My favorite things 2025
Every year, I keep a bullet journal. It’s just memories, thoughts, and some photos. And at the end of the year, I like to flip back through it. Not to analyze anything necessarily. Just to remember. It’s easy to forget how many small, good things are packed into a year once it’s over.
I love a good “best of” list, and I look forward to spending time every year reading everyone’s posts about the music, books, products, and things that they enjoyed and experienced throughout the year.
So, building on those traditions, I’m sharing my own list for the first time. It’s a mix of moments, experiences, and a few everyday comforts that stood out this year. Many of them are heavy on “the feels.” Fun, pride, gratitude. Taken together, they reflect just how fortunate I’ve felt.
This is only a short list. There were many more things, big and small, that were on my master list. I mean, my son got engaged this year, we visited San Diego as a family, I got to shoot a shotgun for the first time. My daughter got accepted to Ohio State, and I got to attend my first Ohio State game. My son Matthew made a short film about my brother and me. There are too many good, interesting, fun things that happened. I just can’t list them all.
So with that, here are just a few of my favorite things that I thought I’d share.
1. My son became an official MLB Umpire
Watching my son Brendan put in the work, grind through the training and studying, the pressure, and the egos, and finally reach the level he dreamed about was deeply satisfying to watch. I’ve always told my kids that they can do anything in life if they work hard enough. This statement has almost become cliché with parenting these days. But my son proved this advice to be true.
Becoming an MLB umpire is almost as hard as a player making it to the MLB. Not everyone can do it. Not everyone has the dedication and stamina to do it. Most end up being forced to give up their dream.
I will always remember the phone call where he told us that he was actually hired. Tears were flowing for all of us, and I felt so proud of him for working so hard and not giving up. I also felt proud of myself as his father for always telling him that he could literally do anything in life. Encouraging him, supporting him, and never doubting.
I should mention that he’s not actually umpiring yet at the major league level. He just works for the MLB in the minors–just like most players would if they were just drafted. Over the summer, though, he was actually promoted to single A, which is even more rare for a first-year umpire. Then he was asked to come back and actually be an instructor at the school he just graduated from. So many successes.
He was gone from our lives for most of the year, which really sucked. But most nights, we could turn on the TV and see him on the field behind the plate at his games. It was surreal, and I’m still adjusting to the idea that he actually did it.
Brendan is on the right.
2. Succeeding with Weight Watchers
I’m not exactly fat. But I’ve spent the last 20 years of my life fighting what could have gone south quickly. I love to eat and drink. On top of it, I’m now 54 years old, and my body loves to store fat.
This year, I went to my annual checkup and complained to my doctor about feeling fat, and she recommended Weight Watchers. The idea of counting “points” was a little annoying. But if someone tells me that something works and to just follow the process, I can do that all day.
What surprised me most was how sustainable it felt. I didn’t feel like I was on a diet. It simply helped me make better decisions more often, and that added up pretty quickly. I even learned that I could go back to eating a light breakfast in the morning and that carbs and fruits can be “ok. I ended up losing over 10 pounds and put on muscle on top of it.
It’s still a daily battle, and I’m winning and losing. But I know what works now and will keep resetting every day to try and maintain a healthy weight.
For those struggling with their weight, try Weight Watchers. Follow exactly what they say to do. Stay below your points for the day and be active. That’s all you have to do, and you will lose weight.
Sidenote: I also committed to simple strength training this year. Just basic curls and lifts with free weights. It feels great. I have no aches and pains. I think the added muscle has possibly helped with burning calories too.
3. Donating a Painting That Raised $750
Letting go of a painting is always a little personal. But watching it turn into real support for a good cause shifted how I think about the work. For me, it was worth more than money in my pocket.
It reminded me that art can be useful beyond personal satisfaction, decor on a wall, or monetary compensation. Your art can be a direct force for good.
Conductor (Painted paper and collage on canvas with custom-made frame - Approx: 24×24 on canvas)
4. Learning how to create stained glass with my daughter
My daughter Abby and I took a stained glass class this year. I love learning new things, and it was fascinating to get a “hands-on” experience around how stained glass creations are made. It was a lot of fun and a little dangerous if I’m being honest. We came away from the experience with a greater appreciation of the art.
Doing something creative side by side with my daughter felt grounding. These are the moments in life that matter.
We ended up hanging the little suncatchers in our dining room window together. I now see them every morning. It’s a daily reminder for me of how much I love my daughter and how we are always bonded, even when we’re apart.
