• Travel

    New York: Day 2

    By 7:12am, everyone was awake. Not ideal, but it’s how the cookie crumbled. The forecast today was for high humidity, dew point, and heat through the evening, so we got through breakfast quickly and got ready to head over to the mines.

    Before we did, Benedict and I went to the camp office to check in. Since we arrived so late, they left our paperwork on the late arrival board last night. It was a quick process, we checked out the store and asked a few questions, and made our way back to the RV by walking on the road along the banks of the river. The girls were basically ready when we got back, so we crossed the street to the mines.

    A school group arrived just before us, and the air was moist but not uncomfortable (yet). We managed to get our waivers signed and tools assigned before heading to the mines to look for quartz. The quarry was very rough, and the work was hard. There were several professional mining bros with full setups and we, the uninitiated, out baking in the sun. Thankfully there was some shade and no one skied down a cascading wall of rocks.

    After an hour, we had a few nice rocks, no life changing fortunes, and we headed back to camp. We decided to rent a golf cart, so while the girls dropped their findings at the RV, Benedict and I went to camp HQ to rent a golf cart. I was expecting something basic, but this one was fully loaded, including a bluetooth audio system. I turned on the Sneaky Sasquatch soundtrack to enjoy.

    We drove back to the RV to pick up the girls. It was a tight squeeze, but we all made it in. The windshield folded down, music on, we drove around camp. The site is right along a bend in a river, so our first stop was to the upper entrance to the river. There were some rapids, and just the right sound profile, which I really love. The banks were teeming with trees and leaves, making for a very nice view.

    Further down the road, and river, we spotted two geese and their gaggle of five goslings out looking for some food. A few more minutes, and a couple more laps, and it was time for a picnic lunch.

    Our campsite is right under a huge tree, so there was plenty of shade. We had sandwiches, potato salad, and chips. With lunch over, and a pop-up storm approaching, we cleaned up and went into the RV. The air conditioning was running all morning with our electrical hookup, and it felt amazing inside. We did some tidying and then had a few minutes of quiet time while the storm rolled through dumping plenty of rain on the campsite. In less than an hour, the cell had moved on and it was time for afternoon fun.

    A stray storm cell rolled through just as lunch ended, which left us inside for about an hour. It was good to have quiet time, and even better to have a full up air conditioner making it so comfortable inside. I sat at the table with my laptop and took care of a few things.

    First up after the rain, we went to the pool. The campground was still mostly quiet when we arrived, and the pool water was very cold, although it felt good once the initial shock wore off. As we were swimming (and water dancing), more and more RVs rolled into camp. Before long, people were joining us at our private pool party. Benedict didn’t want to swim in the cold, so we got a bag of sand and crystals for him to prospect nearby.

    With swimming over, and everyone changed, we went over to the Camp HQ and rented four human-powered go carts. The kids rode them around the camp while Alison and I followed behind in the golf cart. With the big 3 running around and Alison watching Veronica, I went to start a load of laundry and get ice.

    The cart rentals were just for an hour, and we’d already spent lots of time outside in the sun, so we turned the bikes back in and got ice cream to eat in chairs outside of the RV. Lucy and Veronica begged me to take them in the golf cart on an “adventure,” and Felicity asked to join too, so we headed out. We drove all over camp, checking out the river, looking for the goslings, and having fun.

    We arrived back at the RV in time for dinner. The kids got cleaned up one-by-one and we cleaned the kitchen and the RV. It was so nice to have everything contained in one space. With that done, it was time for evening games before a family Rosary, during which Veronica fell asleep.

    June 12,2026
  • I Work Very Hard, And I Would Like To Try Cake - The Onion

    Please understand: I do not get money for doing work. I do not get to go inside the house. All day I am either doing my horse job or standing in my pen or eating food off the floor. I always do these things. But I have never once gotten cake and I would like it very much.

    June 12,2026
  • Shore.

    June 12,2026
  • Camp shower.

    🌧️

    June 12,2026
  • ChetCast

    Episode 283: RV Travel Tips

    We made it to our first campsite, so I check in with the girls and find out if they have gained any insights after yesterday’s travel day.

    🏕️

    June 12,2026
  • Morning river flow.

    June 12,2026
  • Travel

    New York: Day 1

    Nothing ever goes according to plan, you just really have to do your best.

    After yesterday’s weather surprise, and a very late night, we had a super early start this morning. Felicity was first up at 2am, and Benedict joined her at 4am. The allure of the RV was stronger than their need for sleep, even though Benedict was up just as late as us last night.

    I got up at 6am, got ready for the day, and started on my final checklist. Everyone was up shortly after, and in a very positive and helpful mood. That was a very nice thing. Just after 7am, we were ready. We did final checks, at Benedict’s direction, to ensure that the RV was ready to go, and we drove to Chick-fil-A. We ended up about 30 minutes ahead of our scheduled departure.

    We fueled up the RV and ate breakfast in the parking lot. It was time to drive. Things went pretty well. Traffic was light for most of the day, and with my lack of sense of urgency, I was able to safely meander on our route.

    Our lunch stop on the Ohio Turnpike had us at a dedicated RV space separated from the car and truck traffic, and adjacent to a large field of crops. There was a cool, dry breeze that felt great under blue skies.

    RV parked for lunch

    The children migrated between seats at the table and couch throughout the day. They played, read books, and chatted with each other. Benedict enjoyed being able to sit in the Navigator seat for some of the trip.

    We made many stops, longer than usual, which made for an easy pace but a long day.

    Veronica keeping a close eye on my driving

    Most of the bad weather avoided us, which was nice. But our leisurely pace and destination meant that sunset was earlier than at home, and we arrived to camp in the dark. It was a harrowing final 14 miles of drive, but we made it. Benedict helped me get our registration paperwork, hopped out of the RV to find our campsite, and held the flashlight while I connected the RV to the hookups.

