Monday, December 31, 2007

End Of Year Post Countdown

As most like to do at the ending of of another year (beside plan resolutions) is to look back on the the year that is about to end.

I thought I would count down the top 9 posts that I have had the most fun writing over the past year. Of course there were more than 9 posts that I enjoyed writing, but I though 9 was a nice odd number to choose from.

and away they go...

9-Truck Crashes Into Wall

8-Another Great Opening Day Pitch

7-What was BET Thinking?

6-Quills Up For Qualls

5-Mother of a Teenage Boy Accused of Having Sex With Her Son's Classmate

4-Jazz In Covington

3-Are Black Youth Charged As Adults More Often Than White Youth?

2-4th Year of the War....and what have we accomplished?

1-Pride Is Alive In The Nati!


HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Another Christmas Come And Gone

This year was the very first time that I hosted our family's Christmas party...

I made my famed garlic cheese mashed potatoes and tried my hand at my grandmother's sage and onion stuffing. A number of other family members chipped in by bringing a dish or two.

Here are some pics from that happy occasion.





Monday, December 24, 2007

Happy Holiday's From The NAMjA

I hope that you and yours are spending a very Happy Holiday. Here are some not so normal views of Downtown Cincinnati that I snapped while I was walking home for the gym. 20 cool points goes to the person who can identify them...

















Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Business Venture For 2008

As most of you know, I have been playing with the idea of running my own business. I began BookMark Enterprises a few years ago not really knowing what type of service I was going to provide.

Last year, I started developing a business model to open a resume/cover letter writing service and the end product has evolved into ION Consultants.

In addition to ION, I have been working on another project. The result is 15 West Publishing which will launch Jan 2008. I am in the process of finishing the website and it will launch in January as well.

The following is the press release I fashioned to announce BookMark Enterprises' latest venture.

Publishing Group Becomes Bookmark's New Page In 2008
Saturday, December 15, 2007, icanwriteit.blogspot.com

Bookmark Enterprises, ION Consultants' parent company is announcing its plans to try its hand in books.

15 West Publishing is scheduled to launch the beginning of 2008. In addition to publishing fiction and non-fiction titles, 15 West will provide proofreading and editing services, replacing those offered by ION Consultants.

With several titles already "ear marked" for
publication, 15 West will remain in the realm of BookMark's mission and
strive to bring quality publishing services to both the new and experienced
writers.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Saturday Night Fever

Another snowfall hit the city yesterday morning. I love Cincinnati to death, but the city holds some o the worst drivers in the nation. I am so glad that this winter storm hit on a weekend.

When I woke up yesterday morning and saw the ground all covered with snow, my first impulse was to run out and start playing in it. Then I realized that I had no snoot boots not did I have a winter coat suitable for "playing" in the snow.

I am such a grown up.

Instead, I took these pics on my walk to breakfast at Coffee Emporium.





Later on in the afternoon, I met my college fraternity brothers at Universal Grille for a holiday get together. Yes, the NAMjA was in a fraternity. Long live Delta Lambda Phi!






Afterwards, I attended a Davis Sadaris play entitled "The Santaland Diaries". The play was put on by The New Edgecliff Threatre in Columbia Tusculum.





I have never read anything by David Sadaris. In fact, the only thing I know about him was that he has a sister named Amy who was in a little show called Strangers with Candy, and a movie of the same name. Needless to say, I really did not know what I was getting into.


I loved the show!




Russell Ihrig played David in the Santaland Diaries and Joyce Dunbar in the second play called Season's Greetings. Both plays was a 1 man show and Russell did a great job holding every one's attention throughout the entire production.




Its a great chance to support local talent. The show runs through Dec 22 so get out and see it.




Dinner at Bella Luna capped off the night. I suggest trying the spaghetti alla Norma when you go!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

NADA....Worth the trip

I could find NADA wrong with David Falk's new restaurant that took over Bella's space next to the Aronoff.

Last night, after a whirl wind shopping spree for Pendleton's annual Children's Holiday Party, I decided to wind down for the evening at one of downtown Cincinnati's newest eateries, NADA.

Stepping through the doors, I was immediately transported from the cold rainy streets of Cincinnati into a hip, metropolitan oasis, more commonly found in downtown Chicago or uptown Manhattan rather than on the backs of the Ohio.

With no wait, and feeling a bit under dressed for the establishment, I was whisked away to the main dinning area, which appeal is added to by its elevation from the rest of the down stairs space. Which, incidentally, is broken up nicely by a railed staircase that swirls from the second floor, cascading down to the first.

After an appetizer of chips, salsa and guacamole, and half way completing my meal of chicken tacos, I noticed that the all of the wait-staff were sporting tops that I saw being sold at Park & Vine. But the shirts that I saw expressed love for "the nati" and the shirts that I saw last night expressed its love for "the nada".

Cute.

Nada, being a Mexican restaurant, the real test of its longevity can only be found in the quality of its margarita...

I think this place is going to do just fine....


Monday, December 10, 2007

Backward Glance

This weekend was a dismal one.

After the snow we experienced last week, the weather was not cold enough to turn the torrential down pour that we experienced all weekend into snow.

I tried to make the most of it though.

Saturday, I taught my first Microsoft Excel class since I added this service to my business. It went well. i used to teach an entire host of Microsoft classes to the general public at a local library here in town, but it has been years since I have conducted 1-on-1 training, which is much easier.

later on that night, I attended a dinner party in Northside, where some of the other attendees were selling some of their wares. From eclectic jewelery to an assorted group of hand made purses and hats and artwork.

I had forgotten that this dinner party was doubling as a "selling" party and neglected to bring cash with me.

Check out one of the artist's who was selling her wares at this party. She is one of the most talented jewelery makers here in town and has been a featured artist at the Hyde Park Art Show and will be selling some items on Dec 15th at the Contemporary Arts Center.

Sunday was a a very low key day. I spent most of my day doing research at two local libraries. I was searching for pictures of my grandmother's elementary and high schools that she attended, Lincoln Grant and South Street schools, historically African American schools in Newport and Covington KY. I was only able to find a few shots of Lincoln Grant so I will have to travel across the river again to take a few pictures of South Street school.

While I was at the Covington Branch of the Kenton County Public Library, I stopped to take a few shots of the their annual train display.

That was my weekend in a nutshell...how was yours?

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Ol' Man Winter Strikes

Today was the first accumulating snow fall of the winter season, and of course, the weather forecaster made it into a larger deal than it turned out to be.

The way that they were taking last night, i was hunkering down and preparing to hibernate in my apartment for the next several days.

This morning, as it turned out, there was minimal traffic problems. Most of the the trouble came from drivers being extra cautious.

I guess that s a good thing, but I was 15mins late getting to work this morning.

Monday, December 03, 2007

Korean Night Went Off Without A Hitch

Well, Saturday night was big hit!

As I mentioned in my last post, Saturday night I had a bunch of friends over to have Korean food. It was the second of our annual themed dinners, this one being the theme of Korea.

The night started off around 7pm.

The dish that I was supposed to make was bibimbap, which literally means "mixed rice dish". Basically its meat and vegetables, sauteed with sesame seed oil and served in a hot stone bowl with one egg cracked on topped just before it is served.

The funny thing is, I did not get to serve it because there was so much food that had already been served. So I will be having bibimbap for dinner for the next couple of days.