Ohio Visit!!

Sept. 28th, 2009

Just sitting in the airport terminal....early this time since my trip here almost didn't happen due to tardiness.  Had a nice lunch w/ my Mama, Gramps, and Phyllis today in N. Olmsted.  We chatted about various trips we had taken and what we've been up to.  I'm happy for Gramps since he is more active than ever recently, although Grammy can never be replaced.  I got to see Dale and Patricia first after getting off the plane.  They had accrued a good amount of the China cabinets and various antiques from the house on Cottonwood Trail.  Their house was beautifully adorned with woodworking, artwork, and old pictures from the family.  I showed them a bunch of pics and the couple short vids I have (biking, boarding).  Dale said he wanted to change jobs if he could, but wasn't in a position to, and was currently unable to think about college (and didn't know what he wanted to study if he could anyways).  He always says things like "nothing exciting" when I ask him what he's been up to lately.  It's funny because it seems like he thinks I live on the edge of a cliff the whole time or something!!  I then hung out with my mom for a few days....first night at Chris's house....on his birthday.  I made them a cous cous tempeh veggie dish, then we chowed some cake and ice cream later that night.  Next we went into Lakewood to get some Phoenix coffee.  As a bonus to the Mexican mocha which was decadent, I got to see my cousin Joe.  He was doing various contractor pieces- tile, HVAC, framing, etc.  He seemed to be doing well and we shared some laughs.  I guess James is in Europe traveling around solo style since he got laid off.  After that, on the way home, we hiked for a little bit on the edge of a huge lake.  Later that night I gave mumsley a 2 hr Thai Yoga Massage which she liked overall, but probably not while I was doing it for some gnarly spots she had.  She made me some late night pasta w/ veggies in a homemade tomato-veggie sauce (w/ buckwheat noodles).  We woke up the next, ate some zucchini bread and drank some dank ass Phoenix coffee.  We then proceeded to the garage where we took on the task of rearranging one side of the garage.  We checked out some doors and moved some wood and marble to make a direct path to the "door pile."  We also made some room to get right to her tools, which may or may not stay around (she offered them to a friend so they can both use them).  It was a bit emotional, but I can imagined how difficult it is to look at a garage full of various tasks and jobs that feel overwhelming.  Nonetheless, we made a pretty solid dent in the garage and for that I felt really good walking away from it.  We showered up and went to Laura and Marks to have some dinner and visit.  Laura laid out a huge dinner of mostly vegan dishes, w/ the exception of a chicken noodle soup that was delicious.  I was surprised that Kirby looks like he started shooting steroids (bigger than Benjamin), and Sam is the tallest one in the family now!!  Claire was bossing Laura around like it was her job and I chuckled at the family dynamic throughout the night.  Gramps and Phyllis were there and we made them stay out so late (10ish) that Phyllis's daughter called to make sure they were alright!!  We had a great time chatting it up on the "as usual" diverse range of topics, most of them spinning out of control into chuckling chaos.  We cruised back to Daddy-o's after dinner and two delicious pies- one of which I was shocked to hear had a "true Oreo crust" on it!!  My how times have changed.....my mom is smoking hand rolled "organic as she might point out" cigarettes, and Laura is now using Oreos in her cooking.......shocking!!  We got into N. Olmsted kind of late, but my dad and I ended up chatting until 3:30 am!!  We got up around 10ish (at least I did), and goofed around the house most of the day, we played w/ the motorcycles a bit (mine had all the plastics off of it...even the front which I never took off).  I guess the carbs were not quite right, and we got it started a few times, but it never really wanted to stayed running.  Daddy called Mark Parkinson from Cadiz and he decided to come up and give us a hand.  He figured out that the alcohol that they used to clean out the gas tank leaked down into the crank case and was being slowly expelled through the air box.  It was basically choking itself out.  Mark removed the gas tank most of the way and let the bike run (which it did!!) for a while to burn off the alcohol.  They also drained the oil, then put it all back together as I visited w/ Corrie.  She is doing well, now with a little boy (Jared) on top of Madeline, who is now a sassy young girl.  Wonder how she got to be THAT way?!!  We caught up for a while outside as Mark lounged inside around their big screen TV that Corrie states is her favorite thing to do while chowing some Doritos.  My my!!  Got the quick Berea update-  Glen Caddell- married w/ a kid now.  Nicole is in N. Carolina.  Kate is married and already found out that she was getting cheated on.....oh and she's pregnant?!!!  Nicole Stakowsky married Nate Sol.  Married and kids it is.....including Andy-man who now has TWO.  YIKES!!  I volunteered to cook and made up some fresh pesto from the garden (that is taking over the back yard!!!), then mixed it w/ chicken, and veggies I got from the Amish veggie stand.  Mark stayed over and we didn't burn the midnight oil too much (1am).  

