Christmas 2022

Best vacation is Daytona Beach during the coldest Christmas in Florida in forty years, following a hurricane, and when those up north were snowed in and couldn't access the roads. Our first five days we barely saw other people, and had the hotel to ourselves.  We stayed at a new resort call The Max Resort Daytona, which was built to be condos but changed to a hotel before opening in June, so there was a full living room and kitchen, with two full bedrooms and baths, and our own laundry room. Best place we've stayed by far, and we've stayed in some nice places.

The resort was so nice we didn't venture out much. Did get to see the light display at the Daytona Speedway on Christmas Eve, which was cheesy but pleasant (and the one video Brandi shot has me cursing.)  Took a two-hour kayak run along the Halifax River, but it was too cold to see any wildlife, just boats and birds, and heavy waves from the wind that kept us paddling hard (Joey, our guide, was lame-o.) And I visited the Daytona Speedway for a track tour one morning on my own.  Nick spent most days on his laptop in the condo kitchen, but that's the vacation he wanted. (He was on the beach for one minute, and I got a photo.)

We walked the beach every day. Tide was high most of the time, and the view was generally remaining damage from Hurricane Nicole a couple months earlier, so many barriers and beach washed away. It was only 'warm' (above 65 degrees) on our first and last days, so we ate outside those days, but we still bundled up and got outside as much as possible.  We had fish at Riptide, stopped at

Landshark and Crabby's on the Beach, dinner at an outstanding Mexican restaurant where Brandi ordered 'the pig', and attempted twice to find decent pizza, being successful once.  From experience, Christmas dinner is the toughest, most places being closed, but the hotel had an outstanding chef, so we ate in at the hotel, and they served us in the 12th floor lounge, no one else around. The staff was outstanding, and well organized for the newness of the facility.

Nick got in a couple stops a Buc-ees along the highway, because his brisket sandwiches and candied cashews are the travel priority, and we avoided the bad weather at home. 

Photos here.

Jason

Nick's Life on the Beach

Got a photo of Nick on the beach again this year, and it aligned well with those from the past. Funny none of these are from Clearwater Beach where we've spent the most time. He's certainly traveled to his share of places in his young life.

November 2022

It was a month of nothing exciting, really, so I'm going to include one photo here that I found Nick took of himself, it was in his selfies when I updated his phone. We talked about joining the photogrpahy group at school, maybe there's something to it, if he can take pics this good.
Brandi and I had a date night at Cabela's, played lots of Wordscapes on the phone, and of course Thanksgiving.  We ate last year's 30+ lb turkey (turkey ambush), and she cooked for two days.  It was awesome.   Nick continues to volunteer at the Otterbine House in Ottawa Hills, he got promoted from the Dining Room to Bingo Night, and the sponsors sing his praises... he was running the entire dining room alone one evening when no other volunteers showed up. I'm sure the old people love him.  There's a personality in there somewhere, like when his OSU-fan Geometry teacher removed all the M's from their class assignment, and he wrote them back in up on the board.  I do enjoy his sense of humor when I can understand it, like the idea of putting 'The Dude' on our front lawn for Christmas and changing our religion to worship The Big Lebowski. Something to offset the neighbor with her nativity decorations that cover the entire yard.

October 2022

Fayling came into town for a family event, so we had a nice dinner and chat.  He wanted to see Nick in action, so they went off for a drive and returned safely.  Feedback: "Nick drives well, except he doesn't look backwards when he puts the car in reverse."  Adding that to the App so we practice.

Nick made mac and cheese for lunch one afternoon, so we're starting to get to the point where he can cook for himself.  Or at least has an interest in doing so, that's progress.

We had family in town for a couple days, Carrie stayed with us, while we gathered for the funeral for Jessica's husband, Jeff.  The crew came over to our place afterwards and we had a fun evening just catching up over beer and pizza. The photo is reflective of just what you'd expect from this generation... all on their devices. Bummer that we've reached the age of 'weddings and funerals' (which is most of this post), but that's where we all are while chasing kids' activities constantly.  There's one good photo of Brandi and me, since we had to get dressed up.

