To The Top

It was a bittersweet week, going to Cincinnati knowing this would be my last week at Cincinnati Magazine. I didn't plan for any big adventures, because I finally realized something. Cincinnati was the adventure. I've spent the last two months exploring new places and new things. I've experienced the city.

Even though I never got to go a museum because of the hours, I still visited numerous parks, and restaurants that are Cincinnati favorites. The staff at the magazine was amazing. They were patient when I had questions, and I got the opportunity to learn about how magazines are created. I also got to see my name in print. I know that the smell of ink is one that will forever bring me joy.

On my last day, I had quite the tearjerker moment when I walked in and found a card laying on my seat. Shelly and Kristen and I finally went to the top of Carew Towers. After 45 floors, you have to take a much smaller elevator that is created only for four people. We went to the observation deck, paid our two dollars and walked out. Afterwards, we walked down to Skyline and I allowed myself one last small three-way, before I start back to eating healthy and working out all the time.

From the top of the tower, we could look down and see Fountain Square, the river, and even Union Terminal. A lesson that I learned, if you want to see the city, really see the city, start from the tallest structure.

Afterwards, we hugged and said our good-byes and exchanged information so we can keep in touch. The publishing world isn't very big and I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again.

So, I hope you've enjoyed my adventures. I will take the rest of summer to spend with my kids, and family and friends that I have neglected during this time. Don't think my adventures are over. There's already talk about a day at Toledo Botanical Gardens, and plans to maybe go to the Chicago Jazzfest. The world is huge, and there are so many things to see, and experience.

I'm ready for that next adventure.

Off the Beaten Path

I'm sure most people are expecting pictures of a certain adventure, a place I said I'd visit this week. I would have gone to Union Terminal, but I got completely distracted by something I didn't even know existed in Ohio. I found a real castle about 20 minutes north of Cincinnati.

I don't really remember how I found it, but when I knew I had to see it. Chateau Laroche, otherwise known as Loveland Castle is a historical castle that sits in Loveland, Ohio. This medieval
castle was built by hand by a man of the name of Harry D. Andrews. Legend says that Harry used to bring his friends, Boy Scout Troops  and Sunday school students to the banks of the Little Miami River. He must have decided this was the perfect spot to built his European castle.

Work was started in 1929, and he spent his whole life until 1981 working on the project. He willed the castle to his Boy Scout troop, The Knights of the Golden Trail. Today, admission is a cheap three bucks. Admittedly, it doesn't take long to walk through. Some of the rooms are closed off, as is the top terrace of the castle. It's worth a trip though, just to say you got to see a real castle. If you stand quietly enough, you can imagine why it's rumored to be haunted.

The office was quiet Tuesday, well quiet for the interns. With Cincinnati Wedding shipping next week, there was a lot of last minute editing for the editors, but not a lot of fact checking or research to be done. The best part of Tuesday, Sue asked if I wanted to see what my personnel essay will look like when it runs.

I didn't know whether to jump up and down or cry as I read my story, there on that glossy page. Admittedly, it's a short piece, but it's mine. Someone will read that, and maybe make the decision to go to college. It's proof that I'm starting to arrive, and headed in the right direction.

Wednesday started off quietly enough. I browsed magazines looking for things that are currently trending, and that could be used in Cincinnati. I also got to work in InDesign, for a few quick moments, thanks to Kara. I admitted to her that I'm terrified of the design programs, but have plans to conquer it.

At lunch, Shelly and I walked quickly, making attempts to avoid Fountain Square, where I'm pretty sure I heard an evangelist on the microphone, and an anti-abortion rally seemed to be going on.  There were pictures of fetuses set up. I try to keep politics off here, but I'm firm believer that a woman has the right to choose what happens to her body.

On the way back from lunch however; I couldn't avoid Fountain Square. See, several years ago on a night where I was the designated driver, one of my friends (whose name I have promised to never publicly out until he has grandkids) drunkenly stripped, and ran across the street to climb and hump Big Boy. There getting ready to leave Fountain Square, stood Big Boy! I knew I had to get my picture with him, to send to my mischievous friend. "I'm cracking up laughing." came the reply.

Thanks to all the storms, I received a text from my boys letting me know the power was out. Being three hours away, I wasn't quite sure what they wanted me to do. I called to make sure they were okay, and reassured them I'd put in a call to the power company to find out how long the outage would last.

Little did I know, those storms were about to affect me too. Interstate 75 north was closed, due to high water, as I looked around I realized I-71 was at a complete standstill.