    Sunset after the storms

    No doubt it was a long day, and getting the kids in bed meant it was two late nights in the row. Perhaps, with all of us sleeping in the same space, we’ll sleep in for a while tomorrow?

    June 11,2026
  • Smokey Bear Claims Views On Wildfires Have Evolved  - The Onion

    “You have to understand, when I was coming up in the ’40s, these fires were talked about in an almost entirely negative context, and I was just a dumb cub echoing the conventional thinking of the time,”  said Smokey Bear, telling reporters that conversations with real estate owners and insurance carriers who had benefited from wildfires had convinced him to soften his stance.

    June 11,2026
  • Picnic lunch in a shady grove.

    June 11,2026
  • Travel

    New York: Day 0

    Nothing ever really goes according to plan. The best you can do is try hard and roll with the punches.

    A mix-up with the dog boarding drop-off hours left us scrambling. We headed out just after lunch to pick up the RV. The girls were dropped at their grandparents’ house while Alison, Benedict, and I drove 30 minutes to get the RV.

    It was a mom-and-pop operation and they were very nice. The RV was older than expected, but ready for the journey. After a walkaround in the unseasonably warm June afternoon, Alison went to pick up the girls and Benedict and I drove the RV back to the house.

    Despite more than an hour going though all of the systems, there was no discussion about how to drive the RV. This is baffling, but I adapted my default driving behavior: be confident and hope for the best.

    There were a few miles of quiet country roads before the four lane highway, so I was at least able to warm up. Then, it was right into the mix of late Wednesday afternoon traffic. It was technical and challenging, but a great way to get my feet wet.

    We were heading to the store to pick up some last minute items when I realized Alison would be cutting it close for getting home and getting the dog to boarding. So we diverted home, dropped the RV, got the dog, and drove her to the boarding house. She did not want to go, and planted herself firmly on the sidewalk outside until two menacing Chihuahuas scared her and she ran inside.

    Benedict and I drove to the store and spent 45 minutes trying to find the RV toilet paper, with no luck, so we went home. Alison had dinner ready as soon as we backed the RV into the driveway. We ate, and as dinner was winding down, a severe thunderstorm warning came across. We ended dinner and took loads of supplies out into the RV so that we could unpack while the rain passed through.

    Just before 7pm, the girls went inside and I left Benedict in the RV to finish putting some things away. Steps away, the first strong gust came. It was strong, but the trees in our neighborhood get this regularly and I wasn’t concerned. Then, almost immediately, the second stronger gust came through. I ran back out to the RV, only a few feet away, to find a massive tree trunk came down in our driveway. The main trunk was six feet from the RV, but large branches pressed against the side. I ran to the drivers door, opened it, and got Benedict out.

    The RV after the storm

    The storm moved through quickly, and I got out the chainsaw. With Alison’s help, and just a few cuts, the RV was free to move. I got it into final position, got the girls down for the night, and turned on the generator and AC on the RV for Alison and Benedict to move in.

    It was a late night, much later than anticipated, but a memorable start to our vacation and first RV trip.

    June 10,2026
  • Full canopy.

    June 8,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    In the Footsteps of Saints - Catholic Husband

    We visit these places not for thrills or tourism, but as moments of philosophical pause. We walk where they walked, and see what they saw. It is some small reminder that sainthood isn’t reserved for the clergy, the perfect, or the Italian. Sainthood is a wide boulevard for us and our story. It is who we were made to be, and it should be the rule, not the exception, for us in our lives.

    June 8,2026
  • The first 2-5 years of homeownership are spent correcting all of the mistakes and screw-ups of the last owner.

    🏡

    June 7,2026
  • Final step of the fallen limbs spring cleanup.

    June 7,2026
  • New neighbor.

    June 6,2026
  • I live in a house of spies.

    June 6,2026
  • The main thing I don’t like about door-to-door salesmen is being pushed through their funnel. I don’t like the random intrusion, but the funnel is just the worst.

    June 5,2026
  • Worst Financial Decision Of Man’s Life Celebrates Grand Opening - The Onion

    When he needed help securing a 10-year commercial lease, he turned to an outside backer who soon became the namesake of his creperie.

    “He named it after me—isn’t that sweet?” said Kovac’s mother, Luisa, an 81-year-old woman

    June 5,2026
  • Morning ride.

    June 4,2026
  • I miss the fun of the early days of Fitbit.

    June 3,2026
  • Master Negotiator: President Trump Has Signed A Deal To Dissolve The US Military In Exchange For Iran Writing A 5-Star Review Of The White House On Google Maps - Clickhole

    President Trump explained that all US servicemen have been directed to turn in their uniforms, equipment, and medals, and make preparations to vacate their assigned posts within the next week, as all American military forts and bases around the world are set to be renovated into government-owned Airbnbs.

    June 2,2026
  • I love the future of gas pumps.

    June 2,2026
  • State Where P-51 Mustang Was Built In 102 Days Now Taking 4 Years To Build Bridge For Butterflies - Babylon Bee

    The North American P-51 Mustang, one of the most popular fighter planes during WWII, was designed and developed in just over three months, with its first flight recorded just 47 days after the completion of its initial prototype. All this, despite being significantly more complicated than a simple bridge.

    June 1,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    In Summer - Catholic Husband

    Start the season with one more resolution. As a gift to yourself, never put off the good work for later. Starting now, wake up every day committed to being the best version of yourself. It’s who your family deserves to lead and love them, and it’s who you were made to be.

    June 1,2026
  • A-10 vertical stab.

    May 31,2026
  • Summer clothes changeover day.

    🩳

    May 30,2026
  • Jill Biden Explains She Thought Joe Had A Stroke During Debate, Which Is Why She Left Him Up There To Die - Babylon Bee

    Seeing that her husband had somehow survived the apparent stroke, Dr. Jill met him on stage to praise his performance and take him to the after-party. “I was sure that Joe had just survived a massive ischemic stroke,” recalled Dr. Biden. “We had no idea what impairments he might be left with or if he was still in danger. So, I got everyone chanting ‘four more years’ and took Joe on to the next campaign event.”

