Twas The Night Before Independence Day Thursday Rundown

I love Independence Day so as I write this Thursday Rundown I am trying to manage my excitement. So on this Fourth of July Eve, please excuse me if I seem to write in an even more random manner than I usually do. But just like a firework does, I will do my best to sparkle…

Sunrise Mass – Last weekend was packed from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening. But sandwiched within all the activities was a really special opportunity on Saturday morning. At 4 a.m., Fr. Jeff Lewis led a small group of us up the Iller Creek Trail to a scenic clearing that overlooked the Spokane Valley and Palouse regions. Once there, he celebrated mass as the sun slowly started to rise. It was the perfect way to start the day and a great opportunity to worship God among his beautiful creation.

Fr. Jeff Lewis led a hike up the Iller Creek trail for a sunrise mass this past Saturday.

Orchards and Water – I mentioned in Monday’s blog post that Sid and I recently attended the wedding of a couple we mentored for their Pre-Cana marriage prep. After the wedding mass concluded at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Brewster, Washington, we headed to the reception a few minutes away at a place called Lone Point Cellars. This winery boasted some incredible views as it overlooked fruit orchards and the Columbia River. What a setting for a reception!

Sidney walks along the perimeter of Lone Point Cellars in Brewster, Washington. The view was incredible.

Anxiety – I get the appeal of self-serve flavor stations at shaved ice stands, but I really dislike them. The Koana Ice truck made an appearance at the finale of Catholic Summer Camp and I begrudgingly promised the kids I would get them one. Sloan managed for the most part but Beau trying to put his flavors on was a messy disaster. I told my friend that few things bring me more anxiety than watching a 5-year-old attempt to flavor his shaved ice.

When a 5-year-old is in the mix, this is always a disaster.

Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich – With the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest tomorrow, I must bring up the heated debate: Is a hot dog a sandwich? I still say NO. But I would be remiss if I didn’t defer to the experts. One of the more quirky projects I pulled off at WSU was producing a video that asked a food scientist for his opinion on the loaded question. It is worth a watch!

This might be the closest a hot dog comes to being a sandwich but what the competitive eaters will be eating tomorrow in  no way constitutes a sandwich in my mind.

Idaho Love It was on this date in 1890 that Idaho became the 43rd state to join the Union. As Idaho marks its 135th anniversary, it is important to reflect on the fact that the state is going through some tough times. Bryan Kohberger accepted a plea deal this week, undoubtedly opening old wounds from that heinous night in Moscow back in 2022. And then this past Sunday, two firefighters were killed in an ambush right outside of Coeur d’Alene as first responders reported to a brush fire. Tomorrow my family will attend the Coeur d’Alene Fourth of July Parade and hopefully have the opportunity to honor those, both living and not, who answered the call on Sunday. We stand with our very close neighbors to the east!

Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890.

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Please be safe tomorrow. Use common sense when it comes to fireworks and take time to reflect on the good fortune we have to live in the United States of America. Don’t Blink.

Okay, BOSS

On the way to work today, I listened to the on-air personalities of Hits 1 discuss something that really “bugged” them. The guy who led off the topic described his annoyance at those who give nicknames to people they don’t know. He then went on to list common generic nicknames such as “boss,” “hoss,” “buddy,” and “chief.”

However, the group of commentators focused mostly on “boss.” Aside from the term being disrespectful and annoying, they also called it “condescending.”

When it comes to my personal preference, I don’t mind generic nicknames. And, actually, out of the ones listed above, I don’t mind “boss” most of all. In fact, I actually like it.

Whenever someone calls bestowed on me in a customer service situation. For example, when I go to Take 5 for an oil change, the employees there will usually call me “boss.”

In my view, “boss” is the new “sir.” Of course it depends on the tone used, but mostly I am called “boss” in a humble way that conveys I am a valued customer and what I say is going to be granted. From the way that I see it, even though I am not a real boss in the context, the term seems to shift power to me. I appreciate it.

So if you are someone who uses the term “boss” a lot to address people you don’t know, please don’t let the people from Hits 1 deter you from doing so. You can call me “boss” any day. Don’t Blink.

Hoopfest 2025: Making It Work

I thought it was out of the question. With an out-of-town wedding scheduled on our calendars for the last Saturday of June, Sidney and I came to terms with the fact that we would miss Hoopfest. In fact, I even documented it in writing that we would be absent from the 2025 event.

But then something happened.

