I live in one big free garage sale

I live in a nasty crime infested dirty neighborhood. Yes, I live in Clifton.

Now the area I live in does have a good number of college kids, but there is an extremely large 'local' population. And the local population tends to be low income families. Walking to and from class I have noticed something. These locals seem to throw out an extremely large amount of furniture. Yeah, furniture. I'm talking everything from mattresses to recliners to couches to bathroom vanities. What's up with this?

My question is how can such low income families afford to throw out so much furniture. Is it somehow soiled where they can't even sell it? What about donating to Goodwill? What about asking your neighbors if they can use an extra bathroom sink?

If you don't know what I'm talking about, go to your local neighborhood that is always under crime-watch, and just drive around for a little bit. Maybe you'll strike gold and it'll be garbage collection night, but really it doesn't matter, when a piece of furniture has been labeled as curb trash, it goes there regardless what night of the week it is.

Yes, I know, I didn't grow up in a neighborhood like this. Even though I have lived here for going on three years, I still don't feel completely comfortable on my own front porch. But someone please explain to me why so much furniture is being thrown out. Even beyond the fact that they are throwing out furniture, what do these people replace the missing couch with? If they are able to buy this much furniture... why are they living here?

Some things I fear will never make much sense. I don't act like I know anything, I just question... hah, later days!

Rubber Duck Regatta - Ernie's day out!

Are you from Cincinnati? Have you ever heard of the Rubber Duck Regatta? I hadn't until this year. While driving up I-71 North a few nights ago I look up at one of the office buildings on the west side of the highway and notice something different. I see the largest, yellow, inflatable duck EVER! This duck is the ultimate ducky... I am scared to think what our orange friend Ernie would do if he ever laid eyes on this duck.

You remember Ernie, right? He’s the little orange guy from the shorts of 'Bert & Ernie' from Sesame Street? Of course you do. Ernie is the one who sang 'Rubber ducky, you're the one... you make bath times so much fun!...' Everyone knows and loves the song.

Anyway... I saw the big duck on top of an office building, and also received a number of emails at work about purchasing ducks. So my roommate, Sean, and I decided to go ahead and purchase some.

Before I get too much further I guess I should probably explain what the Rubber Duck Regatta is, to those unfortunate enough to be out of the Cincinnati area this time of year. The Rubber Duck Regatta is a fundraiser for the Free store Food bank. 100% of the money raised from the Rubber Duck Regatta goes to feeding the hungry. The ducks cost one for $5, or six for $25 (Sean and I now have six lucky ducks!). On Sunday, September 2nd at 2pm, all the ducks will be released over the side of the Purple People Bridge for the race of their lives. The first duck to cross the finish line gets a brand new, 2007 Honda Civic! I think the next 4 or 5 ducks to cross each get $1,000. Not too bad... unfortunately for my chances (but fortunately for the free store food bank) there are thousands of ducks that will race.

There is also one National City Million Dollar Duck that will race. I think the duck is randomly selected for a random person that has a duck. And if that person is one lucky duck (yes, they have beat that pun into the ground)... they get $1,000,000. But don't get your hopes up, first you have to be lucky enough to be selected... then you have to be lucky enough to win... yes, I know, I'm not holding my breath.

Overall this seems like it will be a fun and entertaining way to help some people out. I enjoy running races that give proceeds to charities, but this is something different that will be fun as well.

If you are interested, I am sure they won't limit your participation to living in the Cincinnati area, you can order online, or by phone I believe... here's some info below.

http://www.rubberduckregatta.org
Phone: 513.929.DUCK (3825)
http://www.freestorefoodbank.org

Have a good weekend! I'll be out on the lake tomorrow with my Dad, time for nice long morning fishing!

