A Night of Lights and Music

This past Saturday night a free concert and light show took place at Washington Park. I'd been hearing more and more about it, and it seemed to be something not to miss, especially since Kent and I live within walking distance.

Unfortunately I saw that it started at 8:30 p.m. and that the 3-D architectural light show played with the live Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and projected on Music Hall, would last 40 minutes, but I didn't notice the full schedule. After an afternoon at Jungle Jim's we got back late, and made it just in time to an overwhelmingly full park. We started walking up an aisle, thinking we'd be able to find a spot somewhere on the grass or concrete to sit, but then the people in front of us stopped, and as we turned around to the front, no one was moving there either. In fact more people kept flooding in. We stood as close to wise early birds who'd gotten spaces and were comfortably sitting on chairs they'd brought, but then the aisle quickly was filled with more and more people. I'm just glad nothing bad happened during the show.

It turned out that the Cincinnati Pops and the Cincinnati Ballet also were performing the FIRST HALF of the show. That meant with intermission we stood for two hours! Thankfully the new diet Kent and I began last week has improved our energy or else we wouldn't have made it through, and it was so worth being there, even with the crowd.

There's nothing else to say. The abridged video says far more than I can try to explain. (Forgive the tall guy in front on me who kept moving and getting his head in frame.)

Lumenocity from Dania Eliot on Vimeo.

6.22.13 - Hitched

I did what I thought I'd never do -- get married! Thankfully the weather wasn't too warm on that second day of summer Saturday morning in Eden Park and thankfully the people were across the street at Krohn Conservatory's butterfly show. We had the short and intimate service under FDR's Tulip Tree (quite appropriate) in the Presidential Grove. Carrot cake at the BonBonerie followed.

6 22 13 from Dania Eliot on Vimeo.

6.21.13

More to say later.

Overwhelm

After fourteen and a half years I am moving, and am I ever overwhelmed. For a brief moment I actually started feeling good about things, thinking I had it under control, but that is not the case.

A woman at work said I must have liked my place to have stayed there that long. I will save my full response to that for another blog. The real reason I stayed there that long is so I didn't have to go through moving again.

Sign of pink

Well, last Friday the world didn't end, but it sure was a mostly sucky day. It began for me with some utter nonsense from work that caused me to have a much deserved meltdown that then left me sobbing almost uncontrollably all day.

Seeing some pink peaking through the trees did help on our journey.

Frothy

I prefer the froth in the mug rather than on the road. Ugh, winter is coming.

Ice cream

There's no stopping early when ice cream is the destination.

Passing Jesus

Yellow Springs awaits, so no time to spare.

Leaping Cats

Why not?

Pink Trees

There's no escaping now.

Faded Glory

Still bright yellow.

Gingerbread: The Saga Does Not Continue

No, I did not make a gingerbread house today, nor will I be making one. You may revisit the archives to see how that panned out a few years ago.

Popping

They didn't get quite as large and high as what I saw online, but not bad for a first attempt. They have all been eaten.

Sky fall

Watching the sky fall after watching "Skyfall."

Bagpipes

Still not sure what they have to do with the holidays.

Paint the Sky

October 14, 2012 -- West Virginia and home

My GPS has a bad habit of getting me off an exit too early and it obviously did that the previous night causing us to have the full tour of Beckley, West Virginia. It had me rather unnerved wondering where in the world this hotel would be. Seeing that it was next to a very packed IHOP and its own parking lot was full (apparently the bar at the Quality is the place to be on a Saturday night in Beckley), somehow didn't sway my concerns. I made Kent let us keep the light on (yes, I know I'm childish). Luckily no stink bugs.

Anyway, the next morning a bright blue sky greeted us. Sadly no make-you-own-waffles (maybe that's what we should ask for for Christmas, except then I will want waffles ALL the time), but there was good food and caffeine to send us on our way.

Seeing Charleston, West Virginia's capitol gold dome made me know we were in the home stretch and could then enjoy seeing the changing leaves, that on that day seemed to be just beginning, but now keep falling.

October 13, 2012 -- Norfolk, Virginia

There are three videos for this entry below.

Ah, the last day at Colonial Williamsburg. Yes, we did go there in the morning. Yes, I regret it. It seemed fine at first, surprisingly even getting very close parking on a Saturday, but then the shuttle driver decided that way more people than certainly would be legally allowed could ride. I haven't been that cramped in a tight moving vehicle since the London Metro. The difference is that I love London and HATE Colonial Williamsburg. This brought about a pretty intense near panic attack. My apologies to the two middle-aged women who I pushed past on my way getting out the back door.

