Missing Pictures: Day 6

Evidently the 'Blog Monster' decided to make an appearance by not uploading some pictures - that or I forgot.....

Either way - here they are (from the Maker's Mark Distillery)

Lost and Stuffed '07 : Day 6

I've been kinda sucky at this vacation blogging thing - I need to get it done before a) I forget details and/or b) We go on another vacation (in which case I'll never hope to catch up...)

I know the suspense has been killing you and so we move onto Day 6.........


In an attempt to not get thoroughly pissed off at the fonts/size/spacing monster I am not doing picture captions. I'll just drive myself batty and lord knows I do not need anymore computer woes (more on that later - if I get around to it that is....)

We awoke on the morning of Day 6 in historic Bardstown, KY - home of eight million and one distilleries (well - all eight million and one are not technically in Bardstown - but pretty darn close). First up on the agenda was finding Chris coffee - did I mention we had trouble accomplishing this throughout the trip? Evidently KY takes it bourbon drinking more seriously than I thought and just skips the morning coffee and heads instead for a stiff one. On this morning however we were lucky and located some coffee - not iced like he'd hoped for - but coffee nonetheless.

Our plan for the day was to head up to my place of birth and visit some family - on our way we decided to visit one of the eight million and one distilleries just outside of town (just outside meaning about 30 minutes over tiny winding weaving in the middle of nowhere roads). On our way out Chris stopped the car to rescue a turtle who showed his appreciation by attempting to bite his rescuer. The rescue took place next to a cute little replica of old time Bardstown - we didn't get to go in as it was closed.

The distillery we chose to visit was Maker's Mark. It was fun - not as cool (in my opinion as Jack Daniel's) but still cool. Very beautiful and historic! At the end of the (free) tour we ended up in a gift shop (as you can imagine I was extremely dissapointed at this :)). We left $50 lighter but the money was well spent - again - in my opinion :) You could get a small bottle of Maker's Mark and dip it yourself - which of course I had to do! Chris was happy with this until I told him that of course we wouldn't be opening it! I said that perhaps on a special occasion such as a wedding or the birth of a child (he gave me slack about the last one but I'm sure he'd change his mind after giving birth! :)). (Note: We ended up buying another bottle when we got home - one that I would allow him to open. I was explaining to the checkout boy at the liquor store that we had just been there etc etc and that I wouldn't let Chris open the bottle I had dipped to which he replied - rather snarkily I might add - 'it's only plastic.' Men. Carrie understood - girls get it! :)) Where was I? So we left with the liquor, a box of bourbon balls (they are to die for!) and 4 shot glasses - extremely cute :).

It was a good time! On our way out we walked around the sight some more and came across the old Fire Station. Unfortunately the truck itself had been removed so that renovations could take place but a man working inside let Chris take a peek around :)

After that we moved on to Gallipolis - birthplace of moi. On the way we stopped for some food - as you can see :) I love him for letting me take this picture! Ha!

Once in Gallipolis (a towns whose name's pronunciatioin Chris and I continue to disagree upon) we met my family (biological father, half brother, 2 half sisters, and neice) at Bob Evans. If you aren't familier with Bob Evans - well - it holds a special place in my heart. The food isn't one of a kind but the original Bob Evans is located in Rio Grande. When I was little I remember going on feild trips to the Farm - which is where I wanted to go but we ended up going to the restaurant in Gallipolis (the first actual restuarant but not the farm one). I was dissapointed - hence the face - but it was still good.

After dinner we hung out at my sister Tiffany's. It was good - kind of awkward but good. I say awkward only becuase it's hard to feel really comfortable around people that are your siblings - your family - but people you only see once every few years if that. By the time you've broken the ice and started to feel slightly relaxed it's time to go. Hopefully this will change - the whole Myspace things has actually helped our commincation which is nice.

After Gallipolis we were going to head over into Jackson - the town I went to preschool thru 2nd grade in. The plan was to find a hotel and then quickly peek around the town (a place I haven't seen in many many years) before heading back to Cincy. The hotels were pricey and I decided I didn't need to see the town that badly. We took a quick drive through in the dark and then started the drive to Cincy - fully intending to find a hotel and stop for the night.

