Yearly Archives: 2012

On Saturday Ted turned the big 33 and on Sunday I had my golden birthday and turned 26. We started our birthday weekend off right on Friday with a trip to Valley Vineyards Winery for a relaxing evening of wine and steak. Saturday, on Ted’s birthday, we joined our friends out in the Williamsburg countryside for a rummage sale they were hosting…we had a few things we needed to part with as well! We made a few bucks, but more importantly, we had a really fun, relaxing morning just hanging out, eating fresh-from-the-oven cookies, picking tomatoes and peppers from the garden, and chatting with our friends outside in the cool morning air while selling some wares. In the afternoon we ran a few errands, grabbed dinner and a chocolate malt for the birthday boy, enjoyed a drink at our favorite little Mexican bar, and caught an evening showing of “Brave” at the theatre. It was such a fun movie and we had a really relaxing day, with no set agenda or schedule. When we came home Ted opened all of his wonderful birthday cards from our thoughtful friends and family and then Ted presented me with my/our birthday gift – tickets to Kings Island & Soak City – Cincinnati’s roller coaster and water slide theme park! We’ve been wanting to go since we moved to Cincinnati nearly two years ago, and thanks to a sweet friend who works there, Ted was able to secure us a pair of comp. tickets to spend the day riding roller coasters and slipping down water slides on my birthday!

I made Ted’s birthday cake using one of his favorite hobbies and his two favorite cake flavors – a bowling pin carrot cake and a pineapple upside-down bowling ball cake to celebrate his survival of 33 years on this planet. He loved it. :)

Sunday morning, my birthday, we arose bright and early to spend a day at King’s Island and Soak City. We rode some great roller coasters (loved the Firehawk!), slipped and slid down some really fun water slides until closing time, enjoyed tasty nachos, soft pretzels with cheese, and Dippin’ Dots ice cream throughout the day, hit up one of my favorite burger joints for a late night feast and drinks, and then finished off the day by opening all of my wonderful birthday cards from our thoughtful friends and family. It was the perfect golden birthday!

T&L birthday weekend = total success! :)

I’m back!

It’s pretty remarkable how quickly 6 weeks can come and go. It seems like it’s been only a few days ago when I excitedly drove beneath the “Welcome to Michigan” state marker for the first time in two years and first peeked into my rustic cabin and promptly decided that I definitely was not going to survive 6 weeks alone in that cabin.

Well, I not only survived, but I thrived and had a wonderful time. For the first time in many years this summer actually felt like a true blue summer. You know, the summers of your childhood or the summers you always imagined would stick around forever – fireflies, sandy beaches, waves, ice cream cones, sprinklers, gorgeous sunsets over peaceful lakes, the scent of sunscreen and bugspray, walking to your friend’s house (well, cabin) totally unannounced to see if they can hang out, cookouts, swimming, campfires, s’mores, fireworks, naps, good books, making new friends, hikes through the woods, laughter so hard and frequent that you can hardly breathe, ice cream pie, long scenic shore-side drives, bike rides through the dunes, blankets on the grass, ice cold brews, drive-in movies, long hot days that stay light until 10 p.m. and short cool nights, the occasional big mid-summer thunderstorm, camping, a great job that doesn’t even feel like a job because you’re surrounded by music and Shakespeare and opera and dance and adults and kids with a deep and lasting love for the arts, camp songs and sing-alongs, talent shows, concerts, performances…it was the summer I’d been hoping for for years. A summer whose very existence I was beginning to question because surely those kind of magical summers are real to and exist only for children. I’m relieved to know that they exist for adults too. And they’re worth the wait.

But one 7.5 drive with a new camp friend along for the ride, beautiful ‘welcome home’ flowers from Ted, one great ‘car-and-everything-I-own’ sand-purging party, and four epic loads of laundry later, I am home. Back to Cincinnati, back to Ted, back to the crays, and back to our happy life together. For a short time. More on that later.

