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!