21 Roadtrip Tales for ‘22 (Part 3)

(Part 2 of these 21 Roadtrip Tales can be accessed at the following link) 15) The Old Man and the C(ook) – my parents’ are definitely not getting any younger; I can see it every time I manage to visit them on the West Coast. One of the few things I really miss since moving out to the Midwest is seeing them in person on … Continue reading 21 Roadtrip Tales for ‘22 (Part 3)

21 Roadtrip Tales for ‘22 (Part 2)

(Part 1 of these 21 Roadtrip Tales can be accessed at the following link) 8) It’s An LBC Thang – at casual glance, one would be easy to pair up the perception and size of Long Beach in comparison to Los Angeles and parallel it with Oakland compared to San Francisco. That’s not necessarily an accurate take, especially if you know little of how Los … Continue reading 21 Roadtrip Tales for ‘22 (Part 2)

21 Roadtrip Tales for ‘22 (Part 1)

1) I Would Drive 6,000 Miles: I admit, I didn’t picture ourselves driving to and fro from California to visit relatives after I had moved to Ohio in the early 2010s, but that just goes to show. The decision, mainly driven to airline reliability concerns, turned out to be a blessing too – Mother Nature and modern technology would’ve certainly caused us numerous headaches for … Continue reading 21 Roadtrip Tales for ‘22 (Part 1)

A Ratatouille Moment: Keki’s Cafe (Fremont, OH)

In the Disney/Pixar movie “Ratatouille”, a pivotal moment to the movie’s conclusion plays out when the jaded food critic, Anton Ego, is served what is considered a peasant dish (ratatouille, the movie title) in ostensibly a fine-dining restaurant. Upon his first bite, Ego is transported back to childhood when times weren’t so jaded and a home-cooked meal brought comfort very few other things can. Well, … Continue reading A Ratatouille Moment: Keki’s Cafe (Fremont, OH)

Canada/US Relations: Final Vacation Notes

Just for now I’d like to restIn the shade of a maple treeTo the blue Canadian skyI’ll say a prayer for the world out thereWhen I walk the hill so highAround the town where I was bornNew York seems so far awayThough I was there just yesterdayI would travel all my lifeIf loneliness was not the priceWhile headin’ north across that line’sThe only time I’m … Continue reading Canada/US Relations: Final Vacation Notes

Ça Plane Pour Moi: Montreal Musings (Pt. 2)

“I’m not looking for another as I wander in my time Walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme You know my love goes with you as your love stays with me It’s just the way it changes, like the shoreline and the sea But let’s not talk of love or chains and things we can’t untie Your eyes are soft with sorrow … Continue reading Ça Plane Pour Moi: Montreal Musings (Pt. 2)

Ça Plane Pour Moi: Montreal Musings (Pt. 1)

“How many good things in my life have I missed out on But not appreciated what I’ve got Sometimes it’s hard to see your lucky break for what it is By only focusing on what it’s not But now I’m starting to see That my happiness has always been up to me And now I’m starting to see That I’ve already got what I need” … Continue reading Ça Plane Pour Moi: Montreal Musings (Pt. 1)

Reverse the 614: Toronto First Impressions

“I’m on the last American exit to the northland I’m on the last American exit to my homeland I’m on the last American exit to my last chance They keep calling out my name, I shout it down” “Last American Exit” – The Tragically Hip The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is roughly three times the population of the Greater Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area. Based on … Continue reading Reverse the 614: Toronto First Impressions

Just Scratching The Surface: Toronto Pt. 2

“I have to come and see youmaybe once or twice a yearI think nothing would suit me betterthan some downtown atmosphereIn the dance halls and the galleriesOr betting in the OTBSynchronized like magicGood friends you and me” “GOOD FRIENDS” – Joni Mitchell When doing research for our trip, I found quite a few helpful resources, including the BlogTO YouTube channel and website itself. Their site … Continue reading Just Scratching The Surface: Toronto Pt. 2

Hope I Die Before I Get Old: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

That stanza, famously sung by The Who’s front man Pete Townshend in their classic song “My Generation”, initially reflected the first-time experience I had with the slick, glamor-filled displays at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located along the lakefront in Cleveland, Ohio. But as much as that attitude drives much of the greatest music within the fuzzy confines of this musical genre, the … Continue reading Hope I Die Before I Get Old: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame