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I saw Greg Flannery, Editor of Streetvibes, coming out of The Washington Platform on Elm Street. He must have had some lunch, some drinks or both.
He looks taller in person and it appears like maybe he's lost some weight. I didn't stop to call hello.
- Candy Apple
(Photo from CityBeat)
Last Monday afternoon, I found myself leaving downtown a little later than I had expected. This was something I didn't want, as I wasn't sure where to catch the bus. I barely figured it out in time as I walked to Main Street to catch the #6 back to my new digs in Westwood.
The bus was fairly crowded but there were some horizontal seats open in the front. As I took a seat to my right, I looked to my left.
Across from me was an older couple. The woman had gray hair,
but you could tell it used to be black. She was wearing a green blouse and
had on a long skirt that was the same color. With her right hand, she was
holding on to a wooden cane. When I looked at her face, she reminded me of Miss
Ellie, the mother on the old television show Dallas.
The man she was with was thin and tall and wearing glasses. He had on black blue jeans, and his buttoned-down green shit went well with his tan bailey hat. He was holding the women’s left hand.
As the bus made its way to Central Parkway, I couldn’t help but look at them. They looked classy, kind of graceful. They looked like they totally belonged together.
I watched them talk softly to one another. The woman laughed at something the man said – then I watched him put his arm around her as she leaned into his shoulder.
The woman looked over at me. I smiled.
“Nice day,” she said.
“If it would stay like this year round, I’d be happy,” I replied.
The man she was with looked my way, smiled, and from Central Parkway until the bus reached Queen City Avenue and Ferguson, I came to know this couple.
This is the time of year when many start planning their summer vacation.
Do you still plan on getting away this summer or with the high price of gasoline and airplane fares; do you plan on staying home in Cincinnati?
- Brandy Edwards
(Photo from www.glow.ca.com)
Almost two years ago, I wrote a Living Out Loud column called "Mike and the Price of Gas." Click here to read it.
Is it amazing to me that things haven't gotten any better from two years ago? Of course not - not with Bush still in the White House - and for what it's worth, my opinions stated in that column haven’t changed one bit.
- Larry Gross
(Graphic from MSNBC)
As I'm sure you know by now, I have become known in the Cincinnati area as Mr. Congeniality. My nature is to bring warmth and joy to those I encounter.
Sometimes, it doesn't always work.
I was standing at the bus stop on Ludlow Avenue yesterday afternoon. Mr. Congeniality was waiting for a bus.
With me was a young mother with a small baby that would not stop crying. Despite anything that the mother would do, that daring child could not be made happy.
Thinking that I, Mr. Congeniality, could bring happiness to the young baby, I offered my most sincere services.
“Here, let Mr. Congeniality hold your baby. I will bring it much joy,” I told the young mother.
She looked at me like I was the devil. Did I not tell her my name?
“Please,” I said. “As I stated, I’m Mr. Congeniality and want to hold your baby.”
To make a long story short, the young mother got on her cell phone and called the police. I have a court hearing next week. Right now, I’m out on bail.
Mr. Congeniality is sometimes misunderstood, but I will press on.
- Mr. Congeniality
(Photo of Mr.
Congeniality found on Mr. Google)
We go to The Cincinnati Dealer.
Last week, City Councilman John Cranley voted against the streetcar plan here for our city. Did Cranley really state that Cincinnati already has a rail route for mass Transit? Click here to find out the truth. Or not.
- Larry Gross
(Photo of Cranley from
CityBeat.)
During lunch hour, we found two girls and a guy doing lunch
at the Skyline Chili on Ludlow in Clifton. The
video is down below.
We watch them suck down their drinks. We watch them eat those oyster crackers – then the real food arrives.
Look at all that cheese!!
- Joe Locker
(Photo from www.seattlest.com)
There's a girl around UC that travels by unicycle. Weird. I mean, it's hard enough to cross the street around here without getting killed, but to add a unicycle to the mix, now that takes some guts.
Not long ago, I saw a wedding party march down Ludlow Ave. toasted. And barefoot. Everyone was barefoot, bride and all, in her gown with a long train. Someone else barefoot was half-holding her train. It was pouring out. Wouldn’t want to get half of the dress wet.