5. Rum and Coconut Old Fashioned
I love a good cocktail–sometimes a little too much. I enjoy bourbon, especially bourbon old-fashioneds. This year, we went on two cruises, one with friends and one with family, and the rum old-fashioned cocktail was an enjoyable part of both trips.
I bonded with friends, bonded with my sons, and I can still remember many of the moments where this drink enhanced my day. Not because of the alcohol buzz. It was just an anchor that enhanced moments that I remember. Chatting with good friends on the deck, playing trivia in the bars, sitting on the edge of the pool, people watching with my son, and having dinners with the entire family while watching the sea flow by.
The drink did not enable these experiences. The flavors of rum and coconut just became tied to the experiences. Now it pulls me back to all those moments by the ocean with family and friends whenever I get to have one of these simple cocktails again.
Recipe:
2 oz quality aged rum
¼ oz toasted coconut syrup (Liber and Co.)
3 dashes orange bitters (or Angostura bitters)
Orange slice and toasted coconut flakes for garnish
Stir and pour over a large ice cube in a cocktail glass
6. Visiting Disneyland
It might seem odd, but one of my heroes in life is Walt Disney. If I had to simplify it down, I would just reference a quote that is attributed to him. “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
Everyone around him, including his own brother, literally told him that he was crazy every step of the way. For most people, their dreams would end right there. Walt was a true visionary, and his tenacity resulted in one of the most respected and valuable companies in history. As I said previously, I’ve always tried to teach my kids that you can literally do almost anything in life if you work hard enough and “stick to it”. One of my favorite quotes of all time, “Find a good idea and stick with it,” is attributed to Walt, and I believe in this idea wholeheartedly.
I could go on and on about what I admire about Walt. His attention to detail, his deep dedication to quality, his approach to customer service, and his innovative and creative thinking.
So, when I got to go with my family this year to the actual place that Walt built and walk the paths that he walked and touch the things that he touched, it was a big deal for me.
I don’t believe in ghosts, but I felt his presence everywhere. Walking through Disneyland in California was like walking with the man himself. Simply because every inch of that place, and every person who works there, embodies his values and continues his vision every day. It’s exactly like when he was alive. This is probably why it feels like he’s actually still alive, and in a way, he is.
I’m a huge fan of George Lucas for many of the same reasons I admire Walt Disney. So when Disney acquired Lucasfilm, it felt like a natural fit to me. Star Wars land at Disneyland was amazing.
7. Dolphins in the Pacific
We were on a cruise in the Pacific this year, just relaxing, reading, and enjoying some quiet time on the deck. Suddenly, someone said, “Look at the dolphins.”
I’ve seen dolphins in the wild before, up close and personal. We’ve swum with dolphins. Believe it or not, I’ve even ridden a dolphin. Crazy, I know. Natural experiences with wild animals don’t get much better than that.
When I first looked up from my book, I was expecting to see a few off in the distance as usual. But when we looked out, it was overwhelming. There weren’t a few dolphins. There were thousands. They surrounded the ship, moving with it, leaping out of the water in every direction as far as we could see.
They weren’t just swimming alongside us. They were playing. Jumping, spinning, cutting through the waves like the ship was part of their game. The sheer number of dolphins was so vast that it was honestly hard to take in. Everyone around us went quiet, like we all instinctively knew this was something rare.
It’s hard to explain the scale of it unless you were there. I’m not even going to post photos and videos because they wouldn’t come close. I’m still in awe of seeing it all take place right outside our window. Talk about once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
8. Muesli
I discovered Muesli this year. It’s a cereal. I picked it off a buffet as an afterthought, and it quickly became one of my favorite things. It’s literally a morning ritual now.
Muesli is basically a simple cereal made from raw oats mixed with things like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. It’s usually not sweetened and not cooked, so it’s more natural and less processed than most boxed cereals or quick oatmeal. I just fill up a mason jar and cover it with unsweetened almond milk, and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.
I eat it cold, topped off with more cold almond milk. Sometimes, fresh fruit, if it’s available. The oats slowly soften as they soak, but they still have some texture, which is kind of the point. You don’t have to eat a lot of it. A quarter to a half cup of the cereal is enough.
This is now part of my morning ritual. I’ve deprived myself of breakfast for many years now in the name of losing weight. But I oddly look forward to this now every day. It’s one of my favorite things, and it’s so simple.
9. Matthew Working on Film Sets and Photography
I’ve always been a film and photography buff. If I could have chosen a different career path, I would have been a drummer. But after that, I would have worked in the movie industry or been a photographer. Specifically, I would have probably worked for Disney or Lucasfilm if I had a choice. But I took a different path. It all worked out.
