This is a label on a set of drawers in a restaurant.

10 points if you can tell me what it is. (The post tag should help)

50 points if you can tell me where it is. (It’s in Kentucky)

But first, progress:

I’ve decided to remove everything except the two new furnaces. Other than those pieces of equipment I’m left with four brick walls and a floor. This way I can layout my house exactly as I want it rather than trying to convert the old apartments.

At this point I just have to get the debris out, but it’s been so long since I’ve posted an update I thought I would put a few pix up.

3rd floor

No more kitchen or bathroom walls, closet, or HVAC closet. Just a furnace and ductwork held up with ratcheting tie downs.

Where I started this time:

Work being done:

What I’m left with (it’s a little cleaner than this now):

2nd Floor

Where I started:

Bye bye kitchen wall:

What I’m left with:

Hopefully the next update will show the place cleaned out.

As for the tattoos……wearing gloves leaves me with pretty perfect sleeves…..

Coolest sunrise of my life….

Crazier than that was getting on bikes and riding 38 miles back down to sea level. Rain suits come off about halfway down.

Although I was out of town last year, I know they jammed out at Midpoint Music Fest, and they are doing the same this year. They’ve released a couple of new singles recently, as well as a music video for Vision Vision from their Labrador EP.

I can’t pretend like I don’t enjoy a variety of ‘mainstream’ music, but I also dig crazy off the wall shit, especially when the artist can back it up live, which is most definitely the case with Loyal Divide.

Vision Vision

@LoyalDivide

Instead of trails, it’s trials…..except we are nowhere near this good.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o

All of a sudden we were met with a set of glass doors, on the other side of which was sweet, cool A/C. “Tickets please fellas,” called a lady at a narrow podium, slipping us pink wristbands after verification of our seats.

The next words out of her mouth really threw me for a loop. “Go ahead and help yourselves to some food, there’s stuff all along the concourse.”

To think I almost bought peanuts to bring in the stadium

I picked up my jaw off the floor and kept moving. I had been mentally preparing myself to spend loads of cash on food and beer, all the while sweating my ass off, and here I was in the A/C with free Montgomery Inn, La Rosa’s, and what’s more, 20 oz Moerlein OTR on draft for a reasonable (ballpark) price.

Club seats are the best of both worlds. Right along the first base line above the suites, the concourse has A/C while the seats are still outside. I’ve been in boxes before, they’re cool, but you’re a little detached from the actual ballgame experience (“Beer Here!”). In the club the seats are padded, and the nosebleeds above provide some shade, so you’re still on the luxury side of ballpark seating.

It is kinda crazy, I think half the people in this section were under 12.

This kid was either dancing or running up for more cinnamon breadsticks

Too bad they lost 1-0, but at least they got 2 outta 3 in the series.

Still a blast to be at a game.

And I got a new angle of QCS.

Oh yeah, and not only is there free food inside, but free icy pops being handed out in the aisles! Beer cooler anyone?

This was my first Reds game of the season….might be my last cause I won’t get to live this good at any others (unless I win tickets to the county box again like I did last year [which I just read they are not doing this year...BS!])

Besides Race St, work, and some casual social outings (like Monday night pick-up soccer) I don’t have much else going on. Desperate to stay in some sort of shape, I’ve been getting on my bike at least twice a week. Due to the nature of the above schedule I’m pretty much confined to night time rides (the fact that it’s a million degrees out doesn’t hurt either).

I already ride around with a backpack, and I’m thinking a little tripod might be in my future, because finding ledges and things to use as a stabilizer can be difficult, especially when I need a specific angle to try and shoot, say, a new skyscraper.

By that last sentence you’d think I was an actual photographer with something other than my little Point and Shoot. I’m not….

Really lovin’ this new Black Keys album…and I’m not sure what I like more about this video, the hot chicks, hilarious puppet, or the string of denial from the band that scrolls across the video.

Next Girl

www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_PrT25o8Vs

Is it sad that new work gloves is something I get excited over?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5pPEqmYkKE

As much love as I have for the city, I would go crazy if I couldn’t escape to nature every now and again. Mountain biking, disc golf, just a walk through the woods–I need to get away here and there. Some days that just doesn’t happen, and that’s where a little greenery in the city can help soften the hard lines and times of the concrete jungle. The pictures here are from the model unit in the Gateway building, where I was tasked with putting together some plant material to liven up the roof deck. Every morning I’m afforded the luxury of walking over to water the planters, and I have to be honest, it’s a very relaxing way to start my day. It takes me back to my college days of wandering the rows of the greenhouse watering and pruning (and I didn’t even work there, I just did it for fun). It’s a reminder that despite everything going on around us, there can be a simple existence involving nothing more than sun, water, soil and some photosynthesis (although remembering cell bio, there is nothing simple about it =).

And let’s not forget, soil bacteria can make you happy!

It’s the number of bottles of water/gatorade I go through on an average work day.

It’s the number of electric meters that divide up the space.

It’s also the number of toilet connections on the 1st floor! I haven’t done much research into the history of the building, but going by all the sanitary lines I would guess it was most recently a shit factory.

1 line is actually back near the garage in a little room no one would really want to spend any time in, and it’s been covered for some time (though it could be used again). The other three sit in the former retail space, one of which is in an actual bathroom (original tin ceiling in there, tile floor and walls, etc) while the other two are in makeshift bathrooms that were built in a very hasty manner. Only one of these currently had a toilet set on it.

The good bathroom......I said tile, I didn't say pretty

The tin ceiling

The tiled bathroom is tucked in the back corner of the space, but if you flushed that toilet water came out the underside (ewwww). So before I ripped out the one in the middle of the space (literally, terrible spot) I needed to reset the rear toilet.

