Me & T

They call this work??

Sheila here.
Four days until Sunday, when I'll just be hanging out along the Ohio River with my girlfriend, Tricia Macke.

Last year, Fox 19 took over the coverage of the Cincinnati Bell WEBN Fireworks, and Tricia and I get to host the show once again this year. You could say Tricia is the best friend I never see! When I'm waking up in the morning, she's just gone to bed. When I'm going to bed, she's in the middle of a newscast! You get the picture. Our lives are alike in a lot of ways--both busy moms with fun jobs (and cute husbands), but with opposite schedules. We look forward to the fireworks show because, as Tricia puts it, "It's late enough in the day that we're both semi-awake!"

Hosting the Last Blast of Summer on Fox 19 gives us a chance to catch up.

We had a great time last year, sitting on our porch at Newport on the Levee, people watching and talking with Tricia's daughter Kaitlynn. This will be the 35th year for the WEBN fireworks display, and I asked Tricia if she watched the first one. She did, from her mom and dad's deck in Newport. Since then, it's become a Uehlien family tradition. Tricia's favorite memory is just being with her whole family, and she lets her kids stay up for the whole show, no matter how late.

So this Sunday, Fox 19 will feed us, we'll "ooh and ah" over the fireworks on live TV, wait out the traffic afterward, and then my girlfriend Tricia and I will toast another show for the record books. Can you believe someone actually pays us for this?!

Saying Goodbye to Summer

I'm usually not affected by the weather. It really doesn't affect my mood or my outlook.
Hello everyone. Rob here.
Yesterday for instance, it was nice but I took a nap. A long one. I'm not the kind of person who says, "I can't be inside. It's too nice." That's usually not me. However this morning I stepped outside, and could feel the slight chill in the air. Summer is winding down. That makes me a little sad. I definitely enjoyed summer this year, but it flew by fast. I can understand why the The Cincinnati Bell/WEBN fireworks have been such a big deal around here for 34 years. You have to make the most of it. Before long, we will all be hunkered down for a long, cold, and dark winter. Actually, this will be my first fireworks along the Ohio River. Sunday will pretty much be all hands on deck at Fox19. We are carrying the fireworks on our channel again this year. Last year, I was out of town for a wedding. This year I will be along the Ohio River as we put on a live show and for a hour before the fireworks. Should be fun. Hope you will be watching live in person or on your TV in BEAUTIFUL High Definition.

Weekend On The River

You had to almost feel guilty this past weekend as parts of the country were hammered with Hurricane Irene, which was historic in that this one storm effected a record number of people. While the east was hit with heavy wind and flooding rains our weather was just picture perfect. In the middle of updating our radio partner 700 WLW with Hurricane Updates, I enjoyed our fantastic weather along the mighty Ohio River. I spent Saturday near Vevay, Indiana at a friends place along the river. It was first time really spending a entire afternoon and evening along the river which reminds me more of a inland lake than a river. The light breeze and the sunshine was perfect for hitting the open water on the boat and we were not a lone, this section of the river near the Markland Dam was packed with pleasure boaters. After spending the afternoon basking in the sun it was time for a text book summer dinner. We fired up the grill and I grilled my pork tenderloin and some white wine and lemon shrimp. We also through the bake potatoes and fresh corn on the cob on the grill. By the way if you have never been to the Newtown Farmers market, get yourself out there, WOW GREAT CORN. The only bad part of this weekend was that slowly but surely I realized summer is coming to a end, so do yourself a favor get outside enjoy the weather and kick back with some gorgeous sunsets before the the snow starts to fly.

