Back at the Statehouse

This week I started back at the Statehouse. It's been 7 months since I first started working at the Statehouse. The building is pretty damn impressive. When I catch my first glimpse each day, I take a deep breath and think "wow, I get to work here". It really does feel like a privilege.

One of the neatest things about the Statehouse is that its a hub of activity. Unexpected things happen all the time. On a usual day, I'll leave via the front entrance and be the only person walking down the front steps of the Statehouse. One day last spring, I stepped outside and there were 5,000 teachers holding a rally. Another day I walked through the rotunda and found a mock coffin of Abraham Lincoln. Perhaps the craziest happening was when civil war re-enactors fired cannons and I panicked, thinking it was a terrorist attack. I have yet to live that one down...

This fall I'm once again working as a staffer in the Ohio Senate. Missing the summer, I really feel like I missed a lot. I read the paper every day and followed all the statewide happenings, but I still felt out of the loop. Now that I'm back in the loop, expect more posts about political issues and happenings.

Cleveland at Sunrise

Although I'm in Columbus, Kathryn is still in Cleveland until tomorrow. This morning she went with a friend to Huntington Beach to watch the sunrise.

Kathryn says they were the only ones at the beach. It's amazing more people don't come out to see such beauty.

Of course, I'm not one to talk. I've never seen a Cleveland sunrise.

I'll have to put it on top of my list of things to do.

My Summer in Pictures

My buddy Alex and I with John Adams, the infamous drummer at the Jake. Alex shares my insatiable desire for all things Cleveland. This summer we hit up an Indians game and the Feast of the Assumption. We'll spend all year reminiscing about our city.

The kiddies show Mr. Doug who's boss. I spent my summer working as a camp counselor for 5-year olds at the local YMCA.

4th of July fireworks in Fairport Harbor. This may be the best picture I've ever taken.

Kathryn and I on a picnic at Voinovich Park. We spent the summer going on adventures around Cleveland. We climbed the Free Stamp, shopped at the West Side Market, searched for rollercoaster ruins, and went on countless other adventures.

Kathryn and our friend Dana pose in front of the Gemini at Cedar Point. I'm surprised I got Dana to stand still long enough to take a picture. She's always hyper and is a ton of fun. We hung out a lot when I visited Fairview Park. I'll miss her.

Huntington Beach shortly after sunset. Huntington is out on the west side near Kathryn's. It's her favorite Cleveland beach. We watched a few sunsets there.

Headlands Beach on a breezy summer afternoon. Headlands is just up the road from my house. It's not only my favorite beach. It's my favorite place in the world. I loved sharing it with Kathryn.

I'm gonna miss my beach, my friends, my family, my little campers, and my city.

Damn it. Cleveland Rocks!

O - H - I - O

I moved back to Columbus on Friday. Classes start in a couple weeks, so I have some time to get settled. It's been a good few days so far. Saturday the Buckeyes opened the season at The Shoe.

As a lifelong Clevelander, it's been an adjustment rooting for the Buckeyes. I have this guilty feeling that I'm rooting for the Yankees of college football. I can't get used to rooting for a dominant winner.

As for the game on Saturday, like everyone expected, the Buckeyes beat Miami 34-14.