WEBN Fireworks 2008

I have a lot of great memories of the Labor Day fireworks celebration. In Northern Kentucky, Biehl Street (Newport) has one of the best views of the Cincinnati skyline around.

Some of my earliest WEBN firework memories go back to when my brother lived on Biehl Street. The whole family would show up early in the afternoon to have a cook out. We would socialize and eat until dark and then the much anticipated firework show would begin… My mom being there, John and Robbie, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends… The hospitality, the music, the fireworks, and spending time with my family fill my mind with many wonderful memories.

Although, as I remember back, it was also a bittersweet time. The fireworks meant the end of summer. School would start after Labor Day and that meant less time with my children. It meant no more swimming, no more sleeping late and that cold weather and winter was just around the corner...

This year, we didn’t do much in preparation for the fireworks, as in years past. Philip had decided to go to a friend’s house (on Biehl Street) where he could watch the fireworks. Katie decided she would stay down at the Levee all day and watch from the river with some of her friends.

We still had a small cookout at my house for Amy and her family. After finishing hamburgers and hot dogs, we waited until 8:30 PM and drove down to Biehl Street to scope out a spot to watch the fireworks. Jeff, (being the knowledgeable neighborhood mailman), told us that the vacant house, the one with the yard with the wonderful view of downtown Cincinnati, might be a good place to stop at. So, we parked the stroller and parked ourselves in the yard, like we owned it.

Next, Jeff’s mom and dad called on the cell. They were looking for a good place to watch the fireworks so Jeff told them where to meet us… There was plenty of room in this newly adopted yard of ours.

Then, Philip called my cell and asked where we were… as it turned out we were only a few houses down the street from his friend’s house. His friend graciously invited us up to his house to sit on their deck. Not knowing if we would get booted from the vacant lot, we all opted to join Philip and his friend.

It was a good decision. They had the most perfect view of the fireworks! They even shared their drinks and snacks with us. We sat on the deck and enjoyed every minute of the fireworks!

....when Johnny Cash’s song, “Rings of Fire” played, the whole crowd on the deck sang along with Johnny… while John Mellencamp’s “When the Wall Comes Tumbling Down” played, I changed the words and sang, “When the DECK comes tumbling down!!” Trust me, it was funny, there were a whole lot of people rocking on that deck!

Actually, the whole night rocked!

California Nature Preserve

After lunch today we took a detour off the beaten path and went to California Woods Nature Preserve. We have driven past that sign many times, but never turned in. Today would be different. After entering the park, first of all, I really hoped there wasn't someone leaving, as the road was only wide enough for one car...

Yet, it wasn't long before we discovered that California Woods Nature Preserve is one of the hidden jewels of the City of Cincinnati Parks. The preserve plays host to over 200 species of wildflowers blooming in a wide variety of habitats, right in the middle of the city.

You can also find over 50 different species of trees at the preserve including beech, red oak, hickory, black walnut and yellow buckeye. Today, the beautiful old sycamore trees blocked the late August sunshine, and patches of leaves and sky sent sprays of light through the hiking trails.

We found a creek that gracefully runs through the nature preserve providing a suitable habitat for snapping turtles and small fish.

However, one thing to note, what you won't find here are any playgrounds. There aren't any tennis courts. No camping facilities or grills either. There are a few comfortable park benches beckoning, and bridge rails invite a lean or two, but the lure of this park is an appreciation of nature and a love for what is beautiful.

It is simply - a big patch of beautiful forest.

Rabbit Hash

As we do on most Sunday’s, we took a drive. Michael likes to head down to Rabbit Hash, at least once a year, to get a Sarsaparilla. So, that is where we went.

If you are not familiar with Rabbit Hash, you need to be. Rabbit Hash consists of a handful of historic properties located on the Ohio River (Boone County, KY) that has been described as “frozen in time.”

The General Store is the heart and soul of this little river village. Rabbit Hash General Store has been in continuous operation since it opened its doors in 1831, and with very little change. It has survived floods, mud and ice over the many generations it has seen.

To visit Rabbit Hash, is to take a big step back in time. As many others have discovered, this place is therapeutic. Time slows down in Rabbit Hash, as does your blood pressure. You are greeted by smiles and howdy’s in Rabbit Hash.

Although you no longer see anyone riding horses as in days of old, you will see a lot of motorcycles. The beautiful scenery along the Ohio River and the winding roads that lead to Rabbit Hash naturally draw bikers to Rabbit Hash. Rabbit Hash is a destination to meet friends whether on bike or car.

