Memories of Memorial Day

Wonderful weekend! I hope yours was, too. Steinvic got home (best part of the weekend!) and suprised me with a bottle of Finlandia - so sweet of him! - and we went out for a bit on Friday to our local. We slept in and lounged on Saturday, and decided we needed to watch Goodfellas and have Italian that evening - great idea! We saw friends on Sunday at our local, and after a good friend of ours came over to cook out and chill for a bit. Monday was a day of just relaxing...excellent!

Earlier on Sunday, we did go to the Taste of Cincinnati. We hadn't been for a few years. This year, it was along Fifth Street, by Fountain Square and I have to say...don't like it. Being near the Square is always nice. But the one, long, stream of slow walkers - and even stoppers - down the center of the street was frustrating. Slow walkers, stoppers and - bless them - stroller pushers should all go up on the sidewalks. That way, they can take their time and not block the road for the normal walkers and fast walkers.

But that aside, we had fun. We always have fun! But here is where you might think we're insane - we didn't eat anything. No, really. We did have some drinks, but we were pretty hot and had a good breakfast so...we just didn't see anything that called out to us. Eventually, we ducked into Rock Bottom Brewery for a "real drink" (there was no vodka to be found at the Taste this year) for me and a real ladies room, as opposed to the portalets (which actually turned out to be 100x nicer than the loo at RBB). We shared an appetizer there, so...we did eat at the Taste but not at the Taste.

I wish that Steinvic had been to the Taste when it was still as I remember...my Dad took me a number of times when I was a kid. Spacious, lots and lots of music, very non-commercial, tiny portions for $1 or $2...that was key as you could try lots of different things. Now, it's like crazy busy and giant portions, higher cost. It's still cool, because...hey, when else can you walk around downtown Cincinnati with a beer! And we love going downtown. So...we'll for sure be back...we're sure his son would dig it. And hey, next time, you should come along...

Fabulous Friday

TGIF! And a long weekend with Steinvic to follow. And the weather is phenomenal. And it's payday. What else could anyone want?!

My big project o' the week was painting the hall/foyer/stairwell area and it's finally finished! Looks lovely. It really is amazing what a nice coat of paint can do.

So, I'm headed out the front door this morning and the LARGEST mosquito I've ever seen smacks me in the face and dizzies on into the house. I didn't even know what it was at first, but I look over at the landing and see this giant mutha. Now, I'm flipping out because a) I'm trying to get out the door so I won't be late, b) I don't want this thing in the house because it's nas-tay and I think it might kill us in our sleep and I have such a horrible reaction to bug bites of any kind and c) guess where this b*tch has landed? On the freshly painted wall!!!

How do you whack a mosquito without jacking up the paint job you've spent hours perfecting? Very carefully. RIP, mosquito... no mess, no reminders.

And, speaking of whacking, what did I say? Bless those New Jersey Real Housewives...the husbands may really be livin' life slightly Soprano Style!

Anyway, for the weekend? Hopefully, a little bit of this. If you've never been because you think it's just music and food and beer and crowds and that doesn't appeal to you...stay home! Seriously...imagine a really professionally put on festival, in the heart of Cincinnati, with some great bands, sunshine and taste-size portions of some very yummy local food. If you're from here, avoid the stuff you can easily get anytime - in other words, if you get a slice of LaRosa's while you're there, you're missing out. Go for the restaurants you've heard of but never tried, or those that have won some of the Best Of awards. Same goes for the bands...it's a big deal for anyone to get to play this event, so listen to something new...Fun times!

Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! See you on Tuesday...

p.s. Yes, I am aware that the truck in the featured masterpiece, Attack of the Killer Mosquito,(another five-minute work of art, brought to you courtesy of my warped brain and the creators of Paint) strikes an odd resemblance to a previously discussed truck. The similarity is purely coincidental...