Like, Love and Don't Like

Apologies to the Kansas City Chiefs for absolutely jinxing their chance at a Super Bowl threepeat. The Eagles didn't hold back. I'm not sure what the NFL script writers were thinking. 

This week, I like Amazon. There are lots of reasons to like Amazon by my specific reason here is for fast shipping. I know not all areas enjoy the same shipping timeliness as where I live but, man is it nice. 

Oh, I'm not talking about 2-day shipping. I'm talking about the less-than-24-hours shipping I benefitted from this week while dealing with a plumbing issue at the house. At 10:00 pm this past Sunday night, I fired off an order for a product that would assist with this issue. The product was at our front door by 3:00 pm the next day. Bonus: it definitely helped with the issue.

There are lots of horror stories from Amazon employees about their working conditions and treatment. And, as the son of former small business owners, part of me cringes when purchasing from Amazon. But that timeliness sure beats driving to the store or waiting until store are open.

This week, I love getting help from my sons with yardwork. In addition to plumbing issues, this past weekend also featured weather that was warm/dry enough to tackle some overgrown, sun-robbing trees in the back yard. I'm not sure what kind of trees they are - maybe cherry laurels or bay laurels - but they had grown too tall and spindly. They drop a lot of leaves throughout the year, too. 

So, the boys and I cut them down and hauled 5 or 6 truckloads of limbs and logs down our steep driveway. They were a huge help and really saved me a lot of time. They didn't complain, either. I'm not sure how I pulled this off but I'm crossing my fingers for similar experiences in the future!

I was so caught up in the moment that I took no photos of the boys in action. But, I did capture of video of the city hauling off Harris and Graham's output. 

This week, I don't like my iPhone's keyboard. As a long-time Android user, my exhaustive efforts to "Googlefy" my iPhone included installing Gboard to replace Apple's default keyboard across all apps. Despite having this phone for 2+ years, its predictive text suggestions aren't quite right and I "fat finger" messages way, waaaaaay more than I ever did with my Android phones. 

This may seem like a small issue but I'm telling you...it is so annoying. But, at least I can send clear photos and videos to other iPhone users, right? 

Like, Love and Don't Like

This week, I like geneaology. I think knowing about your ancestors is important, but I've never been able to get myself motivated to dive into it. That changed when my parents gifted me a subscription to Ancestry.com for Christmas. 

I might be a little differnent than first-time Ancestry users. I already had a document that traced the past 7 generations of my father's family. I've been able to use that info to get started building a family tree. I really don't know how else I would have gotten started or filled any gaps. However, Ancestry has helped me learn some of the inaccuracies of the document - especially with the information about the older generations. 

There's also a lot of info already in Ancestry about my mother's side. I look forward to having a better understanding of those that came before me!

Here's an old photo of Dad that I used to represent of the tree I'm building.

This week, I love 1-on-1 time with our kids. Julie and I made a pact to spend more 1-on-1 time with Graham, Harris and Ellen this year. So far, I've enjoyed a nice meal with Harris and danced the night away with Ellen. Graham is up next...I'm not sure what he and I will end up doing, but it will happen soon.

These moments have been great. It's nice to get out and have conversations with them. I hope these outings will last for a long time!

This week, I don't like missing my weight loss goals. Over the course of 2024, I managed to lose about 23 pounds. That journey began when my doctor explained I was technically obese (accord to my BMI measurement) at my 2023 annual checkup. 

At the end of 2024, I took a break from exercising and enjoyed a lot of holiday sweets. That resulted in me gaining about 15 pounds back. It's totally unfair how easy it is to gain weight! 

When 2025 began, I resumed my 2024 weight loss efforts with ease. But I'm not seeing the results just yet, and missing my biweekly goals has been frustrating. I'm gonna keep going though...it feels like that needle will start to move very soon!

Like, Love and Don't Like

Starting to remember how posting regularly is a good mental exercise...

