For the birds

New/old job

2009-09-20T07:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I am back in Columbus and working in Private Wealth Mgmt again. Thank GOD! Working retail for the branch is like banging your head against the wall every single day, or at least it was for me. I work with a great group of people, all six of us. We have fun, work hard, and it's like an extended family.

This is the view of our building from the pool

Our office is on the 9th floor and overlooks the Renaissance Hotel pool area. I'm a little sad that the weather is getting cooler & the pool shall soon close. Friday's are great. They prep for weddings/parties and for some reason there typically is a large amount of people who are at the pool on Friday. Our end of the floor also gets may visitors Friday afternoon to check out the "talent" next door.

and this is our view...

Last week the USC cheerleaders practiced for a few hours out there on Friday before the game. Sorry no pics.

Apartment rebuild

2008-10-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

The day after

One month later...front/back of building

Today

It was been almost 2 1/2 months and the old apartment building is coming along. That is a good thing because I was about to lose my mind seeing the burned out building every day. I am sure I am just being dramatic but it freaked me out every day and I relived it in my mind. Maybe I should just go see a therapist. lol. It is exciting that it is being worked on and that in a few short months it will look normal again. I know, I have issues. But, I am at a loss of what to write about.

Wrong on so many levels....

2008-09-19T18:27:00.001-07:00

What is in his mouth you ask??

So I figured when we moved from our tiny town of West Lafayette, Ohio I thought the city life was going to be so much different. Well, today, that all changed. I work in an eastern suburb of Cincinnati (inside the loop) and a few of the ladies I work with live about 20 minutes further outside of the city. Let's just say what happens in the country should STAY in the country!!

One of them was talking about how when she came home the other night there were dead squirrels in her sink!! Apparently the neighbors had been out hunting (in the front yard)?!? I am horrified to think that they we in her sink but the fact that she was excited to have them for dinner the following night!! OMG! So I lived a sheltered life...I only thought that Laura Ingalls ate squirrels. I did not even her anyone in West Lafayette say they ate them. Because my mouth was stuck in the shocked/open position, she calls home, tells who ever answered the phone to take a picture. So she comes in today and says how yummy the squirrels and the tiny eyes...ugh, and then she had a picture. SHE IS NUTS!!They still have the damn teeth in them!!

Family

2008-09-08T17:41:00.001-07:00

Cannon River

When you live away from your family & friends for so many years I think you learn to appreciate them even more. I spent the past week back at home in Minnesota. I had the best time I have ever had when I went home.

My Aunt June & I

I got to hang out with my parents, sister, nieces/nephews, and my friends. I also was able to see a bunch of people that I went to high school with as well.

Lisa, Sandy, me, and Miss Maddy (front)

It almost makes me want to move back home again. But there are two reasons that it will not happen, one, it's too cold for my husband, and it's too cold for me! ha ha!

Posts

2008-09-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I have taken a bunch of pics and have a few sarcastic comments to put up here but I am too tired. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get back in the swing of this thing..lol

My drama

2008-08-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

So, this past week has been pretty miserable for me. A week ago Sunday my husband and I were hanging out in our apartment and all of a sudden he hears someone say, "Oh my God," looks out, and sees that our apartment building was on FIRE! I about crapped my pants! We got the cat, the bird, wallet/purse, shoes, and car keys and that was it. The way it looked the whole building was going to burn down. Luckily for us it was only 2 apartments and a bunch with water damage for most tenants. We for the most part came out unscathed physically but I am an emotional wreck. Everything makes me jumpy and we have temporary furniture in our new apartment (we had to move out) until our stuff finally arrives tomorrow so I feel unsettled.

We lived on the left, 2nd one down

This has changed my outlook on a lot of things in life. Things that used to upset me or stress me out are far less important. All the little things that we have are only things and the friends and family we have are the most important. I am thankful for everything we have and grateful to have a wonderful support network. We also met our neighbors and everyone came together to help each other out which was awesome.

Too bad this was the first post in a couple of months. Oh well, gotta start again somewhere. Anyway, thank you to all with the well wishes. It has been greatly appreciated.

Orange Blossoms

2008-05-18T15:43:00.001-07:00

Oh how I miss the orange blossoms. When I lived in Arizona I would skate on the greenbelt in Scottsdale. Every spring the orange trees near Osborn Rd and it smelled wonderful when you would skate by. While at my father's house I found an orange tree that was blossoming and it was WONDERFUL!! Sigh...I miss that smell.

