Regular Dad

That title might be over-stating it a bit, but I realized in editing that I reference wizards twice.  So it must be a sign.   Anyways, I feel like I'm magically back to full power again.  Or at least as full power as I can get.  I'm motivated, I have energy, ready to take on everything and crush it this summer.  Which is good, because it was a full weekend.  Wizards bball, soccer tournaments, baseball games, hebrew names, definitely no time for love for Dr. Jones.   But we got some awful news from our good friends.  They had a terrible choice to make last weekend with their dog.  But we're here for them and we'll help them through it.   Enjoy!

Another fantastic Boys Baseball Weekend in the books.  Now hopefully I didn't really dive into the history of these trips last year, because that's what I'm doing again.  If I did, well there's probably different flavors this time around.  We golfed, we pickelballed, we day drank, we baseballed.  We had multiple first-time-for-thats.  And really, there was a clear loser both times.  Huh.   And I just realized that I've also missed a week.  Didn't mean to do that.  But I traveled from Thursday-Sunday, and I'd normally record in that window.  And I just wasn't aware enough to cut the episode monday and rush it out.  Whatever, I'm sure the week I missed wasn't anything to talk home about.  Enjoy!

Remember a couple weeks ago when I woke up Monday and felt super happy and energetic and positive?  Then the day just slowly wore me down to normal?  Yeah, this was like that, except it was an entire week.  And it didn't wear me down slowly.  I strolled into the room all happy and post-vacationy and just took a sock full of quarters to the face.  And nuts.   Whiskey review!  aka The Bit That Never Ends!  A quasi-unique offering from Heaven Hill is up this time.  What brand is it and how did it do?  That's really all I got.   Enjoy!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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'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  

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!

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!

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!

Sorry I missed a week, but things went pretty sideways last week and I just couldn't get it done.   Big news, our 5yo goldendoodle was diagnosed with Addison's disease.  And it came on with really no warning.  Couple days of worrying, night at the doggie ER, but we're back to normal now.  A normal that involves a life of hormone replacements.   Pop quiz, at my age, do you think a 2-day span that goes skiing-Bears-Hockey-skiing-hockey is a good idea?  No.  No it's not.  I felt like luke-warm ass on Tuesday.  But at least I didn't pee behind a dumpster.   Enjoy!

Yep, that was one of my more douchey titles, but I'm really fighting to not think about the Bears game and therefore have less brainpower than normal for everything else.   2025 will go down as a successful year.  Was it the year I hoped to have?  Not quite.  But I do feel like I moved the needle in a positive direction on almost everything.  High Wire Distilling's Jimmy Red Double Oak.  Crappy craft whiskey, or bourbon worth starting the new year with? Buckle up for a long, winding journey about something I'm planning for this summer.  Still don't know how things got so wordy, but it is what it is. Enjoy!

The holidays are upon us.  Am I ready?  From a gifting and travel standpoint, sure.  Am I mentally and emotionally ready?  We'll find out.  It won't be the relaxing, chill time with my family from the days of old.  But I'd be naive to set my sights on that.  Once again, I've gained slightly more awareness on how the Christmas machine tends to steamroll everything else.  Which is just the way the Catholic church has always done business.   Another blind sample is up for review.  Do I like it?  Can I successfully guess any part of what it is?   Take time to reach out to those in your circle.  Make sure they're doing okay.  Or if you're the one who's struggling, find someone to talk to.  Anyone.  Don't do what Donnie Don't does, and bottle it all up.  Enjoy!

It's Hanukkah time!  At least it is now.  And I think it was a mere 6 hours (or so) away when I was recording this.  I won't lie, I don't recall exactly what I talked about nor in what order.  So I'll just list some probables here and hope it matches.  Although again, I'm not sure anyone reads this... Bears lost to the Packers.  But played them into the 4th quarter, so it's really a victory for us.   The back half of the week got stupidly busy.  And that annoys me.  Nothing new here. Cracked sample #1 from the 12 days of Christmas blind whiskey kit I put together with Bourbon of the Week.  And friggin' nailed it!  Although I had a 1/12 shot of getting it.   And ole Grandpa Rivers is coming back to play some NFL football.  44, haven't played since COVID, has a grandchild.  Sounds like a perfect time to come back and start for the Colts.   Enjoy!

I can officially say I Thanksgivinged too hard this year.  No singular element went too far, but I turned too many dials up to 7.  I need a few at 8 and a few at 3.  And a day-ish where everything is sub-5.   Bears-Packers is this weekend.  I haven't been this legitimately excited for a Bears game in many years.  I don't think we'll win the game, but I do think we'll get a moral victory out of this.  And once again I inadvertently hit a friend with strays while trying to make fun of someone else.  No feelings were actually hurt (or so they say), but I gotta be more aware.  I just never thought we'd be debating some of the things were now debating.  Crazy days.  I got a blind Advent calendar!  Usually full of very good samples.  Let's crack one on air and see what's up.  Enjoy!