With the toilet off it was readily apparent the wax ring was destroyed, so I cleaned the floor, bought a new ring, and somehow reset the thing by myself…I imagine it’s way easier with two people….

With that set I was able to cut the other sanitary lines out and remove the other toilet from up front.

Progress….it can be a shitty thing….

You see, we have one thing Columbus does not that is pretty irrefutable….hills. Not only are they great for running and biking, but they provide some pretty stellar views.

Someone call Duke and get that transformer out of there

Come July 4th those hills can give you a wide angled scene of dozens of fireworks shows, the likes of which I’ve only experienced on the top of a 34 story building in Chicago.

It will also give you a view of the fire that started across town (remember kids, booze and fireworks don’t mix well [actually they do, except that one time...])

If you live tucked into a hillside with a view of the basin, you are required to have a telescope. I looked into the one sitting on the top floor of our hosts’ house to find it aimed perfectly down Main St.

This is the point where I need a better camera, or at least a tripod. But I think you’ll get the idea.

As cool as fireworks are, it’s not really a party until someone brings out the sparklers.

A little puppy love also added to a great time.

Guard dog that knows what's really valuable...beer

To our hosts that evening, thank you very much, I know I had a blast, and everyone else sure looked like they were having fun as well! In fact I’m pretty sure the right phrase was on display in your house….

I remember being 15, on my bike, tooling around in the driveway for hours.

Wheelies, endos, bunny hops, hell just practicing track stands….

I’m a bit older now, and I don’t confine myself to the driveway anymore…instead I just pick spots in the city to play around.

Don’t get me wrong, I love going out and socializing, and bars can be fun on a weekend night….

….but I’m just as happy on two wheels.

Even though this has to be fake, I also don’t have the video editing skills to make this happen either, though there is a better chance I could learn those than actual tape measure mastery.

After running home to change I started my journey by heading back up to OTR before sprinting down Race St to the river.

Over-The-Rhine fascinates me even more than it did 3 years ago when I moved here. Majestic Music Hall sitting right across from boarded up treasures labeled with the plight of the neighborhood.

Moving on….

It’s always a nice cruise down race (or walnut) from OTR to Downtown. Once you cross central parkway the lights time up, almost egging you on to pedal faster and hit the river without stopping. Although sometimes I loop around 5chw4r7z’s so I can get a view of QCS.

Being close to the river feels good. Sure, it’s not the cleanest body of water out there, but I did swim in it and live….so I like cruising down to Friendship Park and the Serpentine Wall. I guess the sun knew it was the reason I was out and about…it certainly caught my eye on the south shore….

When I’m that close I always ride over to NKY and back. Something about crossing state lines make any workout seem that much more badass.

Returning to the other side of the river I always face a dilemma: do I ride back through downtown, or torture myself on some hills in Mt. Adams?

Yeah, the hills normally win.

When it really started to get dark I kept my camera in my pocket and just rode. I put my headphones on to drown out the world and got lost in endless pedal strokes. It felt good to just zone out for a while and wear myself down.

The last rays of sun had set and the sky was growing darker by the minute as I cranked down Reading Rd. Living so close to Neon’s can be a great thing, and that night it seemed appropriate to just show up on my bike as opposed to going home and showering first. I ran into a couple of friends (oh neighborhood bar, how I love thee) and enjoyed a pint (or two) before we all remembered it was a school night.

A little break and a few beers can do great things though, and I wasn’t ready to pack it in yet. I know it’s closed, but frankly I just felt like going to hang on the Serpentine Wall…so I did.

One reason not to hang out there at night (besides the fact you will be asked to leave pretty quickly) are the crazy looking bugs that swarm the light poles.

With creepy bug pictures under my belt (was that really necessary, prolly not) and security in my ear, it was time to pack it in for the night. With a gentle ride up Eggleston I was home, completely content with my summer solstice ride.

The replies were “no, but we’re working on it.” Then voila, a few days later the emails are flying and the Rampage is a go.

So to everyone that put it together and was kind enough to invite me, thanks!

In case you didn’t read Bob or Maureen’s take on things, the concept is fast food sushi. All the ingredients are at the ready, waiting for rice and wrap to be passed down the line. Pick your fillings and sauces, pay, and walk away before you would normally get a glass of water at a sit down restaurant.

Here is my take:

For starters, the rice machine that spits out flat layers of sushi rice ready for a seawead (or apparently a soy) wrap at up to 1200 sheets an hour….that rocks….and I want one….

Also a mechanized plus to the sushi world, the cutter, insuring 10 evenly cut pieces every time.

In between those steps are all the fillings. Only two raw fish are available–tuna and salmon–and both are already marinated in some pretty tasty sauce. Everything else is hot…baked salmon, grilled steak, fried calamari, tempura chicken, etc… It’s most certainly a new twist on a traditional food form.

I went for a steak roll, dressed with their choice of toppings (except asparagus, I couldn’t bring myself to do that in sushi just yet). It was pretty tasty, but more of a novelty for me. I also did a raw salmon and tuna roll with my favorite accoutrements–avocado, green onion, and cream cheese, topped with tempura flakes and spicy mayo. I’m good at making healthy things bad for you….and it was delicious!

The sushi really was good, and I will certainly be going back. It’s not gonna be my number one spot…I like too many crazy fish options and weird stuff that Soho doesn’t have to make it my go to….but they are after a different segment of the market, and from what I saw/tasted they’re doing a great job at it. That’s what is cool about Soho, they are doing something different, something you can’t get at just any sushi joint.

As far as value, this place has it. Every roll is 10 pieces, which means two is plenty for me and anyone that wants to try a roll off my plate.

So to Zach and Stephan: great job fellas, and thanks for hosting our group. I can’t wait to come back.

The overall highlight for me? Being in great company at a fun/tasty new spot downtown on a stellar Tuesday night.