    May 29,2026
  • Flyby.

    May 29,2026
  • Summer waters.

    May 29,2026
  • Underway.

    🏴‍☠️

    May 29,2026
  • Welcome to the lake.

    May 29,2026
  • Creature power!

    May 28,2026
  • The last day of school is finally here.

    🚸

    May 28,2026
  • Chase Reminds Customers To Only Share Banking Information With People Who Seem Nice  - The Onion

    Chase chief information security officer Patrick Opet, advising anyone who had shared their information with someone who didn’t give them a good handshake or ask how their day was going to contact the bank immediately.

    May 27,2026
  • Pollinators welcome.

    May 27,2026
  • Stepping Up Security: CVS Has Announced They’re Going To Open Fire On Anyone Who Tries To Come Into CVS - Clickhole

    Wow. You might not agree with this decision, but you’ve got to admit it could make it harder to shoplift from CVS!

    May 26,2026
  • Time to wrangle YNAB.

    May 26,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    At Play - Catholic Husband

    God’s example for us is meant to model how to life live well. God was not exhausted at the end of the creation allegory; God has infinite energy and does not need a break. He rested because we need a break, and because it is right and proper to enjoy the created world.

    May 25,2026
  • The eagle is in the nest.

    🦅

    May 24,2026
  • Busy night on the ramp.

    May 24,2026
  • Young New Yorkers Have a New Hot Spot: Sunday Mass - WSJ

    “This is about meeting people rooted in the same values as you.”

    May 24,2026
  • Atlantic Ocean, Florida.

    Waves on the Atlantic Ocean
    May 24,2026
  • Sunday morning waves.

    May 24,2026
  • Rawlings Donates 50,000 Baseball Gloves To Ukrainian War Effort - The Onion

    Russian bombardment had left large parts of the country with little to no access to outfield gloves, catcher’s mitts, or even youth-sized infield models.

    May 24,2026
  • Tapas time.

    May 23,2026
  • I’ve used Ulysses to organize my writing for more than a decade. I remember that it used to be kind of clunky and now it’s just a delight.

    May 23,2026
  • Always nice to find a friend waiting.

    May 23,2026
  • Airline miles are mostly useless for me, except this one time.

    May 23,2026
  • Cloud surfing into Florida.

    Thunderstorm clouds at altitude
    May 22,2026
  • Inflight WiFi was pitched as a “premium experience” by the gate agent. Except the website to connect to the WiFi wouldn’t load.

    May 22,2026
  • Rainy day.

    Rainy airplane window
    May 22,2026
  • RIP, Fitbit.

    May 21,2026
  • After work ride with friends.

    Kids riding bikes through leafy neighborhood
    May 20,2026
  • Hot coffee, open windows, 53 degrees, lofi streaming.

    Happy Wednesday!

    🌤️

    May 20,2026
  • Lots of nature on this morning’s walk.

    New fawn, red fox, and a turtle.

    🦌🦊🐢

    May 20,2026
  • Thomas Massie Defeated in GOP Primary After Attacks From Trump - WSJ

    President Trump’s handpicked House candidate defeated longtime GOP antagonist Rep. Thomas Massie, underscoring the president’s iron grip on the Republican Party and the dire political consequences for lawmakers who defy him headed into the midterm elections.

    Outstanding! A threadbare majority is the perfect time to implement purity tests. Attack your friends first, that’s what I always say. Winning!

    May 19,2026
  • Treasury Lawyer Brian Morrissey Quits as Government Settles Trump IRS Suit - WSJ

    The settlement created a $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” that would pay people who claim they were targeted unfairly by past administrations.

    I wonder where they’ll get the money.

    May 19,2026
  • Why Trump Bucked Republicans With a Risky Bet on Texas’ Ken Paxton - WSJ

    The decision, which came after months of waffling, reflected the president’s renewed conviction that he maintains an iron grip on the party following recent electoral victories, according to people familiar with his thinking. It was also a warning shot to Republicans in Congress that Trump won’t tolerate dissent.

    Dumb.

    Some Republicans worry Trump’s endorsement of Paxton will make an already expensive race even more costly, and they point to Paxton’s personal and political scandals. Texas Republicans continue to support Paxton for his conservative policies, and they argue he has been unfairly targeted. 

    One scandal, okay. Two? Maybe. Four? No way. And those stupid fake lawsuits to shake down companies.

    May 19,2026
  • Man Cured Of Depression After Doctor Prescribes Millennium Falcon LEGO Set - Babylon Bee

    The 39-year-old upstate New York native had explored many different treatment options for his degrading mental health, but had never been prescribed LEGO or even experimented with LEGO recreationally.

    May 19,2026
  • Power is out, generator is on.

    Estimated time of restoration? I don’t care.

    🔌😎

    May 19,2026
  • “Dear Dad,

    Thank you for all you did for me from 2018 to 2026. Thank you for taking good care of me when I needed you the most. Thank you.

    Your Truly Love, Lucy”

    May 18,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Bloom - Catholic Husband

    Our existence within creation is filled with these little delights, scatted throughout the calendar and seasons. Little reminders of God’s goodness, and the brilliance of His work not only in us, but in the created order. There is a time and season for everything, and we are given the grace of experiencing it all, year after year.

    May 18,2026
  • ‘Sidewalk Closed’ Sign Leaves Pedestrians Frightened, Wandering Helplessly - The Onion

    …a growing crowd of disoriented commuters were milling anxiously in front of the sign, with one woman sobbing quietly into her hands and saying, “But this is the sidewalk,” while several others began drifting aimlessly into yards, bushes, and even the street.

    May 16,2026
  • Just getting started on Issue No. 02 of Applied Bioethics Magazine. It’ll be out in a few weeks and I’m really excited about this issue.

    🏔️

    May 16,2026
  • Squad.

    May 16,2026
  • When the wind blows in just the right direction, the scent of that lilac bush flows right into my office.

    May 16,2026
  • Scary tax bill in the mail was quickly fixed thanks to all those receipts I always save.

    Whew!

    😅

    May 16,2026
  • Report: CIA Raided By CIA - Babylon Bee

    “We suspect we’ve been up to no good for a long time,” said one CIA insider who asked to remain anonymous. “We’ve been allowed to run roughshod over the world for long enough, and it’s time for us to hold us accountable for the things we believe we may have done.”

    May 16,2026
  • Bloom.

    May 15,2026
  • SEO experts are excellent at building websites for robots. Not so good at building for humans.

    May 15,2026
  • Why doesn’t Google make it easy to manage a shared contact list in Workspace?

    May 15,2026
  • It is truly shocking how inept Medical Billing can be.

    May 14,2026
  • DOJ Charges Synergy, Shipping Operator Involved in Deadly Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse - WSJ

    A loose wire in a high-voltage switchboard likely caused the first power loss, federal prosecutors said. 

    Another reminder of the importance of getting the little things right.

    May 13,2026
  • New York Man Convicted After Opening Chinese Police Station - WSJ

    Prosecutors said Lu conspired with officials in China’s Ministry of Public Security to open a police station in a Manhattan Chinatown community center where he held a leadership role.

    Wild.

    May 13,2026
  • It is so easy to get a cell phone number and plan now.

    No more stores or appointments or hours. A $3 SIM card on Amazon, and 7 minutes at my computer and I’m all set for $10 a month.

    📱

    May 13,2026
  • U.S. Air Force Special Operations Aircraft Accused Of Austrian Airspace Incursion - TWZ

    the Austrian Air Force scrambled Eurofighter Typhoons in response to the alleged flights in the neutral country’s airspace.

    Whoa! Austria has a military?

    May 12,2026
  • Just When I Thought The World Couldn’t Get Any Worse, My Wife Makes Me Go To A Play - The Onion

    Sometimes I get so bored, I start watching the play. It’s enough to make me wish the next world war would just happen already. If this theater was bombed by China tonight, well, let’s just say I’d welcome them as liberators.

    May 12,2026
  • The all new PlaneDocs website is now live.

    ✈️

    May 12,2026
  • Just had Chat design some new email signatures for me using HTML. Incredible!

    📨

    May 11,2026
  • Meanwhile at ChetComm HQ.

    May 11,2026
  • Three Republicans Thrown Into Fiery Furnace For Not Bowing Down To Trump Statue - Babylon Bee

    At publishing time, Republicans were shocked to see a fourth man standing in the fire with them: Mike Pence.

    May 11,2026
  • Big week for web design.

    May 11,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Childlike - Catholic Husband

    Childlike does not mean unthinking. God created the animals, but He didn’t enter into relationship with them. He gave them instinct, not intellect. He doesn’t force Himself on anyone, nor impose His love on those who reject it. Children run to adults and embrace them, or cry the second someone they would rather not be near picks them up. Childlike means accepting the Word of God and embracing it wholly because of the trust we have in its Source.

    May 11,2026
  • Family ride.

    May 10,2026
  • Markdown + Ulysses = 💯

    May 10,2026
  • Heavenly delights

    May 10,2026
  • Oil Tanker Slips Anonymously Through Strait Of Hormuz By Adding Fake Nose And Mustache - Babylon Bee

    The tanker, known as the Delta Magnus, nonchalantly floated in disguise past both the Iranian and American blockades, leaving both sides none the wiser.

    May 10,2026
  • A child's drawing of an airplane

    A gift from my daughter.

    For my brave Dad who soars the unknown skies.

    May 9,2026
  • The Summer Portraits by Ludovico Einaudi

    🎼

    May 9,2026
  • Canopy birdsong at dawn.

    May 9,2026
  • I don’t know what to make of dealer maintenance shops. Just when I started to think they got the message and were trying to do a better job, they marked both cabin and engine air filters as “caution.”

    What they didn’t know is that I just changed both with brand new filters two weeks ago.

    So they didn’t actually look, or…?

    May 8,2026
  • Let’s ride.

    🚲

    May 8,2026
  • God Discontinues The Pebble - The Onion

    “Starting in the year of our Me 2026, I will be ceasing creation of the pebble so that I can turn My focus toward stones, rocks, and boulders,” said the all-knowing and all-powerful deity, who stressed that there were already 300 billion pebbles in circulation, the vast majority of which were no longer being used by humanity.

    May 8,2026
  • I will never stop learning.

    But sometimes I find an error so basic in my web design, I just can’t believe it got by me.

    May 8,2026
  • ChetCast

    Episode 282: First Communion

    I catch up with Lucy to chat about last Sunday.

    ☀️

    May 8,2026
  • ChatGPT’s image generation skills have improved considerably. I needed a dummy logo to go on a landing page and I think it nailed it.

    May 7,2026
  • Pages > Word

    May 7,2026
  • ‘A Civilization Will Die Tonight,’ Says Donald Trump As He Enters All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp Buffet - Babylon Bee

    Trump greeted staff cordially before being seated at a presidential booth once used by William Howard Taft.

    May 6,2026
  • A very long day of troubleshooting a serious web design problem that was traced to something quite trivial.

    I’m exhausted.

    May 6,2026
  • Parents Excited To Learn What Grade They Got On Their Kid’s Science Project - Babylon Bee

    “She wanted to help, but she just doesn’t write neatly enough for the tri-fold, and she’s liable to mess up some of the placement of the dowel rods. In the end, it really worked better for her to watch Zootopia 2 while we got down to business.”

    May 5,2026
  • With over a decade of web design, I’ve accumulated a lot of abandoned files.

    Time for some spring cleaning.

