Excitements and Worries

After a disastrous weekend at the paying job, (I will call it that so that I don't get into trouble for naming it outright, when I slip and grumble about it) in which I dented something, ruining my accident free streak, I was excited to get back to Cincinnati Monday. I left early Monday armed with a plan. My first stop was to be to Ikea, since I discovered my room in the sublet has no light. Then I would hit the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Plans ended up getting changed, and it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Here's the first piece of advice, the little button on your navigator that says places? There's a good chance you should just Google the address before you go, rather than trusting Navigator. While driving my way around a neighborhood that there is clearly no museum in, I did pass the Krohn Conservatory. Finally I decided that I was already right there, I might as well stop.

Parking was a little bit of a trial and I ended up parking a few blocks away. The seven dollar admission price is cheaper than what I thought it would be. (It was listed as 9 somewhere). The current exhibit is Butterflies of Morocco. Of course I instantly fell in love. As you walk through you can hear the soothing sounds of fountains, and see vibrant colors that give the area a Morrocon  feel. Before you are ushered into the butterfly conservatory, you are given what looks like a cardboard coaster and told only one rule. "Don't touch the butterflies with your hands."

When you enter, the views and sounds are breathtaking. Colorful butterflies take flight, and you can listen as little children tell their mom "Mom, a butterfly landed on your head!" You can read about the different species of butterflies and try to coax one onto your waiting cardboard. When you've had your fill of the color, before you exit you are stopped in a tiny room, and asked to turn around. If you have a purse, flap your purse too, this is just to make sure none of the beauties are trying to escape with you. From there, you can walk through the "rainforest" under glass, which offers a spectacular waterfall, and take the picturesque stone tunnel under the waterfall.

After I exited, I decided to walk to the address for the art museum. There are signs directing you, and it's only a few blocks walk. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that the Cincinnati Museum of Art, is closed on Mondays. Instead I walked through Eden Park.

Eden Park has The Cincinnati Playhouse, an outdoor theater, a beautiful and intensely hued gazebo, walking paths, a wonderful magnolia flower garden, two old architecturally-styled walking bridged, and Bettman Fountain. (again with me and the fountains) All totaled the approximately 6 mile walk around was worth the time.

It dawned on me that like most cities, not only is there a rich cultural offering, but there is also poverty. About two blocks away from Eden Park, I stopped at the gas station and was approached by someone asking for spare change.

Back At the Office

I spent the next morning, doing more research and fact checking. That afternoon Kara asked me to attend a staff meeting with her. This was that moment, I played it completely cool and said of course. I grabbed my notebook and pen, but knew if she hadn't been watching, I would have done my infamous "I'm so cool because" dance.

Watching a soft pagination (a tentative layout)  is pretty exciting, well for a rookie anyway. When you hold glossy magazine  pages in your hand you never stop to think about the team or time that it took to put them together. I can appreciate now that it takes a team of people from sales, to graphics and art, to editing to make it come together smoothly. Magazines get planned sometimes months ahead of time. Needless to say, I walked out with a page full of questions to ask. (I didn't want to interrupt the team while they were working)

Wednesday was more fact checking and researching, a few tweaks here and there. Each new thing that I learn, (like how copy gets edited, or how art gets chosen) makes me more enthusiastic for the steps I'm taking.

I have worries too, inevitably I worry about my kids. I worry about how they're doing with me three hours away, even though we're in constant contact. I worry that I may have to cut an adventure or two short and pick up some extra hours at the "paying" job,  to pay for upcoming expenses. I even worry about what path I'll take when I'm finished with this next few weeks, and how my boys will adapt to a changing path that will force them to change.

As I left the office, I stopped to listen to the Reggae band that was beginning to warm up for the evenings music at Fountain Square. I would have stayed longer, but looking down the street I noticed Moms, Dads, Husbands and wives wearing Reds t-shirts and gear, walking towards the Great American Ball Park. I realized there must be a game tonight and that meant traffic wouldn't die anytime soon.

Sometime soon I will go down late on a Monday and stay until Thursday so that I can visit the Museum of Art, and the National Underground Freedom Center that I pass every day. (both closed Mondays) Kara did encourage me to visit the Botanical Garden, and the Cincinnati Zoo. I'll let you know if I have to choose a shorter adventure next time to put in extra hours at the paying job. What do you think my next adventure should be?

View from Eden Park Walkway

Zebra striped Butterfly

Waterfall Krohn Conservatory

Gazebo Eden Park