"Hi, my favorite human navigator system!" I said a little too brightly, as I called Grandpa to explain my precarious position.
"I think you're in trouble." He replied, and when Grandpa can't figure it out, well, there isn't much that can be done.

A few minutes later when Grandpa called me, with his map in hand to help me find a route, I had already established a route out of the city that led directly to route 4. I guess I've got some of Grandpa in me after all.

So there were no fountains this week, but I think the castle more than makes up for that. There are only a couple more weeks of Cincinnati adventures. I'm looking forward to each one.

Crossing borders

I finally crossed the bridge into Covington, KY this weekend, with my purpose in mind. Reading wedding stories and seeing wedding pictures for the last few weeks, I have noticed a stunning building, and even had my editor correct me on the name once.

My destination was Saint Mary's Basilica of the Assumption. As anyone that knows me is aware, I'm fascinated by old buildings, old gothic architecture captures my attention every time. Standing outside, I gazed up at this wonderous building and quickly noted the gargoyles sitting atop the Cathedral.

Before I went inside, I walked through an old iron wrought gate, into the path of a garden lined with statues and fountains. It's very peaceful and quiet back there. Finally it was time to go in. I was greeted at the door by a very sweet elder lady that asked if I had any questions and pointed me to the brochures.

The view inside was breathtaking. The air smelled of incense and it is important to remember that there are people praying and taking mass. I sat in a pew and gazed all around me at the 82 stained glass windows. These windows were why I had earlier been corrected on the churches name. St. Mary's boast one of the largest stain glass windows in the world.

Surrounding on the walls are mosaic tiles showing scenes from the life of Jesus. I always finIt boasts a gold-plated tabernacle, and was created in Ghent in 1913 as a gift to a former Bishop from the people of d peace in those old churches, there's a serenity to be had in the quietness, and the traditions. The one Chapel that tourists are not allowed to take pictures of is the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. It boasts a gold-plated tabernacle, and was created in 1913 in Ghent as a gift to a former Bishop from the people of Belgium.

After observing others in prayer and my own quiet reflections, it was time for me to head back to the quietness of my second home. There I frustratingly and painstaking tried to grasp the concept of Graphic Design glass. It's quite the struggle, more than you'd think.

The next morning I was ecstatic to open my office e-mail and discover another writing assignment. This time it involves interviews, and doing the write up of a local fundraising event. I was really excited to get to work.

Something you might not realize about interviewing people, sometimes it's a lot of hurry up and wait. You hurry up and contact people, and have to wait for their schedules to open to have time to talk to you. By the end of the day I was finally able to get in touch with everyone, and begin writing my assignment.

Which was good, because I got to see the pagination for the Wedding magazine. I know, I should be immune to the excitement of it by now. I'm not though. It's still fascinating to me to watch these teams of people come together and compromise on ad placement, and editorial pages and content. Even as I left the office that day I was fascinated by how quickly the design team was able to post the pagination for review.

As I had flipped through wedding photos that day, I noticed a picture of a bride and groom sitting on top of a fountain statue of books. Through a quick search I was able to find out that the statue sits in front of the Cincinnati Main Library. The statue known as the book fountain, is the Amelia Valerio Weinberg Memorial Fountain, founded in 1990. Of course, I had to walk the numerous city blocks to take a picture of that beautiful statue.

The next day was fairly quiet. (Well, other than me and my headphones letting out a loud shriek when one of the other interns stopped to say hello and stood in my door way waiting for me to turn and notice she had caught me dancing) The other two interns (i'm going to name them now, Shelly and Kristen) went to lunch at Panera and then it was back to the office.

I left slightly early hoping to beat the city holiday traffic. Tomorrow is the fourth, I hear the fireworks in Cincinnati are phenomenal and I'm a little sad that I will miss them. I remember when I was little my mom used to drive to Toledo, and we would spend the fourth with my Uncle and my four crazy cousins. (Look Cannon boys, you made my blog)  Friday night is fireworks at my Aunt's house this summer, and as I haven't seen my family all summer, it sounds like a plan. The boys will be with their dad for his families fourth of July event, and I have to work at the "paying job."

Next week,  will be a crazy week I'm told. It's the week before Wedding gets sent to print. I told Kara today that I'm excited to see it laid to rest. It's been wonderful seeing what all goes into the production of it, and how many people are involved.

So, I found out that Union Terminal is opened on Mondays, wonder if that will be next weeks adventure?