This week, I like the consistency of the Kansas City Chiefs. I really, really like the NFL. I don't have a favorite team or player, but I really like "The Shield". From the crazy backstrories of a lot of the owners to how the NFL operate as a business - - there's just a lot to like. There's a lot of history engrained into the league and we are all witnessing history unfold before our eyes in the form of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs just earned the right to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LIX. This will be their third straight trip to the big game and their 5th Super Bowl in the last 6 seasons. 

The Chiefs have a great head coach in Andy Reid, great players and an unmatched offensive strategy. They also have amazing fans (some aren't), weird brothers and very famous girlfriends*. But more than anything, I like their consistency. They haven't been quite as dominant during the regular season this year, but they found a way to win nearly every week. They'll certainly have their hands full with the Philadelphia Eagle in the Super Bowl. But, I'll be pulling for consistency. 

This week, I love old television shows and movies. A few years ago, I watched an episode of The Twilight Zone on a whim. The plot of the episode was not bad but I really liked the sets and the way actors and actresses dressed. I'm pretty sure the episode featured a doctor smoking a cigarette, too. The episode was short, which is perfect for my attention span. So, in my obsessive nature, I programmed the DVR to record each and every episode then proceeded to watch every episode of The Twilight Zone (except the Season 4 episodes because they're an hour long). I can say for the most part, this was a well written show. I can't say the same for all episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents - some of those episodes have terrible, uninspired endings. 

The enjoyment I've had from the Zone has prompted me to try other older shows. Then I tried older movies and liked a lot of them, too. (I don't think Humphry Bogart was ever in a bad movie!). Maybe it's something about the black and white images or the dialog but these shows and films have been awesome alternatives to what's been put out in the past few years. 

This week, I don't like YouTube ads. The YouTube viewing experience has really gone into the toilet. I can remember when ads were NOT featured on ALL videos and when they were, you could skip them after 5 seconds. (I am aware of how old I sound) Now it seems like I have to sit through at least a full minute of ads at the beginning of each video PLUS at least one ad break during the video. And I get it...advertising makes the world go 'round. Google purchased YouTube for $1.5 billion in 2006 (seems like a steal now!) and the first preroll ads appeared soon after in 2008. I get that the ads are needed but it really seems like Google is trying to take a lot more than they need. 

*The Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift relationship was totally arranged by the media teams from Swift's camp and the NFL. Swift and the league both gain access to new audiences from this relationship. And that's just one of the reasons I love the NFL - it's a marketing machine!

Like, Love and Don't Like

This week, I like Campfire Woodfuel. This is a Birmingham-based firewood delivery company that specializes in kiln-dried hardwoods. I've ordered deliveries from them for the past few years and I usually reserve this wood for indoor fires. Thanks to the artic blasts we've been experiencing lately, our fireplace has been used a lot. 

I've had great experiences with Campfire Woodfuel. The ordering process is very easy and they deliver right to your door. And the wood is definitely dry and bug-free. Burns great, too. Plus, they've always provided branded matches and fatwood. Check them out for yourself if you're tired of wet wood!

This week, I love my rubber boots. Rain boots, galoshes...whatever you call 'em. My parents gave me a pair for Christmas a few years ago. Although there are only certain times of the year when I wear them, they are great to have at those times. These boots are perfect for the colder months, when our yard doesn't get a lot of sun and stays wet and mushy. 

I'm not sure of the brand but I believe they are still available on Amazon. I've been wearing them a lot lately. They're easy to pull on and off and seem very durable. I just hose them off before keeping them in the garage and they're ready for the next round. 

This week, I don't like the state of the movie industry. It just seems all the movie studios are trying too hard - and when that doesn't work, they remake one of their older, more successful films. Who knew we had such a good thing with all of the Marvel movies? Did anyone see that train coming to a screeching halt? Not me! 

