way I pronounce it based on the relationship with my wife. She explained that “pecan” should be pronounced the way it sounds and not the western way I had employed for 25 years. I agreed with her 😉.

I took a screenshot of this the moment I saw it on social media.

Hot Chocolate Bombs – On this date four years ago, I tried a hot chocolate bomb for the first time. Although they were a TikTok fad and I had a fun time “activating” the “bomb,” the taste was disappointing. Even though I like hot chocolate that isn’t overly chocolately, the bomb produced a cup of cocoa that lacked in flavor. After I let the disappointment run its course, I wrote a detailed blog post nine days later about my experience.

The hot chocolate bombs I bought in 2020 at the Garland Mercantile.

Tropicana Bottle Change – There is a viral uproar over Tropicana changing the design of its orange juice bottle. The brand switched out its carafe distinctive bottle shape and crown bottle cap with something much more generic. Feedback from fans of the old bottle is that the carafe design seemed to convey the notion of fresh squeezed orange juice a sense of uniqueness. Tropicana responded by saying the new design is more eco-friendly and that it is easier to pour. Okay, I thought, both sides have good points. But then I learned something that tilted my support to the everyday fan: the new bottle contains less juice (four ounces) than the old bottle. Nothing gets me angrier than shrinkflation disguised as a re-design!

The old Tropicana bottle (left) vs. the new Tropicana bottle (right).

Hot Frosty – Netflix has gone all-in on Christmas movies while shamelessly duplicating Hallmark’s sappy formula. It’s recent foray into the holiday space is “Hot Frosty,” a film that reached #1 on Netflix’s top movies. A brief synopsis? A snowman comes to life and becomes the love interest of a young widow. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy watching a super corny Christmas movie with my wife, but “Hot Frosty” was just too unrealistic, elementary, and cringy for me.

Even though it received good reviews, I didn’t like “Hot Frosty.”

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Thanks so much for reading! Remember, start fasting now for the feast next Thursday. Don’t Blink.

You Call That Unhealthy?!

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News dropped last week that Lunchables will no longer be part of the USDA National School Lunch Program. Kraft Heinz faced major backlash earlier in 2024 for the questionable nutritional value of Lunchables and the brand never recovered.

I can take or leave Lunchables. They are clutch when I don’t have time to pack my kids’ lunches and I personally think they taste okay myself. But the high sodium content just doesn’t fly in school cafeterias these days.

With that said, I kind of have to laugh. Back in the day at my high school, “high sodium content” would have been the least of the USDA’s concerns.

Back in 2016, I visited Sidney for lunch at the elementary school she taught at. This meal was more nutritious than the ones I was eating 11 years earlier in high school.

We were well-fed at Mead High School. And by “well-fed” I mean we were served all the greasy, fatty foods our digestive systems could handle.

For those of us who took hot lunch, there was plenty to choose from. A specialty item was offered each day but if you weren’t feeling adventurous you could opt for the standard lineup of classics: pizza slice, pizza pocket, corn dog, hamburger, or chicken burger.

You chose whatever calorie-laden American classic you wanted and the kitchen staff placed it in a large paper serving boat. You then took your boat down the line to choose your “potato item.” This was the euphemism our school district used for whatever fried side you wanted—french fries, tater tots, hash brown wedges, etc. And when you selected your “potato item,” you weren’t going to go hungry. The staff would fill your boat with a serving size similar to the fry quantity you receive at Five Guys (I am talking filled to the brim, almost overflowing). You would then choose a piece of fruit, help yourself to whatever dessert was offered that day, and then top it off with a couple cartons of chocolate milk.

Our school also had a period mid-morning called BIP which was short for Break In Program. It was basically 10 minutes for students and staff to take a moment after second period to re-charge. It was also a time to re-fuel as well. Greasy breakfast sandwiches and giant baked cookies were top-sellers. The student store sold candy, soda, popcorn, and more. We also had a coffee shop (the Panther Perk) that offered all the sugary drinks any high school student could possibly desire.

