Running Out of Summer and Straight Back Into Reality

 

Running Out of Summer and Straight Back Into Reality

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for August 31, 2025

Life’s been nonstop since we got back from Hawaii, but we did make time to celebrate Miss Sheri’s 58th birthday. We had family, way too much food, and the reminder that cake calories don’t count if you eat them quickly. Time moves too fast, but the good stuff makes it worth the ride.

Abby had to work during Miss Sheri’s actual birthday, so we got to celebrate again a few days later when she was home. Turns out the secret to getting older gracefully is negotiating a deal for double birthdays—Sheri’s working the system like a pro.

We had our fantasy football draft at Steve “Cuds” Cuddihy’s place. Best commissioner in the business—equal parts rule enforcer, party planner, and therapist for grown men arguing over backup tight ends.

Last year was finally my year! I hadn’t touched the Cuddihy Cup since 2010, so lifting it again felt like a reunion tour nobody thought would happen. The thing isn’t so much a trophy as it is a piece of oversized lawn art—but after 15 years, even a bulky hunk of hardware feels like pure gold.

Karl and Tina invited us for a boat ride on the St. Croix River. It was a little chilly for August, so we bundled up in the cabin and cruised upriver to Stillwater. Nothing says “end of summer in Minnesota” like needing sweatshirts while you’re still technically in flip-flop season.

We wandered around Stillwater and found a crowd huddled around this osprey. The story was it got tangled in fishing line and some good citizens rescued it. Or at least that’s what they said—people will make up anything if it gets them attention. For all I know, the bird just wanted a break. Either way, it eventually flew off, so I guess it didn’t need our sympathy as much as we thought.

I did get to pose with my pretty wife by the river, which made me happy. Mostly because it proves I can still convince her to stand next to me in public after all these years.

We ate at Brick & Bourbon in Stillwater, where they treat dinner like a dare. The duck bacon wontons were ridiculous in the best way, and my smoked old fashioned came with a waffle and a strip of bacon sticking out of it. Not exactly a cocktail garnish you expect, but somehow it worked—and honestly, I respect any place bold enough to serve breakfast on top of whiskey.

Krazy Kory and Harli came to town for a night, so we hit up the Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever game. The place was packed, the crowd was loud, and we had a blast pretending we actually knew anything about WNBA defensive schemes. Sometimes it’s not about the score—it’s about yelling like superfans and hoping nobody around us notices we’re winging it.

We bought these tickets months ago hoping to watch Caitlin Clark play, but with her injuries this season we had to settle for seeing her work the crowd before tipoff. And honestly, it was still something special—she moves through an arena like a rock star, signing autographs and leaving a trail of kids who look at her the way my generation once looked at Michael Jordan. You realize it’s bigger than basketball—it’s a movement. Hopefully next time we’ll get to see her actually play, but even from the sidelines she owned the night.

We still got to watch a fun game, and the Lynx gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about. Napheesa Collier came back from her injury and played like she never left, dropping 32 points and reminding everyone why she’s the MVP favorite. Courtney Williams ran the floor like she had the ball on a string, stacking up a double-double without breaking a sweat. The Fever had their moments, but the Lynx looked every bit like the team to beat this year. Another amazing season for Minnesota women's hoops—this squad just keeps proving why they’re the standard in the WNBA.

Our friends Portia and Doc Vogt bought a new pontoon and took us for a cruise around Spring Lake. Doc was brave enough to dive in, but I conveniently “forgot” my swimsuit—which turned out to be a smart move since the water was cold enough to make a grown man question his life choices.

We had a great time out on the water. Conversations with Portia and Doc always seem to get deep—we pretty much solved half the world’s problems in between laughing, telling stories, and watching the birds put on a murmuration show. Not a bad way to spend a night.

On Friday we made the trek to the Great Minnesota Get-Together, and it felt like an obstacle course just to get there. The park-and-ride was packed, and we even had to evacuate our bus because the driver thought he smelled gasoline—nothing like a little drama to start your day at the fair. By the time we finally made it through the gates, it looked like a million people were already inside. Didn’t matter, though—we only had three things on our minds: corn dogs, cheese curds, and a bucket of Sweet Martha’s Cookies.

We always stop by the DNR pond to check out the different fish that call Minnesota lakes and rivers home. There’s something oddly calming about watching them drift around together—different sizes, different kinds, all moving in the same water without overthinking it. Maybe that’s the lesson: quit fighting the current so much, just swim your lane and enjoy the ride.

We promised ourselves we wouldn’t go overboard at the fair, but five miles in five hours later, our legs told a different story. At least we slowed down long enough to catch some live music—okay, it was a mariachi band, not exactly what I had in mind, but I’ve got to admit their version of La Bamba was fire. And that’s kind of how the end of summer feels: you don’t always get the soundtrack you expect, but if you let yourself enjoy it, it’s still a pretty great way to close out the season.

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