The next day Daddy, Mark, and I ate a an omelette, then I went and got the license plate and tags from the DMV.  Now the bike was go time!!  Mark and Daddy took it around the block a couple of times to make sure it was safe.  Then I cruised it around the block.....man what a sweet feeling!!  Mark bailed and daddy and I went to On The Edge Motorsports (formerly Penton's).  Dale is still owner and busy man, even w/ the market sucking as he put it.  The plan was to get a loaner helmet so I didn't have to rock the American flag helmet that almost got tossed out a few different times.  Dale pulled out a Shoei helmet w/ Goldwing on the side and I immediately made my dad try it on.  It fit like a glove.  He told me he'd give it to me for a hundred bucks.  I didn't hesitate in taking it!!  It said 450$ on the box!!!  We poked around the upstairs antique bike gallery and then caught up w/ Aaron McDermitt (now Baldizzi).  He's about the same w/ a few more gray hairs poking out.  He's running his own trucking business and seems to be doing alright.  He told me he had a Buell 1200 for the past few yrs, but is now down to a CRF400 and a couple of 50's.  Daddy and I cruised around for a bit (about 55 miles in all), and ended up over at Jim and Eileen's.  Got to visit w/ the Waite's for a bit- Jim just got a full dresser HD, Eileen is working at Safeway b/c she got laid off from GM, Jimmy (21 yo)  is tall and Michael is still pretty chilled out.  The girls are in HS and are still rascals.  

The next morning Daddy O and I went to Athens.  It was rainy and windy for sections of the drive.  The leaves were just starting to change colors and there wasn't a ton of bright colors (which I miss about Ohio).  We showed up and got in touch w/ Jeroch and James.  Jeroch is doing a wedding (is a Reverend) at the Fur Peace Ranch (first wedding there).  He did the floral arrangement, and got a great response from the couple, Jorma, and everyone else- including a few hundred dollar tip!!  We chowed some lunch at Casa as he finished up the ceremonies and had a beer at The Pub (watching college FB).  We dropped in at Jeroch's place and was surprisingly refreshed at how badass of a place they have up on Fairview near the old Highland abode.  They're "taking care of it for friends for a year."  We then boogied out to James's house where things really haven't changed much.  We did some work on each other (James pelvis is all jacked up and Curina's back wanted to arch on ab exercises, even though she teaches pilates).  Jeroch ended up working on my dad, and Curina gave me a cold stone neck massage which reminded me of what I do to myself when I dig into my own neck.  Daddy and I then went back to Jeroch's for a while until it was time to go uptown.  There was supposed to be a funky band but it was mistakenly the night before.  We checked out Jackie-O's (O'hooley's took over the restaurant next door and connected the back decks).  It was a cool scene, but the music sucked, so we just strolled around and got our buzz on!!  I was whooped (not used to the Athens way of life) and ended up passing out on the most comfortable futon of the trip at Jeroch's.  Mark slept outside in the hammock, even w/ it raining and chilly!!  We woke up (early as usual when I'm w/ the old foggies), and wandered into town to get some Casa b-fast.  I had the usual Veggie Rancheros and homefries, and LOTS of coffee to offset the night before.  We went out to Jame's house again and played pinball and hung out for a few.  We then went to Jame's pilates studio next to family oxygen.  It was lime green and full of interesting equipment, most of which we all made fools of ourselves on.  James and Curina are a classic couple and both had their own ways of looking at things/teaching.  Curina taught me a few moves, but was a touch to impatient w/ me, but undoubtedly b/c it was my first time and she was throwing all the advanced stuff at me!!  I realized how much I favor my R side.  It was cool to see my dad getting worked out by James!!  We then went Paw Paw hunting until dark and checked out James's house (undergoing major work- has a basement now, expanding off the back side of the house and putting in stairs to the basement).  It was a quick visit but meant a lot to me.  I love that town and the remaining few people I know!!  I even ran into Marissa my old neighbor who is just finishing up PT school and wants to become a traveler.  Definitely a "meant to be" trip!!  I slept the whole way home!!!

Got in bed at around 1:30.....feel bad for my daddy!!  Got woken up at 7:30 by my mama.  She came and got me, then we walked in the woods for a minute before joining Gramps and Phyllis at Ruby Tuesdays.  We finished off the visit w/ some more wandering and chatting in the Metroparks.  I got my plane early (no line at all), and made it to Houston w/o a problem.  Now I'm finishing off the day w/ a 4 hr flight to Seattle from a lightning storm in Houston.  Another chapter in life.....written......

So great to see the family and get a good dose of love infusion.  Can't wait to charge into this next phase....re-invigorated!!  Nelson w/ Lily?  PA w/ myself?  Traveling some more?!!  We'll see!!