Old friends and blog catch-up

[Note from the editor: I have been remiss as a blogger lately. School, work, life seem to be getting in the way of writing. I keep making notes of things to write about (and did a PFR this weekend, so keep an eye out early this week for my write-up!) and so this is a bit of a retrospective for last weekend, which is a little lame. I should be more timely. I will try to be chastened.]

"Discovering Columbus" was a headline staring at me two weeks ago while riding the L home. It was coming from the back of the Travel section of the Trib, which the rider sitting across from me was reading. I was unsurprised to find the write-up to be very patronizing to my hometown.

So here we have Columbus with a population close to 730,000--a city larger, by that measure, than Boston, Cleveland, Las Vegas or Seattle, to name a few examples--ranking 15th in the U.S.

And yet...the Cubs, Sox, Bulls and Bears can't play a Columbus home team. And yet...the Chicago Tribune stylebook insists we say "Columbus, Ohio" in the dateline, while smaller cities, such as Des Moines and Akron, are considered so well known they can stand by themselves.

Apparently though the writer goes on to admit there are several other places named "Columbus," he still feels the need to put down the name. Nor did he get the memo that both Chicago and Columbus have teams in the NHL and MLS, but apparently those sports do not matter. (Not that I'm bitter or anything.) I guess it is nice to have an article written, I just don't appreciate the tone, as if the writer just wandered into some forgotten, insignificant corner of the moon or something.

I was traveling home for my friend Dana's wedding, which was wonderful. She and her husband Brian were married in a barn-like church that was beautiful in its simplicity. The weather was the warmest all week (and weekend) and the sky was clear and blue with all of the trees in just-past peak color. Dana is an inspiring friend and I felt very lucky to share such an important day with her and her family. (Dana and Brian were registered at her company, Global Giving, which helps connect funding to locally-run social and environmental projects around the world. Which just adds to the reasons why I am always impressed with Dana.) The reception was fun, the music during the cocktails could have been my iPod set to random, and I even caught part of the bouquet. The bouquet hit a chandelier and split into about five pieces, four of which went flying in one direction a bunch of younger girls went tearing after them. I went and picked up the remaining piece and at least now I know I'll be in the album. :)

Over the weekend I also got a chance to visit with my friend Joe, who I haven't been able to see on my last visits. We had a great time catching up— it's so nice having people with whom it is always easy to reconnect. I am so much luckier to have those friends in my life. (Though I did not get to see a couple other friends who I meant to see. My trips home are never long enough.)

This weekend was full of more old friends. My friend Bird was in town again. I continue to scheme (in conjunction with many others) to try and get her to move here. My high school friend Carter was in town as well. It was great to reconnect with him, especially in Chicago. He and I are a bit like the odd couple. We show our love by constantly bickering. We had two meals together with other friends. This afternoon he joined my roommate and our friends Libby and Ryan for lunch. He's met Libby and Natasha both once a piece, years ago, but he remarked how it felt he's known them much better. It did feel very natural to be sitting at a table with the three of them. It's nice when worlds collide.

Currently listening to The Best of Chet Baker Sings.

Comments

[Liosliath]

I saw you listed on Maryam's blog, and I was really surprised to read that you're from Columbus too!

Victorian Village/Short North in the house!

[Adorable Girlfriend]

Sounds like a fun weekend. You and BG were both in Columbus!

What are you going to school for? We may have discussed this and I forgot -- it's not the art class is it?

Happy Halloween!

[blue girl]

Claire, I get tired of people dissing Ohio, too. Did you watch the Daily Show last night? They are in Ohio all week.

"Midwest Midterm Midtacular!"

Last night they were in Columbus...I think.

While it was funny and I was laughing out loud, they were still totally making fun of it.

:(

[Claire]

BG, I know. It's like when someone else is making fun of your little brother. Sure it's fine if *YOU* give him a swirly, but if anyone else gives him a dirty look they've got a black eye coming their way!

I missed the Daily Show last night but saw ads for their week in Ohio.

BG, next time we'll have to coordinate our Columbus trips.

AG, I'm in a master's program in New Media Studies. Basically it's writing, communication theory and graphic design with a focus on new media technologies. It's fun.

Hi Liosliath! Yay for displaced Midwesterners!

[Jennifer]

Hey, my sister lives in Columbus... I smell an Ohio conspiracy.

Doesn't Ohio have the most natives elected president and the most genius inventors??? That's not such a bad thing. On top of it, it has/had Claire and BG and Michael Baines.

[Connie]

Columbus has Steve Kuusisto too! Don't forget Steve!

We moved here from northern Westchester County, NY in 2000. Columbus feels more like "home" to us than Yorktown Hts. ever did.

Claire, it's nice to "meet" you!