As I mentioned, a new camp faculty friend, who also lives in Cincy, accompanied me on the drive home and made the trip go by so much more quickly as we girl-talked through all of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. When I arrived home I was greeted with a huge hug, a vase of gorgeous flowers, ice cream, a beer, and my slippers ready and waiting – best. husband. ever. The next day I slept in for the first time in 6 weeks, was treated to a fantastic ‘welcome home’ Mexican dinner complete with a strong and tasty sangria margarita, and a night on an actual couch (real furniture!), with actual carpet (no more concrete floors!), and Hotel Hell, Hell’s Kitchen, and Master Chef on TV (GASP!). Surprisingly, I didn’t really miss these luxuries at all while I was at camp…though it was kind of fun to have them all back for one relaxing evening!

And, of course, while I was away our babies grew. The craybies have grown into full-blown porkchops. They’re hardly recognizable from the tiny little translucent specs they used to be. They’re looking more and more like sweet Mav every day.

Ace

Gigi

Ace is a girl and Gigi is a boy. Gigi is short for Gentle Giant, who was named before A) we knew that she was actually a he, and B) before he not-so-gently ripped a claw, leg, and two antennas off of poor Ace, prompting us to buy another tank with all the fixings so they can both live peacefully and separately, in our loving care. I apparently hadn’t gotten around to teaching the “it’s rude to eat your sister” lesson before I left for camp…craybie steps. Ace’s body parts will regenerate and in addition to being HUGE, they both appear to be happy and healthy. So we’re officially and happily a family of four.

Lots more updates to come later, so stay tuned!

How has your summer been so far? You’ve got two weeks left, get out there and enjoy it!

If you missed Parts I & II, scroll down for the full scoop on our perfect Saturday!

Sunday morning I awake dark and early – like 3 a.m. early – a time I practically had to program into my alarm clock because even the clock wasn’t certain such a heinous time existed…it took some convincing. I drove to the Dayton airport, flew to New York, spent a lovely day, flew back to Dayton, and drove back home to Cincy, arriving just after 11 p.m. Then I downed a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream with Ted, as a reward for my sleeplessness and perseverance. More details later, maybe.

Monday morning, despite the development of a nasty cold that would plague me for the next 6 days (thanks camp), was heavenly.

I. Slept. In.

In a real bed, with real covers, and real mattress.

Past 3 a.m.!

Past 7 a.m. even!

Heavenly.

When I finally awoke, surprisingly um-traumatized, despite the lack of sleep and excessive travel, I immediately dashed to the window to check on the cherry tomato plant I have patiently and lovingly growing from scratch since early spring. It sprouted and ripened four whole cherry tomatoes while I was away at camp – the fruitful extent of its crop. Three of the four were ready so I excitedly gobbled down two – so sweet! So flavorful! Truly, nothing beats the flavor or pride of home-grown tomatoes.

We met Ted’s parents for breakfast at our favorite breakfast spot in Cincy – The Original Pancake House. That too was heavenly! Buttery apple crepes and the thickest, crispiest sugar-cured bacon you imagine are a fabulous way to start a relaxing day off!

We then proceeded to a place I have been longing and pleading and begging and whining to go since we moved to Cincinnati. A place where the exotic comes to life. A place where dreams come true.

The Aquarium.

Exotic fish!? YES.

I have an unnatural love for any and all animals, and this was a long time coming. I was beyond psyched.

I can hardly believe that such beautiful creatures exist in our world. Isn’t it incredible?

(Ted likes sea horses the best)

(Albino Mav’s!!!)

After the aquarium, we all dined on the planet’s tastiest salads and freshest pizzas at Dewey’s in Oakley – one of our top three favorite pizza joints in Cincinnati. I was totally ready for some excellent eats after the decent yet not entirely thrilling or always fresh n’ healthy fare I’ve been subsisting on at the faculty dining hall at camp. I’m literally counting down the days til the return of Dewey’s Harvest Salad in September. Yeah, it’s that good.