Boone County Arboretum

Good Friday Morning, Dan Wells writing. I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits! I had to write today about a new place that I visited last week. The Boone County Arboretum at Central Park is such a cool place for the entire family. I know we're all looking for things to do with our kids and this morning I can tell you look no further. If you don't know an arboretum is a type of botanical garden focusing on trees and woody shrubs. These living museums support the local biodiversity in an effort to preserve a sustainable environment. They provide educational opportunities through hands-on learning, classroom instruction, or simply observing "what works". An arboretum is also a place to relax in the contemplative refuge of nature, a meeting place with a beautiful backdrop for special events, a source of inspiration for home gardens, and a cornerstone for community pride. Reflecting the horticulture and history of the area, an arboretum strengthens the regional economy and increases the quality of life for local residents and visitors alike. There are few places in the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky area where you can see such a unique arrangement of diverse plants. At 121 acres, the Boone County Arboretum was the nation's first arboretum within an active recreation park setting - the specialized arrangements of plant families and 12 athletic fields are connected by a 2+ mile winding multi-use trail. The beauty and educational value of these plant collections, including obscure selections rarely observed by the public eye, will captivate everyone from the avid plantsman to the average homeowner. Special attractions at the Arboretum include the Children's Garden, a Wildlife Viewing area in our Native Kentucky Grassland, and two short woodland trails. Three informational kiosks are located at the main trail entrances to provide horticultural information, Extension class offerings, and our Arboretum map - all free to the public. If you want to go the park is located just outside Union, KY, only 25 minutes southwest from downtown Cincinnati. It's open daily from dawn to dusk for your year-round enjoyment of our more than 3000 trees and shrubs. There is no charge for admission or parking. If you have a chance check this place out!
Have a great weekend
Dan

My Best Friend's Wedding

Good Morning, and happy Thursday! Katy here, back from Virginia over this past weekend! I was happy to a part of my best friend’s wedding. It was more beautiful than I could have imagined. She decided to have it on a farm, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. The ceremony was beautiful with the mountains in the backdrop, as they recited their vows. What was especially sweet was the fact that Kristen and Loren were married on their 11 year dating anniversary!! The reception was equally as beautiful, with stringed lights hanging from the top of the barn, and a country-chic theme throughout the venue. After the party, the wedding party and close friends of the bride and groom all camped out! It was one of the most unique weddings I’ve ever been to!
On the way home, Tom and I drove through Shenandoah National Park on Skyline Drive. If you’ve never been through this part of the country, I highly recommend it, it’s beautiful! We did some hiking along a trail that followed a 70ft waterfall, and boy did I get a work out! Overall, it was a great stop on the trip, and well worth it. We saw a black bear about 30 feet into the woods from where we were standing! Cars were pulling over on the side of the road to get out and take pictures of the bear that was looking for food in a dead tree. It reminded me of Yellowstone National Park, where everyone would get out of the car to take pictures of moose.
It was a great mini-vacation before the wedding!! Kristen’s wedding was the last before ours in October, so I’m back into full out wedding-planning mode! Charge!!

Oktoberfest Is Here!

Break out your leiderhosen or dirndl! It's time for Germania Oktoberfest!

Sheila here, and sadly, this Saturday I will hand over the mallet used to tap the first keg of the season.

It seems like just yesterday that I was driving everyone crazy, asking them to vote for me to be the Burgermeister for the 40th anniversary of Cincinnati's own Germania Society.
I won, and it was one of the most fun moments of my life when I got to tap that keg with thousands of my friends, some of them authentically German, some just for the weekend!

The Germania Society was founded 40 years ago to establish a German House, a place where Germans and German-Americans could come to meet, as well as a place where visitors could feel comfortable. Ric and I have been going to Germania Park for Oktoberfest most every August since we moved here. Our little Katie was only 5 the first time we enjoyed the festival, and now our four-year-old son loves it too. It's a fantastic family event with rides, great food, and authentic German music, dance and the classic Tug-O-War. And you can hoist a German beer or two as you experience gemutlichkeit.

Prost! I hope to see you there!
http://www.germaniasociety.com/oktoberfest2011/oktoberfest11.html

Taste of Blue Ash

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, you might want to head to Blue Ash.

I went for the first time last year, after being invited by some friends.

Loved it. Obviously it features a lot of great food. Everything from Thai, to BBQ to Mexican. You can walk around with a cold one, but there' a family fun area. However, I think it is the entertainment that draws a lot of people. Best part: it's all free. This Friday night at 9 you can see 4 time grammy winner Pat Benetar and Neil Giraldo. She by the way was had the second video that aired on MTV with "You Better Run."

On Saturday night, you catch REO Speedwagon which has sold more than 40 million records. "Keep On Loving You and "Can't Fight This Feeling" two of their number one hits.

On Sunday you can see Creedence Clearwater Revisisted which was formed in 1995 by former CCR members Doug Clifford and Stu Cook.

Just some suggestions on what you can do this weekend.

Tracking The Tropics

This morning we are watching our ninth named tropical system of the season, Hurricane Irene is making her way west and north and could make landfall on the US mainland this weekend. Good Morning Everyone, Frank Marzullo Here! It is hard to belive that since our active seasons of 2004 and 2005 we have had only 4 storms make landfall on the US mainland, the last one was Hurricane Ike in 2008. So some along the coast may have become a bit laxed in there plans for evacuation and preparation. Right now Irene is moving through Hispaniola and will eventually move into the Bahamas. We expect if Irene holds together and picks up strength she will possibly hit anywhere along Floridas east coast all the way up to the Carolina coast, late Friday into Saturday as a category 2 storm. You can track the latest here www.fox19.com/weather and on air on FOX19.

A Peanut-Free Zone

Happy Friday! Dan Wells writing, I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits!

If you follow this blog regularly, you may know my daughter starts pre-school in September, (ahahahahahahah) ok, sorry about that, it's a lot to take in!

Moving on. Who knew schools these days had so many rules?

My wife and I received a note that said my daughters classroom would be a "peanut-free zone." To avoid problems for nut-allergic students, all peanut products would be taboo - not only in treats brought for the entire classroom, but even in individual student lunches.

Her classroom is not unusual in banning all peanut products. At many schools across America, the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich - that childhood lunchbox staple - has been permanently banned.

According to a recent report published by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, cases of peanut allergies in kids have more than tripled and over a ten-year period and 3 million Americans now are allergic to some kind of nut.

I get it...I wouldn't want to endanger any child's health, so I plan to strictly follow the peanut-free rule for school lunches. I have a lot of sympathy for parents of children with severe food allergies. But I have to admit that my first thought when I read the note was more selfish than sympathetic.

What the heck are we going to do with a kid who ONLY eats PB&J ?

With all of this talk about nut allergies, I decided to write today's column about peanut-free lunches kids.

Below are some ideas I found to hopefully get us through the year!

1.Strawberry & Cream Cheese Sandwich: Sliced strawberries and reduced-fat cream cheese come together in a sandwich for this quick and healthy lunchbox treat. Applesauce in single serving cup and Graham crackers, but be sure to check the label to ensure that the crackers are truly nut-free and aren't made in a facility that makes peanuts.

2. Pizza Roll-Up Lunch: This easy pizza-inspired roll-up is a kid-pleaser and costs less than $3 per serving. Keep 'em smiling with watermelon cut into fun shapes with cookie cutters.

3.Turkey & Pepper Roll-Up: Crunchy bell pepper strips rolled in deli turkey (you can use ham too) makes a simple and satisfying protein-packed pick-me-up. Baby carrots with Ranch dressing and raw veggies are really healthy and tasty to kids.

4. Tortilla roll-up made with turkey slices, American cheese and lettuce. Plus you can add a half cup of low-fat vanilla yogurt; serve carrot sticks with a side of hummus.

5. A mini bagel filled with Honey Bunny Cream Cheese which is made with cream cheese, honey and baby carrot shreds. Fresh red or green grapes, and a small bag of popcorn which is a healthy whole grain snack.

These of course are just a few ideas, I was told and read to keep it simple. Get recipes to make a healthy lunch with only 3 ingredients.
Make it fun.

Good advice right....now wish us luck!
Have a great weekend.
Dan

Scrumptious Summer!

I have had so much good food around here this summer, I just have to share! Too bad I can't give you a taste through your computer screen!

Sheila here.
Let's start our little tour at the Boone County Farmer's Market in Burlington. Want to eat something just plucked out of the ground that morning? You can do that here - any day of the week! My son Eric and I wandered through the stalls the other day, and I spent almost all of the cash in my wallet!

We found local honey, peaches which rival the ones you find down south, delicious blackberries, and sweet, white corn on the cob. I picked up red, ripe tomatoes from a farmer named Ronnie and tasted the sweetest watermelon I've ever had, grown by his buddy Joe the Melon Man. I think Eric swiped a blackberry or two from every stand we passed. We also spotted enormous zuccini and lots of beautiful flowers and plants. Right now the Boone County Farmer's Market is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. To 6 a.m. on KY 18 at Camp Ernst Road. You can find out more at: http://boonecountyfarmersmarket.org/pages/

Cobblestone Cafe is not new to folks who live in Fort Thomas, but I just discovered it. I took Katie and Eric to lunch there on a Saturday, and it was hopping. It's a super cute little place off Grand Avenue with a huge menu of homemade soups, sandwiches, wraps and homemade desserts. I absolutely loved the Buffalo Chicken Salad Wrap, and I like their version of a kids meal.

The kid-sized deli sandwich or peanut butter and jelly comes with Goldfish crackers, applesauce, and a drink, and it's amazing what a couple of Skittles decorating the top of a sandwich will do to make a little guy eat up his lunch. Owner Brenda Spade and her daughter Jennifer also bake delicious brownies and homemade cookies. Cobblestone is only open for late breakfast to lunch (10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) most days, but is open late ('til 7 p.m.) on Tuesday. I hear it's a favorite of former Bengal Cris Collinsworth and current player Jordan Palmer. You can enjoy fresh air on the patio or stay inside and watch the crew hustle. The service is great. You can check the cafe's website for the daily menu and specials before you go. http://www.thecobblestonecafe.net/

And introducing.....my new favorite summer drink! When my girlfriend went out to dinner at Palomino Downtown before the Paul McCartney concert this month, our server recommended the White Sangria. Okay, we're game, so Sharon and I each got one. It was sweet and peachy and light - simply delicious! I'm hooked! Palomino is such a great place for people watching from your perch above Fountain Square. Its pasta dishes and wood-fired pizzas are perennial favorites of mine too. http://www.palomino.com/page/menu/

Road Trip !

Good Morning, happy Wednesday! Katy Morgan Here, One of my favorite things that I did with my family as a kid was road trip. We drove everywhere. I think that’s where I get my sense of direction. (My mother says I have an internal GPS). But, if the Morgan’s were on vacation, we were going to have as much fun getting to our destination as being there. I’ve been to tons of state parks and monuments like Devil’s Tower, Mt. Rushmore, Gettysburg, the Freedom Trail in Boston, the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota… and yes, even Wall Drug. The picture seen here is of my brother, dad and me at Dinosaur Park in Rapid City, SD. My dad was really excited to take us here, as he had visited with his family when he was a boy. With all of the road trips I’ve taken, I’ve visited almost every state in the union. My current count is 46 states. The four remaining states are scattered. It’s my goal to visit Alaska, Louisiana, Rhode Island, and New Mexico… one of these days! Anyone up for a road trip?

My First REAL Concert In 20 Years.

I went to the Lil Wayne concert over the weekend. What??!!

Yeah, I did. Hey everyone. Rob here.

The last real crazy concert I went to was in the early 90's I think. It was Bell Biv Devoe, Johnny Gill and maybe Keith Sweat. I have been to a Goo Goo Dolls concert. That was a pretty laid back show. I also went to Steely Dan at PNC Pavilion at Riverbend. That was even more laid back. Don't get me wrong both concerts were a lot of fun. However, the Lil Wayne concert I suspected will be anything but laid back.