Anyway, imagine my excitement to see my son having a passion for filmmaking and photography. My son Matthew is a senior this year at Kent State, and it’s so fun to see him out there doing the work on real film sets and jobs.
He’s ambitious, he’s having fun, he’s getting real experience, and it’s another one of those things that makes you proud as a parent. Your child is chasing their dreams and succeeding because they have passion and support. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Matthew photographing his brother and his fiancée for their engagement photos. Photo credit: Chris Auman
10. Neil Peart’s Book Ghost Rider
I aggressively try to keep sad things out of my life. I don’t watch medical dramas, police shows about murder mysteries, or dramas if I know the storyline is going to be anything but positive in the end. I don’t watch the news. I don’t engage in sad conversations if I can help it. I would avoid my own funeral if I could.
So, that said, it took me some time to tackle this book. It’s the saddest story that I’ve ever heard in my life. As I’m writing this, I’m still surprised that I did it.
Neil Peart is one of the greatest drummers of all time. But this book isn’t about drumming. It’s about the deepest grief imaginable, and choosing to keep going and finding a way forward when the absolute worst happens to you.
Neil lost his only daughter and his wife within a span of about 10 months. His daughter lost her life in a car accident. His wife died of cancer, but he believes that she ultimately lost her life due to a broken heart. She was just never able to recover from the loss of her child.
What happened to him is my absolute greatest fear, and I would rather die myself than have to go through it. I would willingly sign up for someone to take my life rather than to lose a child or my wife.
I think I ended up tackling this book because I like and admire Neil Peart. He reminds me a lot of myself. A musician. Lover of music and art. Businessman. Yet he’s quiet, introverted, nerdy. Despite being wealthy and famous, he loved the simple things in life. Friends, family, nature, travel, art, cars, and motorcycles.
This book is about how he made it through something so utterly devastating that it would kill most people. It would probably kill me. Yet, he made it through losing both of the most important people in his life and came out the other side somehow.
Why did I read this book, and also enjoy it? As I mentioned, I like Neil Peart as a person. So there’s that. But, if I had to decide, I would say that I wanted to face my own fears. I really don’t know, honestly. But, somehow, reading this book helped me to continually remember that what we feel is “bad” in life, really isn’t that bad. “Bad” is when you lose your entire family within the span of a single year. On our worst days, we really are blessed. But we have to remember, in the end, when bad things happen, life can go on.
Image credit: Clayton Call
11. Sedona + Hike
For more than fifty years, I’d seen pictures of Sedona. Postcards, books, screens. Still, being there in person was almost too much to process. The landscape feels prehistoric, vast, and impossibly beautiful. My brain kept resisting the idea that it was real. I’m so used to experiencing places through a screen that standing inside something this massive and unfiltered felt disorienting in the best way.
There was a strange moment of mental lag, like my senses were ahead of my understanding. I was surrounded by something undeniable, yet part of me struggled to fully accept it. Seeing the world through screens for so long has quietly trained me to doubt reality, even when it’s right in front of me. It reminded me how much different it feels to encounter something in real life with no filter between you and the world.
I should also mention that we ended up there in July. You’ve heard about the Arizona heat in summer, and it’s no joke. If you’re not somewhat fit and fully loaded with enough water, you could lose your life. It’s real. 115-degree heat on a sunny day is something that I’ve never experienced before. I quickly became thankful for the park rangers who were stationed at the trailhead to ensure that everyone was taking enough water. In the end, it was an exerating combination of incredible beauty and potential death.
We experienced some of the most amazing things we’ve ever seen with our eyes. At the same time, if we weren’t properly prepared, death (or at least hospitalization) could have been waiting around the corner. Maybe this is why people risk their lives to climb mountains, explore the seas, and outer space. It helped us to appreciate the world around us and our fragile place within it.
Plus, the air conditioning, the ice water, the awesome wood-fired pizza, and cold, frosty beer that we found after our hike were literally the best things I’ve consumed in my life because of it. The fact that I got to experience this all with my entire family was something I’ll never forget.
Sedona 2025 Selfie.
12. Quality, Comfortable Socks
This seems small and really silly, but I’m serious… Comfortable socks improve the baseline of everyday life. Especially in winter.
They don’t fix big problems. They just add that little bit of extra comfort in your day. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need. It’s cliché, but it’s the little things that matter in life most of the time. You could be the richest person in the world, but all it takes is a pair of good socks to make your day enjoyable.
I’ve made it through most of my life without caring about socks. Most of the time in the summer, I don’t really ever wear anything on my feet if I can help it. But, going forward, whenever I have to put on socks, they’re going to be good ones. You’re probably rolling your eyes right now. Go ahead. But my steps will be just a little more enjoyable than yours in the future.