San Francisco

2008-05-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to head to the bay area. We flew in to SFO last Wednesday and my father picked us up. We did the usual touristy things, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Marin Headlands, Sausalito(sp), and then over to the beach near the Cliff House. From there we headed to his house in Milpitas. After living in West Vegas for 2 years and moving to Ciny I thought it was big here. San Fran is HUGE, there is so much traffic, and it took forever to get any where, on top of my father's bad driving. The funny thing is, I never thought that when I lived in Phoenix that it was that big and after being in San Fran, it's not.

In-n-Out

2008-05-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

For all of you who are NOT by an In-n-Out all I have to say is, "I'm sorry." We were in Cali last weekend for my brothers wedding and had it 3 days in a row. I love the double double. The best is this pic we took at our first stop. The sign is twinkling!! ha ha

Blooms

2008-03-30T14:39:00.000-07:00

The sure sign that spring is almost here is the little sprouts of green on the trees. Crocus are coming up and soon there will be tulips. Only a week or two and it will be all green!! YEAH!!

Hummingbirds

2008-03-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I love birds (especially my parrot Skipper). When I was a little girl I apparently found a dead one and buried it in my grandparents backyard in a checkbook box. Was that the start of this waiting to see a "live" hummer? The big bird excitement in my life right now is waiting for a hummingbird to show up at my feeder. There is a website that tracks their migration northward and every day I look to see how much longer I have to wait. Hopefully I will see one by this weekend. I'm ready. Feeder up, sign saying open for business, all I am missing is the little birds...sigh.

This is picture from on our deck last summer

A - Ault Park

2008-03-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

We have lived in Cincinnati for about 2 months now. I have seen signs for Ault Park as I drive to the store or the BMW Starbucks (that is usually that is all that is in the parking lot). So I finally decided to see if I could find it and I did. It is beautiful. It is at the top of one of the hills and you have scenic view of the Little Miami River Valley and different parts of the city. I can't wait for a few more weeks until everything is green is the flowers are blooming. I LOVE SPRING!!

Blizzard

2008-03-08T11:48:00.000-08:00

I thought spring was here?

Well, moving 3 1/2 hours south to Cincinnati hasn't worked out so well in the weather department. We have had snow every single week. Yesterday morning I woke up to no snow and 45 minutes later my car was covered. By lunch time pretty much everything was shut down. I work for a large bank and the only way we close is when it's a level 3 snow emergency. I got my wish today!! No work...whoo hooo

My poor car (today)

City Life

2008-02-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

Well, have officially been here in Cincinnati for almost 2 weeks. It is all that I had hoped the city to be...sigh. Starbucks, Kroger, shopping! YIPPEE!! City living also comes with traffic as well as not really getting to know your neighbors when you are in a communal living situation. I have met a few of our close quarter neighbors but we don't really know their names. I am sure part of it is because it's winter and it's cold out.

I have to say that I am going to miss our house. We had great neighbors who looked out for us. They loved that we kept all the birds fed. I noticed that there are cardinals around our apartment so I plan to put a feeder on our deck. Wish me luck!!! I also await the arrival of the springtime birds...robins & hummingbirds. I saw a robin on my lunch today and I see that the hummingbirds have started their migration!! YIPPEE!!!

Truckers

2008-02-09T17:54:00.001-08:00

As I was driving down the road the other day I spotted this truck in front of me. I thought that for a second I was hallucinating, but I had my new crackberry with me to take a picture as proof. One last thing on my way out of Coshocton County!

Internet

2008-01-26T11:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I still live in the country, my husband in the city, and I have no internet at home. I sit here in the library after work on Saturday surfing with my laptop. Sigh, at our apartment I can hack into about 22 wifi networks. Um, yeah. Apparently they did NOT get the memo that you should be able to get wifi at local shops. Wait, WE DON'T HAVE ANY!! So, for the next few weeks I have been banished to the library...sniffle.

What I will miss...kind of

2008-01-07T16:45:00.001-08:00

Once we move, I will miss the comfort of going down the street to the "K" Store in my comfy lamb chop slippers. No one thinks a thing about it. Maybe the fact that I feel I can do this and no one cares means that I have lived here a little too long.

Maybe just a few more!!

2008-01-04T17:12:00.001-08:00

Again, another thing to look forward to. Not seeing dead deer in the back of pick up trucks all over town.

Moving on up!!