It's all about quantity over quality now (see: Star Wars). I don't think the rapid availability of in-home access helps either. Graham went to see Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in the theater earlier this month. Despite being released on December 20th and doing very well in terms of ticket sales, it was made available for online purchase today (January 21st). True, technology speeds up the home-release process (hello, VHS), but this seems way too quick. And some of that has to do with the changing preferences of movie watchers. But I have to think the rush to produce new films is really watering down the output.

I dunno...this guy seems to think the problem starts with movie budgets that have gotten out of hand. 

Like, Love and Don't Like

This week, I like snow. Well, we kinda had some snow late last week (January 10th). I say "kinda" because it wasn't a very fluffy snow. It was more like ice. Snowmen and sledding were possible though and the kids enjoyed a day off from school - just a few days since the conclusion of their very long Christmas break. 

I moved to the B'ham area in January of 2008 and we've had at least one brush with snow in all but a few of those 17 years. It's always a fun time and each time lasts just long enough!

I believe we experienced our biggest snowfall in December of 2017. The twins were very little and were not fans!

This week, I love my new device charger. My parents gifted me a Power Cell-CX portable solar power bank from 4Patriots for Christmas. I love a good gadget and I have few different kinds of chargers but this one has really impressed. It can charge multiple devices at once and very quickly. It is also very durable and has an extremely bright light on the back. Plus, it has a solar panel - when I'm done charging my phone, I can just place this charger in the window and it charges on its own. It's really great! Thanks again Mom and Dad!

This week, I don't love Zenni Optical. In my advanced age, it seems I could benefit from reading glasses. My optometrist helped me know what strength I needed and I began my search for some readers. Graham began wearing glasses recently and Julie ordered him a few pairs from Zenni Optical. I opted to do the same. While Graham hasn't had any issues, I can't say the same. Zenni's shipping costs erode any sense of value that you feel after finding a pair of frames you really like. Despite that, I placed an order on December 30th and as of this post, still haven't received my order. Tracking shows my shippment originated in Kentucky then vanished in Georgia. Zenni's website offers a 24/7 customer service chat feature, but it doesn't work. Zenni hasn't responded to my emails, either. I'm sounding like a real Karen here but this was a pair of readers - no prescription involved. So, I can't recommend Zenni Optical.

Like, Love and Don't Like

Kicking off a new year and charging into 2025!*

This week, I like HBO Max. Julie gifted me a subscription for Christmas. Was this needed? No. Do we already have just about every other streaming app? Yes. But, there's a lot of content behind the sealed walls of Max (HBO Max?). Fun fact: Since childhood, I've never really been an HBO viewer - - except on those rare weekends when the cable companies use to grant free access to entice customers to upgrade. So, I've got a lot of catching up to do!

Top 3 things I've seen on Max so far: A biopic about Bernie Madoff with Robert De Niro in the lead role, old episodes of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and the first installment of Horizon: An American Saga. Send me your suggestions!

This week, I love having the right tool for the job. Over the past several years, I have accumulated a wide variety of tools. Lately, my tool nerdiness has paid off as I've worked on all kinds of home projects. There's no worse feeling than having to pause a project for a Home Depot run to buy a tool or supply you don't have. I haven't had to make many of those trips lately - which is a great feeling because the projects are still comin'. The most appreciated tool/item that I thought I'd never use? Knee pads. 

Let me know if you need to borrow anything!

This week, I don't like the state of college football. The introduction of the transfer portal and NIL has made college football more like professional football. Players can leave a school in a heartbeat and the teams with the highest payrolls will attract the most talent. I've never had an issue with coaches bolting for greener pastures but it irks me a little now that players can do the same thing. Additionally, the expanded playoff makes for some great TV viewing but has really robbed the grand ole bowl games of their majesty. I don't things will improve, either. That toothpaste is already out of the tube. 

*Let's just forget about the past 9 years in which I failed to create 1 post! I'll try to be better about this and include photos/videos once I get back into the swing of things.