H2Oh My Gosh is this Fun

8/15 - Kayaking Lake Erie

The last time Gina and I ate breakfast on the 9th Street Pier we noticed that the new transient dock they put in rents watercraft. Not actual boats with motors or anything but paddle boats, paddle boards, and kayaks. No kidding right?!? I'm as shocked as you are to see an opportunity to enjoy the many bodies of water around us other than cooling factory parts, drinking, or throwing garbage into them. We really are savages when it comes to treating our water nicely... anywhoooo Gina and I turned a open Saturday with endless possibilities into and seminar and workshop in adult responsibility. Ya, so we almost basically ruined it until she had the random (and rare) great idea to go kayaking! It was just what I needed. Beautiful day; outdoor water sports; great views of the city; new Cleveland thing that I can add to my list of touristy things to do; blog fodder...so of course I was in! Luckily for us they were open after 5, we parked for free, and they didn't have 2 single kayaks to rent that were $25 a piece for an hour...they had a double that was $25 for an hour! Romantic and half the price...I really am a catch ladies and I can be purchased for food stamps.

We hopped on and paddled off. We actually went all the way to the break wall and back without taking an exhaustion nap around half way. It was cool to see boaters and jet skiers enjoying a beautiful day on the lake. Sometimes you lose track of the fact that people can actually come into this city and have a good time. There are a lot of naysayers that talk so much $hit about Cleveland that you actually begin to believe them because no one is out there saying otherwise. Even I lose hope sometimes. This adventure added some much needed fuel to my tanks. It was actually an amazing experience and probably one of the best times I've had in this city...and I needed that. So if you are looking for something to do and want to have some water fun, head to Rock and Dock at the end of 9th Street behind the Rock Hall and check out what they have to offer. The people working there were very friendly and they were pretty busy. Not a bad way to spend an hour on a dog days of summer weekend!

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8/19 - Hit the Flats between shifts

Last week Gina worked nights so we got to hang out between when I got home at 4:30 pm and when she had to go to work at 7 pm. We decided to hit the Flats and enjoy what little sunshine we could before it rained. 1st stop was Brick & Barrel right across the new Columbus Rd lift bridge. Brick and Barrel was that place we always walked past on our hikes and never had our wallets on us to go buy a drink. Once you do that 3-4 times you have it so in your brain to go there that you have to in order to make room in your brain for other thoughts. Plus we've always wanted to go because we heard the beer was pretty awesome.

This bar is hard to describe. I'm going to try but keep in mind that no matter how you try to translate my tone...this bar is the bar I would have ultimately created for myself if I were to open one up and I absolutely loved it. OK, first it's like a local makers art gallery. All the tables are that cool "it used to be something and now it's a table" design. All of the stool looked as if they were picked from an awesome flea market because of their look and feel and definitely not the cheapest in a catalog. There's an outdoor patio and garage doors that open up to the main seating area. It's not a huge bar but there's enough seating for a busy Saturday night. The bar is decorated with cool little art pieces and more cool little local maker type of pieces. Plus there's an old Ms Pacman stand up arcade game and a South Park pinball machine. If I were given the chance to pick out 2 games for my bar those would probably be the ones... maybe sit down Tecmo Bowl and stand up Punchout too...and maybe WWF Superstars. OK enough about arcade games or this is going to become 8-bit Arcade.

The beers that we tried were great. I know I'm going to lose my man card to this next statement but Gina and I both love an import they had called Stiegl Grapefruit Radler. Ya, Grapefruit... I know but in the realm of sweet beers it is by far the best I've had. To be fair their brewing ability the Wakatu Belgian Pale Ale was pretty awesome too. Gina and I were able to relax on the front patio with the neighborhood cat which we dubbed their mascot. Once it rained we moved back in and finished up so we could go to dinner. Brick & Barrel doesn't have a kitchen but does have the local restaurants (spelled it right one the 1st try!!!) deliver to the bar so that's cool but we were off to see our friend and celebrity chef Dennis Devies's new place on the west bank of the flats.

The Rusty Anchor is in the downstairs of the Music Box Supper Club right next to Shooters. We've been to the upstairs of the Music Box many times to enjoy great food and awesome music but this was our 1st time in the downstairs area. Rusty Anchor is a classy place with a nice bar and a small stage for music acts. It also has a patio with the best views of the river and the new East Bank development. We got there a tad early and before the band was to play so we got right in before the dinner rush. The menu is a collection of meat and seafood dishes that in all honesty all looked delicious but because Dennis's chicken is the best I've ever had, I had to go with the half a chicken dinner. I was not disappointed! Gina got the seafood risotto and that was pretty great too. The leftovers were actually gone before we got home. It seems like everything Dennis touches turns to gold which is great news for the Music Box complex because the place is killing it. It is one of our favorite spots in the city!

The view from the Rusty Anchor's patio.

