Regular Dad

We Have Survived Valley de Muerte

Spring Break hath Sprung!  Or it did sprung.  Springed?  Whatever.  We had a very good trip to see Death Valley and Joshua Tree national parks.  Luckily we only caught the tail end of that west coast heat wave.  But hiking in the Valley of Death when it's 90s is still freaking hot.  
And that's really it.  I mean, we saw 2 awesome national parks that have amazing terrain that beats everything we have out east.  So I guess I should just stop typing and click "Publish Now".
Enjoy!

Monday Walked Me Right Down

My ode to Friday:  It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times.  Some real highs and low in that day.  Which, as is typical, lead to a very sluggish Saturday morning.  But we rallied and had a great rest of the weekend.  
Who wants to hear an old story from my Purdue days that really has no meaning excpet for making me laugh?  Nice.  
I've got a recommendation.  Which is more of a reminder.  So a reminderation.  
Enjoy!

Can I Play With Madness?!

Once again we're back in a cycle of introspection.  Sure it's healthy and all, but it's not a process that's enjoyable.  At least future me will once again be better for it.
And if that wasn't enough, the kids took their fort building (in the rich neighborhood's field) too far and now people are pissed.  I told them not to steal fence rails, but did they listen?  Nooooo.
March Madness is here!  Of course now I know my bracket is hot garbage, but as of recording I was still full of hope of being at least competitive in my various groups.  Oops. 
Did I get myself a big-boy bottle of whiskey?  Have I really started making connections in this world?  Was Michter's 10-year rye worth the cost and arrangements?  (Spoiler alert - it was).
Enjoy!

One Baking Battle After Another

It's Pi Day!!  A glorious excuse to bake, and proceed to eat most of, a pie.  Because of family duties I couldn't buy my preferred filling, but obviously I have enough supplies on hand for 1 good pie.  
I jumped the gun a bit in my comments on One Battle After Another winning awards.  I don't watch the shows or particularly care who does or doesn't win anything.  But my review (aka grievance) is legit.  
Myles and his GF tried their hand at baking some cookies here last weekend.  It was a nice learning experience.  No one got sick and no one ate too many cookies.  We'll leave it at that. 
Enjoy!

Which Has a Bigger Hole? My Tire or Jurassic Park Ocho?

Another week, another combination of misjudgements and misfortune on my part.  No, they weren't technically related, but they did happen at the same time.  It's not easy to get pretty much everyone in the house annoyed/mad at me.  Except the dog; she loves me unconditionally.
It's spring and I'm once again proclaiming that I'll reclaim my claim to the basement.  It's off to a slow start, but I'll pick up momentum soon.
I'm doing a big-boy blind bourbon challenge.  And after 1 round I'm doing quite admirably.  2 rounds to go and if I keep this up I might be crowned champion. 
Speaking of bourbon, we review a recent Bookers batch that I was gifted.  But was it a good gift?  
Jurassic Park Ocho.  At least I think it's ocho, not sure what they're up to.  Either way, we need to talk about the opening 45 minutes.  I'm not saying it's bad, but I'd rather dig for west African lilac in a triceratop's droppings than watch that again.
Enjoy!

I've Got A Load You Can Manage

Another exhausting week of too many activities and not enough sleep.  Mostly driven by a desire to ski super early on Sunday and then play hockey Monday like normal.  
Trump and Israel have become unlikely bedfellows in a new war in the middle east.  For all the anti-semitism he and his followers bring, he doesn't hate their military prowess in the region.  
The NBA might finally be having a reckoning for their stars continued usage of "load management".  I can't play back-to-back nights or I might be tired in 3 months!  Please.
And the olympics are unexpectedly over for me.  Somehow I didn't see it coming, even though all the signs were there.  All weekend.  And the schedule is published months in advance.  
Enjoy!

I'd Win a Gold Medal if Being Average Was an Event

I'm 100% in on the winter olympics.  I've been loving every day so far.  Skiing, curling, luge, bobsled, biathelon, all excellent and hugely enjoyable to watch.  Am I now a winter over summer olympic guy?!
A strange sense of contentment has come over me this week.  It hasn't been an easy week, and nothing noteably good has happened.  So maybe something really good is finally happening.  Or it's a fluke.  
RJK Jr and Kid Rock dropped what may be the douchiest "workout" video of all time.  I'm still not sure how to process it.  So yeah, I've got a grievance with them for putting that into my brain. 
Enjoy
 

Monday Monday, Can't Trust That Day

My Monday started off on the wrong foot, briefly improved when I played Shinny, and then steadily went downhill.  Ending with me bleeding and wondering if I broke my f'n thumb (still inconclusive).  
But I think I know what's going on with the chimney.  I could be wrong, but my theory makes a lot of sense.  Not sure exactly how we fix it, but I'm sure a pro will know.
I'm sure you've been waiting with bated breath to hear my opinion of the SuperBowl halftime show.  Listen and learn (and probably think less of me).  
And what would a SuperBowl be without old heads like me complaining about how all the commercials suck.  Cause they do.  Kids/teens today are getting robbed of a cultural phenomenon .  
Enjoy!

My Chimney is Giving Bad Karma

It may come as a shock, but I do actually believe in a version of karma.  Kind of a...midwestern karma.  Like, be cool and happy and people will return that same energy.  
I got me some more Driftless Glen.  But is it still worth hauling it back from Chicago?  
And my chimney issues are continuing.  There's a cold backdraft coming back in the water heater flue.  Which prevents those from venting properly and sucks fireplace smoke into the basement.  Buy a house they said.  It's awesome they said.
Enjoy!

I Guess the Real Storm Fell Out of Hyperspace, too.

We have survived what became a disappointing snowstorm.  Err, I mean, 8" is a HUGE amount.  Of snow.  Delivered in one night.  Totally wasn't hoping for more.  
I've got our BWCA permit for this summer.  Did my big-boy thing and scored the exact permit I wanted.  Next up, planning details. 
Middle West Spirits Michelone Reserve Bourbon.  Over-hyped like everything else coming out of Ohio, or a solid pour?
And oh, I've got a grievance.  A stupid one, too.  And I'm starting to pile up several against a certain franchise for a variety of reasons.  
Enjoy!