Author: Jason

meanwhile in other news:

source NPR

The Internet has gone into spasm over the past couple of days over an incident on Wednesday involving a couple caught cuddling on the Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert at Gillette stadium in Foxborough near Boston. Instead of leaning into their embrace when they realized they were on camera, the man and woman abruptly pulled apart. She turned her back on the camera. He ducked. The couple’s embarrassment was compounded by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin’s comment from the stage: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.”

The kiss cam clip went viral on social media, gaining millions of hits on X, TikTok, and Instagram. Sleuths soon identified the couple: He’s Andy Byron, the married CEO of New York-based software development company Astronomer; she’s Kristin Cabot, the company’s head of human resources.

Steph gets back from Italy tomorrow. No welcome sign planned this time but I will cut some fresh hydrangeas. It’s been a productive week at home. She’ll be blown away to see the furniture delivery we got. Our bedroom is totally transformed. And the console for the main room turned out amazing. Man was it heavy as shit! The movers were scaring me as they tried to bring it in. But it instantly grounded the space and filled the void. Like our own little temple, or modern day pagoda

busy summer school day for both kids. Lo and behold Julian got his housing figured out. And Sophia passed her GED assessment test with flying colors

I find myself writing and turning to this blog more in these waning summer months. And ironically enough, here I am chilling in Roswell in lieu of Bainbridge Island, while Steph and Bethany are gallivanting off in Italy. Albeit mostly southern France. Crazy, it’s been 9 years since I launched this little pastime. Coincidentally enough, the catalyst of which was to keep up with my Reese’s pieces Italian adventures. Fast forward. This time the moms are sans kids. Here they are taking in the view in Nice.
Love it 🥰

back from college orientation with Jules. It went really well. The 6 hour drive wasn’t too bad. The podcasts I picked with Mark Maron helped. Loved our hotel and will totally stay again. They had loaner bikes and a rooftop bar, which I got a lot of use out of. Anyway, back to Jules. housing has been the biggest stressor. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼the off-campus housing option we like comes thru. He selected his 1st semester courses and I attended some parent oriented breakouts. The student panel on “what you wish your parents would know” was tempered, but still insightful.

Julian just got his dorm assignment. Unfortunately it’s his least favorite scenario. It’s a 3 person suite with one person getting their own room and the two others bunking next door. He’s coming to grips that he just got assigned to share a bed with a perfect stranger from Savannah GA.

It’ll be a long drive up to Lexington in a few days. I’ve downloaded a bunch of podcasts I hope will pass the time. I get it. It’s been so much waiting and now it’s so abrupt. There’s so much anxiety and anticipation, but the end result is all the same. being thrust in with strangers without a semblance of space to yourself is pretty much par for the course. And the dorm is a natural starting point. Whatever you’re feeling, imagine the other guy. He’s sizing you up and his parents are probably telling him the exact same thing we are. My best advice is to pick up the phone. Be the one to bridge the void. See where it goes. Whatever the outcome, your first semester will go so fast your head will spin. And it will inevitably create the next pivot point and a character defining story of your own one day.
UK here we come.

Sophia doing personality profile for Julian at the bagel place. They seemed to already know mine without asking

back from a really nice visit with Phi in Austin. Loved our little retro hotel right nearby the Domain and her place. We played Pickleball both days at an indoor Pickle Ranch. Ate well. Spent time downtown. Went to a great toy store Sophia likes and bought the kids a couple things. Early rounds of Wimbledon streaming in the background. Jules such a cool and composed kid even on the cusp of some major life changes. Steph and I happy as clams, cuddled at night in the small full bed. 🤎 💛 🧡 🧡

back from a nice lake weekend with old friends from our Somerset days. I got up on one ski. Haven’t slalomed in forever but I guess it’s like riding a bike. Steph leaves for Austin early tmrw. Jules and I will head out on Tuesday. Excited to see Phi and have a little family time of our own this summer. She seems like she’s been in a better place of late. We also agreed that she would start budgeting and paying her own rent. I will then reimburse her (minus her portion). It’s a big step to put the onus on her to manage her money and life choices and residential responsibilities a bit more. I can’t deny it. It’s a weird reality. have to come to grips that our kids are now budding adults .