Summer 2023

I'm sure Nick will look back on his childhood and my yelling voice will be what echos in his ears.  I told him, "Do you ever get annoyed that I never let up?"  He says, "Yes, but you also never let me down."  So that's something.  Most of this month was 'nipplegate' as he has an infected body part that requires ointment and care, don't ask how he injured it. He's in better shape than the beetle that Brandi deep-fried on the back porch, it crawled into her fish fry and she flung it out to the pavement nicely battered.  Fancy meal for the ants.

We had some more heavy winds this month, threats of bad weather.  My father says, when there's risk of a tornado, he stuffs his pockets with cash before he hunkers down in the crawlspace or the hallway.  So we know his body will be worth hunting for! Nick wouldn't know it hit us, he'd be head-down in a 'prop jam' with his buddies online.

The summer months have been uneventful, mostly driving practice, which at this point I'm confident he's ready to drive alone.  That means he's ready to drive to school in the fall, which we practice back and forth to school often. There's a new joint next to school called Sunrise Skillet which Nick likes the food, so that's a motivator. We've got him a good parking spot, back of the lot, by a post, not under a tree, etc. We scouted the lot one morning and noted all the best spots before picking one online.  Very pleased with the one we got. He needed a nudge to get a haircut for the start of school, which you'll see he got at the deadline, photo here from the first day of junior year.

I got to a Mud Hens ballgame with Jay late in the season, there's a photo here of Nick washing his car one evening after we finished mowing Grandpa's lawn, a little outdoor picnic with the HOA neighbors, and I bought a truck (because Nick is going to want his car here soon, and I wanted a truck), those pretty much sum-up the summer.

Jason

Jason's UK Trip

Taking my own space here for my trip to the UK this month.  Following a week in scorching-hot Ft. Worth at the Texas Motor Speedway for a squircle (square steering wheel) clinic, I flew out to the UK for a full work week with my team, a retirement lunch, and to meet the folks we just acquired from C_ and H&P.

Mark Carpenter was an outstanding host for six days, from my travel arrangements and putting me up in The Birch at Selsdon (it's the big sprawling building that looks like a school or a prison in the photos), to my chauffeur on every trip, and wingman on most meetings.  Sunday when I arrived we stopped at the White Lion pub for a warm-up, then had dinner at The Botley Hill Farmhouse, alongside the Sheep Room, out in the 'country' (we were still only a few miles south of London, just outside the M25.)  It was my first time on the other side of the road, and after about a week, I did adjust (but never had the courage to drive.)

Monday was Mick's retirement lunch, which he arrived late and left early.  The book that Claudette made for him from photos and quotes was impressive, including having ChatGPT write the farewell address. Working with the team from the office most of the day was a great experience, felt like I'd always been there, bantering with my dry Brits, and cranking away from Mick's desk.  If I moved in permanently, I'd be welcome.

Tuesday was filled with a trip under the Thames and into town for Ford of Europe meetings, my first time meeting these clients in person. As we travel around, Mark took time to show me many of the suburbs be knew well, including his Catholic grade school which was named Regina Coeli.  I kid you not. So much was about the age of the buildings and the architecture, the oldest church I encountered was erected in AD800.  My hotel room was open to the prairie-like landscape, which was a gold course that was returned to natural growth.  One night only there was a party and music outside my window, which they shut down by 10 PM, otherwise it was a peaceful stay.

Wednesday was back in the office, and in the evening I finally got my fish and chips.  My hotel was a short walk from a little downtown area of South Croydon, so I wandered down a couple times, for a pizza, or to peer into the pub, watch the locals, just take things in.  Even a sandwich from the grocery was interesting, once I got comfortable making purchases in GPB and doing the math in my head.

Thursday we ventured into East London to the C_ offices, where it took an hour to get in by train, so I got a pretty good idea of how the trains run (still got there by train faster we got into the offices once inside the building!)  Productive sessions in general, but mostly 'bullshit bingo' from the top, as Mark referred to it.  We walked back to the train along the river, and past Shakespeare's globe, which I didn't appreciate, but Brandi knew what it was.

Friday was my one day for sightseeing, and despite Mark not walking well, we walked for miles, he was insistent.  We went up in the London Eye to look down on the city from above, and then took the path along the west side, past the House of Commons, along the typical parade routes, to a nice Italian lunch, and finally to Fortnum and Mason where I had a hamper assembled for Brandi and shipped back to the states (tasting all the sparkling tea options while the concierge took care of us; she was stoic and British as she could be, but Mark and I had her snickering a little, we were having too much fun.)  So I experienced the trains, the cars, Heathrow, and the Ferris wheel, pretty close to a full experience.  Even on the drive back to the airport on Saturday Mark drove me past a castle that belonged to Henry VIII, every run was something to see.  Personally and professionally, it was a great trip.