Billy Currington is my conscience

So Saturday night at Taste we I was standing around, waiting for Sean to get some food at a booth. I wasn't paying attention to much of anything, just looking around, watching the people pass. If you don't know what the crowd at Taste is at let me try an paint a picture. Take a street of your local downtown (this one is 5th street, so pretty far downtown) crowd booths on both sides of the road and then crowd thousands of people on the street in between the booths, all trying to get to their next beer booth without much concern of those around them... but anyway... So I was standing there, watching the crowd and I looked into the wave heading my way and caught the look of this very cute girl walking past, just looking at me. My first reaction was huh? do I know her? But I didn't. I followed her look for two seconds before she seemed to realize I was returning her gaze. She smiled a very cute smile. My brain at that point was very confused... why is this girl looking at me? wait she smiled, what am I suppose to do? hah, so you get the drift of my confusion. I think I might have tried to return a smile... but I'm not quite sure how that turned out. And then as quick as MC Hammer's career was over, so was she gone. I was just excited that 'cute taste of cincinnati girl' smiled at me... hah. And as we walked away in the other direction, Billy Currington's voice popped in my head... "you fool, that coulda been love"...

Haha, thought I would amuse you with my little romance this weekend ;-)

Weekend of Taste

This weekend was a very nice extended weekend. Saturday and Sunday were mostly spent downtown on 5th street with friends at Taste of Cincinnati. For those that don't know what Taste of Cincinnati is, it is where many of the Cincinnati Restaurants get judged for 'best dishes' and all the such, and then they take up a street downtown for a weekend and sell their most famous dishes from their tents. All in All its a great time to get some food, hang with friends, and hear some good concerts.

Me being rather poor at the moment, I didn't buy any food but a 2 dollar ear of corn which was probably the best ear of corn I have ever tasted in my life. I also spent a dozen dollars or so on some fine beer for the weekend. I tried a dark Worsteiner, which I enjoyed extremely, and I'll have to see how their prices are in the stores.

Today, Monday, Memorial Day, I went home to Mason to celebrate my Grandma's birthday. 39 and still holding (as she says). It was a good time. Time with the family is always enjoyable.

The long extended weekend turned out to be as relaxing and fun as expected. I got to hang out with a few people I have really met before and also with good friends. While at Taste on Sunday night it pored down rain. We stood over a sewer grate playing the thumbs game while the rain was blown up past us and our close dried from the (I'm sure so clean) sewer warm air.

I hope your long weekend was as enjoyable as mine. A short 4-day work week ahead... unfortunately a work week at all...

Later!

The Homeless Union

This morning, on the way into church, a man with nasty teeth, a need for a shave, and an even greater need for a shower was standing outside the entrance asking those coming in if they could spare a dollar so he could get lunch. Usually, I'll give a dollar to those who ask, if I do indeed (and it is rare) have cash on me. This time I thought I'd try something different.

(Reaches hand out for a hand shake)
"You spare a few dollars for food?"
(I acknowledge and return the hand shake)
"Well how about I meet you after the service and we can go get lunch together?"
"That would be very fine... I'll see you here after the service."

I was actually kind of surprised he accepted my offer. Most of the time you just think they say its for food, but then go buy some Colt45 to wash their minds away. The entire service I was thinking about him, trying to decide if he was really going to be there for our 'lunch date'. The service ended and I was quick to get outside, and sure enough he was there. We made way to Jersey Mike's and ordered some food (to go on his request) We talked a lot, he asked lots of questions about my life, my family, and actually seemed throughly interested. I in return asked him about his family and life, he was raised with 16 foster kids and loved to cook/bake and paint/draw. Quite an interesting character.

I am, however, convinced that the homeless are all part of a union. I am sure they have meetings to argue over who gets what corner at what times of day... also of course to hand out the latest cardboard sign. 'Homeless... Hungry... God Bless' 'Vietnam War Veteran - Homeless - Please Help - God Bless'
And its true, all their signs do say God Bless... but I've never seen a homeless looking person in a church service.
I think next week, if I see my homeless friend again (I wish I could remember his name) I'll take him to lunch again, but first invited him in for the service. Have a good rest of weekend, GO OSU!