Regular Dad

Do You Want To Have Some Pancakes?

Summer Vacation is over!!  But...was this a return to the disasterous last trip to OCMD, or have things improved.  Did we have a relaxing double-trip?  Did I continue my reign of terror on the minigolf pitch?  Is my wife "secretly" trying to off me and collect on my life insurance policy?  
I have finally brought closure to the Pancake v waffle v french toast debate.  It's a simple question once you reframe it correctly.  Kinda like graphing something by frequency instead of time.  Suddenly it all makes sense.  
Rowan's Creek out of the Willett distillery.  Does the juice live up to the price and the fancy label?  
Enjoy!

Hmmm...Cheeseburger or Ride Home?

Another grind of a week, all of my own doing.  Almost screwed up a party pick-up, and just couldn't keep my focus all week.  Doesn't help having a middle schooler to shuttle around.
This week has been giving fall.  Even though it's not fall.  False fall.  But it's got my chomping at the bit for some real football.  
Barrell Seagrass.  Superb summer sipper?  Overhyped marketing gimmick?  Let's pop the cork (again) and find out.
And I guess I have a grievence this week.  But not really.  More of a kinda annoyance.  I don't know, just let me start summer vacation already.
Enjoy!

Is It Really a Sport if There's No Defense?

The minivan already didn't have a cool horn, didn't have a cool paint job, and now it's also NOT ramped over a flat-bed!  Could it BE any more lame?
Thanks to my "friend" Bill, I got roiled into another debate over what is and isn't a sport.  But this actually brought some clarity to my stance.  
Myles's Bar Mitzvah festivities are officially over.  We had a great night at the Union game.  Duncan celebrated shirtless, I made up a new food (that I later regretted), many kid-sized capes (some call them flags) were acquired.  
I won the rights to purchase a bottle of Found North HellDiver 2025.  So we'll review it.  Was it worth the wait (and cost)?  
Enjoy!

But Do We All Have the Same Brake Light Recall

Even though it turned out to be a very busy, almost chaotic, weekend, I'm oddly content right now.  Even today as I post this, I feel weirdly mentally and physically healthy.  Don't worry, I'll take care of at least 1 of those tonight...
Barrell Bourbon is up for review.  Batch 37.  Some really old components in this blend.  Is it older and wiser, or should it be put out to pasture?
Ah yes, the fun of ignoring minor recalls on a car.  That never comes back to bite you in the ass, right?  I mean, how could something so superficial wreck a week?
And then boy do I have a bone to pick with certain categories of influencers.  Seems I hit my own nerve on this one.  Really letting the anger flow through me.
Enjoy!

Pouring Out an Olde Style for Ryno

It's a somber day in Wrigleyville, as we learned of the passing of baseball legend Ryne Sandberg.  A consumate Cub and just great guy in general, he lost his battle with prostate cancer last week.  
And since we're talking sports, I touch on a slightly older story; Scottie Schaeffler doesn't really get any joy from winning tournaments.  You know why?  Because golf isn't a sport and it's just another weekend for him.  
Pursuit United dropped a distillery only release with their Cognac Cask Finished Rye.  Is this a must buy or pass by?  
Then we clear the decks of random topics that didn't make it before.  
Enjoy!

The Boys Are Back in Town

The kids hath returned from sleepaway camp.  And that was a pretty hard transition to go from 4 weeks of peace and freedom to immediately back into the mixer.  Might need to plan that better next year.
I hate to say it, but I think more people need friends like mine.  Friends that love to challenge anything and everything and require proof before they'll believe something.  
I'm sure it'll come as a surprise to no one, but this administration dropped yet another policy that at a really high level seems like an okay move, but when you dive into it, seems more like shadow racism/elitism.  
Rare Character is up for their first review!  Did Chade pick a good barrel?  Or does he live down our opinion of him?
Want to hear me rant about the drivers in our neighborhood again?  Well too bad because that's what I'm doing.  
Enjoy!

They Might be Losers, But They are NOT Loveable

Our sleep-away camp experiece is down to its last week.  It's been a fun journey for everyone.  Which is great.  
My favorite social media starlet had a book signing!  Dr. Karen Tang, OBGyn superstar, had her book published in paperback and did a little signing, Q&A session at a local bookstore. 
Of all the parts of this new bill, I talked to someone who pulled a very odd choice to complain about.  Which makes me wonder if it was just an awkward unfortunate situation, or if that was the only part of the bill that he didn't like.  
I hate to compare MAGA hard-liners with 90s-2000s Cubs fans, but when you break it down it's giving a very similar energy.  So now grown-up me is getting a look at what it must have been like talking to high school me about the Cubs.  
Enjoy!

I Own the Poltergeist House, And It Listens to Grok

It turns out homeownership is just a game of discovering ever more circles of hell.  At least for those of us that don't just throw money at the problem and try to do the work ourselves.  You think there's only 7 circles?  Ha!!  I've found 7 in plumbing alone.  This week's installment is a little thing called Garage Door Maintenance.  I give it 2/10; don't recommend. 
However what is predictable, is Elon's AI chatbot going off the rails after he (and the far-right community) didn't like the answers it was giving.  I don't know what source material they fed it, but it sure was angry.  Spoiler alert, AI isn't a grown-ass adult with it's own life experiences.  It's just whatever you train it to be.  Stop f'n trusting them. 
I review Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 2025.  Does this year's installment put me in a happier mood, or did I just buy a new cookin' whiskey?
Finally, y'all get an update on the status of my lumbar spine and my de-fattening.  I know, super awesome topics. 
Enjoy! 

Happy Birthday, America!

Definitely not the proudest birthday for America this year, but it's a birthday none the less.  I'm still going to celebrate and keep my spirits and future optimism high. 
Kids are loving sleep-away camp AND Duncan made the call to stay for the full 4 weeks!  Expected, but still great to confirm it.  
For the first time in a great many years, Hayley came out to see me play real hockey.  Not just charity pick-up or work tournament games.  But actual c-division beer league in all it's glory.  
I've heard some pretty gnarly things yelled at players from the Wrigley bleachers, but a recent fan incident more than beats all of it.  People today have just lost all sense of limits and respect for their fellow humans.  
Enjoy!

There Were Only Festive Rainbows Last Weekend

The time has finally arrived!  For at least the next 1.5 weeks, we're temporary empty nesters!  And maybe for a full almost 4 weeks.  It's a weird feeling.  Editing and getting this pushed out on a weeknight?  That never happens!  I have like, 2 extra hours on a work day to accomplish things. 
I got so rambly last week in the Bar Mitzvah talk that I forgot to mention a couple thoughts about our Temple.  Mainly the difference b/t an open and inclusive place of worship and a Catholic church.  
We do another Blind sample review!  Do I also friggin' nail it like I did with the Dad's Hat?  Or do I completely bomb it and sound like a moron?  
And boy oh boy was it a weekend.  Many lessons were learned.  Many past mistakes were brazenly highlighted.  But I perservered and was also able to assert my masculinity.  Always important to do to maintain my place in the neighborhood.  
Enjoy!