Mid-August to Mid-October Columbus Catch-Up

Hello, here are pictures form miscellaneous things Liz and I got up to between August and now in the Columbus area, not including any Labor Day visits or Conference Weekend advantures (post forthcoming).

August 11: Nice Sunday afternoon Metro Park walk on Dad and Aunt Louise’s birthday. I was feeling sick. Turns out with covid.

August 17: Just a picture of a goomba while I’m on my way to see Liz sing.

August 24: Fun afternoon at the Musicologie anniversary party, hanging out and then watching Liz and ORB perform with the Gardners.

September 16: Bike pedal broke so I took an early morning walk around our little neighborhood/complex.

September 18: I went and saw the Hives bring the excitement and fun like they always do. Really do wish Liz could’ve made it of course!

September 21: Had a rollicking time watching Batman (1989) with Liz, Carolyn, Joel and Katie and then learned all about the Ohio-Chinese dish “Wor Sue Gai” at Grove City’s charming China Bell. Oh and this I’m a Wor Sue Gai enthusiast now. Lettuce, Chicken, Brown Gravy, Crushed Nuts … what a combo!

September 28: Started the day with a visit to Bridgeway Academy for their anniversary celebration (Liz said “I’m going to do a Brigham pose”), ended the day celebrating our half-anniversary at Cracker Barrel as appears to now be tradition.

October 12: Brigham and Liz accept an invitation to go to a Crew game with Ryan and Kim. Sure, we’ll give a soccer game a shot. Guess what though? CREW GAMES ARE AWESOME! We loved it! Are we nuts for Columbus soccer now? Looks like it!

October 13: Game night at the Robinsons! Two rounds of Go Family and then a great introductory game of Spy Game, my father-in-law’s (and his brother’s) ingenious board game creation. It’s really quite the game! And then, at home, adding windshield fluid to the Tiguan…has a raccoon been in there? Or a squirrel?

I Took Another Quick Little Jaunt to California

While it seems like just the other week that I was zipping over to California for Aunt Louise’s 100th birthday, in the middle of September I found myself zipping over to California for Aunt Louise’s funeral, she having passed a few days after celebrating her 101st birthday.

I arrived late on the 5th, Emily’s birthday, and Friday the 6th was spent primarily in preparations and general enjoyment of each other’s company and Grandma’s hosting. We had pink sandwiches for lunch, I went and got a haircut and then after that checked out this place that had intrigued me (fried shrimp burger and ma po tofu tater tots shown below — everything was just ok there) and a grand daughter in law of Louise’s arranged flower arrangements.

Saturday the 7th — a funeral at Rose Hills in the neighborhood of the resting place of Grandma and Grandpa Condie and Uncle Bob. Louise was viewed and told goodbye. Great tributes were given by cousins, mothers, and grandmothers (of mine). Jim played the trumpet. It was all very nice and it was just family and Louise’s cleaning lady (so basically family) on the guest list.

Then it was back to Grandma’s for the post-funeral repast. We had a TON of Raising Canes. I had a chance to tell stories about my trip to Portugal/Spain/England with Granda/Louise/Bob. Louise’s progeny took photos. I spoke with aunts of Mom’s I hadn’t seen in quite a while.

Later that evening Mom, Dad, Mom’s Cousin Danny (who I wish I had gotten a photo of, oh well) went to Homestate for breakfast tacos.

September 8th: And then it was time for me to run back to Columbus. Mom and Dad got me to the airport and off I went!

Labor Day Visitors

Friday Night Fun: On August 30, Mom and Dad drove over to Columbus so we could have a nice weekend of Ohio fun. Our first activity was dinner at Hyde Park followed by Liz’s performance at Hyde Park that night. And don’t you think this first photo would look so nice if it were in focus?

Saturday, August 31: And guess what? Friday night Emily flew into town to further enhance the weekend fun. He many of us are on the patio, preparing for an exciting Saturday.

Saturday Fun Part 1: Breakfast at Fox in the Snow followed by walking around German Village.

Saturday Fun Part Two: Exploring Blacklick Woods Park’s “Ewok Village” and nature center — Liz and I already knew that the tree walk was a must see — but turns out Blacklick Park has an excellent nature center! Not dirty, not smelly, not crowded, and you can touch so many pelts! A+.

Saturday Fun Part Three: This is a big one! Columbus got its first Sweetgreen and we had invites for free bowls at their preview weekend. We’re so glad to be able to get our preferred salads here now! And then after lunch we took everyone to look at the Big Fun toy store because it is awesome.

Saturday Fun Part Four: Heading back downtown once more that evening to enjoy Liz’s performance at Mitchell’s Steakhouse and a little downtown walking around seeing stuff I’ve never seen before (as I’ve basically never walked around downtown). Then we got dinner at Super Torta.

Sunday Fun Part One: After church and some Cornelius Costume time, we visited Quarry Trails Metropark to walk some trails and see the waterfall.

Sunday Fun Part Two: And then we went over to the Gardners’ home for Sunday dinner. Here’s pictures from the backyard as we were getting ready to go home.

Labor Day Itself Fun: Before everyone headed back to Oak Park, we drove up to this wonderful buffet + souvenir shop called Der Dutchman. What a hit it was! And how wonderful it was to have Labor Day visitors.