Hellooooo out there!

For the three of you who have me in your google reader, and the other two people a month who somehow end up here, HELLO! I realize it's been almost a year, but trust me, a lot of shizz has gone down since we last met.

Probably the most important is I no longer live in Ohio. I still visit regularly, and believe there are many, many fun things that sadly, never made the blog, but I promise, Ohio is pretty freaking awesome, even if it is often the butt of many tv jokes. Before I get all homesick here and start bawling (which frankly, would be a little embarrassing, since I haven't even had any wine tonight, plus I have to work in the morning) I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to leave this blog up, and if/when I decide my life has stopped being too depressing to share with the world, I'll let you know!!

In the meantime, next Friday I will be the featured guest poster over at So Wonderful, So Marvelous. Stop over and say hi!

#21. Fun in Appalachia.

Southeast Ohio - name three cities - GO!

::chirp chirp::

Name one city? Exactly my thoughts, as I tried to explain to my friends where exactly I was headed last week with my husband, who managed to get a job interview in Jackson County. People seemed to understand when I said it was near Athens, where OU is located, but by 'near' we're talking 35 minutes southwestish, not quite to West Virigina.

Anyway, while he was away interviewing, I thought I'd busy myself by checking out some local landmarks.

What can I say? Bob Evans is an upscale dining experience in this neighborhood. I managed to find my way to a pretty state park, which the locals informed me was a heck of a lot prettier a few weeks earlier before the leaves all fell, but it was still nice and peaceful.

After my visit to Lake Alma State Park, I went in search of the Leo Petroglyph. This was heavily advertised in all the tourist brochures (ok the one tourist brochure) as one of the finest examples of Native American carving in sandstone.

Make no mistake, growing up, we were the family who took the educational vacations (castles, Washington D.C., Gettysburg, Colonial Williamsburg) instead of the lay-on-the-beach-eating-cheese-fries vacations, so I knew the excitment I was in for. But hey, time to kill and two hours from the nearest mall, so for the sake of my blogging duty and my three loyal readers, I bring you:

THE LEO PETROGLYPH!!!

Yes, they are what I suppose are carvings in sandstone, but they've been traced in black paint, so other than the ones you can see printed on the sign, it's a little hard to distinguish the Fort Ancient Indians' work from that of more modern Graffiti Hoodlums.
It took, oh, two and a half minutes to view the whole site, which is protected from the elements by a roof and a wooden walkway around it. I know you all think I am just downplaying how spectacular the Leo Petroglyph really is, so if you feel the need to see it for yourself, just be warned that the site closes at dusk. Not that there is anyone within a five mile radius anyway, but the shelter is not lit, so you might have a hard time getting the full effect of the carvings.

#20. Cedar Point!

I wanted to do a post on Cedar Point ALL summer, but never managed to get around to it. Anyway, Cedar Point, America's Roller Coast, is one of my favorite places for a yearly pilgrimage for three reasons:

1. People Watching.

I do not know these people.

2. Happy Friar.

Best fries EVER.

3. Probably should mention the rides here somewhere.

Millennium Force - Pretty!

This year, the husband, my siblings and niece took a nice family trip, and stayed at one of the CP hotels. Sandcastle Suites, to be exact. It was just ok, but it was super nice to not have to drive home at the end of the day, exhausted, hungry and miles from a Taco Bell. It really wasn't bad to sleep six adults and a six year old, PLUS we got discounted admission to the park with our reservation.

We were actually lucky enough to go twice this year. It was hot and crowded the day of the family excursion, but later on in the season we went with friends, and pretty much walked right on to everything.

Anyway, I love the rollercoasters, I love the horribly caloric park food and I even enjoy watching probably the largest collection of crazy people in northern Ohio, outside of OLPH summer festival. At least in my experience. I am not looking forward to the day where I am old and get headaches and other aches and no longer enjoy the rides. I fear that day is quickly approaching, so I'm enjoying those spinny rides while I can, and you should too!

Everything else you need to know: www.cedarpoint.com .

#19. Get talked into participating in a potato pancake eating contest.

Every year, the third weekend of September, I look forward to either one of my best friend's weddings or Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. This year happened to be a year one of the bffs got married that weekend, so instead of spending Saturday night roaming the streets of downtown Cincinnati drunk and dressed like this:

I spent Saturday night standing up for one of my best friends as her maid of honor, drunk and dressed like this:

Pretty similar, no?

Anyway, missing my favorite Cincinnati event was made up for a few weeks later when we stumbled upon a fundraiser for the local Make-A-Wish Foundation chapter:

Oktoberfest TOLEDO!

Notice the appropriately placed haz-mat sign in the background.

It was a fun evening, despite the lack of Christian Moerlein OTR (beer of choice at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati). However, a couple of Warsteiners later (ok one) I found myself signing up for an all-you-can-eat potato pancake eating contest! I figured, hey, when will I ever have the chance to participate in a competitive eating competition? Sonya the Black Widow, I am not, but sometimes, you do things for the people you love:

And sometimes you do things because the people you love post embarrassing pictures of you on their blogs:

::NOM NOM NOM::

All in all, it was a fantastic evening. My mouth has finally recovered from being stuffed full of scalding hot potato pancake goodness, and I promise you, next year, that $50 gift card will be mine!

#18. How 'bout them apples?

I am almost ashamed to admit this, particularly since now that I think about it, I do remember learning in the seventh grade that not only was Johnny Appleseed the namesake of one of my favorite graces in Girl Scouts, he was also an actual person who roamed Ohio planting apple trees, but I just recently (ok, last year) learned that real, eating apples (not just crab apples) grow in Ohio.

And you can pick them!

Or rather, go somewhere, pay someone $14, and go out in their orchard and pick apples.

My friends and I were hoping to make this a fall tradition, but this year, despite it being 80 degrees the second week in October, was a little late for the self-pick. We did not leave disappointed though - the best part of 'apple picking' is the apple cider slushie and freshly made apple fritter you can enjoy afterward anyway! (These pics are from last year's expedition).

C is for CRUNK!

INFO: Macqueen Orchards - Holland, Ohio, www.macqueenorchards.com, open year-round except major holidays. Pick your own apples the last week of September - second week of October.

#17. Spread good karma

Times are tough, my friends. This isn't unique to Ohio - everyone can use some good karma in their lives. For the next 29 days, I will be giving gifts to people. Check out the challenge here: http://www.29gifts.org/.

#16. VOTE!

No matter where you live, voting is important. It's more fun in a swing state, like Ohio though!

My niece is too young to vote, but wants to encorage everyone to do their research, and make an informed decision!