2008-01-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

Well, we are busting out of the country and moving to Cincinnati! WHOO HOO!! My husband has taken a job there and I shall follow, with out a doubt!! We can actually buy beer with out having to make a 10 mile on way trip! We can go to sporting events that DO NOT include Ohio State and most people won't be as wacko about OSU down there either! Football, baseball...restaurants and shopping, oh my!! Did I say I was excited?

Minnesota winters...

2007-12-23T12:58:00.000-08:00

This is how I am spending my Christmas vacation in Minnesota!!This is what it looks like outside currently

Damn it's cold out!

2007-12-07T16:50:00.000-08:00

I woke the other morning to find this. I miss Arizona winters!

First Snow

2007-12-05T18:37:00.000-08:00

First thing is am

I have to say that growing up in Minnesota has jaded my idea of what a big snowfall is. Our phone rang at 5:15 this morning-no school. We have no kids but my husband doesn't have to go to work! UNFAIR! We got about 3 1/2 inches of snow last night. That's pretty much a minor snowfall in MN. I took pics first thing this am(about 6ish) and on my way to work. I do appreciate a garage!!! What I don't understand is that at 8am they had not plowed the roads yet.My drive to work this am

Roads at lunch

Dresden

2007-12-03T18:20:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I ventured out to Dresden, home of Longaberger Baskets to get Italian Charms for my nieces. They have tour buses that go to this place so crafty shops. They have cute stores and it's so quaint. Some of the old houses are so beautiful. But on my way out of town I see this, and a sheriff down the street and I was a little confused. Anyone else?

'Kipper

2007-11-20T19:06:00.000-08:00

Skipper

'kipper as he calls himself. This we call is his professor picture. I am obsessed with him. He is hilarious! He called me "my bitch" the other night. Which by the way, my husband taught him to say. Here are a few other pics of birdie-boy from tonight.

Friend of a Friends blog

2007-11-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

Ok, the blog post from Melba! Is awesome. I keep looking at it and passing it on to others I know. Even my birdie likes watching it. If you can see, there is a bird in the cage behind him.

High School Football

2007-11-18T08:45:00.001-08:00

In this part of the country especially. Last night we went to the high school state semi finals playoff game with my father-in-law at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Can you imagine being a high school football player and getting to play in Fawcett Stadium? How cool would that be? Even when it's thirty five degrees outside and raining ALL night? Steubenville (Big Red) and Youngstown Cardinal Mooney played last night. Mooney kicked Steubenville's ass!! It was almost disheartening to watch. I felt bad for Big Red being beat up but in the end, they did get some points in the board so it wasn't a complete shut out. The best part of the game was the fact that my Father-in-Law in his working days was on the on Ohio High School Athletic Assn. as a board member. This means we got to sit inside the warm and dry press box with food that Mrs. Brooks makes! Life is good!! Press story from the woman who sat next to us who was a reporter from the Herald Star. This give a MUCH better picture than my ramblings above. The best part of the whole thing, I WAS IN THE CITY!!!

Off to the City!!

2007-11-18T07:50:00.000-08:00

This week I was off on Wednesday (meaning this bird girl had to work Saturday) so I made my flight to Columbus. My previous home...sigh. I miss my Columbus. I never in a MILLION years thought I would miss Columbus. But living in "West Vegas" is anything but exciting.Ohio State House

My clients think that I am crazy for driving 1 1/2 hours to get my hair done. But my worry is that I will come out looking like this if I get my hair done here. I am sure that there are great people who do hair but when a salon is called Curl up and Dye, or Tease Cut and Curl, it makes me a little nervous.

When I arrived in Columbus I went with my old work buddies to lunch. Apparently since I left they have started Spaghetti Wednesdays. Every week a group of 4-20 goes to the Spaghetti Warehouse for lunch. They have ordering down to a fine art, to keep the waiter/waitress from messing up the order. I was prepped for ordering, spaghetti w/meat sauce, salad with either ranch or italian, and my beverage. No variations, no exceptions. If you do, NO LUNCH FOR YOU! It was so nice to see everyone and tell them my stories of life in Amish Country. Some times they think I am being dramatic, but really, I am not! As my husband's friend says, I'm "prissy."

Birds

2007-11-11T16:47:00.000-08:00

Our house is all about the birds, obviously. Today my bird was doing his usual hanging upside down on his play stand. He's crazy.

My other bird love is the cardinals that frequent my feeder in my front yard. Last year we had eight pairs. I have already counted almost that much at the beginning of the winter. Hopefully they will all bring their friends!!