13. New York Wine Country
When I was a kid, my parents took us camping in New York wine country. The trip was about family, food, wine, and enjoying the outdoors and the beautiful scenery. When my wife and I got married, we continued the tradition and even brought friends along.
We’ve been back over the years with our own family and had a lot of fun when the kids were younger. Fast forward to today and our kids are grown and now of legal drinking age. It was a full-circle moment that everyone thoroughly enjoyed and genuinely appreciated.
Some notable memories and recommendations if you’re looking to plan a long weekend trip in the fall.
Wine tastings: Bully Hill was the standout. We had a great lunch and an awesome (and very affordable and educational) wine tasting overlooking the lake. It was our son’s first real introduction to tasting, comparing, and learning about different wines. We visited several wineries over the weekend, but everyone unanimously agreed that the first stop was the best wine tasting. Everyone learned a lot about wine and what they liked. Plus, at $1 per tasting, it was one of the cheapest options to experience a wide variety of wines on the lakes.
Big breakfasts were a must as we prepared for full days of winery hopping. We tried three hole-in-the-wall spots and enjoyed all of them for different reasons. Each had its own rustic ambiance. I think our favorite was called Trail’s End. Cozy, big portions, attentive service, family-owned, great prices.
Pizza, live music, and sunsets at the breweries rounded things out. Wine may be the focus in this region, but over the years, breweries and distilleries have popped up. We visited Grist Iron Brewing and enjoyed pizza and beers out on the deck in the sun. The highlight was Scale House Brewery, where we had dinner, incredible live music, and the most amazing sunset over the lake. One of the best meals I’ve ever had, and a perfect family memory.
We’ve visited 3 Brothers Winery in the past, and for some reason, our memories weren’t great. I can’t quite pin down why. Maybe because we tend to end up at this location at the end of the day every time, and we’re a little tired and ready to wrap up the day. This time was different. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we were literally the last people there after hundreds had come and gone. We sat watching the sunset, finishing our beers, and waving as employees packed up and left. We just didn’t want to leave.
We were also celebrating the engagement of our oldest son this year and discovered an incredible sunflower field next to 3 Brothers Winery. I’ve never seen anything like it. Engagement photos followed, led by our son Matthew, who captured some amazing moments.
There were too many memories to list here, including an unforgettable hike through Watkins Glen, quiet time on the dock by the lake, card games in the evenings, and perfect weather with cloudless skies all weekend.
Photo Credit: Chris Auman
14. New Drum Set
I’ve played drums since I was 7 years old. My parents, for some reason, decided to buy me a drumset without me even asking. Music has been an important part of my life ever since.
I’ve had many drumsets over the years. I’ve only had one, really nice drumset in my life, and I ended up selling it years ago because I didn’t have space for it in my house, and my family didn’t have space for the noise in their life.
I’ve been playing on a small Roland electric practice kit for years to solve these two problems. But this year, I was able to upgrade to a full-sized electric drum set. It’s almost the best electronic set that you can buy at the moment, and I love it. After playing now for almost 48 years, I can’t imagine anything much better.
I don’t plan on joining a band because the thought of transporting my drums around town isn’t appealing to me. Just getting these babies set up properly in one spot has been a challenge. My plan is to actually produce and record music in collaboration with AI in my basement, where these new drums will provide that all-important human element. Stay tuned.
15: Sailing down the coast of Cabo San Lucas
For the longest time, I’ve wanted to visit Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Why? Follow me on this…. Since I was a kid, I’ve been a fan of the band Van Halen. Specifically, the version of Van Halen with Sammy Hagar. Sammy owns a bar in Cabo called Cabo Wabo Cantina. There’s also a Van Halen song called Cabo Wabo.
Anyway, I’ve always wanted to go. I wanted to do the “Cabo Wabo”, as Sammy sang in the song. Unfortunately, we never made it to the bar. Cabo, as a town, was generally disappointing as well. But the highlight was a sailing trip that we chartered and all the beautiful sights along the way.
We left the marina and sailed past The Arch of Cabo San Lucas or Land’s End, then casually cruised down the coast into the open water. Snacks of grilled shrimp and margaritas were served as we soaked up the warm sun. We eventually anchored and swam and snorkeled with the fish in the Pacific and were served dinner of Ceviche and salad in the late afternoon sun. Then we cruised back up the coast amongst flying fish and a fun, but odd, 1970’s soundtrack over the speakers. The highlight was sailing back into port as the sun set over Cabo in a brilliant explosion. I believe ABBA was playing. It was great to be there and experience it together as a family.