There were practically no hotels - and the ones we did find we're pricey (to us). So we drove. And drove. And drove. And drove. Finally we ended up in Cincy - well after midnight or 1 - I don't really remember. We had absolutely no idea where we were in the city though - and it was dead - we hardly saw any other cars! If you've ever spent any time in Cincinatti you know that it's a cool town but that there are certain parts of the town you really do not want to get lost in - especially at night! I was worried that we were in one of these said neighborhoods or that we would soon find ourselves in one. We were both extremely tired and we're getting extremely cranky. Many foul words were said. Finally we found our way across the river and into KY (where my grandma lives) and stopped at the first hotel we saw - we didn't care in the slightest what the cost was at this point. My foul mood was extremely apparent and the guy at the desk noticed - I apologized - he made fun of me and we all laughed. Thankfully for him (the hotel guy) the room was very cool (temp wise) and comfy - otherwise I would not have wanted to deal with me. I know my description doesn't really do it justice - but it was the drive from hell. It sucked.

And that my friend is Day 6. It is now time for me to go to bed : )

Lost and Stuffed '07 : Day 7

I'm back! After some sickness, some computer putziness, and just plain laziness on my part - the vacation blog train rumbles on.....(that was rather dorky....)

Anyhow - Day 7!

Where should I start? At 12am of Day 7? Nah - I'll save the fun details of that until Day 6 :) Are you in suspense? Don't be - it's not really that exciting.

We woke up in - what would later show up on our hotel credit charge as Fort Wright KY. When we called The Radisson to say that we had been double charged for our room later on they would claim not to have a hotel in Fort Wright - or not really even knowing where Fort Wright was. The bill mess up eventually got taken care of but I'm still not sure what city we woke up in. It was very late when we arrived and we were incredibly cranky.

Moving on - we left The Radisson in Buttfucksville, KY and headed out to pick up my Grandma for lunch :) I love my grandma and only wish I lived closer to her - seeing her once a year is just not enough! Luckily I got to see her more growing up and I least I'll always have that - but I'd still like to see her more. We picked her up and headed over to Frisch's (Big Boy's) - her favorite restaurant. It was alright - the onion rings were good. Chris had to go and order a salad - I think he tries to make me feel fat sometimes! (Kidding Chris - I'm kidding! :))

After lunch we headed back to her apartment and chatted it up for a bit. I love listening to her stories! We took this lovely picture - I have to remember to print it out and send it her way soon! Maybe as a Christmas gift....

My Grandma and I

She gave me some records to take home with me - one of which I find hystarical but I don't have a picture of it so I'll save that story for another time. The record itself isn't funny - it's just the fact that I got it from my grandma :) She's a pretty hip lady! Involved in protests, a writer, an incredibly strong woman! I cried when we left. I hate leaving her. It's making me tear up now just thinking about it. I really wish we lived closer together :(

After leaving Chris and I went off in search of a coffee shop - we found a Starbuck's. Not a huge fan of the chains but it's reliable and I LOVE their strawberries and cream drink. Mmmm! Chris was extremely happy to have his iced coffee - as you can clearly see :)

Wahoo!

I on the other hand was happy for him but off in my own world - as you can clearly see :) Did I mention that hands down we are the dorkiest couple around and that we enjoy every blessed minute of it? Well - we do! :) Ha....sigh....

Who Knows.....

In the photo below Chris points out our 'Drive from Hell.' As the title might suggest - it sucked. It sucked ass. But as it happened on Day 6 you'll just have to wait unti I blog about it to get the details - oh the suspense!

'Drive from Hell'

After the coffee and after the map looking - it was off to Cincinnati to meet Kari at the Museum Center (I always want to spell 'center' 'centre' - the same with 'theater' and 'theatre'). It was a beautiful day - not too hot. Just right. We got there before she did - none of us actually looked up directions we just wung it (is that how you spell 'wung'? is 'wung' a word?). Luckily we all ended up at the right spot. The Museum Center used to be a train terminal but now houses the Cincinnati History Museum, The Children's Museum and The Museum of Natural History and Science - along with many other features.

Union Terminal (built 1933)

Chris spots Kari in the parking lot!

Hi Kari!

Before heading into the Museum we had to have fun in the beautfil fountain! I absolutely loved the green color! Isn't it just gorgeous?

Chris decides to take a dive!

Kari and I contemplate a dive...

Unlike Chris - we go for it! Chris is kind of a wimp :) (Unfortunately Chris cuts Kari's head off)

Close-up

After playing around in the fountain we headed inside. You have to buy tickets for each museum (which kinda sucked). We wanted to see the Pirate Exhibit so we bought tickets for that and also the Cincinnati History Center. The pirate exhibit was....it was good. It wasn't great but it was good. Was it worth $16? Eh... I did learn things about pirate ships that I never knew before - which was interesting. It was (as always) fascinating to see all the artifacts and imagine the last time they were used and by whom and so on and so forth though.

