Alex Orr, I guess

SPOOOOOOOOOOOOON

Ran a 5k on a frozen lake this morning with ~1000 other idiots, so yeah, it’s doable.

Go Illini, sim to end.

Spoon, you gentleman and scholar.

Thank you kindly, Spoon.

Not the App State vs Michigan game.

THE POPE'S STILL GOT IT

[butt rock plays, cut off by sound of bear growling]

YOU'RE LISTENING TO MIKEY AND THE POPE IN THE MORNING

[m-m-MORNING]

here to give you all the bears talk you need on your commute

[whistle blows, QB says hike, gregorian chanting]

now here's mikey and our heavenly father, LIVE from lakeview

Not exactly thrilled it was Wisconsin that did it, but oh well.

So they CAN bleed…

A’ja Wilson attending an Illini WBB game in Champaign is probably a high water mark for the program.

YES BLUCIFER, MY LORD.

Servinski’s crew with a horrific missed call, right on time.

If not for nothing, I’m heading into 2026 with optimism and a renewed focus to run the damn ball.

Some steps in the right direction, still some things about me/my life that could use some improvement that didn’t change much in the last 12 months (to quote John Prine again, “but actually, everything is just about the same”), so hopefully 2026 builds off the momentum from 2025 for me.

5) I finally got into somewhat decent shape, partially due to getting a bike. I worked my way up from 30 miles to 50 to a metric century to finally a full century at the beginning of fall. I also got back into running regularly for the first time since…high school? It’s been a long time coming.

4) I bought a bike. That’s probably the biggest highlight of 2025 for me. Besides the health benefits, there’s something particularly satisfying about using a bike to run errands or go to a concert or go to a soccer match. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

3) Visited a few more national parks for the first time. Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Acadia are all astonishing in their own special ways. Not sure what I’ll get lined up this year, but looking forward to knocking a few more off the list when I get the chance.

1) I went to a couple of the best concerts I think I’ll ever go to in my life. QOTSA and The Beths are both bands that you should consider traveling to see.

2) I went to my first ever political protest! Apparently I hit my breaking point this year? Looking forward to the next big one though.

Gonna get some feelings out on the internet and reflect on the past year.

To quote John Prine, 2025 was pretty good, not bad, can’t complain for me. A couple highlights:

FULLBACK DIVE BARRY LUNNEY YOU ABSOLUTE MAD LAD.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED SYNCING UP 2 ANGLES YOU IDIOTS

Certified Illini Moment

A half empty Enterprise Center (the empty half being the Mizzou side)

Illinois posing with the massive Braggin Rights trophy

COOKED

Pronouncing “Cairo Santos” like the Illinois city

YOUR EYES REFLECT LOVE AND DESIRE

I KNOW WHAT YOUR EYES SAY

YOU LOOK AT ME THAT WAY

(the opening riff of Baby I’m Burning starts softly playing)