Monthly Archives: December 2025

Tasting Tuesday Wednesday: A Christmas “Best Of” Bourbon Showdown

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Twelve bottles. Four tasting flights. One unexpected sleeper and one very familiar champion. A Christmas trip to the mountains turned into a “best of my shelf” bourbon showdown—proof that great whiskey doesn’t care about price, hype, or even what day of the week it is. Continue reading →

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2025–26 College Football Bowl Season: Schedule, TV, Odds & Pick ’Em Tracker (Update through games of 1/1)

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Bowl season is already underway, with games in the books and more kicking off this week. Here’s a complete, up-to-date look at the 2025–26 bowl season — dates, times, TV, matchups, odds, and a Pick ’Em tracker you can use all the way through the College Football Playoff. Check back often for updates, predictions, and results as the postseason unfolds. Continue reading →

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Cotton Bowl Preview and Prediction

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

No. 2 Ohio State (12-1) faces No. 10 Miami (11-2) in the Cotton Bowl CFP Quarterfinal tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Buckeyes’ elite defense and QB Julian Sayin overpower Miami’s gritty unit in a semifinal push. Prediction: Ohio State 31, Miami 17. Continue reading →

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Las Vegas Bowl Preview and Prediction

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Nebraska (7-5) faces No. 15 Utah (10-2) in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Heavy opt-outs cripple the Huskers (QB Dylan Raiola out), while Utah’s elite rushing attack and roster health dominate. Prediction: Utah 34, Nebraska 17. Continue reading →

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What Makes Me Feel Nostalgic: How Small Objects Hold Our Biggest Memories

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

It doesn’t take much to make me nostalgic. A pen. A song. A movie. A scrap of paper left behind. Some people see clutter—but I see proof: of places I’ve been, people I’ve loved, and moments that mattered more than I knew at the time. Continue reading →

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Citrus Bowl Preview and Prediction

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

No. 23 Iowa (8-4) battles No. 14 Vanderbilt (10-2) in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31 at noon ET on ESPN. Nearly full-strength rosters set up a classic clash: Iowa’s elite defense vs. Diego Pavia’s explosive Vandy offense. Prediction: Vanderbilt 27, Iowa 20. Continue reading →

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Sun Bowl Preview and Prediction

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Arizona State (8-4) faces ACC champ Duke (8-5) in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 at 2:00 p.m. ET on CBS. Heavy opt-outs hit ASU hard (QB Sam Leavitt, WR Jordyn Tyson out), while Duke’s relative health and QB Darian Mensah tip the scales. Prediction: Duke 30, Arizona State 20. Continue reading →

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Reliaquest Bowl Preview and Prediction

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

No. 23 Iowa (8-4) battles No. 14 Vanderbilt (10-2) in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31 at noon ET on ESPN. Nearly full-strength rosters set up a classic clash: Iowa’s elite defense vs. Diego Pavia’s explosive Vandy offense. Prediction: Vanderbilt 27, Iowa 20. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (New Year’s Eve): First Things First

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Read Proverbs 6:6-11 Go to the ant, O sluggard;consider her ways, and be wise.—Proverbs 6:6  Reflect Long before Aesop’s fables—and long before cartoons—King Solomon pointed to one of God’s smallest creatures and said, “Pay attention.” He advised lazy people to … Continue reading →

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Relationships That Add to My Life (and the Ones That Should Come With a Warning Label)

Posted on December 30, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Some relationships recharge your life; others quietly drain the battery while smiling at you. I’m grateful for the people who bring peace, laughter, and perspective—and I’ve learned, the hard way, that not every relationship deserves shelf space. This is a friendly, slightly sarcastic inventory of both. Continue reading →

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