No, the bride and groom didn’t have a falling out! Hardly. The wedding we attended this past weekend was for Tristan and Katie, a couple we had the pleasure of mentoring for their Pre-Cana marriage prep. We would miss Hoopfest for the rest of our lives if it meant we could attend their special day. But when they announced the time of their wedding, something became evident: we could cancel our hotel reservations and travel back to Spokane late that afternoon.

You see, the wedding was in Brewster, Washington, a mere three-hour drive from Spokane. The time of the mass? 2 p.m.! We had plenty of time to attend the wedding and even enjoy a good portion of the reception before booking it back to Spokane. Although we obviously missed the entirety of Hoopfest on Saturday, we arrived home at 10 p.m., giving us plenty of time to get some sleep before heading downtown for Hoopfest on Sunday.

Sidney and I had a fabulous time attending the wedding of Tristan and Katie Gresch. This photo was taken at the reception held at Lone Point Cellars in Brewster, WA.

When it became clear that we would be able to do this, I reached out to Hoopfest and asked if they would take me on as a Sunday-only court monitor. The answer was a resounding yes!

I didn’t realize how badly they needed extra court monitors for the second day until I arrived in downtown Spokane on Sunday. I reported to Court Monitor Headquarters and they immediately pointed me to a quadrant of courts at Post and Mallon. When I arrived at the location and checked in with the court marshal, he told me he was happy to see me.

A screenshot from a video that Sidney took of me conferencing with the two teams that made it to the championship game.

Not only did he have multiple no-shows on Saturday, but he had other court monitors leave in the middle of the day. The marshal, John, desperately needed help. He pointed me to the NuDevco-sponsored court and we were in business.

A photo Sid snapped of me monitoring a game.

When I say “we,” I mean my whole family. Sidney served as my scorekeeper and book keeper while the kids assisted her. Because things became a bit chaotic in our assigned area due to Saturday’s lack of monitors, we had to get our court organized. This included working backward to properly fill out the bracket, preparing game forms, and finding a suitable ball to play with as the official Hoopfest ball was nowhere to be found. But we managed to get everything under control and prepped prior to the first 8 a.m. game.

My special Hoopfest crew was able to volunteer all day on Sunday.

From there, it was smooth sailing. We had an adult male court that featured some very competitive players and close games. Since it was a full 16-team bracket, the games went past 3 p.m. The kids did get a little restless at times but it wasn’t anything an iPhone set to YouTube couldn’t solve 😂. Even though we only spent one day volunteering, we were still able to build rapport with the players and enjoy an awesome experience.

I was super lucky to have Sid as my scorekeeper again.

A few highlights…

This was the first year that fans tipped me money after their team’s Hoopfest journey ended. Even though I vehemently refused, they made me take it and Sloan received a surprise allowance.

A team in our bracket was from South Carolina and they currently own a Southern-inspired food truck on the west side of Washington called Southern Nibbles. It was so cool to meet other people who are familiar with chicken bog.

Another team in our bracket was comprised entirely of prison guards from Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Oregon.

2025 was the first year that court monitors didn’t receive shoes for volunteering. Instead, volunteers who worked both days received a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods. For working Sunday, I was given a $75 gift card.

This little guy may have gotten bored once or twice, but he did spend an entire game flipping the cards for me.

As long as we don’t get invited to another wedding during the last weekend of June next year, it will be my TENTH year as a Hoopfest court monitor. My family looks forward to once again giving back to the Spokane community in this unique way. Don’t Blink.

Intermission

Well, it is June 30 and that means today is the halfway point of the year. Tomorrow will mark the second half of 2025.

I am usually frank about whether I feel a year (or the first half of it) has seemed to go by fast or slow. When it comes to 2025, it has gone fast for me. I remember Dec. 31, 2024, very vividly and it seems like it was just yesterday.

Don’t worry, I am not going to delve into the past six months in detail, but I can’t complain too much about the first 50% of 2025. It has been characterized by Sidney’s new job, two incredible vacations, some nice professional moments, and a deep dive into the Bible.

The first half of 2025 packed a lot of fun, including our family’s first-ever cruise. 

But this post isn’t to reflect on myself. Rather, I just want to give that friendly reminder that we are at the midpoint of the year. There isn’t a better time to reflect on how things are going and how you want to set yourself up for success over the course of the next six months. If you are a sports fan, you might take a couple moments to read the extreme halftime analogy I penned two years ago about the significance of today.

