Winter Storm Blair: A Tale of Snow, Slush, and Unexpected Days Off

On Sunday, January 5th, the snow arrived as predicted, and it arrived in force! Topeka was blanketed with over 12 inches of the white stuff, leading to a prolonged closure of many businesses, including my own.

From Sunday through Wednesday, the city streets remained largely impassable, forcing us to work from home. Then, another snowfall on Thursday night resulted in another day off on Friday. This has been an unusual start to 2025, with more days off due to weather than I can remember in recent years.

In fact, I've only been to the office once this year! I took Thursday and Friday off after New Year's Day, and with these unexpected closures, it feels quite strange. While working from home has its perks, I do enjoy the social interaction of being in the office.

Winter Storm Blair certainly lived up to its name. At times on Sunday, the snow was so heavy and the winds so strong that we couldn't even see the houses across the street from our back window. The snow piled up on our windowsill, a sight I don't think I've ever witnessed before.

Oliver, our [pet's name], seemed to enjoy the storm in his own way. He sought out warmth wherever he could find it, snuggling between us and wearing his sweater to combat the chill.

The additional snowfall on Thursday further complicated the situation, as many residential streets remained untouched.

I'm hoping this is the last of the significant snow for this winter. It's probably wishful thinking, but one can always hope!

Stay safe and warm, and I'll update you all next week.

Finding My Rhythm: Setting and Achieving My 2025 Goals

We're a few days into 2025, and a winter storm is still gripping the state. While I'm curious to see how this plays out, it's not what I want to focus on today. Instead, let's talk about my personal goals for this year.

Oliver, our lazy dog, seems perfectly content to lounge around and demand belly rubs. But for me, 2025 is about prioritizing exercise, eating healthier, and finally shedding those extra pounds. My bike riding routine has been going strong – I've been consistently cycling for over a month now. In fact, I recently conquered my longest ride since getting back into it – a challenging 45-minute journey. I felt amazing afterward and am now thinking about increasing my cycling frequency to three times a week.

Physical activity isn't limited to cycling, though. Carrie and I have been talking about finally taking advantage of the gym at work, but somehow, we always seem to find excuses to put it off. My ideal fitness routine would involve three weekly bike rides and two weightlifting sessions. Getting back into cycling took a few months of consistent effort, so I anticipate a similar adjustment period for weight training.

Turning our attention to our home, it's high time we tackled some of that neglected maintenance. While we've fantasized about major renovations to the family room, kitchen, and master bathroom, we need to start with the basics. Those drafty, inoperable windows in the family room are a constant reminder of how much work needs to be done. But that's a long-term project. For now, I'm committed to creating a plan by mid-summer for our initial home improvement projects.

Regarding my reading goals, I've slightly adjusted my target from 25 to 20 books for 2025, acknowledging the challenges I faced last year. In 2024, most of my reading was squeezed into the few minutes before bed. This year, I'm determined to incorporate reading into my lunch break, evenings, and even during those early morning moments. I've maintained a daily reading habit for 1,114 days, and now I'm aiming to increase the number of pages I read each day. Having been off work for the past few days, I've already noticed a significant difference.

I know firsthand that staying consistent with exercise, reading, and home improvement is a constant battle. It's so easy to fall off the wagon – one missed workout, one late night that cuts into reading time, and suddenly, the momentum is gone. But I'm determined to make these changes stick and make 2025 a truly fulfilling year.

Until next time, have a great rest of the week. Stay safe, keep warm, and check in on your neighbors as this winter storm continues to impact the area.

Looking Forward, Looking Back: A Year in Review

 

Happy New Year! As we bid farewell to 2024 and welcome 2025, I extend my warmest wishes for a year filled with adventure, good health, and peace.

Looking back on 2024, I'd like to highlight some of the year's memorable events. Our camping trip to Texas in February was truly unforgettable. I hope we have the opportunity to return there someday (see post). 

In April, we took Oliver to his first Royals game, and we all had a blast. I think Oliver enjoyed himself immensely, especially with all the other dogs around. (see post). 

We set a goal of attending many concerts this year, and I believe we achieved it. We saw The Mavericks (see post) in May, Chris Stapleton in June (see post), Air Supply in July (see post), and Alan Jackson in October (see post). We also enjoyed several other concerts, including a fantastic performance by Dar Williams in November. I'm looking forward to attending more concerts in 2025.

In October, I attended the King Biscuit Blues Festival and had a wonderful time (see post). We onlywent camping three times this year, which is fewer than in previous years. However, the Texas trip was so enjoyable that we did manage to venture out to western Kansas (see post) and Missouri (see post) for some additional camping adventures. I'm hoping to do more camping in 2025 and explore some locations outside of the state.

We also made a second trip to Des Moines, Iowa in November for a weekend getaway (see post). Sadly, just this week, we remembered the tenth anniversary of my father's passing, which occurred on December 30, 2024 (see post). 

Finally, the elections took place in November, and the incoming administration is poised to serve a second term. There are undoubtedly many questions and uncertainties surrounding this period, and while I hope for the best for our country, a sense of apprehension is undeniable (see post). 

This is just a brief overview of some of the highlights from my blog this year. I truly enjoy writing these weekly posts and appreciate the readers who take the time to visit my site. I plan to continue writing at least once a week and hope to incorporate more technology and political commentary into my posts in 2025.

Happy New Year! Stay safe and have a fantastic year ahead.

Cherishing Memories: Remembering Dad on the 10th Anniversary of His Passing

Dad and me in July 2008

It's hard to believe it has been ten years since my dad passed. Al Haverty passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2014. It still doesn't seem like that long ago, as I vividly remember the early morning when I heard the news of his death.