The ceiling inside the intrance - the picture doesn't do it justice

Inside the entrance

I seem to be well known for my souvenier buying. I see nothing wrong with this. I think getting funky dinky tokens to remember your trip by are fun! (We did not buy the hats in the picture below - even I wouldn't go that far....) On Kari and I's trip last year I decided I wanted to start collecting snow globes. There is a slight problem with this - no one really makes the anymore! They are incredibly hard to come by - at least for me. I only came away with one for the entire trip (not from the Museum) - so that kinda sucked. We had fun looking though. They had taken anything and everything you could possibly imagine and made it pirate. Even rubber ducks -as you'll soon see....

Arrrrrr Matey!
(Although we do look rather fetching - perhaps I should have bought them...Kidding! Only Kidding! :))

Kari and I ride the train!

After getting out of the Pirate exhibit and Pirate gift shop we realized we had a mere 20 minutes to get through the History Center! Ack! We didn't really bother with most of it but instead concentrated on the awesome miniature Cincinnati they had made. It was incredible! I am a sucker for all things miniature - love them! (Unfortunately I never did have a doll house...) The glass panaling around the exhibit was tall and hard to take pictures through - luckily Chris is tall and got some good pictures :)

I told you they had Pirate duckies!

(Miniature Union Terminal)

Fire! Fire!
These are not the only pictures of fire trucks we have!


Miniature Cincinnati Zoo

This is what it looked like in the early 1900's - the building shown above is still there though


Minnie Cincy


Kari and I and Minnie Cincy

I mentioned that we only had 20 minutes or so to look through this exhibit. Well - take into account my obsession with souveniers and we had about 13 minutes. I ran off to the gift shop and frantically tried to find something to purchase! I left with a lot of magnets. A lot. Maybe one of you lucky readers will end up with one as a gift - you're excited aren't you? I knew it :) That's why I bought them!

After the shopping extravaganza we left the Museum Center. Below are pictures of this exit - just in case you didn't believe me and thought we were still there.....(I blame the fact that I was again sick today for all the stupid commentary.....)

The View as you leave....




I did mention we were dorks, right?

but Happy dorks :)





I loved this fountain!



Chris and Kari

They really did like each other - despite the faces :)



Goodbye Union Terminal!

(Is it just me or does the font function give anyone else trouble? It's a major pain in my ass and I have no doubt that upon publishing this post the fonts will be anything but what I picked and at sizes of their own fancy. Argh)

Moving on! After the Museum we headed off to Porkopolis - a restuarant I've been wanting to eat at for a long time! The reaon for this you ask? As many of you know I used to work at Glensheen up in Duluth as a tour guide - I loved that job! If you've ever been there you probably remember the breakfast room - aka The Green Room. The tiles used in that room were made at the Rookwood Pottery Factory in Cincinnati - which has now been converted into a restaurant. You can actually eat in the kilns they used to fire it! If you go the website I linked above it gives you more of the history - very intersting :)

We ordered some appitzers and drinks which were very good. Then Mark joined us for dinner. I had selected a nice little sandwich and then at the last minute decided to order some pork - was I not in Porkopolis? I saw a special they had on ribs with sourkraut. I love sourkraut. I ordered a slab of dinner. A slab. (1/2 a slab if that makes it any better. It doesn't? Sigh...) It was good but WAY too much food! We did get some funny pictures though....(some of them are not show below. Maybe you'll see them at a later date. I haven't decided :))

Mmm! Nuttin' like licken the bones from your slab of dinner!


One of the kilns

I didn't so much care for the decorating choies that were made - but that's just me. We didn't eat in one - they were meant for larger parties.

Porkopolis

I'm not trying to look pregant in this picture. I was just full. Did I mention I ordered a slab of dinner?

Chris is excited!

Our wonderful and gracious hosts: Mark and Kari!

Aren't they cute?

Chris and I - I totally admit to trying to look pregnant in this picture :) Kari saw what I was doing and was laughing - poor Chris had no idea. I'm sure he's going to love me posting this! (I love you Chris!)

After leaving Porkopolis and Mt. Adams (where it's located - more photos of that later on) we headed down to the Ohio River to have a look about. Our camera had eaten it's last pair of batteries and so Kari let me use her camera. Unfortunately it didn't like me and took blurry pictures. Ah well....

Downtown Cincy as seen from Newport KY

The Bengals Stadium - game in progress.

The Happy Couple

After exploring the river we headed back to good old Hamilton. I think we stayed up for awhile and chatted but we were all pretty tired and turned in earlier than usual. It was a good day. Oh - and least I forget - don't think I left Porkopolis without souveniers! We are now the proud owners of 4 pretty jar glasses that have the Rookwood label on them. Chris laughed at me but we've used them every day since our return :)

And that is that. Day 7.

Wow - that took a long time. I'm scared to hit 'publish'. I know it just screwed the crap out of my fonts...argh!