I was asked to go to the concert by some friends less than a week before the show. To which I replied, "NO!" Why you ask. I'm kind of claustrophobic. Not in terms of space, but definitely in terms of crowds. I knew the concert would be crowded. After much convincing, I decided I would go. We had great seats in row G. As the concert started up, you could feel it. It was so loud that it shook your shirt. When Lil Wayne hit the stage, I stood up and never sat back down. He's great live. I don't have much to compare it to, but this was the best concert I have ever attended. I could not have been more into the show. I felt like a kid again. Although, not too much. I still left the concert early, so I could beat the traffic.

Back To School

The day before the first day of school, always was a bit nerve racking. After 2 months of staying up late, sleeping in until 9 or 10am, and jumping in and out of the pool all afternoon it was time to jump back into the school routine. My mom would always take my brothers and I school shopping but we would all have our own day. We would go and get our supplies, then we would try on new school shoes, and then it was time to go to lunch. I would always choose TGIF Fridays, I loved there chicken fingers with honey mustard. It was great because we would make going back to school a fun time and not dwell to much on the fact that homework and early bedtime was just around the corner. Then when you actually went to school there was a whole other list of challenges, what locker to pick, where should you sit in your classroom, and what lunch table should you enjoy your brown bag lunch. So as your kids go back to school this week, write a nice note on there lunch bag and send them on there way. At least the weather is cool to start this week so they will not have that to complain about.

Summer Camping!

Dan Wells writing, I hope this note find you well and in good spirits!

Everybody loves a good vacation, Right! How about a "real deal" tent camping vacation? If you're not sure, read-on.

After about eight hours of driving northeast of Cincinnati in a packed-car, my wife and I, along with our two young daughters finally arrived in the Allegheny National Forest.

If you don't know, the Allegheny Forest is a National Forest located in northwestern Pennsylvania. The forest covers 512,998 acres of land. It's huge and probably one of my favorite places on earth! Within the forest is the Kinzua Dam, which created the Allegheny Reservoir. (check out the pictures) I've gone to this area to camp in the wilderness with my Mom and Dad for as long as I can remember.

Ok, back to my story, my girls (ages 4 and 2) did great on the long drive and on the trip as a whole.

On Thursday evening, we pulled into our campground, set the kids loose, unpacked the chairs and tent, after about an hour of set-up time, we sat down to take it all in.

I love when you can see just about every star in the sky, the sunny mornings when you can sit outside in the sun with a coffee and just breathe without thinking about traffic, school, work, laundry or any multitude of mundane things we all deal with.

I honesty think I could be a forest ranger in another life!

I was introduced to camping earlier than most people. When I was a growing up, we went every year to the woods. We (my brothers and sisters) had such a great time running around, joking around by the fire, and enjoying time with our friends; I was smitten.

In recent years, I haven't been able to go tent camping as often as I'd like simply because my girls had been too young to rough-it in the woods but this summer the family camping trip was ON.

During our trip, we boated, water and jet-skied, hiked, had campfires made smores, got a little too sun burnt, told lots of good stories saw beautiful scenery, and most of all got un-interrupted time together. That's priceless.

This past weekend was one of the best vacations I've taken in a long time! I think it's because camping for me is simple! If you've never tried it, and you need some "simple" in your life please give it a whirl, I bet you will be hooked!

Have a great weekend.
Dan

What A Cute Dog! What is she?

Good morning, happy Thursday everyone! Anyone whose had a dog knows that question. Now that it’s cooling off a bit, Tom and I can resume our evening walks with Casey more often. And almost every time we are out walking, someone stops to comment on how cute Casey is. (and why wouldn’t they!) She especially had peoples’ attention when she was a puppy a couple years ago, and we got the question all the time, “What kind of dog is she?” We never knew how to respond, because we picked her out from a newspaper add that claimed she was a Australian Sheppard/Lab mix. It wasn’t long after adopting her that we knew that couldn’t be correct because of her size. So that following Christmas I decided to surprise Tom with a “Doggie DNA test” Have you ever heard of these? They claim to pick out the breeds in your dog with just a swab of cheek cells from the dog. So I wanted to see what breeds of dog were in Casey, and got the test kit. The results were surprising! We found out Casey has a little bit of everything in here, including Miniature Pincher, German Shorthair Pointer, Chow Chow, Rottweiler, and Shar Pei ! So now when people ask us what kind of dog she is we’ll say… “She’s a Min-pin Pei Pointer Chowler”. Or… for short, a mutt. And in my opinion, they are the best kind of dog there is!