It is incredible that my entire high school class hasn’t died from obesity.

Farewell, Lunchables. Back in my day you would have been considered a health food. Don’t Blink.

School Photo Hassle

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Growing up, there was a two-word phrase that instilled instant dread: picture day.

Dressing up, waiting in line, sitting on the stool, and listening to the photographer’s commands just wasn’t something that appealed to me. However, looking back on that “hassle” I went through from kindergarten though my senior year of high school doesn’t seem that bad anymore.

My mom did a nice job ordering and keeping our prints from all the individual picture days my siblings and I were photographed for throughout the years. When I go back and look at them now, I am grateful for her due diligence.

Don’t get me wrong, most of my portraits from K-12 are hideous. Whether it was me as a pudgy sixth grader or a long-haired junior in high school, I certainly didn’t give the photographer much to work with. But I can look past the lackluster exterior of the photo and indulge myself in the story behind it. What I mean by this is that each photo takes me back to the teacher, classroom, and state-of-mind I was in at the time. The feelings, smells, current events, and memories come back and that is pretty cool.

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

Picture day is still relatively the same for Sloan and Beau as it was for me years ago. They still have to wait their turn, pose for the photo, and take direction from the photographer. I tell them the same thing about their school photos as I do about the pictures I take of them at holidays/special events: you will appreciate them one day.

Sloan’s official second grade photo.

The one thing different from 2024 photo day vs. 1994 photo day? The ordering process is easy! I just have to pay for the digital image.

Beau’s official Pre-K4 school photo.

To all the photographers who make a living taking individual photos at schools, thank you! You truly are capturing moments that will one day be cherished, even if the subjects don’t know it at the time. Don’t Blink.

Too Dark, Too Early Thursday Rundown

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Okay everyone, hang in there! Just two weeks until Thanksgiving. As you start to daydream about turkey and football, let me present my latest Thursday Rundown…

Half and Half – I saw this genius compromise this past weekend at Fred Meyer. It is a pie that is half pumpkin and half pecan—truly the best of both worlds. Although I do skew pumpkin (after all, it is my documented all-time favorite Thanksgiving dessert), I will rarely say “no” to a slice of pecan.

I encountered this pie at Fred Meyer.

November Calendar – We are in the middle of November so I thought I would share this pretty sarcastic but also accurate calendar. Now this first came to my attention three years ago so that explains why it is dated in 2021, but you get the idea. I always laugh at the four days devoted to “complain about how it gets dark so early” because that is totally me!

Can anyone relate? 😂

The Visual – As a major nerd when it comes to the U.S. Presidency, I am always intrigued when the president meets the president-elect in the White House. To see the current Oval Office occupant welcome the future occupant is such a meaningful and touching display of unity. Unfortunately we didn’t witness this special moment four years ago, but when it happened eight years ago I was downright giddy as well. Kudos to President Biden for extending an invite to President-elect Trump.

It was cool to see Trump and Biden together.

Movies I Can Watch Twice – Three years ago, I added three films to my infamous list of movies I can watch more than once. “Moneyball,” “Christmas Vacation,” and “Anger Management” joined five other films I listed all the way back in 2011 (“Varsity Blues,” “Goodfellas,” “Shawshank Redemption,” “Rudy,” and “Forrest Gump”). I thought long and hard about whether I need to add more movies to the list and I think the answer is not yet. However, I can reveal that two films—both Adam Sandler movies—are under consideration: “Uncut Gems” and “Hubie Halloween.”

Acting, script, score….it is all so good. I can watch “Moneyball” over and over.

P.F. Chang’s – The photo you see below was taken 13 years ago on this date at the P.F. Chang’s restaurant in downtown Spokane. Starting from when the Spokane location opened in 2006, there was a period of about 10 years when this was a go-to spot for special family dinners when all us siblings happened to be in town. The five of us “original” Resers would each order a dish and then share it family-style with everyone else (read my blog post from 2013 for more detail). Additionally, an appetizer order of lettuce wraps was mandatory. I can confidently say that I never had a bad meal at P.F. Chang’s. After several years away, I think I need to take my own family there one of these days.