I did my best to keep this episode un-chaotic, and mostly failed.  Just know that what you hear is a tip of the iceburg for the tire fire in my head.   Another Thanksgiving is in the books.  This year it was us, my MIL, and our friends from up the street.  It's a strange roster on paper, but it was right.  And I only had to cook 2 turkeys and 3 pies!   New Riff 8yr Bourbon.  Are they maturing nicely, or should they just stick to 4-6 year and special heritage rye?  And yeah, I've got a grievance.  And shockingly, it's another driving-related one.  At least it aligns with the rest of my personality, so it's on brand.   Enjoy!

I've officially at the age when I just no longer can stay up super late even when I'm home semi-alone.  But I did have the best of intentions.   Chauncey Manor has a beautiful, new HVAC system.  High-efficiency furnace and A/C.  While I probably could have just repaired the current system and gotten another 3-5 years out of it, this will put a big dent in our utility bills and give me 1 less thing to worry about for the next 10 years.  Rare Character Rye up for review.  Over-priced hype job?  Or a well-chosen low-rye rye from MGP? Turns out Elon Musk has really put a stranglehold on not just our ability to put things into space, but also unrestricted internet for large chunks of the world.  And as you'd expect, he can giveth and taketh away based on his shifting allegences.  Not sure if that's really a good thing... Enjoy!

Vaccines have been officially administered.  And boy did they kick my butt the next day.  Like, I'm glad I picked a week when I had a couple days that I didn't really have to be my best.  And speaking of kicking my butt...Myles and I ran our annual 5k.  And he.  Kicked.  My.  Ass. This marks the first time one of the kids has legit beat me at an athletic endevour.  And I'm not taking it well.   Over-due Halloween recap!  Another great party and another set of great costumes orchestrated by Hayley.   Penelope Estate Collection Private Select 2025.  Did I waste a trip to DE to get this?  Or did the Estate Collection redeem itself with this one? My front door is finally shiny and beautiful and knockered.  Took parts of 3 days to do it, but I got it done.  And really without any unexpected issues coming up! Enjoy!

Another year, another birthday.  Except this year it really just a normal Tuesday, but with ice cream cake at the end.  Even for me, who doesn't typically do much for birthdays, this was pretty lame.   Brian Beyke, of Pursuit and Seelbach's fame, has put his name on a bottle of blue corn bourbon.  Money grab?  Or is the whiskey good?   The NFL was hit with some terrible news as a young star took their own life this week.  So let's take a step back and talk through some mental health again. Big round of elections in several states.  And the Dems seemed to have woken up a bit and showed up very nicely.   You know what I despise?  Bad infomercials.  If you can't even show your product working perfectly in the infomercial, why in God's name would I consider buying it?! Enjoy!

I had a lively religious debate with my friends the other night.  And somehow I was the one claiming that there is a potential place for religion in a modern society.  I just can't think of any examples where it's been done correctly at scale and didn't lead to terribleness.   Old Fitzgerald 7yr BIB.  Is Heaven Hill just trying to capitalize on the wheated craze or is this a worthy shelfer?  I watched KPop Demon Hunters with Duncan.  And I didn't hate it.  That's all I'll type right now.  And I have a grievance.  With a stranger.  Or at least that stranger's car.   Enjoy!

Well, I feel like I'm somehow healing mentally and emotionally again.  The changes I've slowly been making are accumulating as well as some other recent changes.  Like Justin Fields says, just get 1% better each week.  Bardstown Discovery Series 13 is up.  Should they stop this whole sourcing and blending non-sense and focus on their own stuff?  Or was this is delicious double-barreled offering?  Turns out I was a trend-setter beyond my years.  Did you know you could get a new birth certificate for a Cabbage Patch Kid?  One that says whatever you want it to?  Remind you of anything currently going on... Enjoy!  

Both kids were back at the orthodontist for another round of not-free dental work.  Moving teeth around so other teeth can come in crooked and then get moved around again.  Kinda Sisyphean if you think about it.   My soccer message to Myles seems to have gotten through.  For now.  Which is great, because I want him to just enjoy playing sports as much as I enjoy it.  It's not about winning or losing, it's about getting out there and competing and having fun.  Which is what us people that never win like to emphasize.   Redwood Empire Rocket Top Rye.  Distilled grain to grass by Redwood out there in Sonoma.  But should it be, or should they go back to sourcing from MGP... What's that?  You're curious about how my weight loss journey 2025 is going since we're like 85% done with the year and we're about to hit my fattening months?   Enjoy!