Summer In The 'Nati - Making Memories

This year I have had the best Summer in the 'Nati I can ever remember.

Hi, it's Sheila.
Paul McCartney is one of the big reasons.
I don't even know the words to describe the joy I felt at his concert last Thursday at Great American Ball Park. Joy that he recognized my Reds with his handsome red jacket. Joy at hearing songs which make up so much of the music from my childhood to adulthood. My mother claims I danced to Beatles music when I was a toddler, and every memory I have of swimming at the Sidney pool in the summertime as I was growing up has Paul McCartney & Wings playing in the background. Joy that I was seeing one of music's greatest composers and influences. My girlfriend Sharon and I couldn't stop talking about how happy Paul seemed while he was singing, talking with the audience, and playing incredible rifs on I don't know how many guitars - including the original guitar he played when he was making music with the Beatles.

Paul wrote, "The Love you take is equal to the love you make." He passed out so much love here in Cincinnati. I feel so lucky to have been part of that special night.
Hats off to the Cincinnati Reds for bringing him here, and hats off to Downtown Cincinnati for rolling out the Red Carpet to everyone who came in from all over the world (there were fans from Essex, England and Australia on stage with him at the end of the concert.)

Paul is gone, but here's something you can do to make some great memories for your family.

Go on a Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo.

This is my little guy, Eric, walking with our instructor, Miss Peggy, last Saturday. Night hikes are a fun way see the zoo when it's not crowded with visitors. My husband Ric and I started off in the classroom with other families as our instructor quizzed the kids about animal facts. For this class, the questions pertained to aquatic animals, and the kids got to touch a two-year-old alligator and a small spotted turtle. Then we hit the trails at the Zoo with our group. The weather was perfect, and we learned a lot! You can sleep over at the Zoo too, and there are lots of dates still available. Find out more at https://tickets.cincinnatizoo.org/mainstore.asp?vid=2#cat1172

More Weddings??? I'm Broke!

Hey everyone. Brad here.

Wedding season is here in full swing actually. At the age of 28, I can't help but notice all my friends are getting married... some even having kids. I've been to three wedding already this summer and currently have seven invitations sitting on my desk at home for ceremonies over the next month and a half!!! Three of the weddings are on the same day and none in the same city. One here in Cincinnati, another in Peoria, IL and a third in San Antonio, TX. Too many options! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good reception as much as the next guy, but it's becoming more involved the older I get. So as my wedding attendance increases, I need some help figuring out all the do's and don't here. Lets start with the gift, how much money do I need to spend on a gift? I used to think I could buy something off the registry and I would be OK, apparently I was wrong. Recently someone told me the gift should have a value of $50. Really? And if it's a plus one invite, the gift should cost around $100, because we account for two dinners. Can this be right? Until this summer I had always wrong a full suit at every wedding I ever attended. Until last week. I went to an outdoor wedding in Ohio! Yes, outside in this muggy, sweaty mess, so I had to adjust my typical attire. But what's acceptable? I saw people in shorts, flip flops, tee-shirts and one guy even had on jorts (jean shorts). I wore a button up and thin dress slacks. Still sweaty. I have another outdoor Ohio wedding in a couple of weeks, but this time the reception is outside too! I figured I could dress down a little bit with some linen pants and maybe a button up.. Nope. We were told to dress like a normal wedding, except it's not a normal wedding. Everything is outside. Well I at least can look forward to all the good food, drinks and a dance floor.

Katy In Jail !

