December 2021

We packed more into December than any month this year.  Around the world, the next strain of virus is still running rampant, but we got our shots and went places where there were fewer people, mostly outdoors.

Nick's Black Belt ceremony was early in the month, at a local high school, he and the rest of the class that earned their belts performed a presentation and got their actual belts.  Nick was the only one to get an 'old belt', he'll be wearing mine from thirty years ago... no chance my waist is ever 30" again, he'll put some more meaningful hours on it.  I had a reputation for being unbiased in my martial arts days as an instructor and judge, and so I'm confident Nick pushes himself harder in the moment than anyone else I saw on the floor. I love his intensity.

We shared a quiet Christmas at home, Nick received a hover-board and a train, and kindly acted excited at new socks which he really needed (his toenails eat through socks.)  Brandi got herself a bird house made of mahogany and copper that's nicer than our house. I got a ham (yay!) and a year's worth of credits at the local car wash.  And so many gift baskets from friends and colleagues that we are drowning in snacks... popcorn, crackers, bread, cheese, pickles... it's awesome.  A few odd things came in the arrangements, which Nick says it's OK we don't like them now because, "our taste buds reset every seven years." I just need him to pick up around himself, like the army of empty cans in his room, which I questioned, and he quipped, "they are protestors."  That makes as much sense to me as 'smuggling sea pickles' but he's been doing a lot of that lately, too.  I don't think that's code for something awkward, but I don't ask.

Rather than stay home for the full holiday, Nick and I made a three-day-run south to visit family and visit the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.  It's another four-hour tour with a layover, deep in Appalachia, a track famous for having many movies filmed along it's run. A better layover than Owosso, this stop in Dillsboro had a micro-brew that was excellent, and a fudge shop, that's all we needed.  And best, no screaming kids on the ride.  We made it home before New Year's, to watch the Orange Bowl (a dud) and get in more naps before 2022 begins.

Link to Pics.

Jason

November 2021

It was a quiet Thanksgiving at home, an outstanding meal cooked by Brandi, my favorite meal of the year.  We've been so busy shuffling between Nick's karate classes as he prepared for his Black Belt test (three days a week and four-plus hours on Saturdays), Piano, and then Driver's Ed, there's been no standing still.

He was well prepared for Driver's Ed, the first stage in MI which allows him to get a license at fifteen years. The school that we found a spot in, after a six-month wait list, is a mess. There's cats circling the kids in the class, the instructors show up late, and then leave early and lock the kids outside the building in the cold. We're through it in five weeks, then he gets behind the wheel.

He and I took a Sunday run up to Owosso to see a steam train on it's last day of run, with no intention of boarding.  Then someone handed us free tickets at the last minute, so on we climbed, and took the trip to Ashley, MI, which was a re-creation of the North Pole (I didn't realize how bad the economy was in the North Pole... everything is out of business.)  We huddled for a hot dog in the Fire Station, had a our picture taken with Santa, and bought a couple bags of the best popcorn ever.  Except for the screaming kids on the train, which have now deterred Nick from having children in the future, it was a pleasant afternoon.

A few pics here.

Jason

October 2021

October was a simple month... a nice haircut, a recognition ceremony at SFS for last year's Honors accomplishments, and a quiet Halloween since we didn't participate.  Brandi and I sat in the neighbor's driveway and the kids grabbed their candy from the many bowls, Nick never surfaced.  He dressed as a Peaky Blinder for school, which was a big hit, and goes well with his passion for trains (period-correct attire.)

Just a couple pics this month.

September 2021

As summer winds down, you can see in the pics here how we spend our evenings... sitting in the garage listening to the ballgame, taking a walk, or in the pool right up until the end.  Nick is getting to the point where Grandpa is bowing out, and Nick and I are closing the pool on our own (only took 50 year to convince him we are able).

Another train trip, this one Brandi and Nick to Bellevue, OH. The trains (Nick insists they be called 'steam locomotives') were two former Nickel Plate Road "Berkshire" types, numbers 757 and 765. Nick says the 765 was a visiting locomotive from Fort Wayne, Indiana, restored to operation about 45 years prior.  The 757 was only cosmetically restored,  and still needs a lot of work but the museum that owns it are still proud the way it looks. There were a whole lot of other locomotives there such as some vintage diesels (the good ones, not the crusty ass GEVOS used today <Nick Ed. Comment>).  (Can you tell Nick was standing over my shoulder while writing?)  And some old cars there, too, a Chevy truck Nick admired.

I took a weekend trip to DC to see Brad, see the last Nationals game of the season, and sit in the bar watching football all weekend. Good company and relaxing, great food, and a refresher on how to maneuver the local rail system.  He and I went down to the Mall one morning for a walk, had breakfast at a food truck (I love my food trucks) and stumbled into a commencement ceremony where we heard Elizabeth Warren give a speech. There was more to this trip, wait until the January blog post.

Pics here.

Jason

August 2021

There's a web page locally where people give and take items for free, I've gifted a few items.  A post appears for young girl's training bras for gifting... in our neighborhood... which almost all 55+ residents, except for Nick, and the two girls down the street.  So we know who wore the bras.  I ask Brandi if this is awkward, and she tells us the story of her early womanhood and how her family embarassed her in celebration.  Nick responds, "You don't see me celebrating a wet dream."

Nick was introduced to awesome pizza in our trip through Chicago when we stopped at Lou Malnati's, one of the best in my opinion, and now Nick's favoroite.  To offset this, we tried Little Caesars' new Calzone, made with some cheesy goo that's not even real food, we call it Plasfredo (plastic alfredo).  Ultimately, it's better when you're the one making it, which Nick was able to do with his Pap in PA, when Bobby had him making pizzas at Paesano's one evening.

Brandi and Nick took a trip to PA to see trains and visit family.  Everyone is getting older, her grandparents are dialing back their responsibilities, but they're all still around. They were able to visit Danville, and Huntingdon, and hear Bobby's story about the cat that walked out in front of the truck. The highlight was really a couple days on the eastern side of the state visiting a train museum and sight seeing.

He got a new gaming laptop, as the old one was six years old and worse than I thought, a good portion of the screen was burnt out.  He split the cost with me, and got a nice one, to hang his 'Something Quiet' sign on (so when I tell him to go do something quiet, he can go to his PC.) So now he's got a good device that monopolizes most of his time, talking to friends (I know there's a teenager in Iowa in the group, so that feels normal.)

It's been a hot summer, lots of days by the pool listening to the ballgame on the 'radio' (app).  We set a new record for passing the ball without dropping it, 88 tosses, in between Nick trimming hedges and moving sod.  We've optimized our time outdoors this summer, with Brandi walking (and lapping Elon Muskrat) and catching up on our chores.

Lots of pics here.

Jason