#50 Fun Times in Cincinnati

Well, here we are, my final #50by50 adventure and I can't think of anyone better to do it with Anita & Mitzi.  

The original adventure was a quick weekend trip to Cincinnati to see The Chicks.  Not ever having been to Ohio, I was excited to check another state off of my list.  But getting to see one of our favorite groups in a new venue was even more exciting.  And why take an Uber to the concert when you can take a riverboat cruise?  What a fun night!

Beyond the concert, we also spent an afternoon at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.  As you can imagine, it's a somber place to visit, but I highly recommend it.  They do an amazing job of educating visitors on this part of American history, but connecting it with the kinds of slavery that unfortunately still exist around the world today.  

 

You know it's not really a trip unless you've experienced the food that makes a city special.  We were able to have a couple of Cincinnati staples, like Graeter's ice cream and Frito Pie with Skyline Chili.  Brunch at a Taste of Belgium was my favorite though.  I don't know that I've ever had Belgian waffles before; if I have, it was nothing compared to this tasty goodness.

 

Despite all this awesomeness, I think the greatest memory we made this weekend was our day at Midway Airport.  Yep, you read that right.  Our flight out of Love Field was delayed which means we missed our connecting flight in Chicago.  The next flight out was just a mere 8 hours later.  Midway is not the biggest airport and they are still bouncing back from the pandemic, so a lot of places were closed or offered limited menus.  Even our college football options were limited.  I'll be the first to tell you that 8 hours at Midway Airport is not fun.  But life is full of challenges and obstacles and things not going your way. What makes the difference is the people you have in your life and the attitude you choose.  Did the delay mess with our plans?  Yep!  Did we have one less day to do things in Cincinnati?  You bet!  But I can promise you that I won't ever forget the day we had, the laughs we shared and the stories we told.  If you don't have friends you can be stuck with at the airport, you're not doing life right.

After 7+ hours at Midway Airport.

#49 A Longhorn in Aggieland

If you know me, you know that I am a Longhorn.  I graduated from UT Austin in 1994 and I love the city of Austin.  For the past few years, my college roommates and I have made an annual trip to Austin to attend a game.  While I wouldn't trade my time in Austin for anything, becoming a Longhorn was a last minute decision.  I had visited both Baylor and A&M and had decided on becoming an Aggie.  After all, it was where my best friends were headed.  But in November of my Senior year,  I flipped and applied to UT, sight unseen.  I was accepted and just like that, became a Longhorn, although it did take me awhile to warm up to the color burnt orange.  Despite my love of the Longhorns and the intense rivalry of UT and A&M, I have often referred to myself as a closet Aggie, even giving myself an extended Spring Break one year and spending a few days in College Station.  And as a college football fan, attending a game at Kyle Field has always been on my bucket list.  Not that a game at DKR Memorial is anything to sneeze at, but growing up in Texas you know that a game at Kyle Field is something to behold.  Who better to attend an Aggie game with than one of my oldest and dearest friends, Lauren (who at one point was headed to UT).

 We tailgated for a bit and then enjoyed a victory over the University of Miami.  All the rumors are true . . . a game at Kyle Field is an experience.  The waving towels and whoops are intense; I did decide to grab a drink when it was time to saw Varsity's horns off. :(  The precision of the band was impressive and the excitement was pervasive.  

    

If you are a college football fan, I do recommend going to at least one game as it is an amazing experience.  Luckily, my annual college roomie trip was scheduled after my Kyle Field experience so I've had a chance to reset.