Shoe Porn

Although I'm not what you would consider crazy over shoes, I had to snap a picture of this after I saw it in Saks the other day. The design, as well as the price, are both way over the top. My husband remembered the pair goes for $675. Shoud be able to swing that by simply digging coins out of the couch cushions, right?

Fred

Joseph Williams Home
Originally uploaded by cincinnatista

I cannot say enough about this wonderful new home store. It's filled with contemporary furniture, art and accessories all very reasonably priced. We met William, one of the fabulous co-owners. William (who goes by the name Fred) and the store are featured in the current issue of Cin Weekly. We will definitely be going back when it's time to move into the condo.

Slick & Sweet

Gramercy pool
Originally uploaded by cincinnatista

Going down to the Aronoff for Sweeney Todd Thurs night, both of us almost wiped out it was so icy out. It was also so icy that I got Friday off-Sweet! Up north, driving in six inches of snow is no big deal, but down here, any time snow (aka white death) covers the road, no one can remember how to drive more than 5 mph. It took me an hour and a half to get home last night when it usually takes 20 minutes. But I still love snow and it looked like this:

Valentine's Day-A Holiday in Three Acts

Act I

I started out my day meeting Frank Marzullo from Fox 19 at his remote broadcast. He's originally from Youngstown and my oldest niece told me her mom was disappointed when he moved to Cincinnati. We had a nice little talk & I love the smoking jacket.

Act II

After a dinner of homemade Chicken Mole', 5chw4r7z and I made our way to Twist where we shared a Valentine's dessert of this:

Act III

And yesterday, we received this in the mail:

They Make How Much?

Do you make $300 a day? Didn't think so. Me neither. But according to a police survey, panhandlers in Coos Bay, OR do...and they're panhandling outside the Wal-Mart! And most of them are not homeless. In fact the majority live in the suburbs and this is their 'chosen career'. I wonder how much the panhandlers around Fountain Square pull in on an average day. Anyone thinking about a career change?

Ohio's Best Newspaper

Those who know me, know that although I'm not originally from here, I have a great love for Cincinnati. That said, I can't claim the same feeling for the Enquirer, a mediocre newspaper at best. I was reminded why I have such love for the Cleveland Plain Dealer last week when I grabbed the Sunday paper before heading back to Cincinnati. I had forgotten how much I miss Regina Brett & Dick Feagler's columns, Earthweek, a real travel section and good, in-depth reporting including a front page story of two teenage girls from Western Reserve Academy whose lives were forever changed by the negligence and inattention to safety practices on the part of their chemistry teacher, Mrs. Pratt, who didn't make the students wear protective gear in the first place. This is only one example of the exceptionally poor judgement she showed on this day.

During a chemistry experiment (in which she allowed her 11-year-old son to start the flames) she poured methanol on flaming mineral salts, causing a four foot wide fire that landed both young ladies in the hospital for three to four weeks. But that was just the beginning of their troubles. Between the two of them they endured blisters, unexplained rashes, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction to painkillers, and non-support from some students and faculty who accused the two of trying to ruin the teacher's life by their attempt to have her removed from the classroom. Pratt used the single fire blanket to help only her son, leaving the two girls who were also actually on fire, to fend for themselves. Both students also had to deal with stares and comments when out in public.

Both girls went on to graduate high school, are attending ivy league universities and received a combined settlement of over $18 million. But they will never have what they had before this life-altering event. The biggest injustice: Mrs. Pratt continues to teach chemistry at Western Reserve Academy.

A Tiny Taste of Spring

We have these blooming in our apartment.