Flannel

2007-11-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

Today I went in to the little grocery store in the town I work in. The first thing I see is a woman wearing a flannel shirt jacket. Then I see a guy w/a camouflage hat & matching bib overalls. I was waiting to see a dead deer strapped to the top of a 1983 Dodge Omni. While I am laughing inside because the city girl in me knows that it's a real fashion faux-paux to wear the previously mentioned items. The thing is, the people who live here think it's completely NORMAL!!! I miss the city. I stand out in my black suit and heels when I want through the store. Don't get me wrong, these people are the ones who give me a paycheck, but it's DAMN FUNNY to see that crap that people wear out. Don't they have someone at home who will tell them that they really shouldn't wear it out, SERIOUSLY!!

Rogue Rooster

2007-11-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the picture is a little fabricated to say the least but it pretty much looks as ridiculous in person as my picture. Anyway...so I'm driving up I77 my dentist in New Philly yesterday and I see a rooster roaming in the median of the freeway just south of Stone Creek. This is the 2nd time I have seen the rooster in the median and my boss saw him all last week. Apparently the food must be pretty good there and he must run fast because he's been there for at least a month, if not more. Definitely something you don't see everyday.

I LOVE the city!!

2007-10-30T17:04:00.001-07:00

This is the BEST pizza I have ever had!

Ahh the city. Variety. The subway is great and you get to see some interesting people to say the least. I could live there in a heartbeat (NYC-not the subway). Who could not love this? You can be in Times Square with the Naked Cowboy and in 15 minutes be somewhere quiet and quaint.

Fall

2007-10-21T07:31:00.001-07:00

I love the fall in the midwest. The colors are amazing. This is the tree across the street from our house. Isn't it beautiful with the green tree next to the yellow?

West Lafayette

2007-09-20T12:44:00.002-07:00

So when you drive in to West Lafayette this is what you see...Once knows as the Porcelian Enameling Center of the world. All I think of is toilets...humm

Priorities

2007-09-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

There are a few priorities in a woman's life. Friends, drinks, purses, & fun times!

Piggly Wiggly

2007-08-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

For those of us NOT from the south seeing a Piggly Wiggly makes you wonder what the hell is that? To me it is the funniest thing ever. Maybe that's why the tourist in my bought a t-shirt that says Piggly Wiggly w/a picture of a pig on it. NERD? Maybe. Let's just say I was easily entertained on our vacation.

http://www.pigglywiggly.com/cgi-bin/customize?merchandise.html

Southern BBQ

2007-07-28T17:42:00.001-07:00

This morning we hopped in the car and started our pilgrimage to the beach!!! Hilton Head or bust! Anyway, so along the way we stopped at Popeye's for chicken. Damn that was good. Once we arrived in Greenwood, SC tonight we met some of my husbandd's friends from when we lived down here and went to some AWESOME southern BBQ!! I tried briqsuit & hushpuppies. The kicker was the home made banana pudding with nilla wafers on the bottom and sides and home made whip cream on top. To die for!!

Akron

2007-07-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

For the past two days I have been in a training room in Akron...sigh. Akron itself is depressing and the picture shows it all. Maybe I only think it's depressing because I sat in the same room for six weeks with this view studying for my 6.

Homecoming

2007-07-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I definitely know that I am in a small town now. This is a picture of the parade that went by our house tonight. Notice all the tractors!! Homecoming is when everyone is supposed to "come home" for the weekend in the summer. Sort of like an all school class reunion. They have this betting game that I will get a picture of tomorrow. You put your bet on the counter of the number you think that the mouse will run down in to. It's sort of like a roulette wheel but instead of a ball they use a mouse. Last year at the end of the festival, the let the mouse go. So where did they get the one for this year?

Midwest summer traditions

2007-07-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

Well, summer is officially here. Hot, muggy, and strawberry picking! Many people, myself not being one of them, go out to such establishments such as the one below to pick strawberries and/or raspberries. Most of it is used to make the best jam that is loaded with about 50% sugar. I just get it from my mother in law, who makes some FINE jam!!!

PBF Farms in West Lafayette

Should you be in need of fresh, I mean fresh, ground beef you would take yourself to the Village Market. For $2.39/lb you can get beef with no filler, freshly ground!! It truly is the best hamburger that you will ever have. They also have great cheese from Amish country, as well as all the things that you run out of during the week like bread, milk, pop, and eggs. The only bad part is that you can not get beer in our township. You have to go to Coshocton or Newcomerstown town to get groceries/beer...bummer

Skipperrrrrrrrrrrr

Grocery Store & Drive-thru

2007-07-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

Well, the finest/only grocery store in town. It is the size of a Walgreen's. There are very few things that are low fat, fat free, or reduced fat. But you have the convenience of getting what you need close by. The other thing is drive-thru. I never knew what it was until I moved to Ohio. You drive through this "garage" which is actually a convenience store. Just drive in, order your large can of beer for the road, and they actually put it in a paper bag!!! Ha ha ha!! I do need to say that I am always the driver for the person w/the beer in the bag!!