If sports isn’t your thing, think of today as intermission of a play that you are acting in. If you joined the play with high aspirations that you would deliver a riveting performance but things kind of fell apart in that first act, don’t fret! Remember, the audience will only remember you based on your final act performance. Use intermission to compose yourself, review your lines (aka your New Year resolutions), and think positively about the second half of the play.

If you hit it out of the park in the first act, keep up the high caliber performance—but don’t get cocky. Still review your lines to make sure you are heading in the right direction and don’t let up on that accelerator once the second act starts. Continue to shine!

You got this, friends! Take time to reflect but then also take time to look forward. Good things are in store. Don’t Blink.

Censored Thursday Rundown

Good evening! I love this part of summer. Nothing beats the mix of wedding season, Hoopfest weekend, and the lead up to Fourth of July. Throw in hot temperatures with some cold beer and what a time it is to be alive! And what a time it is to write a Thursday Rundown. I present to you tonight’s five topics…

Michael Jackson – The popular question was always “What were you doing when JFK died?” Although that event was barely before my time (😉), I have other high profile deaths that are etched in my memory. One of those was when Michael Jackson passed away unexpectedly on June 25, 2009. I had just graduated college and was starting off my professional career within the University of Montana athletic department. While all my older colleagues kept up with the news on television, I used a relatively new platform called Twitter to stay ahead of the news. That night I hit the streets of Missoula with friends and was amazed that even in my obscure corner of Montana that Michael Jackson impersonators were out in full force and all the bars were playing the greatest hits from the King of Pop. To learn about other iconic deaths I remember like yesterday, tap here.

My friend Dan and I with a Michael Jackson impersonator in 2012.

Hoopfest Memory – As I mentioned in the intro, Hoopfest weekend is almost here and my social channels are filled with past Hoopfest memories. One particular flashback that came up today was from three years ago. On June 25, 2022, the Reser Puffs made their Hoopfest debut in the family bracket. Despite the best of intentions and a spirited practice, we didn’t win a game. However, playing with my sister, brother, and sister-in-law was a ton of fun. I wrote about that unique experience here.

Although we failed to win a game we sure had fun.

Israel vs. Iran Conflict – Not everyone subscribes to my blog so a way I distribute Don’t Blink content to others is through social media. Earlier this week, I gave my thoughts on America’s involvement in the Israel vs. Iran conflict. It was a totally low key and non-controversial take from the perspective of a father with young kids. However, Meta didn’t like it and removed the posts. If you visit my blog via social media and didn’t see the entry, tap here for my thoughts (and you should probably just subscribe). All I can say right now is that I hope this ceasefire continues to hold.

The Israel vs. Iran conflict and America’s involvement has made me nervous.

Riverfront Park SkyRide – This past Sunday, Riverfront Park held its Kids Day event. Children could ride the Loof Carousel and rent roller skates for free. Another major perk was free admission on the Numerica SkyRide. How could I pass that up for Sloan and Beau? Although we did have to wait in line for a bit, we did eventually get the chance to float over the Spokane Falls in a gondola car. I last rode the attraction nearly 10 years ago during the winter with Sidney so it was cool to see the magnificent Falls during a different season. There were some nerves at first but everyone settled down and enjoyed the ride.

Beau and Sloan relax on the Numerica SkyRide in Riverfront Park.

Oh Deer – Yesterday afternoon, EWU’s executive assistant to the president walked into my office and directed me to open my blinds. Not knowing exactly what I would see, I was relieved that it was just a cute deer eating a late lunch right outside my window. Although I did say “cute,” upon close inspection you could tell that the animal probably wasn’t the healthiest. Despite the fact that it looked a little rough, getting an up close glimpse at EWU wildlife was a nice way to highlight the day.

This deer visited me at the window of my Eastern Washington University office yesterday.

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That’s all I have. Please pray for continued peace in the Middle East and have a wonderful weekend. Don’t Blink.

A Radical Ride on the Wings of Prayer

Look up! If you see a plane flying gracefully in the sky with possibly some doves trailing it, Sloan and Beau may very well be on it. At the start of this week, they punched their tickets for a Radical Ride on the Wings of Prayer.

This summer, Sloan and Beau are taking off from the St. Mary Airport on the Radical Ride on the Wings of Prayer.

It is that time of the year—Catholic Summer Camp! For the fourth time since we moved to Spokane, our family is involved with St. Mary Catholic Church’s spectacular twist on vacation bible school. However, this year our involvement doesn’t extend to just one camper. Beau is making his camp debut as he joins Sloan for what has already been a memorable camp.

