Saturday, July 25, 2009

Cedar Point(less)

I’ve been trying to get a group of people to head up to Cedar Point in Sandusky OH. It’s the rollercoaster capital of the world. In the end it was only Kevin and I . The afternoon we left I checked the weather for N OH and there was a 20-40% chance of rain. That night, at the hotel it was 50%. The next day 100%. The weather radar was full of rain. We cut our losses and headed back home. A four hour drive one way.

The Neil Armstrong Air  Space Museum front So I wouldn’t be a total loss we stopped in Wapakoneta, OH to visit The Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum. It was a nice little museum with lots of artifacts from Armstrong’s life and the space program. It’s worth a stop if you’re passing by or looking for an hour drive day trip.

Moon Rock Neil Armstrong back up suit.  The Neil Armstrong Air  Space Museum interior

Tinsley Ellis

Scott Bratcher Band On July 17 I met up with Kevin to see Tinsley Ellis at Play by Play Cafe in Silverton. It was a good show, but the opening act, The Scotty Bratcher Band, really kicked it. He’s from Cincy so, I am gonna have to check him out. If I have to go see a band it should be in Cincy, no smoking. I forgot how reassuring it is to go to a blues show. All the other fans make me feel younger and thinner.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Friends and Fun

Monday I had lunch with three friends, Alissa, Trudy and Dawn. They spent half the hour talking about Trudy’s baby shower. What the hell was I thinking? I was still great to get together with them.

IMG_0646 That afternoon my friend Chele and I went to Kings Island. We decided to take the twilight special; after 5pm for $25. The website states, “You can do a lot in five hours.” Don’t you believe it. We were only able to hit seven rides: The Beast, The Racer, Backlot Stunt Coaster, The Vortex, Firehawk, and the new Diamondback, twice. The Beast and the Racer are still a lot of fun. I don’t care how old they are.The Stunt Coaster was more cute than thrill. The interesting thing about it was the start. It was a catapult. So you go from 0-60 in a few seconds. I can’t ride The Vortex anymore. Too tall. My knees hit the seat in front of me and the the shoulder harness pressed me into my seat like a medieval torture device. Firehawk was a blast and worth the 50+ minute wait. IMG_0641a You get on the ride, then the seat reclines back, you go up the first hill on your back, then at the bottom of the hill it flips over and you’re flying through the air like Superman. As the ride was going up the hill I could feel my iPhone slipping out of my pocket so I spent most of the ride trying to keep a hand on my phone. IMG_0643 Diamondback was our first and last ride of the day. It was incredible. The only thing that holds you in is a small lap bar. There is an unobstructed view of everything around you. If the lap bar isn’t too snug you will get so much air time. I felt like I was floating through the whole ride. But being careful not to get slammed into my seat at the bottom of each hill. The last ride on the Diamondback was at sunset,even more fun in the dark. I hadn’t been to Kings Island in, maybe, five years. I should get back more often, but start the day in the morning so I can get in more rides.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Fountain Square Friday

IMG_9209 rsIMG_9385 rsIMG_9384 rs I decided to to do lunch in downtown Cincy Friday. I parked in Covington KY and walked across the Roebling Bridge. I stopped by Mythos to get a gyro and headed to Fountain Square. There were some skateboarders doing demos.

IMG_9393 rs

After a scoop of Graters ice cream I went to the top of Carew Tower. Very hazy, I should so this when the weather is not as humid. Lots of cute women out. I think I’ll make this a weekly thing.

That evening I went to The Blue Wisp Jazz Club. They have free jam/workshop from 4:30 to 7. I didn’t stay long, but it was good music.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Lord, forgive me.

I fell off the wagon today and man does it taste goooooood. I bought and made a big ole pitcher of tea. I've had tea in the last three or so months, but all of them fell short of the brew I had, have, perfected over the years. Let see if I can keep it under 1lbs of sugar a week.
To add to it all, I've fallen off the exercise wagon. (I need a seatbelt) I was doing really well, but two weeks ago I wrenched my right knee and I couldn't even ride my exercise bike. Then this week my left ankle started aching. At first I thought I had twisted it on Donald's farm, but when the hurting didn't go away and I could feel the heat coming off the joint. I decided it was gout. I had been taking allopurinal for gout, but during flare ups it can make it worse. So now it's indomethocine until it get better.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

4th of July

Not a full week, but at least some stuff to keep it interesting. On Tuesday I met up with Srinivas, Lilia and some of their friends at McCormick's and Schmicks. They had a really good M&S red beer. I miss read the tap and thought it said S&M. I felt a little old when one of the girls said her father's 50th birthday was coming up. Damn, I'm two and a half years younger than her dad. It was a fun get together. Some good laughs.
Wednesday Chele and I went to see Ice Age 3D. $13.75!!!!! for a matinee!!! It was decent movie, but not worth $13.75. 3D needs some improvement. It was blurry and disorienting. After we headed to Bar Louie for dollar burger Wednesdays. The hostess sat us all the way to the back, where the windows overlook the river, and there was Dave Hyden, a comic I use to perform with. He was writing material for a showcase at Newport Funnybone that night. He shot out some material and I tried to tag some of it. I miss writing with the guys.
After Chele and I parted ways went back to the APT, but decided to go back out and see the showcase. I think this was the first showcase (open mic) I had seen in three years. It will be another three years before I go back. I was the same old 'dick and pussy' show. That's what's it called in the biz. Hyden had a good set. Audiences love him. Alex Stone had a great set; very clean, original and funny. It was a hot audience. They were laughing at everything. And NO, I didn't get the urge to get back on stage.




Went home on Thursday and Friday went for a hike along the Egerton Nature Preserve, AKA Donald's farm. There was an old county road that hadn't been used in 80 years. It looked like a trace, it jutted out from the hillside, lined with some rock walls, the road was covered with leaves, no trees and small incline headed up and down the side of the hill. The creek bottom wasn't running, but there were three of four small cascade falls. I nice walk up and down the hill.

I had to take another shower before heading to Louisville to see the Kentucky Show and the Kentucky Center for the Arts. It's a nice short film on the history and beauty of Kentucky. After AAA and library card discount (yep, they asked if I had a library card) it was only $4.
With the movie done I made my first ever visit to see a race at Churchill Downs. Fitz met up with me there. When I told him it was my first visit he said he had been coming to Churchill since he was four. The place is huge, about four time larger than Keeneland. Most of the races only had 6-8 horses in them. Overall I think I was $5 ahead at the end of six races when I left. It's easy to say you're ahead when you don't really keep track of the money.
A light rain fell all day on the 4th of July. I sat out on the back deck to just listen to it hit the leaves on the trees. I started back to Newport around six and when the rain let up I drove over to the Weidemann House to shoot the Cincinnati fireworks. The show was only 10 minutes, I guess since it rained they cut it short. When I got back to Home street I went down to the end of the road to watch the annual battle of Newport and Covington. These People really go all out for their backyard shows.




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