Ohio July
The Field Review: TFR-104
THE LEDE
A Weekly Column On Living Well
The Fourth of July has always been one of my two favorite holidays. And just like December 26th, the days following our annual celebration at the family lake house feel like a letdown as Ohio settles into its late-summer rhythm.
The social calendar quiets down. The crowds thin out at the lake. The fireworks (eventually) stop.
By July, the humidity has settled into everything. It hangs in the air from morning through dusk, turning what should be a gas into something that feels closer to a wet blanket. The truck seat is scorching hot before you turn the key. Your shirt sticks to your back just walking across the yard. You step into the woods hoping they’ll be cooler and find they’ve been holding heat since yesterday.
The hydrangeas wilt in defeat under the oppressive weight of the late-summer sun. At least the grass slows down. After two months of chasing the mower, I can leave it in the garage for a few extra days as the shade of the lawn turns from emerald to chartreuse.
The corn stands taller than road-level view. Soybeans fill in until the fields look like one solid wave. Sweet corn signs appear at the ends of driveways.
The cicadas carry their buzz from sunup to sundown. The ducks are still in Canada. The deer don’t know I’m thinking about them yet.
Their antlers keep growing under velvet while I bide my time before putting cameras out to take inventory. Tree stands need hung before the leaves get any thicker. Trails need cleaned. The bow needs reps.
We’ll make preparations soon enough.
In July, football begins creeping back into this state’s bloodstream. The World Famous Buckeyes will report to camp soon. Freshmen and transfers will start losing their black stripes as they earn their place on this year’s team. Every proper Ohioan will begin talking about the upcoming season with the shared understanding that yes, we’ll be good again.
There’s plenty to do if you want to stay busy in July. But I’ve been busy for a while. It has been a season of pushing, so for now, I think I’ll enjoy a few more cold beers on the back deck, listen to the cicadas, and let July have the rest of its days.
Live Well. Tell No One.
THE MARGIN
A Few Things That Grabbed My Attention This Week
QUARTERBACK Season 3
I’ve tuned in for every season of Quarterback on Netflix, but I’ve been especially excited for this one because it features the quarterback that started my interest in the NFL, Baker Mayfield. I’m still of the belief that Cleveland forcing Baker out was a massive mistake for the organization (add it to the list).
Season 3 also features a quarterback from a different era who stills find himself on rosters in 2026, Joe Flacco. I’ll always have a soft spot for Flacco after the strange little run he had in Cleveland a few seasons back, and for playing for both of my home state teams last season, the Browns and the Bengals. More than anything, I like this show because it gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the wear-and-tear of an NFL season. This is where you see how things really go down beyond Sundays.
Huckberry Homes with John John Florence
Huckberry Homes is easily one of my favorite series on the internet. This episode follows 3x World Champion surfer John John Florence living aboard his boat in Fiji. I loved this one for the same reason I love this entire series, I’m always interested in seeing how people build their lives and their living space around the things they actually care about.
For someone born and raised in central Ohio, I’ve had an oddly long-running fascination with surf culture. I used to tear pages out of Surfer magazine and hang them on my bedroom wall, and John John was one of those guys which is why this one hit a nostalgic nerve for me too.
STANDARDS
Concepts & Vibes For Your Consideration
The Field Review is a weekly newsletter exploring the art of living well.
Every Sunday at 10AM EST, I share ideas, insights, and conversations that help break through the noise, offering a real look at how we can all keep moving forward.
Venture Onward,
Jack
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