Tag: Ohio

My Ohio author tour

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Last week I posted about the Ohioana Book Festival and it has inspired me to spend the rest of this month and June reading Ohio authors.  Maybe it will last longer I don’t know, there are so many authors to choose from.  Although Ohio has a rich history of renowned authors I think I’m going to focus on author’s still writing today.  I’m hoping to discover a few new faces.  I think this could be a good challenge for any of you wanting to discover your home states and invite you to join me.

A few authors I’ll be reading…

Regina Brett (newspaper columnist and Pulitzer Prize finalist)

Les Roberts (a Cleveland transplant.  Love his Milan mystery series)

Carrie Bebris (a festival discovery)

Susan Gee Heino (another festival discovery who writes historical romances)

Julie Anne Lindsey (a self-published festival discovery whose title and cover made me buy her book)

Thrity Umrigar (Another Cleveland transplant who I met at a book signing)

Bob Adamov (writes a series of books about Put-in-Bay, the island next to the one we spent a week at every year)

Karen Harper, Casey Daniels…

I really don’t think I’ll be able to read all of these by the end of June, but I can hope!  Or maybe I’ll find even more authors I have to read and continue all summer 🙂

A relaxing week at the lake followed by a heartbreaking football loss

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We went to Kelley’s Island, Ohio on Monday with my parents for the week.  We love it there (more info here).  Here was the view from the deck of the condo we rented…ki view from deck

Kelley’s Island is a hidden gem in my opinion.  It’s only four miles across, but there are so many walking trails and even a small beach that it feels bigger when you explore.  This is the third time we’ve gone there and it won’t be the last.  Here are a few photos from around the small island…ki boatski me & jason on beach

ki sunsetSo after a peaceful week surrounded by Lake Erie we took the ferry back to the mainland and headed down to Columbus for a little football game.  I’m a Buckeye alum and I get two football tickets a year and lucked out getting these seats to the biggest game of the year, #3 at #8…osu-usc footballIt was so loud and the Bucks were leading with less than two minutes to go, but then something bad happened.  We lost.   It was a good game and I can’t believe I have any voice left.  It was great to be on campus again and I was thrilled that the crowd was as loud as they were the whole game.   We got back at 2:30 this morning. 

A great week with a not so great end.

Girl time and a great place to visit!

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Every summer around the time of my Grandma’s birthday the women of the family choose a place in Ohio to spend a night or two together.  My Grandma will be turning 87 any day now and us gals spent Thursday night in Cumberland.  We were missing one  of our cousins who always comes, but gained a friend, for a total of 13.  This happens when the women are so wonderful 😉

gals 2009

This is us at the cabin in the wilds that we rented for the night.  I always enjoy the girl-time and come home every year appreciating my family more.  And I think most of us granddaughters (she has 10) know that we have the best possible Grandmother and we are blessed.

Now, on to THE WILDS!  I cannot possibly recommend this place enough for any kind of family trip.   It is located in SE Ohio, but you would never know it once you drive onto the 10,000+ acres of land that was gifted to this non-profit conservation group by the power company after it had been used in surface mining.  This group has turned it into an amazing place for research and the public.  We took a 2 1/2 safari yesterday on an open air bus.  Have a look at a few of the many, many different animals we saw…wilds giraffejuly 2009 149

wilds rhino

And yes, many animals came right up to the bus.  I could add so many wonderful photos, but The Wilds is not just about the animals, it is equally about the land and living in harmony with nature and using land that is good for nothing else for something worthwhile.

There is one lodge on the premises, where we stayed that had 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms and a private lake with boats and a canoe.  They also have newer smaller places near the visitor center that sleep two. 

If  you are within a few hours drive (took me 2.5 from Cleveland) or are driving through on your way someplace else, you cannot go wrong with stopping here for a few hours.   I had a fabulous time on my Ohio Safari!  Visit the website here.

Ohio Polls

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I returned home from working at the polls 30 minutes ago in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.  Because of early voting and absentee ballots turnout was fairly light.  I see that they have just called Ohio for Barack Obama.

We did not have any problems today.  Because of the light turnout things ran smoothly and s-l-o-w-l-y.  I really needed a nap, but now I will drink my glass of wine and watch the rest of the returns.

I hope you all participated in this momentous election!

Full Cleveland, by Les Roberts

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Cover ImageFinished 9-18-08, rating 3/5, mystery, pub. 1989

“Cleveland is a great city.  When the people who live here start believing it and stop heeding the knocks in the press and the bad jokes on television, things are going to be all right.”   -Chapter 7

Private detective and ex-cop Milan Jacovich is back in his second Cleveland mystery.  A few of his friends are back to help him in his latest case and his girlfriend, Mary, is there to add comfort.  Milan is hired to track down a man who has swindled local businesses and with this new job comes a sidekick appointed by the mob.  Sidekick Buddy provides extra muscle and some comic relief while the two of them track down suspects.  Milan is shot at and kills and drinks way too much.

This mystery series brings the neighborhoods of Cleveland, Ohio to life and anyone who enjoys reading and lives in the Cleveland area should really check this series out.  The first chapter took Milan and Mary to Johnny’s downtown, which is a favorite of mine and the neighborhoods are described with ethnic flavor and pride.  Actually, I think this series would be a perfect gift for anyone moving to the area.

I enjoyed the first book a little more than this one, but would still recommend this one.  Who knew Cleveland could be so exciting?