Luckily by lunch time we were off to Norfolk, Virginia. It's not quite to Virginia Beach, but close. We did get to see the Chesapeake Bay on the way and go through a wild long tunnel ride on our way there.



The reason for going is that I checked out a Virginia guidebook for the trip and spotted the Chrysler Museum of Art, which has one of the largest glass collections in the country, as well as their own hot glass facility that has daily demonstrations. Their very friendly staff greeted us upon arrival and Kent was even able to get staff coffee from the guard since the cafe was closed and the coffee machine not working (we are far from Colonial Williamsburg). After drooling over their gorgeous Tiffany collection, we quickly went through their paintings before heading over to see some glass being made across the street. They have some of the traditional items like pumpkins to make or buy, as well as many non-traditional. It was a very cool facility and I wish we could have stayed longer.



Sadly we needed to hit the road in order to make it to our hotel in West Virginia, in order to split the trip going back in half, so we weren't able to walk around the lovely Ghent historic district near the Museum and the Hague River. Next time, if for no other reason than to ride the tunnel. Very interesting clouds that evening on our drive.

October 12, 2012 -- Richmond, Virginia

Thankfully we didn't spend all of our last three days at Colonial Williamsburg, or I'd be needing more than time to heal my wounds (and other people's wounds). On October 12, we parked near the Merchant's Square area to be closer to the the folk art museum. After taking it in, we were off to Richmond. We chose to the visit the Edgar Allan Poe Museum. It actually isn't a home of his, although he did grow up in Richmond. The museum doesn't allow photography or video inside, but I can tell you it has a large number of manuscripts, items of clothing he wore and furniture he used, along with other personal items. There is a great deal of history about his personal life and development as an author. It's a charming small museum, which was amusingly enough preparing for a wedding as we left. There was sadly no time to visit the Richmond Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson, so, once again, there was a drive by only.

We then met Kent's cousin and his family at Pizzaro's, which was very yummy. There was a final stop at Whole Foods after dinner, as I was tired of seeing bananas for $1.50 each at Colonial Williamsburg (I guess it would have been a luxury for the colonists too). Then back to the resort and bed.

October 11-13, 2012 -- The Colonial Williamsburg Saga

There are two videos for this blog entry.

They say time heals all wounds. Well, about a week after our vacation to Colonial Williamsburg, I have calmed down mostly, but I still HATE Colonial Williamsburg. I'd never been before, but it seemed like something one should do. Kent had visited with his family twenty years ago and enjoyed it, and hoped I would too. Sadly that did not happen.

I'm still trying to sort out why. I love historic buildings and decorative arts. I think its partially due to the fakeness of it all. Yes, there are a few historic buildings, but mostly its just the basements or fragments. The rest is all a re-creation. Basically it's Colonial Disney, with the overpriced tickets, horrible overpriced food (except for the baked goods at the Raleigh Tavern Bake Shop), and rude employees wearing costumes and who don't want to be there. The trick is that at Disney the costumes mask their faces so you can't see them rolling their eyes at you. Granted my slight food poisoning (or at least I think that was what it was) at the King's Arm Tavern, with our unbelievably surly waiter, did not make the first day there a good start. Mostly I think it was disappointment over what should be a serious and important part of our country's history being turned into such a crass commercial venture.

I did enjoy our visit to the two museums there, especially the folk art with its carousel with a cat. We listened to a beautiful pipe organ and harpsichord concert at one of the original churches still standing (until my stomach seized up -- sadly I didn't think to film it as I was feeling quite ill at that time). We did notice a difference between week day and weekend performers. The weekend ones were a bit more knowledgeable and actually seemed to want to be there.



My advice, if you wish to visit, is to just do the free stuff. You can park at the Visitor's Center for free and then walk over the bridge to the "historic area" (there's also fairly cheap garage parking close to the Merchant's Square area) and just wander through, stop and get some gingerbread cookies and apple cider at the Raleigh Tavern Bake Shop (yes, the staff aren't friendly, but the food isn't too over-priced there and it's good), then get the hell out! Don't go to the taverns, instead stop at one of the restaurants in Merchant's Square or near the College. The staff won't be wearing dorky costumes, but that means the prices will be lower, the food will be edible, and the servers won't slam the plates down in front of you (yes, that is what the server did to us at the King's Arm Tavern). Go to the museums, and then escape from the land of unpleasant people.