Sloan and Beau have loved putting on their camp shirts the past few days as they hop on the radical ride of prayer.

But if you have followed my past posts on Catholic Summer Camp (here, here, and here), you already know that this week-long adventure can’t be anything but memorable. When you have the world’s best vacation bible school director, you really can’t expect anything less. Marie Bricher makes sure the campers receive the complete VBS experience with music, skits, snacks, and games. She also takes themes to complete extremes (in a good way) and she has outdone herself once again by transforming the St. Mary gym into the St. Mary International Airport.

The St. Mary gym in the Spokane Valley has been transformed into the St. Mary International Airport.

However, there is something more important than the fun activities and clever theme—yes, I am talking about the content. This summer, it is all about prayer. Throughout this week, Sloan and Beau are learning more about prayer and how to put it into action (as Fr. Jeff Lewis says, “Just pray, baby!”). Each day, they are “flying” on the wings of prayer to a different country to learn about a specific type of prayer and a saint native to the nation they are visiting.

Upon entering the St. Mary International Airport, you naturally have to go through the metal detector.

Whether it be Lectio Divina, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, or just quiet contemplation in Eucharistic Adoration, these kids are learning a lot and growing spiritually. And this is absolutely crucial because let’s be honest: our society is anti-prayer. It has become popular to discredit and shun “thoughts and prayers” as worthless. People are so impatient and misinformed that they feel prayer is useless if if doesn’t end in an immediate miracle.

At the opening kickoff for Catholic Summer Camp on Sunday, a large contingent of saints “flew” into St. Mary International Airport to be part of the festivities. Camp volunteers stand on the gym steps with photos of these holy men and women.

Try telling that to the campers at St. Mary. I can tell you that they will be moving mountains in front of the blessed sacrament tomorrow.

Marie Bricher is making sure Sloan, Beau, and the rest of the campers know the power of prayer. Her love for a theme even extends to the pilot hat she is wearing.

But off my soap box and back to St. Mary International Airport. You seriously have to see inside the gym. Campers check in for their flight, walk through a metal detector, and find their airline. A large plane constructed by 8th grade teacher Kevin Schultz hangs from the ceiling. Aviation-themed photo backdrops are affixed to the walls. Sloan and Beau made their own carry-on bags and were issued passports. There is even a baggage claim where the kids can put their lunch boxes!

St. Mary School 8th grade teacher Kevin Schultz created the centerpiece airplane that hangs in the gym.

With the week more than halfway over, the radical ride will start making its initial descent soon. The final physical destination will be a Friday afternoon picnic lunch for all campers and families on the St. Mary blacktop. The ultimate destination? Well, Heaven of course. And if there is one thing that Marie Bricher and her volunteer staff has taught the 120+ campers this week, it is that prayer does provide some powerful fuel for that journey. Don’t Blink.

Iran Thoughts From A Dad

Nuclear war horrifies me. Because of this grisly fear, shouldn’t I have been comforted or at least supportive of President Trump’s recent decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites?

Well, as per usual, this blogger isn’t going to tread anywhere near what could be considered political so I won’t engage in the “supportive” part of the question. But I will take a brief stab at the “comfort” part from the lens of a dad with two young children.

Leading up to the military operation, my mind screamed don’t attack Iran. My gut seemed to suggest targeting an extreme country with a deep hate for America and roughly 100M people wasn’t the best idea. But then there was the even more concerning thought about irking more powerful countries (cough, cough, Russia/China, cough, cough). Although the “this will start WWIII” warning is overused and cliché, I would be lying if it didn’t cross my mind.

The Israel vs. Iran conflict and America’s involvement has made me nervous.

On the other side, the decision is being rationalized by the principles of deterrence and national security. As Vice President J.D. Vance said on Sunday, “We aren’t at war with Iran, we’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program.”

I would still prefer not to have the words “Iran” and “war” in any sentence that deals with the United States of America.

That’s why I was cautiously optimistic (another cliché) when the conflict took another turn on Monday. Iran blasted off a round of “powerful” but very symbolic rockets at a U.S. airbase in Qatar before agreeing to a ceasefire with Israel. President Trump once again looked like he pulled out the improbable, leaving his critics dumbfounded. Although I will happily take peace even if it means a certain U.S. President receives even more bragging rights, I am not 100% convinced this is over…and this morning is evidence of that as both countries accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. 