The town I work in...

2007-07-12T15:50:00.000-07:00

Fabulous downtown Newcomerstown...need I say more?

I also took a few pics of houses that people actually live in. For real.

This guy has amazing flowers in his yard!! Sorry about the glare

Triplex

Where is the front??

The Chilly Willy Dairy Bar

The "Video" Store

NYC Part 2

2007-07-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

On the way to NYC...
Well, after the drama of getting on the subway, my friends and I get off at Canal St (Chinatown). There is a little Chinese woman (not pictured above) there w/a piece of paper w/pictures of purses on it and she is saying, Prada, Gucci, etc. We nod our head and off she goes. That little woman can walk faster than I can. Down the street, around the corner, to some locked warehouse door. She opens the door, and says, you go w/my husband. We walked up 4 flights of stairs and through another locked door into what looked like a Chinese sewing sweat shop, in to a closet in the back. My friends are a little freaked but what the hell, fake purses!! We leave there and walk back through Chinatown and my friends can not get out of there fast enough. I am not sure what they were expecting but, that's what it is.

So we hurry out of there and head to the Grayline bus stop. A double-decker bus that tours around the city. A GREAT deal and you see a lot. They would not get off the bus again until we were back in Times Square...sigh.The Empire State Building

We missed all the culture. But who could not appreciate the Naked Cowboy??

Saturday in the park, I think it was just after 4th of July

Central Park

Amish traffic

2007-07-11T16:39:00.001-07:00

First of all, my father took this picture. You are not supposed to take pictures of the Amish because they believe it "steals their soul." When you head north of here about 10 minutes you start running in to buggies. I was intrigued with it for the first year I lived here but now I am used to it.

The other wonderful thing about living near Amish country is that there is GREAT meat, cheese, and bakeries so close. It truly is the best cheese I have had.

NYC

2007-07-11T14:33:00.001-07:00

Ahhh, the big city. Gotta love it! How could you not? Access to a variety of stores, restaurants, theaters, bars, etc. Need I say more?

Dinky Donuts

2007-06-22T18:44:00.001-07:00

So today I realize that Cy Young Days are this weekend. Cy is from the town I work in. ANYWAY...I see across the street all the food vendors that they have set up. ALL THREE!! WHEW! So I get all excited because I see a sign for mini donuts. Hot, sugary, and melts in your mouth. Sigh. Well, I walk up and I see trays that look like the Subway bun trays. They were full of cake donuts. I hoped, really hoped, but when I asked her if they had dinky donuts she looked at me like a had a third eye. I don't think she appreciated me saying that it was terribly disappointing. Ohioans do not know what they are missing out on. I need the Minnesota State Fair or any other Minnesota County Fair at that. Oh well.

Bad grammar

2007-06-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

So today I head off to Columbus to get my hair cut. On the way back I see a sign for Strawberries but the sign read "strawberrie" for sale. This is not a misspelling of the word, people here for the most part can not spell or for that matter speak proper English. UGH! Do they not still have English classes in school here?

Hummingbirds

2007-06-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

A male checking me out

Sitting on the wren perch

Taking a rest

Yesterday my father and I stopped out at my in-laws house. They live out in Amish Country and have 10 acres in the woods. I stood outside their back patio and got these awesome pics of the hummingbirds. They would come right up to me and check me out. It was the coolest thing ever!!

Dari Hut

2007-06-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

The Dari Hut is the Dairy Queen of our town. If you need ice cream it's the place to go. You can get a three scoop cone for $1.50. It has great good and everything is a bargain. Last weekend they had a band playing in the parking lot out back...hmmm. But, it's a great place to people watch and see all the interesting people in this area.

Welcome to fabulous West Vegas!!!

2007-06-13T17:43:00.000-07:00

Preview of coming attractions...

The Feedbarn

2007-06-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

Alright, I have decided to finally start a blog. Let's see how it goes. My friend Dub has inspired me. I thought I would start taking pics of where we live work.

This this pic is the Feed Barn across the street from where I work. You drive in and they load your car, truck, or what ever with all the feed, grain, pet food, and farm equipment that you need. Interesting....