My family loving life at P.F. Chang’s in November of 2011.

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Thanks for your time tonight! Hope your weekend is stupendous and I will look forward to catching up next week. Don’t Blink.

Our 5 Best Trampoline Park Inventions

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Sloan has been learning about (and creating her own) inventions at school. Her enthusiasm for the subject has extended beyond the classroom. Case in point, Sloan and I now brainstorm wacky inventions in the car. For example, Sloan might say “movie theater” or “kitchen” and we will then pitch inventions that could improve the movie theater or kitchen experience. Most of them are totally impossible but it gets our creative juices flowing and helps pass the time on car trips to/from grandma’s.

Just yesterday, the prompt of trampoline parks was brought up. This one seemed especially fun to invent for as we love trampoline parks but see some areas for improvement. Here are five of the “inventions” we came up with… 

Who is ready for a battle?! Well, you won’t get that here. Sloan and I just have some wacky trampoline park inventions to share with you.

Reversible Socks – Such a pain to remember, bring, and change socks once you arrive at the trampoline park, right? Our invention is to create a type of reversible sock that serves as an everyday regular sock on one side and a trampoline park-compliant sock on the other side.

Wrist Band Entry – I get so frustrated when we go to the trampoline park and it seems like the last thing Beau wants to do is jump. Instead, he runs to the arcade or loiters around the concession stand. Our idea is to create a wrist band that is loaded with different access permissions. For example, some wrist bands would allow kids to enter all zones that include the actual trampoline park, arcade, and concessions. The band that would be around my son’s wrist would only allow him into the trampoline park. As most of these facilities have open floor plans, some type of invisible force field would need to exist to enforce the different boundaries but you get the idea.

Scented Foam Blocks – All trampoline parks boast large foam pits that you can dive into (good luck getting out if you are my age). These foam areas are comprised of large foam blocks. As you can imagine, because of extensive use from people of all ages who are working up a sweat, the blocks don’t always smell great. How innovative would it be to make the blocks scented with odor-blocking technology? Each establishment could have its own signature scents. For example, at Flying Squirrel you might jump into a pit with buttered popcorn and Dr. Pepper-scented blocks while at Altitude you might dive into a pit with wild cherry and grapefruit-scented blocks.

Child Tracker – When we go to the trampoline park, I can let Sloan run wild. However, Beau is still at the age where I need to keep a close eye on him. But to be honest, sometimes I wish I could just sink into one of the chairs and not lift a finger. I propose an invention that would come in the form of an app or tracker device that a trampoline park employee would give parents upon entry. It would report exactly where your child was in the facility, asses whether they were being a bother to others, and determine if they were injured/bleeding. The app or device would sound an alarm if you needed to get off your butt and attend to your poor kid.

Courage Pills – Sloan’s nemesis at one particular trampoline park is a zip line that requires you to climb a wall before taking off. There might have been an instance in the past when Sloan froze once getting to the top. It was because of this experience that she suggested a pill you could take to calm your fears. Upon swallowing the capsule, you would have all the courage you need to kick off that wall and fly down the zip line. Obviously she doesn’t know about anti-anxiety pills that already exist or my personal favorite fear-reducer…beer.

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Who else wants to apply for a patent? Let Sloan and me know your wildest trampoline park inventions. Don’t Blink.

Roller Coaster: A Reflection on the 2024 Presidential Election

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Roller coaster. That’s the best way I can describe the 2024 Presidential Election.

I started following the race in earnest on June 27, 2024. On this particular evening, I sat down with my dad at my parents’ home and watched the Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump debate. It was my belief that prior to this encounter, the election was Biden’s to lose. But it was apparent from the beginning that something was off with the President that night. My dad and I swapped confused glances throughout the 90-minute back-and-forth. Trump might have a chance, I thought.