As for today, after browsing the store and making our purchases, we sat on the log bench on the front porch to enjoy a cool drink. We soon learned the sad news that the mayor of Rabbit Hash had died recently. Many will miss scratching the mayor’s ears and watching him beg for scraps. Oh, by the way, the mayor was a dog named, Junior. Course, there's already politicking going on in Rabbit Hash. The sign on the store read, “Vote for Lucie, she is the only B@#$% in town you can trust!” I am pretty sure Lucie is a dog, too!


Rabbit Hash... The name is contagious. Someone once commented that Rabbit Hash is not just a little river town, it’s a state of mind.

Looking for Treasure

Today we went driving along the 127 Corridor Sale. This sale is billed as the “World's Longest Yardsale,” averaging 654 miles long, starting in West Unity, Ohio and continuing southward to Gadsden, Alabama. Today we were hoping to have a shot at finding some undiscovered treasure, of course at a giveaway price. I could envision myself on The Antiques Roadshow describing how I bought my treasure at this sale... and how little I paid for such a valuable item...

We started in Covington, KY at Main Strasse and drove about 40 miles south trying to locate that hidden “treasure.” It was rather interesting to see all the stuff lined up on tables for sale. Yes, junk to costume jewelry, used shoes to colored glass, postcards to beautiful antiques, and everything in between. The sale had something that could appeal to every taste. Whether collector, a person searching for nostalgia or a first-time treasure hunter, you could find something to pique your interest at the sale.

After several hours on the road, and the laying of hands on over a hundred items, we found nothing that met our requirements for undiscovered treasure. Then, at the last stop along our trek, I spied something interesting… An overlooked treasure just laying there, unnoticed. "Hold on a minute," I whispered to myself. The price was right… one dollar...

Slowly shaking my head yes, and biting my lip, I decided to buy it. I didn’t even try to haggle on the price. It may not qualify as a treasure to anyone else, and you probably won't see it on The Antiques Roadshow, but I knew Amy would love it.

Anything to do with Elvis is always a treasure to Amy!

Ready, Set, Go-Karts!

Today we went to Eastgate to ride the go-karts. Michael is a seasoned go-kart driver while Rachel has never been in a go-kart before. Michael, with experience under his belt, sped out of the starting line each time. However, Rachel was a little more reserved in accelerating and liked to get a feel for things before she really got going. By the end of the day, they both were running laps around me.

Afterwards they relaxed next to the lake and fed the ducks, or fish…

Starlite Drive-In – And a Nostalgic Look Back

Again, I felt the need to pack some extra fun into the last days of summer. With little else to do on a Wednesday night, we decided to drive out to the Starlite Drive-In. Before we left, Katie filled up the cooler with ice and lots of soft drinks and grabbed several snacks. Michael threw a couple lawn chairs into the back of the van along with some blankets and pillows.

Tonight it took us about a half hour to drive to Starlite which is located in Amelia, OH. We have been making this drive and enjoying the movies at the Starlite Drive-In for at least a dozen years. Occasionally throughout the years we have heard rumors that they may be closing. Fortunately for us, they have only been rumors, as we all love going to this family oriented drive-in.

So, are you old enough to remember going to the drive-in theater? When I was a kid everybody went to the drive-in movies all summer long. I fondly remember as my family would take us to the Pike 27 Drive-In Theater in Cold Spring, KY. There was a playground at the base of the screen and we spent more time playing and eating the snacks that my mom packed than watching the movie.

I remember the scratchy sounding speakers barely hanging on the car window, hiding my head behind the back seat of my mom during scary parts, and families setting up lawn chair and blankets outside their cars as the image flickered on the looming screen.

My parents always made a bed for us in the back, pillows and blankets piled on the floor, so we could sleep during the late second movie. It was wonderful.

Drive-ins saw their peak in the late 1950s when there were more than 4,000 across the country. Back in the '50's, the drive-in sound system comprised of speaker polls with bulky speakers lined up across an open field below the big screen. Now, only the speaker poles remain of the old sound system, which has given way to stereo sound broadcast through the car's radio. Today, only 383 drive-ins are left, according to the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association.

Tonight at the Starlite we stayed for the double feature, Space Chimps and The Mummy. It really didn’t even matter to us what was playing, we just wanted to do something together. Some activities may seem like relics from another time, but sometimes that's what makes them fun. And, we did have fun.