I'm busier here than I've been in a long time.  Stupid work and both kids playing travel sports, and stuff.  Whatever, recording and releasing will be whenever I can get it in.  Totally on brand.  The Cubs season is over.  Just kinda fizzled out in game 5.  No drama, just slowly bleeding out.  Hey, we've got a really good core again and we should be back stronger next year.   I finally had to have a hard talk with Myles over his attitude when playing sports.  This has been brewing for some time, but he finally pushed me over the limit during this tourney and I let him have it.  Hopefully it's tough love and he re-centers himself.   My crowd-sourced 12-day Whiskey Advent calendar is coming together.  Found the right connection to help make this a reality and off we go! You know what really grinds my gears?  F'n SD cards that don't last more than 5 years.   Enjoy!

All the stress, and activities, and not sleeping finally caught up with me.  My brain finally just gave up over the weekend.  It called slaughter rule and packed it in.  It happens.  And I need to talk about it.   The Cubbies were able to pull out a series win against the Padres.  On to face the Brewers in the NLDS.  I'm not super confident in this match-up, but anything can happen in the playoffs.   Knob Creek 21 year.  Is it an over-oaked, over-priced mess?  Or is this a worthy addition to the 12, 15, and 18 year?  Let's find out. If you could have 1 mutant power, what would it be?  This used to be a debate for me, but now there is one clear and obvious winner.  And it's not even close.  Enjoy!

I try to keep it light and loose and humerous this week.  Things are just so dark in the world right now.  And...no whiskey review.  I had one recorded, but my palate was definitely not right and it wasn't a fair review.  So we've entered the era of...sometimes. Anyways, my MIL has a new thing: numerology.  Apparently seeing 11 everywhere means something.  Bad news for her, she opened the door to using number games to get there.  Too much of my scholastic careery has been spent doing "you're at A, you end at B, show how to get there".   I've decoded what makes me enjoy watching my sports teams.  Stupid nicknames that allow me to jump off the couch and yell dumb things.  I really am that simple.  Luckily, Purdue has a couple.  The Bears...maybe.   Enjoy!

Little bit of a mental regression early this week.  Could be thanks to that f'n 50-mile bike ride through the hills, could be me just finally dealing with some realities.  But I righted the ship and come up with a clever analogy.  Win-win. In a truly shocking twist, the right is now all-in on cancel culture and the left is getting punished.  I never thought I'd see it.  Although we might be able to cross over into 1st ammendment violation territory. Penelope Wheated.  Just regular white label with cooler packaging and 15 extra proof points?  Availale alternative to Weller?  Let's find out. Quick run-down of all my active sports team.  Cubs, Bears, Boilermakers.  Which ones are giving, and which are sus.   Enjoy!

Well I did it.  I completely unrecognized both episode 100 AND the end of season 2.  I'm just really bad at acknowleding any milestones.  Ever.  In all facets of my life. Our country is once again facing a crisis.  A radical right-wing influencer/public persona was shot and killed in Utah.  No, cold-blooded murder is never acceptable.  Even when it's directed at a person like Mr. Kirk.   It was a tale of 2 weekend days.  Saturday was a thing, and then Sunday was the opposite of that thing.   I was sent whiskey samples from a big-boy distillery!!  Sure, it was for a tasting event last week, but let's focus on the cool.  ASW Fiddler Heartwood.  Is it Hot 'Lanta, or hot garbage?  Enjoy!  

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!

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!

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!

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!

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 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!

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!

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! 

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!

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!

Myles is officially an adult in the eyes of Judaism.  So that means I can hold him to a higher standard at home, right?  Getting a job, paying bills, making pastrami, stuff like that.   But really, that first full day of summer vacation hit like it was a holding a roll of quarters.  I'm here trying to work while also running an Uber service.  Really glad sleep-away camp is right around the corner... And apologies this is so late.  This time it really wasn't due to my own laziness, we lost power for 2 days and then again 2 days later.  Still playing catch-up with work and home tasks.  Enjoy!

Well, my insides got a good once-over and I'm as healthy as I need to be.  I'm sure everyone is super relieved to hear that.   And since I'm already on the topic of medical stuff, why not just go all-in and keep on talking.  Like how Hayley spends more energy than she should trying to keep certain people from making irrational decisions.  I might be one of those... Good ole' Four Roses Small Batch.  King of the $30s or over-priced swill?   Enjoy!

Looking back, I really should have had some juice before I recorded this.  I felt WAY better right afterwards when I did.  Probably would have made me less chaotic and able to focus.  But what fun is that?! Got some really good work done on the garage and the yard.  And I got to play with my chainsaw.  Which was long overdue.  A Sagamore distillery exclusive finished in mead casks?  Is this just another basic finished MGP rye?  Or a hitter from Sagamore?   Here we are, celebrating gay pride month.  Well, some of us are.  Some people are still bitter and angry about anything diverse.  Even if it has zero impact on their lives.   Enjoy!

