Monthly Archives: February 2026

Quick Thought – Friday, February 20, 2026: Shine Your Light

Posted on February 20, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read Matthew 5:13-16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 Reflect How far away do you think you … Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 29: Wolcott Bonded: Worth the Gamble?

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Spirits Direct makes me cautious. Barton has me skeptical. But at $35, Wolcott Bottled-in-Bond might be a Bourbon Cheapskate worth keeping on the shelf — especially when stacked against its 125-proof sibling. Continue reading →

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Sixty Miles in Orange and Blue Shoes

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

In 2006, as my mother battled breast cancer, I laced up a pair of orange and blue Mizunos and walked sixty miles over three days. They didn’t cure anything, but they carried me through one of the hardest seasons of my life — step by step, mile by mile. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Thursday, February 19, 2026: What Comes Out of the Mouth

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read Matthew 15:10-20 “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Matthew 15:11 Reflect The Bible has a lot to say about the words we speak. Words spoken … Continue reading →

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The Gift That Stopped Time

Posted on February 18, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A few Christmases ago, my daughter gave me something I didn’t even know I still longed for — a custom portrait that reunited three generations of our family, including my mother, who passed away in 2007. It hangs in our living room now, a daily reminder of legacy, love, and a daughter who knows her father’s heart. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (Ash Wednesday)

Posted on February 18, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read Matthew 4:1-11 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 4:2 Reflect What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without food? Without water? Scientists tell us that you can go for more than three weeks without … Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Pour I’ve Ignored

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The bottle that started it all. Before barrel finishes and 125-proof bruisers, Evan Williams Single Barrel was my “serious bourbon.” Tonight, I revisited the 1998 and 2015 vintages — and discovered that sometimes the value isn’t in the proof… it’s in the memory. Continue reading →

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The Budget Whisperer (In Training)

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I’d love to tell you that I operate on a color-coded spreadsheet with quarterly projections and a fully funded emergency account labeled “Unexpected Appliance Apocalypse.” The truth? My budgeting style has historically been more improvisational jazz. I’m getting better — slowly — and Future Doug is very proud of that. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Friday, February 17, 2023: The Key of Forgiveness

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read Ephesians 4:17-32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 Reflect Sometimes heroes come in different shapes and sizes. Often, they’re so unlikely that they could be standing right in … Continue reading →

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Rat-a-Tat Patriotism

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Am I patriotic? I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t. We lived outside of Philadelphia in 1976 — which meant my entire fourth-grade year felt like one long, living history lesson. While other kids memorized dates from a textbook, … Continue reading →

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