Quick trip

I hadn't been to Cleveland in over a year and I went by myself for a little visit.

I always save space in my suitcase by borrowing my dad's t-shirts for running. I remember volunteering at this event with my Girl Scout troop. "If your t-shirt doesn't have a DD on the sleeve, it's just underwear."

I had originally been planning to visit in October when I thought I would be able to collect buckeyes. Only a couple blocs from my parents' house I found so many I had to go back at the end of my run and use the t-shirt to hold all that I collected!

I went to Cleveland in September because my friend since first grade (D. knew her in kindergarten) was getting married to guy from up the street (someone who was at Roxboro in the same grade as D.'s brother). The setting was beautiful, the weather was ideal, and ceremony was so sweet. I am so glad I got to be there.

On the way home I stopped in D.'s old neighborhood, which looked great.

On Sunday I got to be at Progressive Field ("It will always be The Jake," proclaimed one shirt I saw) when they raised the banner as AL Central Champions. I love that they use the toothbrush lights (isn't that what they look like to you?) as part of the design. The other shirt that I liked said, "Cleve LAND that I love."

Great view of Quicken Arena ("It will always be The Gund," I did not see on a shirt), Terminal Tower, and the beautiful Cuyahoga River.

Before I left Cleveland I stopped by my elementary school, which now has a gaga pit!

Neighbors near Tommy's Restaurant (where I bought a shake for my dad in memory of Emily), finally had an abandoned home removed and the neighbors replaced it with a multi-purpose gathering place.

I went to the deli (and did not buy a whole tongue) and grocery store and commented that it was too bad the mustard was not sold in three ounce bottles to take carry-on. I got to the airport and saw that they sold full-size bottles after security. This is enough to last us a while so if you come to visit I would be happy to share it.

My suitcase was heavier coming home (books, mail, buckeyes, mustard), but the good memories last a long time and add no extra weight. Maybe we should go to Ohio for our next sabbatical!

Weekend events

I skipped the first weekend event, and A. probably enjoyed it more than D. (although D. appreciated the Elton John performance more).

Hurray for prepaid tickets

Next up we had two TEA fellows over for lunch, one from Argentina and one from Estonia. It was great to hear about life in their home country and to answer questions about ours ("Do people really wear their outdoor shoes inside the house?").

Our mail carrier was the kind of person who would wish you happy birthday if a lot of cards arrived or would ask about the trip if the mail had been on hold. I knew retirement would happen some day, but I was sad that it happened already. His wife was also a carrier and the retirement community on her route had a big party for them, which was written up in the local paper. Our neighborhood couldn't top that, but we did have a nice event this weekend.

Mail bin as balloon holder

I love the Mr. ZIP party favors, but I am not sure what I'll do with mine.
Not shown - garland made with airmail envelopes.

The big event today was a reunion of the international students and the families that hosted them before the dorms opened. Ours was doing homework (after visiting Joshua Tree on Friday and Hollywood yesterday), but I enjoyed talking to other students and families. I made D.'s favorite artichoke dip that is good for potlucks, but you might not want to have around the house. Good thing I didn't leave early because I won the drawing for Claremont Cash!

We had a neighbor over for leftover night (she shared hers and we shared ours - delicious), encouraged by this post about casual dinner parties.

Time for family reading and getting ready for the week ahead.

One old thing

I wrote about the Los Angeles County Fair in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Time to do it again!

On Saturday we cycled to the Fair, saving money and the long walk from the parking lot. The bicycle parking was right inside the gate!

Our first stop was the Millard Sheets Gallery,
which had an exhibit that is part of the latest Pacific Standard Time. 

From there we saw a parade with floats, emergency vehicles, and historic cars. 

We never quite figured out the parade of Star Wars people.

Competitive table settings are always part of our visit.

I also like looking at the needlework

and cakes, fancy and plain. It makes it feel like a county fair.

We finished up with a visit to the children's building and we couldn't skip the sales
buildings, especially after listening to this podcast from the Ohio State Fair.

We did not have this or frogs legs or the Krispy Kreme chicken ice-cream sandwich.

D. and A. shared an onion blossom and I had my standard corn on the cob.

Another successful visit! Check back at this time next year for more of the same.

Four new things

One great thing about going away is that everything is a new experience. I am pleased to say that we are finding new things to do here, too.

I forgot to take a single picture so I am posting this one from their website.