A while back, after watching a TV show on a bunch of illegal pit bulls that were saved from being fighting dogs, I started seeing pit bulls everywhere in town. People walking them, petting them. Everywhere, pit bulls. Are they really illegal? They do have scary faces, but I kind of like them. Kind of like my taste in men—if they’re kind of scary, I kind of like them. Sad, but true. And weird.
I’ve noticed that a good way to get a date is to talk to someone you like about how you can’t ever get dates, rather than just asking them out. That way, you can feel the territory first and not look like a loser. And maybe get a few free compliments in the process.
A few weeks ago, I was running through Walnut Hills, when some man jogged up behind me and yelled, “Boo!” Rather than jump, I turned around, stopped, and cracked up. Then he did too. We said nothing. I ran on. He walked on.
Ever notice how sometimes when someone pops into your head, they might appear in your life soon? Weird. A week ago when I was thinking about my new tattoo, it made me think about my friend Jeff, who has one arm covered in tattoos. We met a few years back when we both had an appointment to look at the same apartment at the same time, and he ended up getting the apartment. Damn him. While I was smiling and musing about Jeff and the apartment I never got, I saw Jeff standing outside of a coffee shop. He was back in town for a few days. From Berlin.
When the recent earthquake hit, it woke the cats and me. My bed was vibrating. Rather than check the TV or worry, I said, “Huh, weird,” laughed about the vibrating bed idea, and went back to sleep.
A few days ago, while walking down Ludlow, I saw a man walking a raccoon. Yes, a raccoon on a leash. A big, fat one, sniffing the ground. Most reporters would stop to ask him some questions. Instead, I shrugged and said “Hi.” To the man, not the raccoon. He said “Hi” back and kept walking the critter down the street like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Maybe I’ll take up unicycling.
- C.A. MacConnell
(Photo from www.humboldt.net)
When The Cincinnati Nation reported last week that Arby's is buying Wendy's, I immediately got the runs.
Tell me honestly, is it possible to eat an Arby's beef 'n cheddar sandwich and not get sick? Can you eat some of Wendy's chili and not get diarrhea? Now these two restaurants are coming together? My world has been very, very rocked.
Let me try and get my mind off this.
Is Barack Obama weird? Why does he give his “hopey speeches” at gas stations? Wonkette addresses the issue. At least he’s not giving speeches at Arby’s eating beef ‘n cheddar sandwiches with bacon.
Last week, UrbanCity talked about the Buddakhan at 713 Vine Street and their Friday happy hour. Now I’m a
fan of this place but they still need to work on when they’re open. I stopped
by on Friday around four in the afternoon and once again, the door was locked. After having a
few drinks at Madonna’s and stopping by Wendy’s for a chocolate frosty, I went
back to the Buddakhan and they were open. Again, a nice place, good drinks but get your hours straight.
Is Jerebel ripping off the LOL Blog? They now have a weekly feature called “The Week that Was.” Does that kind of sound familiar?
While having a sour cream and chives potato at Wendy’s in Seattle,
Dan Savage found a pair of glasses. The Stranger’s Slog Blog took a photo.
Keith Olbermann was on Letterman last week and said most people in news are not smart enough for analysis. The Huffington Post gives us a video clip.
Kevin Osborne at the Porkopolis Blog reported last week that Cincinnati officials have finally approved a streetcar plan. The big hurdle now is raising $60 million from the private sector. Here’s a thought: For those willing to donate a million bucks or more, they will receive free fajita beef flatbread melt sandwiches from Arby’s for an entire year. Want a carryout? No problem!
Dick Cavett got a lot of mail on his "Petraeus/Crocker piece" from the Talk Show Blog. He followed it up last week with “Petraeus, Custer and You.”
Did you know that when not eating lunch at Arby’s or Wendy’s, C.A. MacConnell has been writing a book? Well you know now!
That’s it for me today. I’m in the mood to get sick. Think I’ll head over to Arby’s and get some curly fries.
Enjoy your Sunday.
- Larry Gross
(Photo from Arby’s)
Little do you know that when Mary Ann Lynch is serving you drinks or snacks on that flight you’re on, she’s doing Coke.
Well, I guess you know now.
Coke after Coke after Coke. Its part of her daily routine and the airline she works for could care less. In fact, they’re even giving out her mailing address.
To find out more about this shocking development, click on the video down below.
Reporting live from the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati Airport or whatever the hell they call it these days, this is . . .
- Judy Darling,
LOL Blog Reporter
(Photo from www.brandondalton.com)