    May 5,2026
  • Jumping The Shark: ‘The Chosen’ Criticized For Planning To Kill Off Main Character Only To Resurrect Him Next Episode - Babylon Bee

    Fans and critics alike feared the best days of The Chosen may be behind it, with the writers clearly struggling for direction as to what to do with the central character.

    TV writing has gotten so lazy.

    May 4,2026
  • I normally am at Inbox Zero.

    I have 145 emails in my inbox, 45 of which are unread, and 52 transactions to approve in YNAB.

    May 4,2026
  • PE

    May 4,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Church Family - Catholic Husband

    Sadly, many regard this sacred obligation unnecessary or burdensome. What they perceive as one more thing to do, one more appointment on their busy calendars, is the sustainment we need to endure the challenges of life. Not only is it good for us to gather and pray the highest prayer we have, the Mass, it’s good for us to know that we are not alone.

    May 4,2026
  • Emotional Passengers Board Final Spirit Airlines Flight For One Last All-Out Brawl - Babylon Bee

    Airline staff reportedly worked hard to preserve the authentic Spirit experience for the final voyage, including overbooking the flight by 60% and charging an additional $45 “pre-fight positioning fee” for passengers hoping to start conflicts near the aisle. Flight attendants, many of whom appeared visibly moved, have vowed to help instigate several conflicts and then not intervene during the altercations

    May 3,2026
  • The reward for finishing the chores.

    May 2,2026
  • Clean house, fresh mulch, cut yard.

    Ready for the weekend.

    May 2,2026
  • New bike day.

    May 1,2026
  • Theologians Struggling To Explain How Loving God Could Allow Ohio - Babylon Bee

    but when you look at a landscape that is 98% corn and 2% orange road construction cones, it becomes difficult to argue for a divine plan.

    2% seems low based on my experience.

    May 1,2026
  • Skittles the chipmunk.

    🐿️

    April 30,2026
  • ChetCast

    Episode 281: Skittles

    The children, while playing the the springtime afternoon, are downright giddy to discover we’ve successfully trapped a chipmunk. After naming it “Skittles,” we welcome him to ChetCast for a one time guest appearance.

    🐿️

    April 30,2026
  • I have successfully trapped a chipmunk who was living under the foundation of the garage.

    Unfortunately the children just announced that they’ve named it “Skittles.”

    🐿️

    April 30,2026
  • ChatGPT is an incredible tool for solving all sorts of web design problems.

    April 29,2026
  • After dinner play.

    April 28,2026
  • Things 3 is a great app.

    Sometimes I wonder when Things 4 is coming out, but what could they possibly improve?

    April 28,2026
  • Trump, Omar Argue Over Whether It’s ‘Two Corinthians’ Or ‘Eleven Corinthians’ - Babylon Bee

    “Everybody knows it’s Two Corinthians. One Corinthians and Two Corinthians. It’s simple counting, and I am the best at counting,” said Trump.

    April 28,2026
  • Though they did not believe me when I told them last fall, the kids are now obsessed with their bikes.

    This will be a memorable summer for them all.

    ☀️🚴🏻‍♂️

    April 28,2026
  • Architect Carefully Designs Airport So Rental Car Center Is Conveniently Located 75 Miles Away - Babylon Bee

    Critics argued the distance is excessive, but the airport planning board disagreed. They claim the separation promotes mindfulness and gives passengers ample time to think as they take the seemingly endless walk to pick up their rental vehicle.

    April 27,2026
  • ChetCast

    Episode 280: Biker Girls

    I run out to the circle to catch up to two girls riding their bikes.

    🚲

    April 27,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Scent of Sanctity - Catholic Husband

    Life brings many great pressures, burdens, and challenges. We are not made to carry them alone. The less we trust in ourselves and our abilities, and the more we place that trust in God, the closer we move to Him in our spiritual journey.

    April 27,2026
  • Kristi Noem Has Continued Using a Waterfront Coast Guard House Since Ouster - WSJ

    Noem has continued to use the house since Trump ousted her from DHS in early March. She officially left the job after Markwayne Mullin was confirmed as the new secretary

    You can’t buy class.

    April 23,2026
  • Trump Administration Nearing Rescue Deal for Spirit Airlines - WSJ

    “Spirit is a small airline. But there are those who love it. To those dedicated customers of Spirit, this one’s for you,” U.S. District Judge William Young, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

    On behalf of a grateful nation, we thank Judge Young for his brilliant reasoning.

    Instead of allowing JetBlue to purchase Spirit, now the American taxpayer gets to take on the risk of backstopping this truly awful company that spends more time working on its bankruptcy court filings and negotiating with its long list of creditors than it does flying.

    April 22,2026
  • Apple Notes is stealthily powerful.

    April 22,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Open to Discomfort - Catholic Husband

    When we’re comfortable, we drift towards mediocrity. Unchallenged, we fall into a malaise in which there is little movement, small momentum, and no growth. The periods in our lives that we look back on with the greatest satisfaction are the times in which we pushed through the difficult things and came out the other side, shockingly, better.

    April 20,2026
  • Trump, the Pope and a New Holy War - WSJ

    The American president and his advisers have made limited effort to justify their aggressive military actions, which also meet none of the traditional Catholic just war criteria.

    This is a very long article, with uncharacteristically weak editing. The absolute assertion that military action against Iran meet “none” of the criteria is ridiculous on its face. Setting aside 40 years of terrorism on land and the high seas, this is a regime that two months ago murdered 30,000 people in cold blood for the high crime of challenging their political government.

    The article got worse, and the argument weakened precipitously, and I reached the end feeling disrespected. Why would the Journal waste my time with such a poor work product?

    April 18,2026
  • The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago Is Finally Here. Tickets Will Cost $30. - WSJ

    Illinois residents, who helped underwrite some infrastructure costs, will get in free on Tuesdays and receive a $4 discount other days. They must show proof of residency, which conservatives say is hypocritical given Democratic opposition to voter ID requirement.