Then a couple weeks later, Trump was nearly killed on live television. From my standpoint as a human being, the incident rattled me. No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, it was tough not to admire the way Trump reacted and carried himself as the Secret Service agents brought him to his feet. A couple days later, the former President appeared in Milwaukee at the Republican National Convention. People tuned in and saw a man still committed to leading the country despite nearly losing his life. There was no doubt about it, Trump had seized momentum.

Several days later, Biden stepped down from his re-election bid. He endorsed Kamala Harris in his place and immediately the Democratic Party was injected with a major dose of energy. Seemingly overnight, the Vice President was now the front runner.

In August and September, the momentum seemed to be with Kamala Harris. She bested Trump in a debate and it looked like Harris would just have to run out the clock to become the 47th President.

But in October, the tide shifted. A masterful debate performance by J.D. Vance against Tim Walz and continued negative campaigning by Vice President Harris changed the scope of the race. Suddenly, Donald Trump seemed to ascend to the top of the polls. Could #45 also become #47?

Then it happened again. Toward the end of October and into the beginning of November, Kamala gained the upper hand. An ill-advised joke at a Trump rally and criticism from his ex-cabinet members closed whatever gap Trump maintained throughout most of October. On the eve of Election Day, Nate Silver proclaimed that more simulations favored Vice President Harris.

When polls started to close last Tuesday, exit polls pointed to an interesting result: most people claimed that the issue most important to them was democracy. This was interpreted as good news for Harris and most talking heads assumed it would be a long night for Trump.

But then the improbable happened. When votes came in, they leaned red. Well, no, they didn’t just lean red—they overwhelmingly shined Republican red. The understanding that it would probably take until the weekend to declare a President-elect turned out to be a farce. In a landslide, Donald Trump was projected as the 47th President of the United States on Election Night.

President-elect Trump won in a landslide, securing victory in all battleground states.

What happened?

Well, as a non-partisan blogger I don’t have anything passionate to write about one way or the other. But I think I can point out a few reasons for why we saw the result that we did.

– Once again, polls overwhelmingly underestimated the support of President-elect Trump. Despite promises from pollsters that 2024 polls accounted for errors of the past, that wasn’t the case.

– We were fed a narrative by the media that wasn’t true. It was proclaimed on most networks that Vice President Harris was running a campaign of joy and that Trump’s message of anger/concern wasn’t resonating.

– It was assumed that pop culture would catapult Harris to the presidency. She had Beyonce and Springsteen along with legions of young voters who would carry her to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

As political scientists breakdown what happened last week, the verdict seems to be this: Americans are more concerned about the economy and immigration than the platform that Harris championed. Also, people feel burned and slighted from the past four years and want change.

So where do we go from here? Well, we need to come together. President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect Vance, and their supporters need to be gracious in victory and help our country heal. President Biden and Vice President Harris have admirably stated that the people have spoken and they will honor their choice. The bickering and finger-pointing between Democrats about who to blame for the devastating defeat needs to cool down. We all need to be kind human beings and respect those who don’t agree with us.

Moving forward, I will reiterate what I have said all along. Let’s pray for the safety of our elected leaders—both current and future. God Bless America. Don’t Blink.

Mindy Thursday Rundown

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Good evening, everyone! I think it is about time for another Thursday Rundown. Let’s get going with tonight’s five topics…

I Voted Sticker – On Election Night, Sloan made one of her homemade stickers for me. However, this particular sticker wasn’t a flower or smiley face—it was an “I Voted” design. She put it on me and flashed a big smile. Her creativity, thoughtfulness, and recognition of the evening’s significance made me feel some type of way. I wore that sticker proudly all night.

Sloan made this sticker for me and I wore it proudly.

Best Halloween Costume – Can you believe Halloween was just a week ago? With the election, a busy week at work, daylight savings, and more, it seems like a distant memory. But I can’t completely forget about Halloween without recognizing my brother’s costume. Glen dressed up as Blippi and totally nailed it! He didn’t just have the look, he had the vibe. We unleashed Glen to pass out candy at my parents’ house and he stayed in-character the entire time as he delighted kids—young and old—throughout the night. It was quite spectacular.

