A-Z Reflections: Frenzy is Good!

It's the second week of May already and I think I've finally recovered from the A-Z Challenge!  This was my sixth year participating and as usual it was both fun and challenging!  I got the chance to meet a number of great new bloggers and there were a lot of posts I really enjoyed.

Every year I tell myself I'm going to write all my posts in advance and every single year I fail to do that.  Even though pre-writing would make the Challenge much easier for me, I think I've just come to the realization that part of what I love about the Challenge is the writing every day and the kind of frenzied pace that my mind is forced to work at in order to get my posts done.  I don't have time to second guess my topic for the day or to spend the day researching instead of writing, I simply have to go with my gut and write.

This year I had a lot of pictures that I needed to include in my posts to show the place or places I was featuring.  This took a lot of time and I wish I had at least planned out my photos well in advance, as that was more time consuming than the actual writing.  So that's my number one time saver for next year, take all needed pictures and organize them in advance.  

My biggest regret every year though, is that I don't get to visit enough people on the list.  I know there are so many great posts that I just don't have time to see.  The first year I joined, there were only a couple hundred people on the list, but now with over 1300 participants it's practically impossible to get to everyone!  When I come across a theme I like, I want to keep going back to read their next posts which makes getting to new people harder.

I'm thinking maybe next year I'd like to add links to my favorite bloggers' posts of the previous day to try to get the word out for more people to connect and find one another.  Because aside from the writing, the best part of the A-Z Challenge is to meet new people and experience life from their point of view for a moment.

Thanks to all of the Co-hosts this year for running a great Challenge!

Have a great week!

Kathy :)  

IWSG! Post A-Z Goals

It's the first Wednesday of the month, so that means it's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group!  The IWSG is a place where we as writer's can express our joys, hopes, fears and most importantly lend encouragement to each other!  This great group was started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, come join us if you haven't already!


This month, I don't have too many insecurities.  The A-Z Challenge, though difficult, is always inspiring.  I've spent the month focused on writing and by the time "Z" rolls around I feel great!  The trick is to stay inspired the rest of the year and continue spending focused time on writing instead of letting too many other things get in the way!  

The A-Z Challenge for me is always a little bit like New Year's Resolutions.  It makes me think of what I want to accomplish in writing the rest of the year and encourages me to set new goals.  Every April, I learn that I really can spend time every day writing and not have my house fall apart, but by June somehow I seem to forget that!

So this year, I'm hoping to change that.  I've already taken some steps in the right direction.  This Monday, in the time I had been working on my Challenge posts, I took the final steps to send out one of my manuscripts.  And then...I actually hit "send"!  I don't know what will come of it, but at least I took the leap and I'm super excited about it! :)


Hope you all are having an inspired day!


Kathy :)

Z is for the end.

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!


Z is for the end

This is the view from my window

I hope you have learned a little bit about how great Cleveland is.  If you're ever in the area let me know, I'd love to show you around!

Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!



Z is for Zzzzzzz

Congratulations on making it to the end! I hope you had a wonderful time doing the Challenge this year and found some great new bloggy friends, I sure did!

Don't forget to check out everyone else on the A-Z list!


Kathy :)

Y Cleveland?

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!


Y Cleveland?

Lester, the hot dog vendor on 9th street

We've lived in the Cleveland area for almost 10 years now.
But one long weekend last August we decided to take a vacation in Cleveland. We wanted to be able to explore our adopted city like a tourist, not having to rush back home at the end of the day.

We stayed in a hotel right off 4th street. We went to an Indians game and a musical at Playhouse Square. The girls and I went to the One Direction concert, the boys refused and went to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame next door. We visited the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank, the shops at Tower City, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and just sat at the banks of Lake Erie and watched the waves roll in.

Best of all we met Lester. We were all walking down 9th street when a hot dog vendor saw Ryan and seemed to think he was the coolest kid dressed in his leather jacket, Cleveland hat, and shades. We stopped and talked for a while and he gave Ryan advice on life and a huge handful of candy. Ryan felt he'd made a friend and the next day he and my husband went back to Lester and enjoyed "One of the best hot dogs ever!", in Ryan's words.

To us, Lester represents a kind of Zen spirit of Cleveland. Despite heartbreaking sports losses and less than perfect weather, it's a happiness to be right here in the moment, to be friendly and kind and enjoy the people who cross our paths, to touch other's lives in unexpected ways.

We had a wonderful time and didn't want to head back home when the weekend was over. We were all glad that Cleveland is only a 45 min drive from our house.

So Y Cleveland? 

Because it is unexpected. It is culture, beauty, cuisine and fun all hidden in a city that no one expects to be anything special. That's exactly what makes it so perfect.



Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!


Y is for Yoda

One day more of the Challenge, there is.

Today is Friday!  Yay!  Have you ever taken a vacation to your own city?  How has the Challenge been for you?  Have you ever taken a vacation to your own city?


Kathy :)

X is for X-Mas Ale

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!


X is for X-Mas Ale

Great Lakes Brewery outdoor patio
My husband demonstrating you can drink beer with a straw.