    April 16,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Building - Catholic Husband

    It takes more than one mistake, or one faulty brick, to collapse a building. It’s the grace of physics and of discipline. A single weak brick in a facade is a problem, but is also supported by the strong bricks all around it. Parenting is not a zero sum scenario, but it does require focus applied over time.

    April 13,2026
  • Trump Warns Iran To Accept His Ultimatum Or Face Wrath Of Next Ultimatum - The Onion

    “You may think I’m bluffing, but believe me when I say you will feel the full weight of my social media posts.”

    April 6,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Freedom - Catholic Husband

    Countries are big places, and there are the selfless and the selfish, the serving and the self-serving. It shouldn’t offend of sensibilities to see in our government a mirror, although it might nudge us closer to virtue.

    April 6,2026
  • In the garden

    Altar stripped bare
    April 2,2026
  • April 2,2026
  • I see all of these corporate April Fools jokes and I can’t help but think about all of the time that went into coming up with a concept and finishing the design.

    We need humor and levity, but humor is best enjoyed when it bubbles up naturally.

    This is just a waste of time and effor.

    April 1,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Reconciled - Catholic Husband

    In youth, I loathed the season of Lent; now I harvest its fruits. In youth, I guiltily avoided Reconciliation; now I embrace the process of refinement. This is the life of the Christian. I do the hard things to make myself a more prefect reflection of Love.

    March 30,2026
  • Just a few more days.

    Statues wrapped in church
    March 29,2026
  • There is an inverse correlation between a movie’s rating on Rotten Tomatoes and how good it actually is.

    🍿

    March 29,2026
  • Venerable Fulton Sheen to be beatified in St. Louis on 24 September - Vatican News

    After his heroic virtue was recognized, Fulton Sheen was declared Venerable in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. In 2019, Pope Francis authorized a decree recognizing a miracle through his intercession.

    March 28,2026
  • Therefore the Lord exhorts us to wait with patient and reverent faith until the end comes… It is not a blessed dissolution that awaits us, nor is nonexistence the fruit, nor annihilation the appointed reward of faith. Instead, the end is the final attainment of the promised blessedness, in which the goal of perfect happiness is reached, with no further goal beyond. For these, “the end” is to abide in the condition of uninterrupted rest toward which they are pressing.

    • St. Hilary of Poitiers, On the Trinity
    March 27,2026
  • That moment when you’re in a very long confession line with your children and the total legend parochial vicar shows up and opens a second line.

    GOAT!

    March 27,2026
  • My favorite kind of weather.

    ⛈️

    Raindrops on glass
    March 27,2026
  • The Tourist

    🍿

    March 26,2026
  • Nine days until I can pick my knife again.

    March 26,2026
  • Trump Postpones Iran Strikes Until They All Assemble In One Place Again For A Meeting - Babylon Bee

    “We are glad to hear Trump is postponing other strikes,” one insider said. “It’s a welcome sign that this may all be over soon. We’re all going to schedule a meeting at Omar’s house to discuss these negotiations with the Americans and see where we go from here.”

    March 24,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Push Harder - Catholic Husband

    Life should not be hard all the time, but choosing something slightly harder, and ignoring the path of least resistance, is a sure path to growth.

    March 23,2026
  • Dawn’s early light.

    First light of the day
    March 22,2026
  • Working remotely on my MacBook Pro.

    These speakers are amazing!

    March 19,2026
  • Marking the 13th anniversary of Catholic Husband.

    1,072 blog posts published.

    March 19,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Reign - Catholic Husband

    Discipline is uncomfortable, difficult, and at times, unpleasant. Its fruit, however, is the sweetest of all. A man who fully commands himself is not subject to the agenda of another.

    March 16,2026
  • I just realized I can link files in macOS Finder to specific tasks in Things.app.

    So when I’m working on a task, I don’t have to hunt for my work files!

    March 12,2026
  • Iran Warns U.S. It Has Huge Stockpile Of Supreme Leaders - Babylon Bee

    the regime said on Tuesday that it had secretly spent the last several years working behind the scenes to enrich raw mullahs into weapons-grade supreme leaders.

    March 10,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    These Better Things - Catholic Husband

    We yearn for stability, clarity, and certainty, but when the losses stack up day after day, week upon week, and year after year, it’s an act of moral courage to continue to choose hope and trust.

    March 9,2026
  • Grilled pizza.

    🍕

    Pizza on a grill
    March 8,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Long Lens - Catholic Husband

    We can clean up our act in Lent, and maybe even kick an attachment to sin that we’ve fought for decades. But Lent is a season; holiness is the work of a lifetime. We need to be intense in Lent, we need to shift our focus and get intense, but it should be in service of a larger arc in our story.

    March 2,2026
  • Abram went as the LORD directed him.

    Genesis 12:4

    March 1,2026
  • Reading

    Cold Zero📚

    Brad Thor for the last two decades has launched a new installment in his Scot Harvath series each summer. So I was surprised when I went onto Amazon in the fall to pre-order his summer book to see that he had a winter release, too. Co-authored with another writer from the modern warfare thriller genre, Cold Zero tracks fierce competition above the Arctic Circle.

    I wasn’t sure in the beginning, and at times the plot moved painfully slow. The dialogue was rougher than I was used to coming from Thor, feeling in many ways flat and predictable. Much of the plot was walking around, and it came off as monotonous without serving a greater purpose.

    Now at the end, with the typical quick resolution in the final few pages, I think the overall story worked. I wished there was more meat on the bones, but this could work as a collaborative story telling with a little more refinement.

    ISBN: 978-166866379

    February 28,2026
  • I don’t know what it is about third-party file storage services, but they always screw up my Mac.

    At least in this round I was able to use AI to diagnose and solve the problem. But seriously, these services are over 15 years old, how is this still happening?

    February 24,2026
  • People really respond to a bow tie.

    February 24,2026
  • How did I make it all these years in Things without using tags?