Monday night my cold starting sinking in big time, so I napped for a few hours in the evening, awoke just in time to enjoy an episode of Master Chef with Ted and Mom&Dad2, and re-enter the mundane world of laundry and packing for another four weeks in the wilderness.

But I gotta say, what a wonderful weekend and a great break!

How was your weekend?

I promise I’ll attempt to nip my bloggy negligence in the bud over the next few weeks. More camp and life updates to come…stay tuned!

After our relaxing adventures at the Slugger Museum and Toast on Market in Louisville Saturday morning (if you missed Part I, scroll down!), it was time for the real fun to begin…and the ultimate surprise to be revealed!

Ted knew only that he was to keep Saturday, July 21st clear and free, for some maniacal reason his crazy wife had been brewing up for months and was apparently inclined to drive 7.5 hours back to Cincinnati from Michigan to participate in. That was about the extent of the information I imparted. I may have also imparted that anyone who works as hard as he does really does deserve a “Day of Awesome” to which he rolled his eyes, lovingly bopped me on the forehead, and moved on. It’s tough to get anything past that guy.

I gave Ted driving directions from Louisville, instructing him to stay onto 75-S until Exit 57, when the surprise could no longer be contained because the road sign quite clearly read “Sparta, KY – Kentucky Speedway.” At that point, the jig was up. I think it was fairly obvious why were there and what he’d be doing…

…driving 10 solo laps around the Kentucky Speedway in a NASCAR style race car!

A dream come true for any NASCAR fan.

Surprise!

(As always, click on each picture to enlarge.)

We drove through the tunnel that circled underneath the race track and lead to the inner field and pit row. We parked at the gate by the pit. As Ted was checking in signing his life away on liability forms, his parents arrived to witness the beginning of their son’s racing career…surprise again! He knew his parents would be in town that weekend, but was under the impression they’d be meeting us later that evening for dinner and roller derby, since he obviously was unaware he’d be at the Kentucky Speedway to the begin with.

There, right beside pit row, Ted got suited up in his helmet, fire suit, gloves, and other racing gear …

…participated in a safety briefing and crash course on the tips and technicalities to driving a race car…

…took a few quick pics…

…and then we waited around for 2 hours until the right race car for Ted’s height and an instructor-driven lead car for him to follow was ready. Who doesn’t love the “now hurry up and wait” game? We took in a little a lot of sun, watched the other drivers race around the speedway, and excitedly awaited Ted’s big debut. When the time arrived Ted took a cool stroll to his car…

…got loaded up and securely harnessed into his vehicle…

…and off he went! He took 10 laps around the track, reaching speeds up to 5500 rpm (that’s 145 mph)! He looked amazing out there! I took all kinds of great video that I’d love to share, but my version of WordPress does not support video uploads, so you’ll have to take my word for it. It was completely awesome!

After his speeding frenzy, he squirmed out of his car – because, really, squirming is truly the only way in or out of those suckers…

…we snapped a few more mugs…

…and called it one helluva good day at the racetrack!

Operation “Day of Ted” epic surprise = smashing success.

To wind down after a long day of adventurous activities Ted’s parents joined at the Bank of Kentucky Arena on NKU’s campus for some classic yet tasty sporting arena eats and a bout of roller derby featuring the Cincinnati Black-and-Bluegrass Roller Girls – a first for all of us!

Ted and I had been curious about attending a live bout of roller derby for quite some time, and Ted’s parents knew relatively little of the sport, so it was a fun experience for us all – and the A Team did not disappoint! But we were all so worn down from the sun, long drives, high adrenaline, and big day ahead of us – er, me – on Sunday that was due to start frighteningly dark and early at 3 a.m. that we, unfortunately, had to call it quits early and head home to the comfort of a comfy, cozy bed in an air conditioned apartment – read: not a cot in a cabin in the woods.

I am pleased to report that the Awesome Day of Ted was a perfect success. A definite bucket lister achieved!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post…Part III!