Fall is upon us

So somehow we're already half way through the month of October. This year really has seemed to fly by without a second thought. I guess that's a consequence of getting old... right.

So anyhow, we are having quite an amazing fall here in NE Ohio. Overall Ohio isn't where I'd like to be for the rest of my life, but I have to at least concede that it does have some redeeming characteristics - colorful, sunny, cool fall days would be one thing that comes to mind. The leaves are all starting to change colors, and there's a crisp chill in the evening air. It's time to visit orchards and pick apples and find misshapen bright orange pumpkins. Rows and rows of jugs filled with amber colored cider line cooler displays in all the grocery stores.

This weekend I'm going on a little road trip with one of my bestest buds, Libby. We're going to drive up to Niagara Falls, and then head south through New York and into the hills and valleys of Pennsylvania. Really this is the kind of trip old ladies from coast to coast delight in - leaf peeping I believe they term it. Winding through the Allegany State Park (NY) and the Allegheny National Forest (PA) - god forbid we spell things with any consistency here! - I'm sure we'll get to see our fair share of fall foliage.

The majority of the trip will focus around a portion of Historic US-6 which we'll follow from Port Allegany all the way back home. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures of our adventure and make a special post/album that I can link from this blog.

In other news, life is going very well. I remain overjoyed with both of my jobs - the accounting and the bartending. I'm taking the Advanced level for WSET this fall, and sitting for the exam at the end of November. I'm really quite nervous about it, as this class is much more in depth than the previous level, and I need to continue comitting lots of geographical and viticultural information to memory. We've also got a blind tasting to conduct, but I'm not as concerned about that as I was initially.

Life continues.

Be well everyone.

Welcome to life in Northeast Ohio

So I've crossed the pond and landed back in Cleveland, Ohio. My Peace Corps aspirations have taken a backseat to life, and I've decided not to go. I recieved my invitation to volunteer as a New Business Development Agricultural Advisor in Burkina Faso the day after I returned state-side. I must say that everyone who initally expected me to be off to Africa come September are now pleased to hear I'm sticking around. I should be honest and say that I'm pleased too. It was a great idea, but I think perhaps just not meant to be.

So now I am looking for a job. Looking for a car. Looking for an apartment. It seems I'm looking for a life, and it's here somewhere in NE Ohio. I've also gotten so used to blogging, that I felt I should continue with a new one in order to chronicle my life back home. Europe was amazing, but isn't life no matter where we are? So why not write about it I say. And that is what I plan on doing here.

If I sent you a link, or somehow you've accidentally found this blog I do hope you enjoy reading it. I'm going to make a conscious effort to update as regularly as possible, and share the goings on - be they adventurous or just rigamarole - of my life.

I have lots of things I want to do. I'm in better shape than I ever have been, and plan to continue that trend. I've got 30lbs. or so to lose before I am at my desired weight, and am going to be following a better exercise regiment to build muscle and keep the fat off for good.

Also I'd like to get involved in some other activities, and as soon as I have aforementioned job plan on finding some classes - yoga, cooking, dancing. If anyone is interested in joining me in these meanderings please let me know. Especially the dancing - I'm thinking ballroom.

Hopefully as things go on this blog can be filled with personal stories, recipes, pictures, and the like. Reader, please enjoy my ramblings. And bonus points to anyone that can identify the source of the blog's title.

Read on & be well.

Ryan