    February 24,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Mother - Catholic Husband

    Mary sees herself as mother to each of us, in a real and concrete way. This is not a room mom or a house mom, a relationship in a communal form; this is direct and personal connection to each of us.

    February 23,2026
  • Reinventing The Dining Experience: This Cafe Modeled Their Payment System After Healthcare Billing So Chefs, Waiters, And Dishwashers Can Invoice You Separately For Completely Random Amounts Weeks To Months Later - Clickhole

    Cut to four months later, and you’ll receive another invoice from the line cook for services including cooking chicken (“Protein Thermal Processing Treatment – $6.22”) and chopping lettuce (“Vegetative Component Structural Reduction – $3.34), and so on and so forth, until the restaurant’s wait and kitchen staff have all individually charged you for every distinct action they undertook during your dining experience

    February 23,2026
  • Reading

    Currently reading: The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett 📚

    February 23,2026
  • Toddler Review: This Book Has A Mind-Blowing Twist That You’ll Never See Coming. It Will Change You Forever. - Babylon Bee

    I was instead presented with the manic fear of a familiar character spiraling out of control.

    February 22,2026
  • While all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, the award goes to one man. In that case, run so as to win! Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things. They do this to win a crown of leaves that withers, but we a crown that is imperishable.

    1 Cor 9:24-25

    February 22,2026
  • Reading

    Finished reading: Cold Zero by Brad Thor 📚

    February 21,2026
  • Unsettling: Your Amazon Package Came Too Fast - Clickhole

    Someone worked through the night to make sure you had shampoo at your front door by the break of dawn. Yes, you—you, who definitely could have just gone to the store for it, but instead had everyone running around like this was a rapid-fire organ delivery for a lifesaving transplant.

    February 21,2026
  • Furious Trump Imposes 1000% Tariff On Supreme Court - Babylon Bee

    “If you want your tariff rate to be zero, you have to let me use tariffs,” Trump reportedly told Chief Justice John Roberts in a heated exchange.

    February 20,2026
  • I guess today was the real Liberation Day after all.

    February 20,2026
  • Lucy approaches the iMac after practicing her poem. Benedict and Veronica join her.

    Did you finish your poem?

    Lucy: “Yes.”

    What is the title and the author?

    Lucy: “The Snail by William Cowper.”

    Benedict: “By William Caterpillar.”

    He wrote it so long ago, he’s now William Butterfly.

    February 18,2026
  • Trump Orders Drone Strike On Venezuelan Olympic Cross-Country Skier - Babylon Bee

    “What an explosive finish for Claveau-Laviolette,” she added. “Wow!”

    February 18,2026
  • Morning blend.

    ☕️

    Coffee blending
    February 17,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Always Giving - Catholic Husband

    This is ordered disorder. Life is difficult and not as it was designed, but the challenges that we face and overcome do prepare us for our eventual return to Eden. The daily work of mending our every flaw is only possible with the time, space, and circumstances that life gives us.

    February 16,2026
  • ChetCast

    Episode 279: Lucy’s First Reconciliation

    We’re back from Lucy’s big day! We catch up about her experience and thoughts on the sacrament.

    February 14,2026
  • Big day.

    ❤️

    Heart over an eye
    February 14,2026
  • I love a good heated steering wheel.

    February 13,2026
  • Turning Point USA Announces Alternative Puerto Rico - The Onion

    “Finally, Americans will be able to enjoy a family-friendly tropical paradise that actually celebrates traditional values,” said Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk, adding that the island would be known as “Port Rick,” a mistranslation of “Puerto Rico”

    February 12,2026
  • Bible Authors Admit They Were Paid $7K For Every Reference To Israel - Babylon Bee

    Hey, if the money is available, just take it. I was writing a ton about Israel anyway, for free, so why not make a little extra coin on the side? And people pretend like I’m the one who benefited from the arrangement the most, but I only had one book. You should have seen how much cash Moses came away with from the Pentateuch. ‘Israel this’ and ‘Israel that.’ He was the O.G. moneymaker with that deal.

    February 12,2026
  • Fraud Suspicions Arise As Somali Team Wins 734th Gold Medal At Winter Olympics - Babylon Bee

    “Their culture just encourages overperformance at traditional Somalian activities… like snowboarding.”

    February 12,2026
  • Apple’s “new” version of iWork is such a departure.

    Ads and upselling within the app is not something I really expect from them.

    Creator Studio doesn’t make sense to pay $130 a year when I only use Pages & Numbers.

    February 12,2026
  • Reading

    Currently reading: Cold Zero by Brad Thor 📚

    February 11,2026
  • Reading

    Discipline is Destiny 📚

    It’s a slow start to the year, and I did not pick the right book to start, but that’s okay. Discipline is Destiny is a philosophy book that tries to bring the wisdom of the ancients to the modern mind. That means it’s not really my style, but the substance was excellent.

    What started as a slog picked up mid-book, and I am now finished and satisfied with the time I spent reading it. The through line is that we have the opportunity to master ourselves, to the extent we are willing to do so. Though discipline is hard, and feels restrictive, it paradoxically frees us to be fully alive in a way that a lack of discipline boxes us into mediocrity.

    The text is good, the philosophy is sound, and I had the discipline to finish the book.

    ISBN: 978-0593191699

    February 11,2026
  • Kindergarten daughter requested her picture with the Nex Playground, but insisted that it have its “eyepatch on.”

    Nex Playground on mantle
    February 11,2026
  • After Relationship Between Parent And Child Irreparably Broken, Math Homework Is Done - Babylon Bee

    According to Jennifer Fromm, her husband and child just finished the 4.5 hour one-on-one ordeal of reducing fractions, a marathon challenge which has now destroyed any hope they might have had of a positive relationship with one another.

    February 10,2026
  • Swimming lessons for the kids and I’m poolside wrangling my email.

    Tools make it possible.

    👨🏻‍💻

    February 10,2026
  • Reading

    Finished reading: Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday 📚

    February 10,2026
  • Where has the quarter-zip fleece been all my life?