Christmas Ale is one of Great Lakes Brewing Co. most popular seasonal beers. It has a distinct flavor with hints of honey, ginger, and cinnamon and has been a 6 time medal winner of the World Beer Championships (I didn't know that even existed!) 

I'm not much of a beer drinker but when this brew hits the shelves in November all Clevelanders stock up.

Great Lakes Brewing Co. started when two brothers, Patrick and Daniel Conway, wanted to bring back the tradition of brewing beer in Cleveland. 

In the 1800's there had been over 20 breweries in the city but during the next century they consolidated and many of them closed down due to Prohibition. In 1984, the last brewery had closed its doors.  

The Conway brothers felt a brewery would contribute to the revival of the city and they were right. With their focus on quality, sustainability, and fresh local ingredients they have not only created great beers and cuisine but they've also invigorated the surrounding family farms and businesses. The brewery and its pub have helped bring back the area of Cleveland known as Ohio City and made it a destination worth visiting.

Here's a link to a cool video on the company if you want to learn more.

Great Lakes Brewery History and Philosophy

References:
Cleveland Brewing History
Great Lakes Brewing Co.


Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!


X is for Xtra Cute

Have you tried a Great Lakes Brewery beer? Hope you're having a great week! Don't forget to check out everyone else on the A-Z list!

Kathy :)

W is for West Side Market

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!


W is for West Side Market

West Side Market 

Opened in 1912, Cleveland's West Side Market, has everything. You can find high quality meats, cheeses, pastries, seafood, fruits and vegetables, and many ethnic specialties. There are currently over 100 vendors that sell their goods to the over 1 million visitors that come every year in part spurred on by featured segments on Food Network and the Travel Channel.

Fruit and veggie area of the market

and Winter Wonderland



I know everyone is looking forward to summer after a cold grey winter, but Ohio is beautiful when it snows. Sure I love warmth as much as anybody, but it is so peaceful when the Earth is covered in a blanket of snow.












Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!


W is for Water Boogle

Rory was really scared to get in the water at first, but he seemed to like it after he realized he could swim.

I can't believe we only have three days of the Challenge left! How have you been holding up? Have you been to a large city market?  Hope everyone is having a great week! 


Also Jess wrote an amazing post on her new blog: My Unofficial Guide to Everything, check it out!

Kathy :)

V is for Views

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!

V is for Views
You may not think of Cleveland as very scenic place but there are a number of beautiful spots in and around the city. Here are a few.

The family enjoying downtown

Chagrin River in Gates Mills, Ohio (photo: 

Kathy Schreiber-Castrataro)

Ryan downtown

Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Rory on a hike 

Autumn Splendor

The pond in our neighborhood

Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!

V is for Velociraptor
Whenever I cook salmon for dinner, Rory knows he's going to get a treat of salmon skin and he often takes this pose to see over the counter or when it's treat time.  Usually his front paws are held up a little higher though, more like a velociraptor's claws.

Happy Tuesday! 


Kathy :)

U is for ... change of plans?

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!


U is for... change of plans?

Because both my daughters are starting college this fall, I was thinking of posting about all the great universities around the Cleveland area, but when I started writing my post, I realized how boring that would be so this morning I began scrambling for something else that began with "U".

St John's Episcopal Church (photo: Wikipedia)

Underground Railroad

First, I found that Cleveland was part of the Underground Railroad. Cleveland was code named "Station Hope". It is said that runaway slaves would hide in the bell tower of the St. John's Episcopal Church, watch for signals from ships on Lake Erie, and when it was safe run down to the waterfront and board the ships to Canada and freedom. There seems to be some question though as to whether the church was actually involved as there is no "documentation" of it.



Underground Subway
Then I found out that in the early 1900's there was a very small portion of an underground subway that was built in Cleveland and ran from Detroit-Superior Ave. Supposedly, every spring they open up the area for visitors to walk through. Again, there was very little reliable information on this so I'll have to do some more digging. I did find a video showing what it looks like, which I've added to the links below if you're interested.

So while Cleveland's "underground" history seems a little up in the air it sparks the imagination a little more than just a list of the colleges nearby! :)

References:
St. John's Episcopal Church
Cleveland's Abandoned Subway
YouTube


Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!


U is for Upturned Hip

Have a great Monday!

Kathy :)

T is for Towpath Trail

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!


T is for Towpath Trail

Canal boat being guided by horses, 1902 (Photo: Wikipedia)

In the 1820's-1830's the Ohio and Erie Canal was built to connect Lake Erie with the Ohio River. This was the final link to complete the inland water route from New York City all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico.
After the Civil War the costs of maintaining the canal were becoming too great and then in 1913 the area suffered unprecedented flooding destroying most of the locks and aqueducts.

Towpath Trail
(photo: Kevin Payravi, Wikimedia Commons)

Today, there is a trail that runs along the entire 110 mile canal system for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or if you prefer you can take a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad which seems to take you back in time as it ambles through the Cuyahoga National Forest, little towns and a 19th century working farm.  

This whole area was designated by Congress as one of the 49 National Heritage Areas in the U.S. in order to "preserve and celebrate the rails, trails, towns, landscapes and sites...that helped Ohio and our nation grow."  