Me hanging out with Blip—I mean my brother 😂.

Trick-Or-Treater Count – While we are on the topic of the Halloween that seemed ages ago, let me announce a record-breaking night of trick-or-treaters at my parents’ house. Last Thursday, 318 young candy-seekers rang the doorbell! That surpassed the 292 trick-or-treaters from last year and the 275 trick-or-treaters from 2022. Was it Blippi that helped smash the record? Perhaps, but I think it was the larger supply of candy that allowed my mom and dad to keep the lights on longer and serve more trick-or-treaters.

The tally sheet of trick-or-treaters from the Tom and Mary Reser household. 😱

Mindy Kaling Book – Every now and then I like to share the children’s biography books we read to Sloan and Beau. Well, I want to share one I read—wait, one that SIDNEY read—this week. If you have ever watched “The Office” or “The Mindy Project,” you might know about Kaling, an Indian actress/comedian/author/extremely talented individual. On Monday night, Sid read “Little People, Big Dreams: Mindy Kaling.” This was a special book for my wife to read because Kaling brought a lot of joy to my wife in her young adult years. She watched Mindy’s show and read her books. In fact, her fandom of Kaling rubbed off on me. Even before “Big Brother,” the show that Sidney and I bonded over during our early days of dating was “The Mindy Project.” It was nice to teach Sloan about Mindy Kaling while also describing the role she played in our relationship.

Sidney read “Little People, Big Dreams: Mindy Kaling” to Sloan and Beau.

Pumpkin Disposal – A thought went through my head this morning: What must the trash day after the Halloween holiday be like for garbage employees? They would most likely have seven different days after Oct. 31 where households on their specific routes are disposing of jack-o-lanterns, much like my family was today. How fitting would it be if the crews blasted music from the Smashing Pumpkins for the entire post-Halloween week? Sorry for the dad joke.

Photo of our pumpkins before we threw them away this morning.

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That will do it for tonight. Renewing my call from Tuesday, be kind to those around you, especially those with different political affiliations. Don’t Blink.

Nice To Meet You, Swoop!

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Part of my interview process at Eastern Washington University was to deliver a presentation that outlined a comprehensive marketing strategy. Before I dove too deep, I wanted to give my future colleagues some background on why I enjoy working in higher education so much.

I told them it was because of the mascots.

I’m dead serious. And, yes, they still hired me 😂.

To be honest, I also told them a couple other reasons why I like higher ed, but I did show slides that showed me with furry friends from past jobs. I then told my audience that I really wanted to meet Swoop. Guess what? This past weekend, it happened.

But before we get to Swoop, I need to recognize my other homies.

I was introduced to the insane world of intercollegiate mascots at the University of Montana with Monte. In fact, I was very hands-on with UM’s grizzly bear since one of my responsibilities was to serve as the mascot coordinator. I wrote about that experience in-depth just a couple months ago.

Monte and I at the 2012 NCAA Tournament

When I moved east to work at Coastal Carolina University, it didn’t take long until I met Chauncey the Chanticleer. What is a Chanticleer, you might ask? It is a proud and fierce rooster made famous in The Canterbury Tales.

Chauncey welcomed me to CCU with open arms.

Whereas I met Chauncey relatively quickly at CCU, it took longer into my tenure at Washington State University to rub elbows with Butch. Although I had met him several times as a young fan in the 1990s, I didn’t grab a photo with him in my working capacity until a few months before I left WSU.

I met Butch on the job but I also met him at a wedding. 

Thank goodness I didn’t have to wait long to meet Swoop. This past weekend Sidney and spent a minute with him at the EWU vs. Montana State football game. He came over to where we were sitting in the Endzone Club and made our day.

Sidney and I met Swoop this past weekend.

Lucky for me, that won’t be the last of my dealings with Swoop. We get to work together tomorrow (more on this down the road) and I can’t wait. Mascots rule! Don’t Blink.