The fact that I’ve barely had time to blog means I’ve had a great U.S. visit. I have several blog drafts that I’ve started, ranging from complaining about hot weather and the FedEx guy who didn’t ring the doorbell to a 5K race recap, but I think a photo post might be better.
My visit began with a performance and poetry reading by one of my favorite local bands, Ellery.
The next day we had a fancy night downtown with dinner and a play. We went to Jean-Robert’s Table, a “chef-owned eatery serving upscale French fare in an intimate room,” according to Google. I had stuffed my face with Panera only a couple hours before our 5pm dinner reservation, so I wasn’t that hungry and just got this amazing crab salad:
And chocolate mousse, of course!
There was a baby bird in my parents’ backyard:
I ran a local 5K in under 30 min! My clock time said 27:23, but the race was so small it wasn’t chip-timed, and according to MapMyRun, the course was only 2.99 miles, so I kept running after I crossed the finish line. I’m sure the onlookers thought I was nuts, but I wanted a real 5K time! So I ran 5K in 28:25 according to my phone app. I’m proud of that time considering how hilly the course was. The race was also special because it was on May 16, which would have been Squirt’s golden birthday (16 on the 16th).
We went to Big Bone Lick State Park to see the baby bison, but they weren’t visible. So we went a little too far into unpaved territory to get a glimpse at them, which warranted a stern talking to by the park ranger. It was worth it though, because we got to see the baby and other pregnant mamas up close and we did not get crushed by giant bison (there was a fence!).
I got to spend a lot of quality time with a dear friend — the very first person I met when my family moved to Kentucky almost 20 years ago. She went on vacation for a week so I took care of her cat. We had a fun time despite my cat allergies (my £5 six-month supply of allergy medicine was one of the best Groupons I’ve ever bought!).
I saw this vending machine at an Asian buffet restaurant.
I kind of regret not getting a Playful Panda, but a photo is probably better.
We went to Florence’s Public Services Night Out, where we got free food and cool water bottles. Apparently the water bottles were not dishwasher-safe though.
On a rare day when it was not obnoxiously hot and both my parents were off, we went to the zoo. It was teeming with school trips, but we still got to see a lot of aminals (intentional misspelling). The okapi, my mom’s favorite animal, were out!
So was the red panda. He’s no giant panda, but he’s still pretty cute.
I made delicious Amish sugar cookies, as well as several other kinds. I don’t bake much in London, so I take full advantage of my parents’ new kitchen (and their willingness to consume copious amounts of cookies).
We went to visit my brother in Louisville and went strawberry picking. I may or may not have consumed this monstrosity while still in the field.
This bad boy was not ripe yet.
I bought 4 lbs of strawberries all for myself, and ate all of them in less than a week (aside from a small bag that I froze).
One of the main reasons I wanted to come back in May was because Over the Rhine, my favorite band, was having a barn raising — a concert on their actual property, Nowhere Else, to raise money to restore an old barn into a performing arts center.
It was my 18th Over the Rhine show and every bit as magical as I dreamed it would be.
I even spotted a swallow on their farm!
I miss running in the Royal Parks, but I recently discovered some nice trails running distance from my parents’ house. Of course I discovered the best one two days before I leave.
It turns out the Standard American Diet of bottomless chips, sangria, wings, curly fries and ice cream is not conducive to speedy running. But Bruster’s birthday cake ice cream was worth it. 
It’s been good, Cincinnati. But London’s calling.
Reneedezvous 