My Dog

I've been really busy lately working and filling out paper work for new jobs. I haven't had the energy to play with Photoshop or my camera, which also stems from the fact that my computer battery doesn't work anymore and every time I want to move my computer I have to restart it again. I wish I was better at Photoshop and I get frustrated a lot because I just wish my pictures magically turned out well.

The last few days I've been out in the yard taking pictures of random things, including my dog. She's a very pretty dog and very photogenic (sometimes). 

Cleveland Parks: Wildwood

If I know any park like the back of my hand it's this one. Wildwood is right next to my parents house, so we grew up exploring it. How many kids can say they had a park next to their house? Of course we weren't always allowed to go there by ourselves when we were younger, but we were able to go enough to leave me with a magical feeling every time I go back.

This park is actually property from a family that used to live here. Obviously, the land they owned was much larger than the park now, but the mansion is still on the property and is used as a cultural center. We used to go to the camp there when I was about 6. There used to be a small building in the back that was built as a play house for the girls that lived there. Apparently, there used to be an oven and everything in it. Growing up the only thing that stood were the walls. Eventually, it was torn down because people used to always graffiti weed leaves and stuff on the walls. I tried to find where it stood but I couldn't. I wish I did, but I also didn't want to go to close to the house because I had my dog and there were too many people!

The park is really small, but every time I walk through it I am reminded of my childhood. So many times we would ride our bikes down the large hills. You can't even do that anymore because the ground is too sandy now. I remember the park feeling so big. It was exciting to walk across one of those small wooden bridges because it seemed like a lifetime to find. Now, I can walk along all those bridges on a short walk with my dog. If you ever come to Mentor you have to go. If anything just to see the house! It's beautiful. I tried to take a picture, but again, I felt kind of weird because there were people inside!

Cleveland Parks: Penitentiary Glen

Yesterday my dog and I headed over to Penitentiary Glen. This park is also located in Kirtland and is really close to Chapin Forest and Holden Arboretum. I loved this park as a kid. I think it was one of my favorites. There used to be a bridge near the gorge that was torn down, but the pieces were always in the river. For some reason I loved that torn down bridge. I'm not sure if it's still around because that was a long time ago. I tried to look for it, so if it's still there there is too much foliage right now to be able to see it.

Anyways, this park is really cute. It has a small train system that gives train rides. There is also a meadow path and a gorge path. I like going the wooded route because I love trees and walking in shade. Plus, you can see the river down below. I wish I would have taken pictures of the river, but when my dog and I made it down there was a couple sitting on the benches. It would have been awkward for me to take pictures while they were there.

A note on the pictures: This was the first time I used photoshop on all my pictures. I have always been nervous about using it, but I went crazy with the clarity and contrast and I really like how much better they came out compared to the originals. The first picture of the sign I took as I was leaving and I had to do it quickly because there were a lot of cops around. So, it's a terrible picture, but I don't care. Also, the picture of the back of a bench I took because it made me laugh. It's just some random bench that looks like someone turned around because it's not facing anything.

Cleveland Parks: Chapin Forest

One thing I love about Cleveland is the amount of awesome parks around. I decided that I'm going to go to the different parks and then post pictures about them. This also will kill about 15 birds with one stone. It will allow me to stay active because I will be able to walk my dog. I will be able to complete some of my 23 before 24 list. I'll also be able to get more practice in on my new DSLR camera. One of the things I love about parks is that they each have their own personalities.

The first park I went to was Chapin Forest, which is part of Lake Metroparks in Kirtland, Ohio. I actually went here twice already because I decided I wanted to take pictures and blog about them. One thing I love about this park is the fact that there is a scenic overlook that allows you to see the lake and downtown Cleveland! It also has really cool ledges, which I wish I could have taken more pictures of. It is super hard to take good pictures when you're holding onto a dog that keeps moving every which way, but luckily I got her to be a little patient with me!

Good-bye, Cincinnati

I meant to write this post before I left Cincinnati, but, alas, that is life. I got the inspiration to write this post here.

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Dear Cincinnati,

I know in the five years I lived here I wanted to get out. I always bragged about how Cleveland was better, even though I still stand by that. I dreamed about being somewhere else without taking the time to appreciate where I was at the moment. I will admit, I HATED Clifton, but the city as a whole wasn't that bad.

Looking back I realized I wasted so much time in that city. I spent most of the time only knowing UC and Clifton. I didn't have a car so it made it difficult to get around. However, the last several months showed me that the city really did have so much to offer. I spent the last several months trying new restaurants and exploring new venues. I felt like I did so much, and yet I didn't even scratch the surface of all the things I wanted to explore.

The last few months were the first time in all the years I had been there that I didn't want to leave. Maybe it was because I knew I had a great group of friends there that I no longer have in Mentor. Maybe it was because I realized the city wasn't so bad. Despite my efforts to stay, I knew God has a bigger plan for me that required me to leave. As I am sitting at my parents' house writing this post I don't see that plan and I'm starting to doubt that there ever was one. 

I just wanted to write this post because after all that happened you made this die-hard Cleveland girl turn a soft spot to you. You have changed my outlook on the way I view life and the places I'm living. I loved the culture, history, and values your city shared. I always loved Cleveland, but I think I was always too young and naive to really discover what I  loved about it. Cincinnati, you have made me excited to discover my own city in the same way that I discovered you.