Memorial Day Weekend!  Lots of grilled and smoked meats, birthday sleepovers, car projects, yard work...'Merica!! Not much more to say on that.  The long weekend did feel incredibly long, but also kind of a blur.  I guess that's good.   Green River Full Proof.  Is it good?  As good as the wheated?  A waste of $50?  Only one way to know for sure... As often happens, I ran into a random occurrance that had me re-thinking how I view situations.  Probably an attitiude that I should have had anyways, but the out-of-the-blue reminders are often the best reminders.   Enjoy!

Holy Magical Motivation Batman, it almost appears as if my podcast is slowly gaining some small amount of momentum.  I may have to actually take this more serious now.  Duncan's birthday weekend!  We had an amazing time at the Phillies game, he got some great gifts, really made some lasting memories.  At least, I hope so.   If you're stupid and continue to mess with poison ivy, scratch your arm.   But then we also hit a pretty sizeable speed bump this week.  Duncan's propensity for lying hit a breaking point for me.  And things got emotional.  Handled in the best way possible?  Nope.  But hopefully this becomes a building block to a better future.  Here's the link to purchase the Barrell Rye finished in Armagnac if you're interested: https://shop.whiskeyinmyweddingring.com/ Enjoy!

My back is finally coming around and I'm nearly back (no pun intended) to what used to be my 100%.  From there, I need to push further and set a NEW 100%.  More mobility, more strength, more resilence.   Happy Mother's Day!!  I hope everyone did something nice for their moms as well as their baby mommas.  I did, although I mostly let Hayley plan her own event.  It's just so much easier for everyone that way. Pursuit United finally has a whiskey club!  P.Club!  So now I don't have to drive to DE to get some AND I can get distillery-only releases.  I review their double oaked bourbon.  Hit or skip? Airing of recommends?  I've got both praise and gripes to lob at White Lotus.  And it seems like my beef is also becoming a trend with the things we've been watching.   Enjoy!

I know it's been awhile since we had any beef with the kids to unpack.  Luckily (for content) they can't go that long without doing something I have no answers for.  Well...no good answers.  I always have bad answers.   RFK Jr.  {heavy sigh}  I'll give him props on using a solid trick to ban vaccines.  But it's a frigging joke what's going on right now.  Don't disregard existing science but then demand people do more of the same.   2XO Icon Batch - Sneakerhead Blend is up for a review.  Did Dixon hit a homerun on this one?  Or is it as mediocre as every pair of sneakers I currently own.  Fitness update!  Good thing I never aired that Spring Break bonus episode, because most of that I've flip-flopped on.  And then I distill it down to a shorter segment and let her rip.   Enjoy!

Another weekend, another full slate of activities.  At least this round left a paper bag of soon-to-be-stale bagels behind.  But it was fun seeing some far-off in-laws for a few hours.  And now I can say a professional from the ice cream industry has tried, and liked, my blueberry pie frozen custard. I got to run down to Baltimore to do an in-person barrel pick!  A local whiskey-tuber was doing a pick at Sagamore Spirit, and I got to tag along.  Did we pick the right barrel from the 4 offered?  Only time will tell. Do I recommend something?  Maybe. Did I add a new counter-segment where I bitch about things?!  Maybe.  And by maybe I mean yes.   Enjoy!

Well, it was a busy week with just as many Ls as Ws.  Split series some would say.  A lot of good news-bad news-neutral news.  And do I spend too much time talking about one of those?  Maaaaaayyyyybe.   Sports Report!  Kids, pros, whatever it takes.  But guess what?  The Cubs are on fire again!!  I don't remember the last almost May I was still super excited about the Cubs.  Such a great feeling.   Did someone ask for a little twist on the whiskey reviews?  No?  Well too friggin' bad, you're getting one.  But does it work in my favor... If you were stranded on a desert island, and could only eat 1 sandwich, would it be a hot dog? Enjoy!

My lower back, which is made of a very stout graham cracker, has failed me yet again.  Crappy AirBnb bed + Hockey = herniated disc.  But on the spectrum of all the times I've done it, it's not that bad.  Very managable.   Wanna hear a secret?  I LOVE me some blankets.  One of the few downsides to even the highest-class travel is that no road bed will ever match my home setup.  HOF level blanket setup I've got here and I'll die on that hill. Jack Daniels, which identifies as a Tennessee Whiskey even though it's also a bourbon (big no-no right now...), is up for a review.  Single Barrel Barrel Proof.  Lots of words, but is it also lots of awesome? Duncan's playing lacrosse, Myles is back in the travel soccer game, and I've got more beef with the NIL and transfer portal after the antics of a certain QB from a certain school that sings about a certain mountain with rocks on top of it.   Then we wrap with a little Chef Recommends and some rambling.   Enjoy!