Cinci...

I have to say that Cincinnati pleasantly surprised me.  Of course I was excited to go see Mara, but I wasn't sure how I would feel about the city itself...since I didn't really know anything about it.  However, it is quite nice.  The weather was "unseasonably warm" amazing, the people were friendly, and the sights were fun.  And also surprisingly, I didn't take that many pictures.  In fact I only took nine! 

I should have had my camera when the flight attendants on my trip out started to argue with each other...not really instilling a sense of calm amongst the passengers ladies.  Or I should have had my camera when, while touring the zoo, I noticed that apparently it is perfectly acceptable for adults to drink microbrew while looking at the tigers.  Or I should have had my camera when, while on a walk in a park, we spied a man standing in front of a large sign that read "do not feed the animals"...with a huge bowl of cat food...and empty wet cat food cans...feeding the stray cats...and the raccoons...because "the raccoons haven't hibernated yet because it is too warm"...or maybe (in my opinion) because you keep feeding them sir!

Fortunately, I did have my camera when we celebrated Mara's early birthday.

I also had my camera when I officially became Mara's "Wing Woman".  Get it?  WW = Wing Woman.  Yeah, I might need better sign if I am to make this a career.

I also had my camera when I won an Artfully Disheveled tie.  Apparently writing "Stacey The Great" on your entry form is lucky.

I also had my camera at the ready to capture the moment when 6 thirty-somethings aren't really all that into the local band (because they do NOT play Free Bird when you yell it out from your table) so instead they make tin foil sculptures with leftover food wrappers.

I also had my camera when the equal parts sweet and talented Grey schooled us all with her lifelike giraffe (as opposed to my three whiskered cat).  Grey also has an equally sweet sister Page...who I don't have a picture of...it was great meeting you girls.

And finally...I had my camera at the ready to capture a wonderfully bonding picture of a wonderfully bonding weekend with my wonderfully wonderful friend!

 I love and miss you Mara and I can't wait for the next trip!