Good Morning, and Happy Thursday! Please help me, because I’m going to JAIL! All for a good cause, of course. Next Wednesday I’ll be participating in the annual MDA lock up at Paul Brown stadium, in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In efforts to raise money, I’ll be locked up in “jail” and won’t be given my freedom until I raise my goal of $3,000. I have a long way to go in reaching my goal, so I wanted to reach out to all of our loyal viewers! Please help bail me out, or you won’t get your weather forecast next Thursday! Ha…

Thank you for any donations…

https://www.joinmda.org/MyLockup/MyHomepage/tabid/226646/Participant/kmorgan/Default.aspx

Free Fridays At Cincinnati Museum Center!

Before we know it the kids will be groaning about getting up for school, so why not take them out for some FUN learning at the Cincinnati Museum Center before summer is over?

Sheila here, and the Museum Center is offering another Free Friday this week.

I loaded up Eric, Katie, and Katie's friend Tom on one recent blazing hot day, and we explored. Katie and I have been going there since she was just a bit older than Eric, and it's always been a family favorite. Now we are seeing one of our fave places through new eyes with Eric. We spent the bulk of our time in the Natural History Museum.

Eric was fascinated by the fossils and animals there, and looked like a little scientist as he made his way through the kids' trading post inside. We got there in time to see one of the Bats Alive shows - they creep me out a little, but Eric loved seeing them fly around. And then we headed down to the Cave and later into the Glacier. So much to see in one place that it was time for lunch, and then we barely had time for the Children's Museum! Eric had a blast with the water play there. He's a bit too big for the little indoor farm playground, but that's a lot of fun for toddlers.

When Eric and I headed out for naptime, Katie and Tom took in the Cleopatra exhibit and the movie at the Omnimax Theatre. It was a great day, and Eric talked about for days afterward.

You have two more chances to take your family to a Free Friday at the Cincinnati Museum Center, this Friday, August 5 and again on September 9. All 3 museums are free between 4 and 8 p.m. (Cleopatra and the Omnimax are extra.) Parking is $6 until 4:30, and then it's just $4. You can find out more at http://www.cincymuseum.org/.

Saturday Mornings at Findlay Market

I spend many Saturday mornings at Findlay Market.

No better way to start my day.

Hello everyone. Rob here.

I Findlay Market especially in the summer. There are a ton of people walking around smiling eating drinking coffee. It's a much different experience than going to the grocery store. At the market, you linger, you look, you actually enjoy the crowds. When I'm at the grocery store, getting out is job one.

My trainer has me on a very strict diet for the next six weeks.

Last Saturday, I was on the hunt for boneless, skinless chicken breast. Let me make something clear: I HATE BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST. However, I felt like the expert vendors at Findlay Market could help. First I went to Busch's Country Corner specializing in fresh Amish Poultry. The butcher cleaned and split the breast for me. Then I walked to the other side of the market to Col. De. Stewart. He specializes in spices. I walked up to him and told him about my feelings toward skinless boneless chicken breast and begged for his help.

He gave me his cowgirl rub which has made the chicken better. It doesn't taste like rib eye, but I can do this for six weeks.

A Saturday Hike ! Ugh !

Good Morning Everyone, Marzullo Here! So last week I was sitting having dinner with my girlfriend, and I said lets get our adventure on this weekend! So after a nice breakfast on Saturday morning we hit the road for a short drive over to Hocking Hills State Park in Hocking County, Ohio. It only takes about 2 hours and it is located between Columbus and Athens, Ohio. We took I-71 to 35 which is the Jeffersonville Outlets exit and that basically took us in. It is amazing that this is in Ohio, you feel like your in the mountains. There are over 200 campground areas, we however took part in the hiking on a hot and muggy afternoon. We started out at Old Mans Cave and then made our way around Rose Lake and onto Cedar Falls before coming back to Old Mans Cave. I did not realize how long of a trip it would actually be after 3 1/2 hours though I had second thoughts we should of drove to each location. I was dripping with sweat, seriously it looked like someone had hosed me down. It was worth it though, I especially liked looking at the Devils Bathtub. It looks like a refreshing spot where a waterfall trickles into a pool of water but at several feet deep it can suck you down into the jagged rocks. So do yourself a favor make a day of it or even a weekend if your a camper and head out to Hocking Hills.