Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The one with no food photos

I have two full days left in Cincinnati. I had to keep reducing that number as this draft grew older and older.

I can’t believe this past month has completely slipped away. It’s been fun, but I think I wore myself out. I came down with a cold (and I never get sick!). Let’s look back at some of what I’ve been doing, and see if we can figure out who gave me the germs.

Task One: Spend local Groupons

This treated me to another visit at Poco a Poco (not quite as impressive as the first time, but good), a pottery class, and an afternoon bike rental.

It’s entirely likely I got the bug at the pottery place. I had a Groupon for two open-wheel sessions at Funke Fired Arts. Now, anyone who’s tried pottery knows that you can’t master the wheel in two sessions. Instead, the instructors guided each student to create at least one piece to take home. As in, my hands on the clay and the instructor’s hands on mine. Not as sexy as Ghost, though. And although I rinsed my hands thoroughly to clean off the clay, there was no soap until I got home.

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Last Saturday, we had gorgeous weather. This was perfect for taking a ride along the Loveland Bike Trail. Along the trail, we saw two turkeys (incredible!), a deer, and a beaver. And squirrels, including one suicidal squirrels that froze just in front of my wheel. Alex and I went from Loveland to Morrow (about 12 miles each way) on the “coaster” bikes. I was getting a little tired after mile 19, but I didn’t think anything of it (even went to Oktoberfest that night), but I woke up around 3 a.m. with my knees in excruciating pain. I was a real grump, but after a couple of days, I am happy to tell you I’ve made a full recovery.

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Alex with his coaster bike (pedal backwards to brake!), the trail, a view of the Little Miami we rode along the whole way. What a great day.

Task Two: Everything else, in no particular order

The following morning, I woke up bright and early (yes, after the 3 a.m. pain) to make one last trip to Hanover College. I advise a group of students there, and although they’re not as snot-nosed as elementary kids, I can’t help but think my comprised immune system might have picked up something from them. Plus it was a dreary, rainy day.

Since I’ve written, last meals include: Loving Hut, Shanghai Mama’s, Allyn’s, Melt (for brunch), and Green Papaya. No food photos – I ordered my favorite stand-by at each.

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Me at the Loving Hut, at our table right in front of the strange little fountain full of figurines. If you think you have misophonia, like me, it’s tough to eat by the gurgling fountain. Or anywhere else, really.

Freezer clean out includes: frozen tofu, edamame, artichokes, homemade waffles, Five Star Foodies burgers, chickpeas, flour, and various Trader Joes’s fruit floes.

Packing is in full force. Also, I think I may stop blogging so much about food. Sometimes it just doesn’t feel healthy, and I’ve learned so much (why I started in the first place). I enjoy eating and trying new recipes -- after all this eating out it was refreshing to make dinner Sunday night! -- but for October I’m taking part in Our Wired Lives 30 Day Photography Challenge. I may be a few days late getting starting while I wait on my internet installation, but I’m pretty excited about it.

12 comments:

  1. I am jealous you got to do a pottery class! I always wanted to try that! I actually love the little fairy village type thing next to where you ate. Sorry you have misophonia though. That would definitely be hard.

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  2. Sounds like you're really making the most of your last weeks/days in Cincinnati. I've always wanted to learn how to do pottery...that pic of you with the wheel is so cute! I've often thought it before when you post pics--you have a really nice smile.

    The bike ride sounds lovely (sorry about the sore knees) and I bet the beer at Oktoberfest tasted great after a day of cycling.

    Misophobia...never heard of that one, but I think I might know a few people who have it.

    The 30-day challenge sounds like fun...looking forward to the posts, though I have no idea what number 20 is.

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  3. I would miss your food posts, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Good luck with the move! I hate moving but you seem to have a much better attitude about it than I do.

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  4. "not as sexy as ghost" I love the reference!
    I know what you mean about blogging about food. I started my blog to meet other vegans, take better photographs (i never even use my good camera...still!) and learn about food, but my knowledge seems to have surpassed a lot of folks and it's turned into an obsession. Part of my goal was always to become a better writer, an interesting, captivating writer, but I've lost my way. Kudos to you for doing what makes you happy :)

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  5. I have yet to make it to all these places!!!

    Want to hit LoveLand though for the WPYoga!

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  6. Good luck with all the final packing and enjoy your last few days! The bike ride and Oktoberfest definitely sound like an awesome way to ring out your time in Cinci, even if your knee did get a little wonky. Can't wait to hear how the move goes!

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  7. Misophonia! I like it! Unless I have it, which I don't think I do.

    I would never think to buy Groupons for those types of activities.

    Best of luck!

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  8. PS let's form a misophonia support group.....we won't serve potato chips at our meetings. The last time my MIL visited, her gum-chewing almost killed me (or her).

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  9. Wow... You have been very busy. I'm exhausted just after reading about everything that you have been doing.
    How cool to have two sessions of doing pottery. That's something I would love to do.
    Your bike ride sounds like fun and looks like a beautiful ride. Squirrels can be a little on the crazy side.... Got to watch out for em. :0)
    Good luck with the 30 day challenge, and good luck with the move.

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  10. It doesn't feel healthy? Like always thinking about/planning toward/making/blogging about food? I think I see what you're saying. I think your 30 day challenge will be a fun change of pace. And I've always wanted to do the pottery wheel, too.

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  11. Wow, it sounds like you had so much fun! Except for the knee, of course. I feel like I have a focus/reason for my food blogging - I started it for my kids, but I can see if it becomes obsessive or unhealthy, why you'd reconsider. Best of luck!

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  12. Wow! I'm back, y'all!

    Carissa - you should totally give pottery a try. I think I would catch on after a few weeks of practice.

    Rose, I already miss Cincinnati. I will do my best to give a good try to #20. You do some bokeh sometimes - it has to do with the blurry background.

    Stacy and Lacey! No one said I was off the food posts. I have a wonderful new kitchen and I hate leaving the house. Just you watch. I can't quit the food posts.

    Get Skinny - I would have looked up WPYoga, but I'm too far from it right now. Not like I wasn't far from Loveland before.

    Jes, Oktoberfest was the prime Cincy way to end my time in Cincy.

    Thanks Shen! I won't be buying those Groupons anymore, either.

    Michelle, thanks! Move went well.

    Jenny - yes, I think I want to expand my horizons. I have learned a lot of healthy things blogging, but I want to blog without obsessing about food. Not that I've done that in weeks!

    Blessed Mama, you make some awesome meals for your family. I bet you're too busy with all of them for this to become unhealthy!

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