Saturday, October 31, 2015

The case for unique job hunting tactics

I know how to get a job, alright!

Exhibit A: Bribery will get you everywhere

My then-future boss put me up at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Cleveland because they give warm cookies to guests and he liked those cookies. Armed with that information, I asked the desk clerk if she could hook me up with an extra cookie, you know, for insurance purposes. An entire bag of them floated my way. I was hired.

Exhibit B: When in doubt, leave something behind

In mid-2002, I was eager take the Mid-South by storm.

Friday, October 23, 2015

The Taste of Comfort

Mamaw and me (1980)

The holidays from my childhood were all the autumn colors of yellow, orange, brick red, green and brown. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas smelled like musty boxes from the attic, pine cones that had been doused in some sort of cinnamon oil years earlier, rogue glitter and a little bit of plastic.

The transition between pine needle-filled scarecrows and cotton-stuffed santas always felt epic.

But the taste of the holidays. Oh, how everything tasted!

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Up and Down Valley Parkway

Up and Down Valley Parkway

I spent my afternoon cruising up and down Valley Parkway inside Rocky River Reservation, part of the Cleveland Metroparks. It truly is one of my favorite places to be.

My first stop was the Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial, named for the first two directors of the Metroparks. I might not have known this overlook was there, but I stumbled on it last year with a friend. It's actually off of Valley Parkway, up the giant hill on Hogsback Lane. Just make a giant U-turn when you get about halfway up the hill.

This time of year, the leaves turn amazing shades of red, yellow, orange, even blue, and sometimes, when the sun hits them just right, they look like they're on fire! That's what I was looking for today.


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Couldn't be Happier

How do you start your vacations? After a long day, a long (short) week, and a long time since my last time off, I was ready to do nothing more than come home and hit the couch.

A trip out of town turned a little too cost prohibitive, so it's Netflix and chill instead.

I thought tonight was going to be completely lame and I welcomed the label, but much to my delight, the mail man left me something special!