To be honest, this whole conflict has made me concerned for my children and their futures. Over the weekend, there was just a sense of dread and dark mystery that came from attacking a country that we have tried so hard to avoid for decades. But again, what would be the cost if the United States sat back and did nothing? What would it mean for Israel?

I feel now more than ever we need to pray for world peace and sound decision making. Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, let’s hope these strikes against Iran’s nuclear program and the resulting ceasefire pave the way for long lasting peace and a safer future. Don’t Blink.

A RAD-iculous Morning

It was a dozen years ago when I participated in a 5K fad that was sweeping the country. In May 2013, I joined friends to participate in Color Me Rad, one of the popular color run circuits that centered on covering runners in vibrantly-colored chalky powder. That morning in Missoula was a complete blast and I told myself that I would do another color run soon.

A photo of me with friends at the conclusion of the 2013 Color Me Run event in Missoula.

However, like all fads, color run popularity waned over the years. The opportunities to participate were few and far between. But another hallmark of fads is that often they have mini resurgences. Imagine my excitement when I learned that Color Me Rad was going to stage an event in the Spokane area! I immediately signed Sloan and me up.

The night before the Color Me Rad event, I put out our very white shirts.

This past Saturday, we ventured out to the MODE Campus in Liberty Lake to participate in the Color Me Rad event. Organizers offered two 5K races with a family-focused 1-mile run sandwiched between. I tested my own fitness by running the opening 5K race at 9 a.m. Not only did I get a nice 3-mile workout, but it warmed me up on what was a cold June morning.

A couple moments before I left for Liberty Lake, I snapped this photo with Sloan before we got rad.

Once I finished, I walked back to the parking lot and grabbed Sloan who was dropped off by Sidney. She saw the bright colors on my clothing/skin and couldn’t wait to get to the starting line. Sloan excitedly grabbed my hand and we walked to the giant inflatable arch with “START” written on it. We spent the 15 minutes prior to 10 a.m. listening to the live band and going through the warm up exercises led by event organizers.

A few minutes before 10 a.m., I snapped this photo of Sloan at the starting line.

At the command of the emcee who led us in one giant shout of “COLOR ME RAD,” we crossed the starting line and the race was on. Well, it is about the furthest thing from a race as you can get, but you get the picture. Sloan and I navigated the zig-zag course with joy, a rare occurrence considering running isn’t exactly my daughter’s favorite thing to do. But how can’t you be exuberant when color bombs are showering upon you?

Sloan at the beginning of the course at the first color staton.

The course was lined with different color stations where volunteers would throw the chalky powder on your personal canvas. Sloan embraced the color and by the time we neared the finish line, her dark hair was pretty much completely pink.

Toward the end of the run, Sloan’s hair was completely pink.

Once we crossed the finish line, the fun wasn’t over. Sloan and I were each given color pouches (and bottled water) to use as we wished. We had a blast using the fresh powder to make ourselves look even more RADiculous.

A selfie after we crossed the Color Me Rad selfie. Compare this to the first selfie we took in our pristine white shirts!

We then ventured over to the stage where the emcee was leading the crowd in “color throws.” Color packets were distributed and then everyone threw up their powder in unison. While this was occurring, the cloud of color was amplified by a Color Me Rad staffer who used a fire extinguisher to blow out thick bursts of color. Sloan absolutely loved it.

An obligatory finish line photo of Sloan.

Although we could have stayed longer as a big party was set to start after the conclusion of the second 5K heat, we had other stuff to do (like hang out at home and eat chicken nuggets). I draped large garbage bags over the backs of my car seats and placed beach towels on the cushions. We then headed home where Sid was waiting to collect our clothes and give Sloan a bath.

What an awesome time we had and they even gave Sloan a medal. Thanks to MODE Campus for hosting Color Me Rad.

I want to thank MODE Campus for reviving the Color Me Rad brand and organizing the event. I am trying to find fun ways to get Sloan active and this opportunity definitely fit the bill. It also brought back some nostalgia for me. Although a little more sun would have been nice, it was otherwise a perfect morning. Don’t Blink.

Rise And Shine Thursday Rundown

School is out and the official start of summer is just about 24 hours away. Hope everyone is encouraged and excited about the next couple of months. Likewise, I hope everyone is encouraged and excited about this latest Thursday Rundown. Let’s go…

Rise Espresso & Dough Company – I continued the tradition with my kids of treating them to donuts after the last day of school. Despite the shop we used to visit no longer being in business, we found a new joint. Called Rise Espresso & Dough Company, it is a shop with an impressive variety of donuts and extra large fritters. You already know what I ordered (and still brought half home to Sid) but my kids each got a chocolate bar topped with peanut butter icing and Reese’s Pieces.