September 2022

Back to school, so it's a short month for stories.  This photo isn't from his braces, it's actually teeth whitening shortly after.  It was an opportunity for him to be in his mother's chair at her office, she whitened him up.  Mama's feedback: "he has highly uncooperative lips."

He was recognized for honors last year at a school function, so good grades are not an issue.  We attended a teacher conference recently, and his teachers love him, however, "he's an A student trapped in a C student's body."  Can't seem to turn anything in on time, if at all.  He's holding back for perfection, so he says. Something else to work on.

This month was mostly filled by his mother hating her chiropractor, and other appointments, car repairs, attic fans, etc.  We did attend a Freshman Football game to watch SFS play Clay one morning, got to see his team play Colin's team.  Of course Nick doesn't care about sports, but he got a hot dog out of it, and it was a nice day to be outside.  I had other plans that were squashed by a run-in with Covid, that had me in bed a couple days.  Back to normal shortly. 

August 2022

Nick had his braces removed this month, so he was more smiles than usual (those are becoming more rare with the teenage years.)  Another sign he's growing up is the driving progress each Sunday... he drove the Monte Carlo for the first time (in the school lot, or course, it's still a lot to handle.)  It was an out-of-body experience for me seeing that car drive away without me in it, that hasn't happened in 30 years.

Big moment for our household this summer, Grandpa let us open up and use the new lawnmower.  Yes, we bought it like five years ago, but the old one was finally leaving such a trail of blue smoke that I couldn't see Nick pushing it, so it was long past time.  We dug it out from under a pile of stuff in the garage and while assembling, came across an unmarked box, from the 60s/70s: newspapers with the heading, "Nixon Resigns" and "Eisenhower Dies".  Of course it was saved by Grandpa, who doesn't remember how it got there.  Also inside were maps, postcards, Trip Tiks from vacations before I was born.  It was a fun discovery. 

My favorite Nick-ism this month: he added school supplies to the shopping list, one of them was a 007 Pencil.  I think he meant a lead width.  But this caused us to go watching some Bond movies over the weekend.  License to write!

The other photo here is some instant pose worshiping a sub sandwich I brought home for him.  Sandwiches are probably only second to trains in his life priorities.  No school pics yet this year, he went for a re-take after his braces came off... and I reminded him every day for two weeks. 

July 2022

His entire life is online with his buddies.  I heard a story there was one guy on the servers wreaking havoc, and they bonded together to have him tossed off, with Nick leading the charge. He does understand how to maintain order, and organize within a group, so there's some lesson there.

His inability to use a phone is maddening.  One evening I asked him to call me so I could test a new ringtone, and it took him five minutes to call me, while standing in front of me.  He never answers when one of us calls or texts, his grandpa is pushing him to be responsive (in case of emergency.) Don't call Nick if you're in trouble, unless you have days to wait.  Unless it's in a chatroom for trains, then he replies instantly.  I asked him to set his alarm to wake up early one morning, and he uses the timer for an alarm. (So he sets a timer for 7 hours, like he's baking himself, and then messes up the math, and it doesn't go off in time.)

He and I took a guy's trip to DC for a four-day weekend.  He ate at his first eastern seaboard Diner outside Baltimore (best fish ever at the Mountain View Diner), then we spent a day at the Baltimore and Ohio Roundhouse Museum.  Had lunch in Little Italy at Chiapparelli's. Continued on to DC where we had a private tour on Saturday morning of the DC tourist stops, driven around in a black Cadillac with stops at the front door of every attraction. (Capitol building fenced off was bizarre following the riots there a year ago, Lincoln Memorial made an impression with the mix of visitors, and then Arlington Cemetery where we saw the guard change at noon, all awesome. And my first time seeing the WWII Memorial. Only downside was our tour guide talking to us like we were third graders... I stopped her quizzes early in the tour.  Most importantly, my pants didn't fall down, because I had to loan Nick my belt.)  Lunch was crabcakes at the Crystal City Pub (sat at Brad's table), a ballgame at the Bowie Baysox v Altoona Curve, and then a rainout on the last day, but we filled the schedule up to that point.  I had a business meeting on Monday at NADA before we drove home, which we had to hustle since Miranda was coming in to stay at our house with little notice (as usual, but it's not like we're short of mattresses.)