This city is starting to recapture it's shorelines and reconnect to the waterways that used to define it as a city. The potential for development along the lake and the river are endless. The less piles of rock and salt that we have lining the river, the better in my opinion. Some day there will be spots like this along the lake too and people will get to experience the North Shore close up everyday from their balconies and office windows. After seeing some of the coastal communities in California like Santa Cruz, I've seen what cities can do with their waterfront areas and it gives me hope for ours.

Urban pioneers, if ever I stray from the path I follow, take me down to the Cuyahoga River. Throw me in where the water is shallow and drag me on back to shore. Because love is free and life is cheap and as long as I've got me a place to sleep, clothes on my back, and some food to eat I can't ask for anything more...man I love Frank Turner!

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The Flea and Pre-Season Browns

8/8/2015 - Our Flea Debut

Our friend and artist extraordinaire Jess from www.ilovesassyfrass.com and art shows and flea markets and arts and craft shops around NEO and prominently displayed in Gina's jewelry drawer was nice and kind and sweet enough to let me dip my toes into the Cleveland Flea water by displaying some of our furniture, pillows, and framed pictures at her booth. Honestly, I liked my finished little projects (or I wouldn't have done them) BUT I didn't really know how my style and art would be accepted by the masses that swarm to the flea to shop every month. I (and Gina too) would actually keep everything I've done so far for our future house but I needed space and most of all the cash...so out they went. We also grabbed some of my mom's stuff in order to round out our stock of goodies. She makes a lot of great stuff and is way more versatile artistically with her furniture, pictures, and pillows than I am. She's actually awesome and I know I can sell the $hit out of her stuff because it's that good.

Now I can put my furniture on Facebook and everyone can like it or comment "oooh" and "ahhhh" but when rubber hits the road and I put a price on it...crickets... It's similar to what I've heard people say about family. They love your work but anxiously await it as a free X-mas gift. You'd think they want to support someone in their own clan but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm pretty sure after awhile they do end up getting gifted art although probably more along the lines of the "experimental pieces" that didn't sell. Hey, space is gold when you create and if I can dump something on you to free some up while fulfilling a social obligation to exchange or give gifts...win-win!

Hanging around at the flea and listening to people talk about your pieces is a totally different kind of feedback. There's no bias especially because no one knew that I did some of the pieces on display. I got to hear great constructive comments about color, style, creativity, etc... It's pretty awesome and I do think (from what I heard anyway) that our stuff was well liked. Most of the not interested comments I heard were things like "...but I don't know where I'd put it" or "I could put this in my future sons/daughters room" or "I wish there were more of these". Very nice people for the most part. There were no cross looks that I saw or negative comments about it really which was awesome!

Altogether we put out: 7 pieces of furniture 2 pillows 3 framed pictures Pretty modest but some of our best. We ended up selling 3 pieces of furniture and 1 picture which in total netted us close to $200! That's a first time out victory in my book! 2 car trips in -- 1 car trip home...and now I have room to start working again! Thank goodness. I'm definitely going to have to look into selling at flea markets here soon but not until I finish a few more pieces.

I'm hoping to turn this little devil into a bar stand...

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8/13/2015 - The Browns Preseason Game 1

There's a great app out there called Gametime (iTunes | Android) where you can get your sports tickets and where I will be buying mine from now on. You find your ticket, purchase it, and the digital ticket is sent to your phone. No printing, no waiting for shipping, and no crazy fees. If you use my code SAM6551 you will earn a $10 credit which means the tickets are even cheaper! And it's not just for Cleveland fans either. Last second tickets are 2 clicks away with Gametime!!! Visit their site, download their app, use my code SAM6551, and follow them on social media.

Here's another game day tip for you. Are you an adult who acts like an adult? Ya, me neither but if you aren't the type to get drunk in a parking lot before the game and want to do it like regular people do in a pub, there's the Flat Iron Cafe! Of course that's not the only reason to go. They have booze. Their food is awesome and very very reasonably priced for the huge portions you get. You have got to try the wings! These things are huge and delicious. 6 of them is perfect. 12 of them is a great size if you know you'll be drunkinly getting into those cold left overs while laying in the trunk on the drive home. Here's the kicker though... save your receipt because it is your ticket to get on their shuttle that will drop you off right at the game. Any game really > Cavs, Tribe, and Browns! Park on the street in the flats (when it's legal), get an awesome lunch/dinner, throw back some dranks, and take the free shuttle to the game! I've not been the orchestrator of getting back to the flats from the game with the shuttle yet so you're going to have to ask questions but it's not like it's a terrible walk if it doesn't work out. Plus it's right next to some...fun places of questionable morality...to celebrate a win at. What a great idea to get people to your place for an awesome pregame or post game meal.

