Jared McNeill

My random thoughts and views, etc.

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A new normal

BLOG: A new normal For most of my journalistic career, I've kept an odd sleep schedule.

For most of my journalistic career, I’ve kept an odd sleep schedule.

Most recently, I would go to bed at 5 or 6 a.m., just as the sun was rising, sleeping through the morning and early afternoon to greet the day at 1 or 2 p.m.

Vacations and days off never moved the needle toward what most would consider normal. After all, I would just have to go back to that odd schedule when my next work day…

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Marriage and career: A juggling act

BLOG: Marriage and career: A juggling act My wife and I work for competing companies, and our schedules seem to work against our marriage.

“I’ve heard life illustrated as a juggling act.

“In this metaphor, your family is a ball made of glass.

“All the other things that fill your schedule, like your career, hobbies, etc., are rubber balls. While it’s important to provide for your family and do your best in your chosen field, it isn’t the most important thing, and if it happens to fall out of your hands for whatever reason, it’ll…

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My top five baseball movies

BLOG: My top five baseball movies Watching a week's worth of baseball got me thinking about other ways we take in America's pastime. Sure, we enjoy going to a game, catching it on TV or listening to it on the radio, but what about movies?

Baseball season is upon us, and we’re a week into the 2017 season.

As my loyal readership knows, I took a week of vacation to catch my Cubs and the beginning of their march to what I hope will be another World Series championship.

I wasn’t disappointed, as Joe Maddon and Co. are off to a respectable 3-2 start with two wins over the hated rival St. Louis Cardinals and one against the Milwaukee…

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What I'm Watching: Vacation Edition

BLOG: What I'm Watching: Vacation Edition Sunday was opening day in Major League Baseball, so, naturally, I took a vacation to celebrate not only my beloved Cubbies' first game of their 2017 World Series title defense, but the entire first week.

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of What I’m Watching posts looking at what I’m currently viewing — or hoping to — via streaming or broadcast TV. I hope to write such pieces the first Sunday of every month. This one, however, is falling on a Monday.

Sunday was opening day in Major League Baseball, so, naturally, I took a vacation to celebrate not only my beloved Cubbies’ first game of…

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How's that weight-loss goal coming?

BLOG: How's that weight-loss goal coming? After three months, I thought I'd tell you how I'm doing to not only keep myself accountable, but to help you along the way.

On New Year’s Eve 2016, I wrote about keeping that weight-loss resolution or goal.

I listed three ideas that helped me. If you remember, they were:

1.) Set goals

2.) Track your progress

3.) Be consistent

After three months, I thought I’d tell you what I’m doing specifically in those areas to not only keep myself accountable, but to help you along the way.

1.) Set goals

Three months ago, I had a…

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Utter madness

BLOG: Utter madness Every year college basketball fans, from experts to the casual follower, fill out their brackets, join a pool and watch the games unfold.

Every year, college basketball fans, from experts to the casual follower, fill out their brackets, join a pool and watch the games unfold.

You lean on years of experience, thinking you’ve nailed every upset. You look at all the 5-12 matchups. And you even consider some 3-14s, just to be safe. You made sure you don’t have too many No. 1s in the Final Four because A.) That’s no fun and B.) All four…

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A man and his TV

BLOG: A man and his TV My wife has her books, and now, at long last, I have my TV.

There’s just something about a man and his TV.

My wife has her books, and now, at long last, I have my TV.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always had one. For the past five years or so, I’ve had a useful 32-inch Vizio flat screen in my living room. It had always performed admirably, but I was feeling the itch.

So many of my friends had moved on to bigger and better TVs, all in the 50-inch range. And I…

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Nashies, where do we go from here?

BLOG: Nashies, where do we go from here? So that last episode of "Nashville" was crazy, huh?!

So that last episode of “Nashville” was crazy, huh?

For those of you who haven’t yet seen it and plan to, STOP reading this right now and get to your DVR or streaming service and watch it. For the love of all that is good and holy, WATCH IT!

For those of us who have, continue reading.

I’ve been watching this beloved show since its October 2012 debut on ABC.