Oh, and I bought a new car the day before we left.  Came across a 2022 Chrysler 300 at a dealership in Clinton, and the trade-in value on my 2016 was too high not to make the deal. Didn't take the new car on our trip, it's being prepped.

We are definitely filling the summer, and pics to prove it.

Jason

June 2022

His summer started late with a twelve-day swim class through school, to avoid the class in his Sophomore year, and take another elective instead.  Smart, no one wants to swim in winter.  Brandi bought him a new swimsuit, and equipment for the class, which all arrived after the class was over. Ordering online is not her strongsuit.  The pic here is of the swimsuit she bought him... which looks like an elastic loincloth.  Return labels were created for Bran.

Nick and Brandi mare a quick trip to Atlanta for Seth's birthday, where the kids didn't interact, or do anything at all, as usual (literally the only picture of him interacting with anyone is with the cat. The most active photo is him chewing the candy off a piece paper on his hotel bed.)  The highlight of the trip for Nick was a stop at Buc-ees along the highway for a brisket sandwich.  And then Seth, who can now drive, running out to bring them back junk food each day.  I stayed home and enjoyed the local fireworks right from our bedroom window. He no more than got home and tested positive, had to lock into his room for ten days while we slid food under the door.  Horrible for him (not really.)

Nick and I continue to practice driving on Sunday mornings, he has darnedest luck.  We went out into the country one morning away from people, and the country folk decided to hold a bicycle marathon or some stupid charity ride that morning, and they're all over the roads... two and three wide on a two lane road, Nick is surrounded by bikes like an insect swarm, he's freaked out.  We got around them.  Ironically, nearby a few weeks later someone ran over a similar group of bikers.  

My uncle passed away at the end of the month, so lots of family time. I'm impressed how mature my niece and nephews are, just a little older than Nick.  I can follow Joe, who's only 16, and he will lead, whereas Nick in the front of a group is likely an adventure into the unknown. Joe makes sure I'm accounted for... Nick leaves me leftovers in the fridge and it's nothing more than a bone. Benefit of having older siblings, I suppose.
Strawberry picking this year was without Nick, who just isn't interested.  We picked a more normal 14 lbs this year, which equated to four pies, and a couple shortcakes.  And Brandi and I walked the Toledo Zoo one morning where I met my spirit animal, a 100-year-old tortoise who hates people. We did drag Nick to the DSO with us for the annual Summer Blockbuster show, one of my favorites. We got a late start this year, and missed a nice sit-down dinner, it was chicken on the run instead.  And he and I stumbled into a car show at the Churchill's Plaza one morning.  Time with Nick is less and less these days, even when he's at the pool he's staring at his phone.

Photos here.

Jason

May 2022

We continue to practice driving on Sunday mornings, which all he looks forward to is breakfast, and prefers the Waffle House.  We've driven thru the Point, into the country, morning errands like recycling and down past his school for practice, but generally places where he can run the stop signs and not be a danger to anyone.  We did a drive downtown, where he got a little nervous in the park when we hopped out (which was a good lesson, there was never any threat), and then down by the university where he almost rear-ended a truck.  Slow progress, but still best to get up early while we're alone on the road.

Nick and Brandi took a day trip to the Cuyahoga Railroad to see the Steam in the Valley celebration, there was a history train there, the Nickel Plate Steam Locomotive 765 visiting from St. Louis. While there, he ran into a couple friends from online, two guys he'd never met before in person, and didn't know what they looked like, until he saw a hat he recognized.  They don't even know his real name, they called him 'Raz' which apparently is his online handle. I assume these are the guys he's helping build stuff online on the graveyard shift.