It's one of those instances where it feels like both yesterday and a lifetime ago. I can still hear his voice when I close my eyes, and I recall him fondly saying "Bud" whenever we spoke on the phone.

It took me a year after his passing, in 2015, to write about him (see previous post). I'm grateful that I have recordings of his voice from the voicemail messages my parents left for me. These recordings are a precious way to revisit the sound of his voice and the things he used to say.

Dad and Me

One of my favorite pictures of Dad and me shows us sitting on the hearth in my childhood home. I believe my sister Betsy took this photo, as she always captured many wonderful moments, for which we are all thankful. I think this picture was taken on or around my birthday, and I remember spending time taking photos with my parents. I remember a lot of family gatherings that dad was often involved in coordinating. These are cherished memories.

This is a short post to remember my dad on the tenth anniversary of his passing. We miss you dearly, Dad, and we love you.

Reading Goals & Riding High: A Year-End Check-In

Sleepy Oliver on Christmas Eve

It feels like a good time for a rambling post about various things that come to mind while I write. I had to share sleepy Oliver on Christmas Eve in Lawrence. We had a fun time in Lawrence from Monday - Wednesday that found Oliver tired from keeping us all in line and staying up late a few nights. He needed the rest to be ready for the holiday season.

Washburn is closed December 23 - January 1. Carrie and I both took off January 2 and 3, so we have a two week time off of work which we are enjoying. No travel for us during this time off, but we are catching up on things around the house which is good. 

I have been enjoying various sporting events that have been happening during the holiday break. A few NFL games on Christmas Day, Thursday Night football, Saturday NFL games, and then of course Sunday NFL. Carrie is not a fan and is happy to know that the end of the NFL season is fast approaching. Me, I am not so happy. My fantasy teams this year were a disaster for a variety of reasons, but still, I had a fun time following fantasy teams this year.

My reading journey continues, but I will not be anywhere close to my reading goal for 2024 (see post). I am almost done with a book I got for free from Amazon and been reading for a while. I am about 70% of the way done without two hours of reading time remaining. I am hoping to knock out this last book before the end of the year. Doing so would put me at 12 out of 25 for the year. Not bad, but I am disappointed that I did not get close to the 25 goal I had set for the year.

On the exercise front, I am happy to report that I have continued to ride our exercise bike. I started riding on December 1 and I have been riding twice a week since then. I bought some new bike shorts to help with longer rides that provide some padding. I am currently selecting classes that are 30 minutes long which is about right for me at this time, but I plan to extend to 45 minute classes here soon that I will do at least once a week. I have enjoying getting back into live classes and my favorite day for live classes is still Sunday at 11 am CDT with Alley Love. There are usually around two thousand plus other riders in the class, so there is a lot of activity and a lot of high fives. It makes for a fun class and keeps me interested in doing the class each week.

Enough rambling for today. I hope you have a great finish to 2024 with only three days left. I am looking forward to 2025, where I will focus on my personal reading challenges, exercise and fitness, camping plans for the summer, and frequent travel throughout the year.

Merry Christmas Eve 2024

It's hard to believe that it's the end of 2024, and Christmas Day is tomorrow. Another year is winding down, and I'm fortunate enough to be able to be with family this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve this year finds Carrie, Oliver, and me in Lawrence staying at my mom's for a few days before we head back to Topeka Christmas Day to celebrate the day with the Shirrons.

I hope you are able to be with family and friends during this holiday season. Merry Christmas!

I Was Skeptical, But Apple Sports Won Me Over

iPhone Sports App

iPhone Sports App: A Convert's Perspective

For years, iPhone users have relied on third-party apps for sports scores and updates. But Apple recently stepped into the game with its own Sports app, and after some initial skepticism, I'm now a convert. The Apple Sports app was introduced on the iPhone on February 21, 2024. I initially tried it back in February, but it lacked customization, so I didn't use it for long. However, I've returned to using the app for the past two months, and I'm enjoying it much more. Apple has made several improvements that enhance usability, including displaying live games I follow on my lock screen and Apple Watch. Adding or removing games from my "followed" list is now a breeze.

While other apps on my phone (e.g., ESPN, MLB, NFL) offer game tracking, I particularly appreciate how Apple Sports displays real-time countdowns on my lock screen and Apple Watch. Often, the countdown is ahead of what I see on TV, giving me a more "live" feel.

Follow a Specific Game

Following a Specific Game

The screenshot shows the games I'm currently following. In this case, there are NFL games and college basketball games. To follow a game on your lock screen or Apple Sports, simply open the game in the app and tap the icon in the upper right corner of the game details. Tapping the icon again unfollows the game.

The ability to display followed games on the lock screen is a relatively recent addition, introduced within the last two or three months. This feature wasn't available at the app's initial launch and has been a game-changer for me. I often close live updates from other apps like NFL or ESPN, relying on Apple Sports for at-a-glance updates.

Followed Game on Lock Screen

Lock Screen Updates

As shown in the screenshots, Apple Sports provides clear updates on the lock screen and Apple Watch. On my Apple Watch, I receive notifications for scores, end of quarters, and halftime/game endings. These notifications can be customized if you only want to see score updates.

Final Thoughts

I am currently using Apple Sports as my primary app for following my teams. I appreciate the real-time updates, which seem faster than those in other apps. Occasionally, a game might not update correctly, requiring me to force-close and restart the app, but this is a minor inconvenience.

I'm optimistic that Apple will continue to update and improve the Apple Sports experience. If you haven't tried it recently, I encourage you to check it out.