We sat in the nose bleeders and the Browns looked ok. Same bad run defense. Same dink and dunk passing game. Same 4-12 type season. Do you know that it's been almost 30 years since the AFC championship days? That was less of a difference in years than between those days and the '64 championship. It's been almost 30 years since Bernie Kosar slung a side armed miracles with every pass. Since we had (2) 1000 yard rushers in the same season. Since they coined the phrase "The Dawg Pound". I don't know if it's just football in general or if it really is our terrible front office but...if a team wins on avg about 4 games a year, do they really exist? I know they do a great thing for the economy of downtown 8+ times a year and even for away games but this team has done nothing in the sport of football in which they participate in almost 3 decades. Our tax money went to build and then 15 years later renovate a stadium where a team of millionaires coached by millionaires and owned by a millionaire plays but never fear because the escalators weren't turned on or working last night. Most of the food/drink vendor booths on the upper level were closed and you can't get to the nice new bar areas without a special ticket. There's no free WiFi and there's definitely no signal (except maybe AT&T) but that's ok because you can't bring in a certain sized purse and must lock it in our handy dandy lockers outside for $20. We don't have cheerleaders like other teams or a dome so we can host a Superbowl but don't worry because beer is $9.50 a cup. We have massive new scoreboards but who gives a f*ck when you have to look at them in sorrow for 30 g*d-damned years?!? Sometimes you just like the abuse because it reminds you that you can still feel. 

I've basically given up on the Browns and the NFL in general. 10 years ago I would yell at the TV and had ESPN as a favorite link. Now I play fantasy football because it's fun to interact with my friends once or twice a week. I don't play Madden anymore. I haven't thrown a football in I don't know how long. I go to the games for the social aspect of tailgating but won't pay the price to park and don't really care if I have tickets. If you think about it and are honest with yourself, you might feel more like me than you think...but that's the thing with sports. Every once in awhile your team defies odds and overachieves just enough to get you hooked again...and the cycle continues. Like crack.

When one door is slammed in your face, urban adventurers, you may have to run into it with said face a few times before you try another door. That door may take you to more doors but you'll learn not to use your face anymore. Peace!

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Mis-Judgement Day

Gina and I work very hard to have what little we have and to do the things we do. We in no way are rich people. We have been fortunate in some aspects and very unfortunate in others but we make the best of things. In the last month I or we have gone to New York City, Las Vegas, and California. I have also recently heard people make reference to our finances and how we must be doing so well to be able to travel so much and do so many thing. Let me clear up a few things for all of you:

#1 - All of our flights were purchased with credit card airline miles or by someone else. We've only paid out of pocket for luggage and taxi's to and from the airport. We also drove to New York City so we paid for gas. We drove while in California so we paid for gas there too.

#2 - All hotel stays were purchased with credit card points or by someone else. We were also fortunate enough to stay with wonderful family members who were more than generous to us. We are so lucky to have all of you in our lives.

#3 - Some meals we paid for. Some were shared. Some were cooked. Some were purchased for us and again we thank you for your generosity. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.

#4 - Unfortunately with social media you get to only see the fun we have and not the late nights we work, the sweat of our brow, the not-so-happy times we endure, and the very little time we get to spend together lately. Just like the rest of you, we don't live the perfect lives and don't waste time advertising the bad...unless it's funny.

I forget that social media sometimes is the only view of your life that your "friends" and followers get to see. I don't regularly talk to most people on Facebook and almost never talk to people on Twitter but when I do see them, they are caught up on all of the highlights of our lives. It must look kind of glamorous going out to eat at great restaurants and drinking at fun breweries. Going to festivals and parades. Walking through parks and museums. The truth is...we put ourselves in a spot to do these things when we moved to Cleveland and you hear about them because I'm always always always trying to positively advertise this city. You can't help but have fun living here. There's too much stuff to do and a lot of it is free! I try to also tell you about the bad things but some are just too personal and don't need to be publicized. They are there though and we deal with them every day. Family and close friends don't know about them and may never...again unless they end up being really funny.

We rent. We lease. We create and sell. We use coupons, airline miles, hotel points, rewards, rebates, and creative funding. We have mortgages and multiple properties that we just can't get rid of. We dig through the cushions for change. We cancel subscriptions. We take second jobs. We have budget spreadsheets to track the mess that is our past finances and the promise of present and future cleanliness. 

...we also have wonderful family and friends who would do anything for us as we would do anything for them. Our home is your home and what little we have is yours to use. We again are blessed to have you in our lives and love you very much.

If you maliciously take advantage of that hospitality or generosity though then I can't say that you will get another chance in my book. It's unfortunate when you are taken advantage of or turned away or abandoned in your time of need by family or close friends who look upon you and unfairly judge...try to make things right by how they see life. That shouldn't be the way it works and if I've ever done it in my life, it was unknowingly and I apologize for it...even though it may be too late...and that's fair.

I know this breaks down the 4th wall of our lives and let's you see what goes into the sausage but if you didn't think that all people and couples are at the very core of it "normal" and go through ups and downs in all aspects...than you have truly been taken in by social forces that are far out of my control. You should maybe stop by and see us instead of just following us on social media. We'd love to see more of you and show you what our lives are all about. We'd love to take you around our city and have some fun. We'd love to catch up on things that you just can't read online.

In closing, we are in no way rich...we just take advantage of the little luck that we get thrown our way and make the best out of everything else. I promise the next blog post will be fun...ner...nier

Love you honey. Sorry about this post.

Surround yourself with the good in life urban explorers and shed the evil that holds you down!

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