Spring piano recital was this month, he played Chattanooga Choo-Choo (video at right), of course, a piece of his selecting. Still not quite enough practice to nail it the way he should, but he did OK.  He's probably an excellent pianist, and just won't let me listen, still practices when the house is empty. I love to hear him play but have to force him to let me listen. Our music tastes have also begun to diverge, I want to listen to Dua Lipa, and he's playing Billy Joel.  You can see from the way he dresses, Nick is an old soul.

We drove downtown into Toledo for a pizza at Papalis after the last day of school, walked around the stadium and soaked in the sun, I got a new hat, before our place opened for dinner.  For a brief period, he was engaging... remembered we needed to visit the cemetery for our annual Memorial Day beer with my grandfather, and remembered our parking meter was running out of time.  Oddly the memorable part was this bug that was on his shoulder, which he brushed aside outdoors and it returned to him in the car, then he brushed it off again and it went back to his shoulder.

But he's still Nick... my former boss and colleague came to the house for dinner, and all Nick could say was, 'Hi, your fly is down'.  Sigh. 

Photos from May.

Jason

April 2022

We did fit in Easter this year, always sad to see Lent come to a close, the fish frys are one part of my Catholicism I still love.  Nick smartly plays along with Easter Morning, so there are baskets hidden when he wakes, and plastic eggs with cash in them.  I think he made off with $140.  He volunteered time again this month at the elderly home in Ottawa Hills, so he comes out even.

Nick caught a version of Long Covid that took him down for a week or so, nothing serious, just slowed him a bit.

I grabbed tickets to see Miguel Cabrera hit #3,000, and Nick opted out, so at the last minute Grandpa went along with me. It was the Tigers' best game of the season, a 13-0 rout, perfect weather, seats in the shade, and the first milestone I've seen in all the years of attending ballgames. Long drive in, almost missed the action getting through the gate, and concessions were closed, but memorable all the same.

Wanna know what makes it difficult not to nap more? Having a mattress in the kitchen, right in the middle of the house.  Brandi's search for a new mattress continues (we've bought two, returned one, so far,) and the old one sits in the dining room, where we flop on it all too frequently. Gives us a nice view the indoor garden that Brandi is preparing, which is over-growing the dining room and is ready to be relocated outside.

I had a work trip to Dallas and Chicago for the week, ate like a king, ran like crazy with delayed flights and short sleep, but successful for D-Ford connected features testing, and only got thrown out of one session. The highlight: my videographer lives in Chicago, and has a new Cadillac, which made getting around so much more pleasant.  Nick's car experience this month is washing his own, pic here.

Few pics here for April.

Jason

March 2022

Not quite his first job, Nick volunteered at an elderly home for a full weekend to fulfill his school's community service requirement. He waited until there was two weeks to finish before starting, so the twenty hours was a bit of a squeeze. Brandi found him two days at 5+ hours apiece.  Overall, he got a free meal, it wasn't hard labor, serving food and setting up for events, and he said he 'liked his manager' (feels weird with Nick having 'a manager'.)  It felt like a real job to him, long hours at one time, and he's learned to appreciate break time. I think other than school and his black belt test, he's rarely worked at anything longer (yard work at Grandpa's usually ends after three hours or so.)

SFS was in the Frozen Four in Columbus again this year, so Nick and scooted down for a Thursday night playoff hockey game with Brad. Tickets were a challenge (it's Ohio... the site was broken so you couldn't buy them, then once you did, it was broken again so you couldn't use them), but we got in, after a stop at Tommy's Pizza, one of my favorite spots. We won against Brad's high school, UA, in double overtime, and got home before the random snow started. Worth it.

More driving practice, we're settling into an hour on Sunday mornings, I've figured out the app we need to use to record hours.  Other than missing stop signs, he's coming along. Still mostly out in the country away from people, early in the morning.  This is where not speaking gets more difficult, the passenger can't anticipate his intentions, and when I ask him a question, he doesn't answer (out loud).

