#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!

I can explain everything!

Lately, I've been doing lots of fun things, in Ohio and otherwise, and admittedly have slacked off completely from this blog! Anyway, I was asked to guest post on a friend's blog (that isn't open to the public) so I've copied that post here. I bring you:

Childhood dreams fulfilled, aka something fun I did in Chicago because I bought the tickets before the Cleveland date was added:

I’ll admit, I’ve had a pretty exciting life up to now. I’ve lived abroad, and traveled pretty extensively, graduated college, worked about every type of job imaginable, gotten married… but something has always been missing. Until Saturday, that is.

In 1991, a certain, special band was embarking on their European tour. Alas, my mother decided a loud, crazy concert, two hours away was not the place for a couple of seven and nine-year-olds. Seventeen, yes, SEVENTEEN years later, my sister and I were finally able to realize our childhood dreams, and attend….

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A NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK CONCERT!!!!!!

I know what you are thinking.

And trust me, as someone who readily admits to having attended concerts by Nick Lachey, Jessica Simpson and Hanson, I don’t care. It was an AMAZING show. My hearing will never be the same; my vocal cords are still strained; and I still can’t believe I spent $8 for a beer. It was all worth it though, especially when Jordan ripped his shirt off to serenade me with “Baby I Believe in You”.

Sister: AMY! He has his shirt off!! Why aren't you taking pictures??
Amy: ::drool:: er... OHH!! OK!!!

I am also happy to report, that while the “Kids” are rapidly approaching 40 (except Joey, who is 36 – totally within an acceptable age range) they are still hot, and can still sing. Their new songs are catchy, and they played all the classics (albeit, in some cases, at a lower octave). Their comeback felt like old friends coming together, not a bunch of washed up old men who need to do one last tour to pay for their blood pressure medication (which was how it felt when I saw Vanilla Ice perform a free show at the Great Inland Seafood Festival in Newport, KY in 2005. I wish I were kidding.)

Joey even broke out the original smiley face jacket.

Hangin' Tough - no knee replacements here!

The concert was everything I hoped it would be, and it was the best feeling to forget about being an adult and all the fun grown-up problems of the world for a few hours. Plus, admit it. You were a fan too!

Economy-schmonomy... we're going to see New Kids on the Block!