After the first couple seasons, my wife…

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An enemy of the American people's response to Trump

BLOG: An enemy of the American people's response to Trump It seems President Donald Trump's favorite pastime is taking shots at the media.

It seems President Donald Trump’s favorite pastime is taking shots at the media.

Sorry, the “dishonest media,” as he calls them.

Oh, and now, we’re “the enemy of the American People,” according to this Friday tweet:

The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2017

It…

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Stomach flu: The birthday gift I never wanted

BLOG: Stomach flu: The birthday gift I never wanted There's nothing quite like being sick on your birthday, but this was unavoidable.

There’s nothing quite like being sick on your birthday, but this was unavoidable.

It seems my newsroom has seen all kinds of illnesses invade. Colds, upper-respiratory infections, flu and stomach flu seem to be the main issues floating around our little petri dish.

Outside of getting my yearly cold, I had avoided the rest. My annual flu shot was coursing through my veins, so I wasn’t too…

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My Super Monday: A date with history

BLOG: My Super Monday: A date with history Be still my beating heart. I saw the World Series trophy. Up close.

Today, millions of people will celebrate what has become a national — if not global — holiday, Super Bowl Sunday.

Unfortunately, after starting the season on a torrid 5-0 pace, my Minnesota Vikings didn’t even sniff the playoffs and look to be in disarray heading into the offseason. Will surefire future Hall-of-Famer Adrian Peterson return to the backfield? When — or will — Teddy Bridgewater…

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God bless you, Netflix

BLOG: God bless you, Netflix On this glorious streaming service, I've found and binge-watched many a show.

Today I finished “Parks and Recreation,” a modern classic sitcom that lasted seven seasons on NBC and lives on in syndication — and Netflix, where I found it.

On this glorious streaming service, I’ve found and binge-watched many a show, and it all started with “The West Wing.”

I began watching the political drama about President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet and his senior staff back when I first…

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An evangelical response to Trump

BLOG: An evangelical response to Trump We are called to pray for our leaders. Yes, even President Donald Trump.

A few months ago, I lamented evangelicals’ support of Donald Trump in electing him to the nation’s highest office.

Months before that, I respectfully disagreed with my fellow brothers and sisters in the faith who supported the man most people of good conscience find morally repugnant.

But now, largely due to the 81 percent of white evangelicals who cast their ballot for him, he is now officially…

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The pressures of having a kid

BLOG: The pressures of having a kid We always intended to have kids at some point, but that far away, nonspecific future date feels more and more like a looming presence with each passing day, week, month and year.

My wife turned 31 this weekend.

I turn 35 in less than a month. 35. Smack dab in my mid-30s.

When did we get this old?

It’s not all bad, though. We’re both college graduates with jobs. We’re mildly successful in our chosen careers. We have minimal longterm debt hanging over our heads.

We also have an eye toward a brighter future. And we’re hoping that future starts this year.

Why? Because as of…

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Can't wait to hang this up in my cubicle. Love me some @theawkwardyeti and Heart and Brain. #TheAwkwardYeti #Heart #Brain #calendar2017 #calendar #ItsGoldJerry #ComedyGold #Brilliant #Hilarious #webcomics (at Keokuk, Iowa)

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Keeping that weight-loss resolution

BLOG: Keeping that weight-loss resolution Losing weight is one of the most common resolutions we make this time of year. And yet, it's one of the most difficult things a person can do.

Losing weight is one of the most common resolutions we make this time of year.

And yet, it’s one of the most difficult things a person can do.

Why? Because despite what ads want to sell you or other blogs tell you, it all boils down to work and commitment.

This is me, all 280-plus pounds, a little more than three years ago. Scroll down to find me now.

That’s it.

And while that doesn’t sound like…

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Tales of a gift-wrapping virgin

BLOG: Tales of a gift-wrapping virgin On Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, I did something I've never done.

On Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, I did something I’ve never done.

For almost 35 years, I’ve avoided it.

But this year, there was no escape. There was no time. I had run out of options. And the walls were closing in.

Closer.

Closer.

Closer.

So I gave in. I had no choice.

That’s right, I … wrapped … presents.

Oh, the horror.

Normally, and for my entire life, I’ve set about having others take care of this…

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