Transcontinental Musings: My First Trip Home since I Moved to Oregon

It was a whirlwind weekend. I needed that time in Ohio since the first 5 months of 2011 were pretty awful.

My flight was leaving out of Portland (PDX) at 10:30 pm….yes, PM. I was at the airport by 8:30 so that I could get parked, shuttled and through security in enough time to catch my flight. I was at my gate in PLENTY of time. I was so happy to see that there was a Rogue Ales Public House in the concourse. I was thinking that a beer or two would help me to be able to sleep on the plane. I’m thinking the Rogue Irish Lager is on the top of my favorites list.

Rogue at PDX

Since I was a sad little flyer with a cane, I got special treatment. The Flight Attendant at the gate allowed me to board early since I was slow and had to deal with a cane. It was funny that the only other person with a cane on that flight was sitting next to me. It wasn’t funny that I was in the middle seat and my neighbors decided to take over a portion of my seat as well as their seat. I was not able to comfortable and thus not able to sleep. It was sad.

After four hours of being uncomfortable, we landed in Atlanta. Luckily I did not have far to go to catch my flight to CVG. I literally turned the corner to my gate and they started boarding the flight. I was glad that I didn’t have to sit around. This flight was much better. I had the entire row to myself and it was only a 45 minute flight.

I was so happy to land at CVG at 9am. I was home and was eager to see my friends and family. I hurried to baggage claim so that I could grab my big red bag filled with goodies from Oregon. When I got off the moving sidewalk, I could see my brother Jeff and my nephew Logan. I fought back a lot of emotions because after such a hard time the months prior, I was relieved to see family.

We grabbed my luggage and headed toward Jeff’s truck. I couldn’t wait to give Jeff and Logan presents. I had gotten Jeff an OSU Beavers Baseball hat and Logan a bunch of action hero toys. I gave him the Joker toy first. That thing was a bitch to try and get out of the package. Jeff just laughed at me trying to free the Joker as he has to do the same thing but multiplied by 100s on Logan’s Birthday and Christmas. Note to self, no crazy toys like this anymore.

Logan chilling in his car seat with his Reds Shirt...Great sight to see.

Jeff took me back to his place so that I could take a nap since I wanted to see my friends that evening. While he, Michele and Logan were out running errands for the wedding, I was napping on their couch. I slept a solid 4 hours and felt quite refreshed afterwards. Soon the family came home and I was ready to go to my cousin Julie’s where I would stay the remainder of the trip.

After Jeff dropped me off at Julie K’s my stomach growled quite loudly. I knew what it needed. Skyline. Yes, I had been dreaming of a Skylline Veggie 3-way for months and I was so looking forward to it. Now many Cincinnatians will debate establishment is the king of Cincinnati Chili. I’ll be honest, I like them both equally. I just get the Skyline jingle stuck in my head. Hooray for marketing!!!

I suggested that we find a Skyline in Dayton as we were to hang out at Stew’s and since it was Thursday, I wanted to swing by the DARC practice at Eastwood. I decided that the place on Wilmington would be the best bet. Little did I know that not living in Dayton for 10 months would kill my sense of direction. I told Julie the wrong exit and being in the Porsche, it was not the right exit to take. We got back on I-75 and I got us to the correct exit. I eventually remembered how to get to where we needed to go.

Happiness

SKYLINE TASTES SO GOOD. I was in heaven eating that 3-Way. (Don’t make gross jokes Pacific Northwesterners.) I seriously could have ordered two 3-Ways. (Seriously…no jokes.) At this moment while I am typing this, I am salivating a tad. I can’t wait to wrap my lips around a fork covered with black bean cincy chili and streaming with spaghetti. Luckily I did purchase a bottle of Skyline Hot Sauce to take back to Oregon with me. I shall put it on EVERYTHING and then wish I would have bought more bottles.

I <3 Three Ways...SHUT IT!

Yeah…just drooled.

As we were leaving to go to Stew’s, I noticed that the particular section of Wilmington where we were might have been the most awesome place ever for a n Ohio Gluten. Across from Skyline was not only a LaRosa’s, my 3^rd favorite Pizza establishment (Ha Ha’s, Cassano’s and then LaRosa’s.) there was also a Frisch’s. For the PNW kids reading my blog, think of Dr. Evil’s Space Rocket shaped like a Big Boy… I knew there would be no time to have LaRosa’s or Frisch’s during my trip, but I did salute the restaurants.

This is actually the Frisch's in Middletown.

We did not go to the DARC practice since I learned that it had been canceled, so we just went straight to Stewy’s house for some porch beers. It was rainy that evening. I thought I was still in Oregon. It did not matter because Stewy was prepared with a canopy to go up in the yard. Camp chairs and coolers fit under our shield from the rain just fine.

I brought some Deschutes Black Butte Porter, Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout Ninkasi Spring Reign from Oregon to share with my friends. Since I could get those beers anytime, I opted to drink the PBR. I brought the Black Butte because it reminded me of when Jess came to Portland and we went to Deschutes with her friends. I recommended the Black Butte and she seemed to enjoy it. I brought the Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout because that’s what I had when Julie and I visited Rogue in Portland. I had the SOS and she had some Bleu Balls. It was magical. I brought the Spring Reign because Ninkasi sponsors the Eugene Reign. I wanted to share with my DARC friends the joys of being able to continue to play rugby out West with an equally awesome group of ruggers. I loved being able to share my new life with old friends over some tasty brews.

I was so happy to see my friends and I wish I could have had more time to spend with them. I miss them dearly.

Friday I scheduled time to be with more friends. Julie and I had lunch at Cracker Barrel with the Murphys. Cracker Barrel is another wonderful place to stuff your face, but they can’t be found in the PNW.

While waiting for Nick to join us, Danica and I played checkers out front while sitting in their famous rocking chairs. I have no idea what rules Danica was playing by, but she definitely beat me. Embarrassed by being defeated by a 4 year old, I decided to distract her with some presents I bought for her. It worked. She was more interested in the Littlest Pet Shop toys than beating me at her checkers game.

Danica and her Teddy from Oregon.

Once Nick arrived, we went in to get our table. Walking through the country store reminded me of my mother. She always liked looking around at the various gifts and gizmos at CB. I remember always getting candy sticks or a buckeye when we would eat there, which was quite often. Cracker Barrel was one of her favorite stores.

We were seated immediately where we had to make an important decision: Breakfast or Lunch. You can get breakfast all day at CB. Their breakfast is darn good, but so is everything else. I decided that since so many places strive to make country breakfast, no one can really make country vegetables like CB. This vegetarian ordered a country vegetable plate. You can’t get fried okra out in Oregon. If you can, I haven’t found it. I love me some fried okra.