Over 2.5 million visitors come each year to discover the hidden beauty the canal trails have to offer.

The Towpath Trail is one of the several trails that runs through the canal system. It is over 85 miles of trail from downtown Cleveland south to New Philadelphia.

We spent one day biking on the Towpath Trail, a couple summers ago and took the Scenic Railway for a short trip, both were a lot of fun for the whole family.



References:
Ohio and Erie Canal Way
Trail head maps
Ohio and Erie Canal Wikipedia



Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!



T is for Towel Pup

Rory doesn't like baths but he hates being toweled off even more so I'm amazed that he sat still for this photo! 

and Torpedo

He lays like this when he's waiting for me to accidentally drop stray veggies while cooking.

Hope you have a beautiful weekend!

Kathy :)

S is for Soldiers and Sailors Monument and Slyman's

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!


S is for Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Soldiers and Sailors Monument 1900
(photo: Wikipedia)  

This monument built in 1894, was to commemorate the soldiers from Cuyahoga County who gave their lives to fight in the Civil War. Around the base of the monument stand four groupings, representing each the four branches of the Union Army; Navy, Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery.

Inside the monument are marble tablets inscribed with 9,000 names of the men who were from Cuyahoga County or who fought with those regiments. In 2011, researchers discovered that the names of 140 black soldiers had not been inscribed on the tablets and they are currently working to find out if more names are missing so that they can be added.

The monument still stands in Public Square in downtown Cleveland.

When we visited with the kids last summer, we kind of walked through it as an after thought, but the guide inside let us in on a little secret.  

The monument is haunted. Underneath the monument lies a series of catacomb tunnels where restless spirits reside. The kids instantly had goosebumps and were interested to learn more. The guide showed us some "proof" of the hauntings which I have to admit were convincing and told us to visit again with the Haunted Cleveland Ghost Tour which visits all the haunted spots of Cleveland.  

We haven't had the chance to do that yet, but I'll let you know how it goes after we do.

References:
Soldiers and Sailors Monument Wikipedia
Soldiers and Sailors Monument


S is for Slyman's


After walking around downtown Cleveland all day you'll be hungry so head to one of the best places to fill your belly, Slyman's. They have the best corned beef and other deli sandwiches around.

Ryan trying to figure out how to eat a sandwich bigger than his head!

Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!



S is for Stingray

The kids think Rory looks like a stingray in this position.  He seems to lay in this pose often.

and Sleeping Dragon

This is one of his favorite poses.  Shh...don't wake the sleeping dragon.

Are there any haunted sites in your city?

Have a wonderful Friday!  


Kathy :)

R is for Rock n Roll!

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!

R is for Rock 'n Roll

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Me and my kids with my brother and his family

As Drew Carey's theme song states, Cleveland Rocks, literally.  Not only is Cleveland the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it also has several great live venues such as the House of Blues, the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern,  Coda, and more for both local and touring artists.  Cleveland also is the place that the term "Rock and Roll" was coined.

Rock History

In 1951, Alan Freed, a disc jockey in Cleveland, began using the term "rock and roll" to describe the R&B music he was playing to his diverse group of young listeners. In 1952, his following was so large that he decided to have his radio show, "Moondog Show" host a dance with Rhythm and Blues stars at the Cleveland Arena. Over 20,000 people showed up to the venue which could only hold 10,000 and the dance had to be cancelled but it was considered the first rock and roll concert ever!

John Lennon's piano

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a great museum for everything Rock! It holds an immense collection of Rock memorabilia that includes everything from John Lennon's piano to Jimi Hendrix's guitars, outfits, and couch to Lady Gaga's crazy metal dress. There are also some great movies about the history of rock.

Jimi Hendrix's guitar, outfit, and couch

Lady Gaga's outfit

It has several permanent exhibits including Pink Floyd: The Wall, The Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and currently there are exhibits featuring the 2016 inductees and Guns and Roses.

If you love rock it's a great place to go!


School of Rock

The School of Rock is a performance based music school with over 160 franchises around the U.S. and across the world. We are lucky in Cleveland to have 3 schools serving our area. They teach individual skills on the guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and voice but they also teach the kids to perform together in a real band.

My son, Ryan, started taking guitar lessons at 8 1/2 from a traditional type music school but quickly got bored with the pace of learning the basics of chords and theory without really getting to play anything but simple songs. He asked me if he could quit lessons. Then we happened upon the School of Rock and he has not put down his guitar since!

He was hooked on his first lesson when the teacher asked him what song he wanted to learn and they started right away playing one of his favorite rock songs.

Last summer he was thrilled to be able to play lead guitar on Jimi Hendrix's, Foxy Lady, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ryan is the little guy in the black leather jacket!

References:
http://www.rockmusictimeline.com/1950s.html
http://www.alanfreed.com/wp/biography/
http://www.rockhall.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicken_Loans_Arena
http://www.schoolofrock.com/performance-based-approach


Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!


R is for Regal Beagle (or as we say: Roogle Boogle)

Have you ever been to the Rock Hall?  Who is your favorite band?  
Have a great day!

Kathy :)