Some photos from inside Rise Espresso and Dough Co.

Go Chants – It is insane what the Coastal Carolina University baseball team is doing right now! The Chants have won 26 straight games and cruised into the College World Series finals. After smashing three teams in Omaha already, CCU will face LSU in a three-game series for all the marbles. Coastal is just two wins away from a second national championship. I had the pleasure of working at CCU when the Chants won the College World Series the first time in 2016 and even though I didn’t go to Omaha, I told a local Myrtle Beach news station that I had the second best seat in the house. I ranked the title run as my top moment while working at Coastal Carolina. Would love to see my old friends at CCU enjoy the fruits of another baseball championship.

I took a photo with the national championship trophy that the Coastal Carolina University baseball team won in 2016. I hope they do it again!

Mega Pouch – I might have wrote about root beer on Tuesday, but today it is all about Capri Sun. Did you hear? The iconic drink released 15-inch pouches this week filled with 20 ounces of juice…that’s more than 3X the size of a regular pouch. It even came with an extra long yellow straw. Even though I didn’t come close to beating the rush by getting my hands on a pouch, I think I would have drank it using the same technique I demonstrated a few years ago.

A look at the 15-inch Capri Sun pouch that contained 20 ounces of product.

Father’s Day Gifts – Sid and the kids spoiled me (per usual) for Father’s Day. Out of all the gifts they gave me, the new phone case was probably my favorite. I am an OtterBox user and the case I had for over five years was falling apart. I now have a brand new OtterBox that is providing my iPhone with the best protection possible. I switched from a black case to a blue case and I am digging the change.

My wife and kids spoiled me once again.

The Keys – If I was to rewind time to exactly six years ago, I would find myself in the Florida Keys with my family. In June 2019, we traveled to the Keys for the wedding of Sid’s sister. Although my sister-in-law’s big day was definitely the highlight, we got to do a lot of other fun stuff, too. We played at the resort, explored the Gulf of Mexico in a boat, and ate a lot of rice and beans. I really enjoyed going to Key West and standing at the southernmost point in the continental United States. To be honest, although I usually say time flies, that trip seems longer than six years ago.

I will end with one of my favorite photos from our Florida Keys trip. This was from the longest day of the year…we ate at a restaurant called Island Fish Company and sat outside as the sun went down.

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That will do it for tonight. Make sure to get outside tomorrow evening and truly enjoy the longest day of the year. Don’t Blink.

Cheers To National Root Beer Day

I like root beer. Perhaps a reason for that is the nostalgia. For me, it brings back memories of childhood birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese and late night sleepovers. Root beer is smooth and distinct to my palate—milder than the heavily-carbonated burn that a cola packs.

It is National Root Beer Day and we are celebrating at my house!

I just like the root beer flavor in general. Give me root beer-flavored Jelly Bellies, hard candy, or even cotton candy and I will gladly enjoy it. Just don’t give me a root beer milkshake—which happens to be my dad’s favorite shake flavor—because if I am drinking something that tastes like root beer, I want it to be the real thing.

There is another reason why I don’t like root beer milkshakes: root beer and ice cream don’t go together well. Yes, I realize what I am conveying…root beer floats are worthless! But if you have read this blog for any length of time, my opinion isn’t a revelation to you. I have written about it too many times to link all the instances I have expressed my dislike for root beer floats. Sorry, but root beer doesn’t bring out the best in ice cream and the ice cream negatively alters the taste of root beer.

Sloan really enjoyed her first ever root beer float in 2021. However, I strongly dislike them.

But wait, this is supposed to be a celebration of root beer, so let me get back on track. I am down for most any type of root beer. I enjoy the gold standard of A&W, the bougieness of Henry Weinhard’s, the bite that comes with Barq’s, and even the faint flatness of generic root beers. However, I have yet to pull off what my good friend has done on a couple occasions by conducting the ultimate root beer taste test. I hope to eventually follow his lead and do something like I did for lemon-lime sodas. If I do, you better believe that I will blog about it.

My wife hates root beer but she still let me buy some to store in the refrigerator for tonight. If you also happen to have a can or bottle at home, make sure to make a toast on this National Root Beer Day. Don’t Blink.