WOW!

My therapist has been telling me to stop thinking Cleveland sucks and start thinking Cleveland plus! No. No, she hasn't. I just made that up to help get me through. You know, "One Day at a Time" and all that. But I have been trying to see the city in a different light. I've realized that it's still a nasty, stinking hole but I have noticed things that are going on. My newest "discovery" has been Wade Oval Wednesdays. Nothing super fancy involved, just some good local music in a mini Blossom atmosphere. It's relatively dog friendly and definitely kid friendly (just watch where you step, on both counts). Plus, with the recent notoriety University Circle has gotten, the police have stepped up their game. So, you're probably safer here than anywhere in Cleveland, on a wednesday, between six and nine pm. I've got to work this wednesday so I'll miss out on the Latin jazz but make no mistake, I'm all about the Yiddishe klezmer so I'll see you August 5th!

Exultate Justi

This past weekend there was one of those rare occurrences where the heavens open, rays of sunshine beam down and a multitude of angels raise their voices in exultation: My mother volunteered to watch my daughter for the whole weekend! This good-hearted gesture necessitated a drive to PIT on friday night but at least afforded an opportunity to be out past ten p.m. Because this was the second of my two three-day weekends, the timing of this marathon babysitting event was impeccable. There was eating out at normal eating out hours; There was staying up late to watch age inappropriate movies; There was getting downtown to watch the Indians lose to the Mariners and there was se...ahem...lovema...um...lots of free time! And then the wife had a plan. And I had to work a little bit at peeling tile off of the bathroom walls. But she made up for it by buying me a shirt and some pants. So now I have two of each! After spending all of friday and most of saturday miserable, the wife shook off the doldrums and decided to enjoy herself, and that was really nice to see (even though she did make me go walking with her). And my daughter came through with showing that she could hold a conversation with a real person on the telephone (even though she wouldn't talk to me) so that helped, too. I would have made this a Daddy Tip but knowing my luck I'll never have a free weekend ever again so I don't want to jinx myself. But, if you have the opportunity, I would strongly suggest getting rid of your kid. For the weekend, at least.

I (heart) Nachos!

For those of you that know me well, you know that I exist on a "man-llowance"; After taxes (local, state, federal, wife and daughter), I bring home seventy dollars every two weeks that I can use to buy myself something pretty, delicious or literary. That being said, I'm in danger of starving to death. Granted, I have a case of Cafe du Monde coffee and chicory but I can't really eat that. Well, I could, but, like the last time I did, it won't be pretty. My real issue comes from my wife thinking I'm an adult. And leaving me home alone. With nacho money. So, in the house right now is a lot of nacho beef, a bag of ruffles, a bag of tortilla chips, a container of Pierre's Moose Track's and a six pack of Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier. It's saturday and my wife won't get back until tuesday. I'm doomed. My nachos cost me fifty bucks and my Jeep needs gas. I may be either walking or showing up on your doorstep, so be prepared. Coincidentally, my wife went to PIT to visit my 'rents. She's going to go see Les Miserables while she's there. Little does she know the misery in store for her when she returns.

A Post for Posting's Sake

I've noticed a curious thing(possibly) about this blog: Almost like a reverse serial killer I have increasing intervals between posts. That's okay though, 'cause this is my blog; my record of my daily or not so daily life. I can write about nothing if I want or I can tell about a great anecdote in my life. Like the one that happened to me the other day....