The first new thing was to meet a friend at a new coffee place, not in the downtown area but close enough for both of us to cycle there. Sanctuary Coffee supports farmers, donates to food banks, and all profits are given to local charities. I would be happy to take you there when you come to visit.

It did not even cross my mind to take a picture so I am using this one from the school's newspaper site.

Maybe D. had previously been to a Levitt on the Lawn event but it was new to me. We cycled to the Scripps campus and took chairs and a picnic. We could have skipped both by buying from food trucks and spending the whole time dancing. I am slightly embarrassed to say we spent almost the whole time talking and not really listening to the music. Sorry, La Misa Negra. I enjoyed the vibe if not the actual performance.

Another photo not by me, but by A.

While we were at the concert A. went to the high school football game (free if you paid for the activity card at the beginning of the year). Even though there had been a big rally and A. wore the class color (black) it didn't help. Lucky for him he paid about as much attention to the game as I did to the concert!

Yes, another picture stolen from the web.

The final new thing was eating at Elvira's, the new Mexican restaurant in the Old School House at Foothill and Indian Hill. It was quite loud but people liked the chips and my vegetable fajita was great. They even had vegetarian beans, which not all places do. I would go back, but maybe not on a Saturday night.

Nice to return to a mix of familiar and new.

Back-to-school night

For seven consecutive years there was at least one person, R., my niece, or my nephew, at the high school. They had a one-year break but now they have four more years. Of course that doesn't include D. and his siblings. Apparently is common for kids in this town to have a parent who also went to the high school. It is a mini reunion at each event!

A.'s elective is ceramics and the first semester is sculpting. The students were supposed to make something that represented themselves and the teacher held up A.'s Viking helmet as an example. There are forty (!) wheels that the 37(!) students will get to use the second semester.

A. also has phys ed, biology, English, math, and German.

Now to thee, Alma Mater,

Our hearts go out in praise. 

May loyalty bring joy to thee,

And splendor crown thy days.

Where so'ere we may wander,

Howe'er the years may fly,

Enshrined shall be thy memory,

Dear days at CLAREMONT HIGH!

In several of the classrooms I noticed the alma mater posted. I wonder if that is mandatory.

So far, so good. Only 174 more days until summer vacation.

Return visit

I was thinking about my mom's sisters this week.

After the death of comedian Shelley Berman I pulled out the records

I listened to as a kid and was surprised to see my aunt's label in the corner of each one.

I was thinking of my mom's older sister because in the summer after sixth grade (I think) I flew by myself to visit my aunt in a suburb of Los Angeles. She tried to take me to all the tourist places that a kid might enjoy, like Universal Studios and Disneyland. My favorite memory from that trip was swimming in her apartment complex pool and having a neighbor ask if I were training for the Olympics.

Despite living in a different suburb of Los Angeles for about twenty years I have not been back to Disneyland. I thought I found the perfect opportunity when a friend said she was running the Disney half marathon and was looking for someone to accompany her. Even though it meant sleeping in a hotel the night before and getting up early enough to catch the 4:15 a.m. shuttle, I said yes. 

Unfortunately only the runners got to go into the park, but I did get this close.

I am still glad I went because I got to see Downtown Disney for the first time and I got to enjoy the race without running in the brutal heat.

I got to watch the winners, which I don't usually see since I am in the middle of the pack.

Here are the top female wheelchair finishers (not in their racing wheelchairs) and the cyclists who rode with both the wheelchair racers and the lead man and woman.

The theme this year was Celebrating Pixar,
which disappointed some Disney people, but I was happy to see.

The medal on the left is for all finishers and the people who ran the
10K on Saturday and half marathon (21.1K) on Sunday got both medals.

I had no idea what this was from, but I was guessing A. knew and since so many other people were taking pictures I took one, too. It turns out it to be the truck that delivers pizza in every Pixar movie except one and it even has its own web page!

Given the high temperature and high humidity I did not envy the people I saw headed into the park. I was content to head home in the air conditioned car and will get to go back another time.

Here we go again

Another convocation, another first day of school, and back to the blog. I haven't quite decided if there will be a theme or just a collection of random pictures and comments.

I am not great at selfies, but I was excited to be able to donate my 73rd pint of blood. And if I am being honest I will admit that enjoyed being able to say yes, I had been out of the country in the last twelve months.