Katie has always liked the dancing hot dog during intermission!

Buca di Beppo

With school almost ready to start back up, I figured today provided a good opportunity to try a new place for a leisurely lunch - Buca di Beppo at Rookwood Commons in Norwood. Buca di Beppo is an American restaurant chain specializing in immigrant Southern Italian food. The name roughly translates as "Joe's Basement."

As soon as we arrived, the hostess took us for a quick tour of the restaurant. We toured the kitchen, down the decorated hallway, and then past the “Pope” dining room.


We were then seated in a room with a shrine to Frank Sinatra. Our table was situated under a photo of five debutantes eating spaghetti...without using their hands. The walls everywhere had interesting photos of famous people while other photos were just “regular” people. The music was familiar as I remembered a lot of the tunes were songs my mom and dad used to listen to.

After a short wait, our meal consisted of huge portions of food along with delicious garlic bread with Mozzarella cheese. It was fun to sit, talk about nothing important, admire silly photographs and enjoy a delicious lunch.


After lunch, Michael seemed amused by the photographs in the men’s restroom. Not sure what they were of, but they gave him a chuckle.

Lunch for Four – Simple, Right?

This past week I decided to have four teacher friends over to my house for lunch. Simple enough idea, right? It sounded like a good idea. Relaxing, chatting with friends, a real stress buster in my hurried life. So, I decided to start planning. I made my phone calls and told these friends that they did not need to do anything, but simply show up.

That is where “simple” was left behind.

The whole idea of this get-together was to feel good, be a stress buster and spend time with good friends. However, the great irony that comes along with most “stress busters” is that they all encompass some degree of stress.

As, I looked around the house with dog hair floating down the hall like tumbleweeds and laundry stacked in the laundry room, I soon learned that stress would soon take me over. So the housecleaning, the shopping, and the planning of matching plates and napkins took hold of me. The yard work, freshly cut grass and a new application of mulch to keep things looking nice was in order.

I know this kind of stress is self-imposed, yet, I cannot seem to help myself. Believing that perfection is the norm, I did not want to fall short for my friends. I set aside a whole day for cleaning the house and working on the yard.

The night before my lunch, exhausted, I asked myself this question, “Will my friends like me less if my chicken salad is not homemade?" So, the morning of my get-together, I drove to my favorite restaurant that serves tasty chicken salad and bought two pints. I cut some fresh fruit and set out some chips. At last, there was something relaxing setting in. Once they arrived, I didn’t even pay attention to the house but rather just enjoyed their company.

So, girls, for the next get-together, you may discover my messy life. I may vacuum a little and let the rest go. Perhaps you may like me even more since you may no longer feel the need to reciprocate perfection.

Cincinnati Art Museum

This weekend, after tripping over bored children and teenagers, I decided to take them to the Cincinnati Art Museum, and the admission price was right, FREE! Located in scenic Eden Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum features an art collection of more than 60,000 works spanning 6,000 years.

I was looking forward to the “Long Time No See” Exhibit. This exhibit is a never-before peek into more than a 150 stored objects, not seen in at least a decade or more, and some are on display for the first time.

As we walked through the museum, Michael was excited to find a sketch of “God Bless of Everyone” signed by Norman Rockwell. The same signed and numbered Norman Rockwell lithograph we have hanging in our home.

Brandon enjoyed seeing the Italian Armor and the sculpture of David and Goliath (although he admired the sword more than the sculpture!)

Rachel liked the strange Crosley Robot and some of the jewelry displayed.

All admired art from Frank Duveneck to Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.

My favorite part of our day at the museum was when Phil pointed to a painting of a young woman and told the kids that it looked much like I did when I was nineteen years old. How flattered I felt as I gazed at the beautiful woman in the painting. Of course, the kids did not believe it… yet, Phil assured them he could produce a photo of me at nineteen to prove his point.

A VENETIAN WOMAN
John Singer Sargent (American, b.1856, d.1925)

As we were ending our day at the museum, Katie was not ready to leave. I think she could have spent another couple hours there. I knew Katie would enjoy the Art Museum since she has a great love for art and a budding talent as well. She was disappointed when we had to leave. I am sure she will return soon.

As for everyone, no longer bored, we experienced a fun day of enrichment in the visual arts at the Cincinnati Art Museum.