    February 10,2026
  • It’s so easy to fall into a rut and forget to challenge the systems you put in place.

    My work changed significantly six months ago, and I realized I was still doing things in the order that was optimized for the old work, not the new.

    Day one, new plan.

    Morning: Create; Afternoon: Administrate.

    February 10,2026
  • ChatGPT is better at .htaccess than I ever was.

    February 9,2026
  • The best part of the post-walk routine is the deep relaxation feeling when I finally sit down. Like laying down in bed after a really good day.

    February 9,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Limitless - Catholic Husband

    We all love a good comeback story; this is a fresh start in its fullest expression.

    February 9,2026
  • My brie game is strong.

    Baked brie on cutting board with Benchmade fixed blade
    February 8,2026
  • Journalists Shocked To Be Laid Off From Obsolete Media Outlet That Loses $100 Million Annually - Babylon Bee

    At publishing time, the paper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, admitted that he had forgotten that he owned it. “Seems like something I wouldn’t buy,” he said. “Really bad investment.”

    February 8,2026
  • Conquering the elements is a huge psychological boost.

    It’s a whole different level when you look down and see evidence of yesterday’s work still there.

    ❄️

    Snowshoe track imprint in the snow
    February 7,2026
  • I’ve been a stay-at-home dad for 12 years.

    It amazes me when I’m out in a public setting, like a doctors office, with my whole crew and the women in that space feel the need to “help” me with my children.

    I don’t think I telegraph a lack of confidence or cluelessness about how to shepherd children in public spaces, but the women are always ready to jump in and give it their all.

    The most irritating thing is that they default to the tactics that they use, unnaturally loud and rapid speech, directed two grade levels below the child they address. All the while, countering my calm and clear attempts to get the child to do what we need.

    I guess they missed the clue that these kids are used to responding to a different type of direction. That clue was when they walked into the room and all of us were seated quietly, reading our books.

    February 7,2026
  • Afternoon cold brew and Rosary while watching the snow fall outside.

    ❄️

    February 5,2026
  • Toddler Review: The Slide Is A Stunning Thrill Ride Whose Delights Never Cease - Babylon Bee

    Fortunately, the depths of joy found in a slide are such that they can never be fully plumbed. Each ride down is a universe of joy unto itself. The mysteries of the slide are indeed infinite. Did you know you can also climb up the slide?

    February 4,2026
  • It worked. ❄️

    Coffee cup with snowy background
    February 2,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Cadence - Catholic Husband

    There can be little difference between rest and idleness. Rest is to serve a purpose, to recover from something. Idleness is just not doing anything. Rest is earned when the important things are already accomplished; idleness steals the benefits we sought to obtain.

    February 2,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Prayer as Ritual - Catholic Husband

    Prayer is a ritual unto itself, and it shares many of the same characteristics of my daily coffee intake. They are moments, relational encounters with the God who made me. They are times for pause, where the weights of daily life can be set aside for calm.

    January 26,2026
  • An evening knot tying project.

    Bookshelves, fire place, and work tray
    January 24,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    In Their Proper Order - Catholic Husband

    Our energy is finite and needs to be managed, along with everything else. If I plan to make breakfast for the children and then my own, I risk exhausting my energy and schedule before it comes time to take care of myself. In the proper order, if I make my breakfast first, I’ll have the energy I need to make the children’s breakfast, and more.

    January 19,2026
  • Europe Deploys Troops to Greenland in Message to Trump - WSJ

    while a 13-person German Army reconnaissance team mobilized for a two-day deployment.

    Spare a thought tonight for their families and loved ones who have to manage the separation during this deployment. Both of those missed breakfasts are going to be tough to get through emotionally.

    January 15,2026
  • European countries send military forces to Greenland amid Trump acquisition push

    Germany deployed a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel, France sent 15 mountain specialists and Sweden, Norway and Britain sent three, two and one officers, respectively

    34 whole troops? That kind of show of force is change the thinking in Washington, Beijing, AND Moscow.

    January 15,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Digital Calm - Catholic Husband

    We do need our time, attention and focus, but I think the deeper desire that we’re not fully expressing is that we want digital calm.

    January 12,2026
  • Trump To Choose Next Venezuelan President In Inaugural Season Of ‘El Aprendiz’ - Babylon Bee

    At publishing time, the networks confirmed that the first episode of El Aprendiz would feature the contestants competing in a challenge to find out which of them could apply the most effective economic pressure to Colombia.

    January 5,2026
  • Catholic Husband

    Some Noble Purpose - Catholic Husband

    Life is unpredictable and the future is totally unknowable. But I am here for a reason. God designed me into His plan for some noble purpose, if only I will offer my own fiat.

    January 5,2026
  • Saturday afternoon scale swap.

    Brought back the OG Benchmade blue scales to my first knife, the Bugout, and put the Nebula FatCarbon scales onto the BladeHQ exclusive Bugout that I cared less about.

    There’s something exciting about seeing the original knife back in the collection.

    Benchmade Bugouts in a work tray
    January 3,2026
  • ‘Conservatives Want Women In Handmaid’s Tale Outfits,’ Declares Liberal Wearing Hijab - Babylon Bee

    “They want a culture where young women are stripped of their rights and become totally subjugated to men. Women wouldn’t be allowed to wear anything but their mandated dress, or even leave the house without permission. It’s absolutely disgusting to imagine.”

    January 3,2026
  • Democrats Confused Why Venezuelans Cheering Downfall Of Nice, Warm Collectivism - Babylon Bee

    “What’s wrong with these people?” asked liberal Stauncey Billups, watching the festivities. “How can they be happy at a time like this, with their dear, sweet collectivism being ripped away? They must not understand how good they’ve had it, being free of rugged individualism. The fools!”

    January 3,2026
  • Fresh powder.

    ❄️

    Snow in a glove
    January 1,2026