Pics here in the 2023 album.

June 2023

We're watching a WWII documentary in color for a couple nights, of course without Nick as he's burrowed in his room, and he wanders down while the narrator mentions the twelve ships that attacked Pearl Harbor.  Nick casually rattles off all twelve ship names, grabs his snacks, and wanders back up the stairs.  And mumbles a bunch more stuff under his breath that the moderator gets to eventually.  Proving there's something in that head of his.  Like when we're watching the fireworks from our bedroom window and he lists all the chemical elements that make up the different colors of the fireworks.  But he remembers nothing like his laptop, we had a tornado warning one evening and he grabs the laptop before rushing downstairs for shelter.

We got out a little, but Brandi was gone part of the month to PA to see family.  I saw a Tigers game which was almost Cabrera's last home run (he hit two more right at the end of the season), sat alone in the fancy seats on the 1B side for a true double header, played hooky from work. Haven't done that often enough thru the years.  We got up to Greenfield Village for Motor Muster and lunch at Ford's Garage one weekend, where my friend Andrew was showing his '65 Mustang, and we walked around looking at cars for a couple hours, and Nick got to see some steam engines.  And one evening Nick drove him and me up to Atwater Street Tacos in Flat Rock and sat along the river, dined outside for a little fast dinner, change of pace, and some good driving practice.

Brandi and I got our annual strawberry picking in at the last minute, as the season was on-and-off this year with unpredictable weather. It's always worth a couple of pies and some shortcake, and we bumped into Kim and Ellanora there on our way out.

Carrie and the boys came into town and we got one morning with them at the Toledo Zoo. Nick was a good trooper, ran with the Gabe and Ethan (who are both 5-years old), carried them around, chased them, and helped us corral them.  I chased for one minute and that was my entire burst of energy.

Nick got me a Father's Day card with a sperm on the front that says, 'I used to live in your balls... from your fastest swimmer.'  And he signed the card, "At one point in history I was #1 in sports."  Best card ever.

Pics from throughout 2023 here.

 

 

May 2023

School was done early this year, before Memorial Day. Nick aced his exams and finished with mostly A's and a couple B's.  And somehow I never see him study.  Now I know what the other side of this equation feels like.  It's already time to sort out classes for next year. He finished the last day (Brandi was in Atlanta for Seth's HS graduation), and the two of us got mowing and car washing and perparing for a long restful weekend.  Two hours outside and he still manages to fart just at the moment we get into the car, rolling down the wet window and smearing the clean glass; this is now known as 'FartGate'.  He did practice for his most recent piano recital, two pieces, very well done, posted the video here.

I took a short trip around the south for a couple days, two stops for business in Atlanta which included a my first ballgame at Truist Park (with $70 parking), Chattanooga for dinner with friends at the Flying Squirrel, watching Noah win his championship baseball game in a 10-0 mercy in 5 innings in Cincinnati, touring the Biltmore, two GA car museums in the Savoy and Old Car City, a weekend with Cindy around Athens which included two art fairs, rooftop bars, AWS wine tasting (no skydiving), and too much eating, and finally a stop in Pinehurst. It felt good to get out and stretch.

Nick's best line of the month:
Me: "You don't eat enough vegetables."
Nick: "I accidentally ate the paper on the summer sausage, it's made from a tree, technically that's a vegetable."

Photos for the year so far are here.

Jason

April 2023

We took a family outing to Mansfield, OH to visit the Ohio Reformatory, which is a non-profit museum now, the prison where Shawshank was filmed.  We were packing to leave, and Brandi is stuffing medallions of St. Benedict in our pockets so the ghosts don't follow us home.  Apparently sold in bags of 150, she's spread them all over our property.  Came in handy, though, I traded one to the tour guide at the prison for a sneak peak to some bonus areas. The stories of suffering echo throughout the building, it's fascinating and awkward all at once.  And a great pizza at Two Cousins pizza in town.  Check out Brandi's Shawshank pose at the warden's desk... dark, and sweet.

Easter was quiet at home, Nick still gets baskets and eggs filled with cash. And I made a short trip to Catawba where Brad and I took a drive around Lakeside to take in the outdoors before the crowds come for summer. It was a quiet month with Brandi still working until June, so we're staying close to home.