This week has been eventful, with a Labor Day grill out, home projects, and post-surgery recovery. Here’s a look at the highlights:
Labor Day Grill Out and “Dress Rehearsal”
We kicked off the week with a Labor Day grill out, which also served as a “dress rehearsal” for the upcoming October dinner to celebrate my son Kenny and his soon-to-be wife Vanna’s wedding. I smoked ribs and pork loin for the feast, and everything turned out great. If you’re interested in the rub recipe, message me—it’s fantastic! (Engagement is always fun, especially when it comes to grilling tips.)
Our gathering included Kenny, Vanna, Joe, Tom, Beth, my sister-in-law, and Beth’s parents. The meal featured the smoked feast, along with spinach dip and chips, Beth’s famous crock pot mac and cheese, and cake and ice cream. Tom made margaritas, and while the menu wasn’t Mexican-themed, they definitely hit the spot!
Entryway Chandelier Upgrade
On Monday, Tom and I tackled a fun home project: updating the lights on our entryway chandelier. It all started when I accidentally installed a single color-changing bulb. Now, we have a full set of light-changing bulbs with automatic patterns for different holidays. Christmas, Fourth of July, Halloween (think Haunted Mansion vibes), and St. Patrick’s Day are all covered. Here are a couple of examples – more to follow!
Halloween (our favorite so far)
Merry Christmas!
Surgery and Recovery
Tuesday morning, Beth and I got up early to head to the hospital for my outpatient hernia repair surgery. Scheduling and doing the surgery was definitely a “chicken I had to fry.” I’m not a fan of surgery, anesthesia, or the recovery process, but it was the right thing to do. Less than a week later, I’m glad I fried that chicken! The rest of the week was dedicated to resting and recovering. While I’ve been laying low, I’ve had plenty of time to catch up on reading and reconnect with friends.
As I write this on Sunday afternoon, I’m happy to report that recovery is going well. I’m grateful for the downtime and looking forward to getting back to the regular rhythm soon.
This week has been a reminder of balance—balancing celebration with preparation, work with rest, and fun with recovery. Even when life throws us challenges, there’s always an opportunity to pause, reflect, and grow. How do you maintain balance when life gets busy? Share your thoughts in the comments!
About Phil Barth:
Phil Barth is a professional speaker known for his engaging talks on goal achievement, overcoming fear, and managing stress. His keynote presentation, Fry Your Chickens, revolves around overcoming fear, negativity, and self-doubt. He uses rubber chickens to add humor and illustrate his points, helping audiences tackle challenges with a lighthearted attitude. Phil’s authentic, practical takeaways inspire audiences to manage stress and build confidence in both personal and professional contexts.
For more information or to book Phil for a keynote, message us on the website!