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:

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!

We hath returned safely from Italy!  And except for a few minor speed bumps (one being on Myles's face), the trip went shockingly well.  

Rome was, well Rome.  It was pretty similar to how I remember it being 20 years ago.  Very different set of activities than last time, but the kids aren't really down for just sitting in a piazza sipping wine for an hour or two.  

Pompeii is incredible.  Especially after learning more about the history, how the eruption went down, how long the city was just buried and forgotten, the excavation, all of it.  

Florence is now a very close 2nd to Rome in terms of my favorite Italian cities.  Real tough battle since I've been to Italy twice and have only seen 5 cities.  

Enjoy!

But Only Over Signal Text.  {Title and that sung to the tune of Do You Want to Build a Snowman}

Once again, the Trump administration is caught operating outside of the rule of law.  And lying about it and making excuses for why it's not a big deal.  They just keep stacking up issue after issue.  And I don't know how people keep defending it.  But here we are.  

Squirrels!  They have once again proven to be more than just a worthy adversary.  This time by lulling me into a sense of security and then springing into action.  But fret not dear listeners, I'll up my game and win this war.  As I always do. 

Enjoy!

It was a mud bog of a week.  Just could never get any traction, never get momentum, constantly on my heels playing reactive.  

But hey, March Madness has officially started madening.  And Purdue hasn't sh@t the bed yet!  Although because of the stupid week I can't use my not-so-clever jokes about perfect brackets. 

Woodinville small batch is up for a review.  Pot still goodness?  Or hot garbage?  

Hayley checks in on me and we fight our way to the end of the episode.  Selling this well, ain't I?

Enjoy!

It was a very enjoyable spring weekend here.  Watched some middle-school basketball in Villanova's arena followed by a grown-folks lunch at one of our favorite spots.  

The dark clouds with Duncs weren't nearly as bad as feared.  Just a minor reoccurance of some lingering things.  Now we need to teach him to play the political game so he stops being the fall guy every time.

Bardstown Bourbon Company is up again, this time their High Wheat offering from their origin series.  Does it stand up to the rest of the origins?

Who likes hearing about my vague work beef?  No one?  Well too bad!  If stubborn, unrelenting QA people are going to drag me down, I'm bringing y'all with.  But hey, I'm sure I drop a stupid hot take or 2.  

Enjoy!