Overall, we're ready for spring.  Ready to reduce the number of mattresses scattered thoughout the house. Brandi lost a pack of fifty floss threaders in the laundry and now they drop out of our clothes at random. Nick adds, "two-and-a-half tons of sour candy" to the shared grocery list to see what we might buy.  It's business as usual here.

Jason

February 2022

Some days he's grown up, like when he'll shovel our driveway and those of all the elderly neighbors, without being asked. Other days he's still Nick.  In the course of an hour, while the snow fell, he managed to scrape the paint off my outdoor chairs with a metal snow shovel, use his $100 Ugg leather gloves to dig ice from the corner of our concrete stoop, and come in soaking wet because he, "accidentally stuck his head under the gutter."  He's to the point of remembering and buying greeting cards (it's a must witih his mother), and covered Valentine's Day on his own, so that's no small deal.

Short trip to LA for me this month for the new Mustang clinic, back downtown near the Convention Center.  Almost got pummeled by an angry parking attendant (saved by Heul!), but ate really well and avoided the LA Rams traffic.  While I was away, that's Brandi's cue to try something new, so I came home to a greenhouse in the dining room, hundreds of little plants getting ready for summer (no, they don't help her breathe, yes, it's a bad idea). Spring is in the air, indoors this time.

We've been watching Nick's kidneys closely, which means lots of blood tests, not his favorite activity.  But I must admit, what started in December as an uncomfortable visit, he's getting used to having his blood drawn, now it's not much of a big deal.  Not the ideal way to adjust to something, but he has.

I stumbled across Nick's YouTube channel, had no idea he'd been creating videos. He wiped out all the old dinosaur stop-motion content, and it's all trains now. These kids were raised watching videos, so it should be no surprise they can naturally edit these things like professionals (what gets me is the copyright credits, ads, references... learning all this stuff somewhere). I'm not a train guy, but I can listed to Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen all day.  Thousands of views, and hundreds of comments, his colleagues are enjoying the posts, that's what matters.  In my consumer behavior work, we refer to the digital self as 'phygital' as it crosses the physical existence... they call him 'raz' online, so apparently Nick's phygital self has a name.  That's just nuts (in a good way.)

For the first time in 15 years, almost a full month without a single photo of Nick. There's one... him and his mother asleep, Christmas decorations still up, laundry hanging around the house drying. This is what we live like in a typical day, for everyone to see.

January 2022

Nick and his peers (those random guys on the Net he interacts with, friends of-sorts) sit up late at night and 'bitch watch' cheesy movies (that's what it's called.) Like Mystery Science Theater 3000, they complain through the entire film, and create memes. I think this is about the extent of trouble they cause, it's a mild group. When I listen in to any conversation, there's lots of swearing, but that's about it, although I can't follow the conversations, either.

We're making a habit of waking up early (early for Nick, anyway, 8 AM), to practice driving for an hour and go to breakfast. We've had some good days for practice... one day was icy, another was high winds, and avoiding potholes is a useful skill. We stopped in at Brenda's for breakfast, and he even picked up the tab, without asking (happened to run into an old friend there, timing was right).  He finally got his first car, a 2002 Cavalier that belonged to Brad, after three months in the paint shop. (This was the car I drove home back in September without telling Nick.  He knew I flew down and then accidentally found out I drove back and never questioned what I was driving.) Still not letting him drive it until a little more work is done, but we snuck it home between snow storms. He was more excited than expected, made Grandpa happy. I no longer need to sing Happy Birthday to him every day with new words to stall until the gift arrives.

Brandi and I got a date night, Ikea to buy her a mattress, and dinner at Cantoro's in Plymouth. Love the food, and the Italian market afterwards.  She got a mattress, then ordered a bed online, and added a new TV for her room, so a good run for Bran and her setup.  Of course she's sleeping in the dining room until it all off-gasses, makes it feel like home.